Page 32 of Home Hearts Hooves

“That would be amazing. Thank you!”

“No problem. Now, should we get out of here and leave these new moms to their young?”

He starts for the door, and I reach out and take his arm.

“I don’t want to forget the other night,” I say, and he turns to face me.

“You don’t?”

“No. But…” I say, the rest of my words getting stuck in my throat.

“You just found out about Poppy.”

“Exactly. I think I owe it to her to let her be my focus, and I don’t really do one night stands, and you’re… what I mean to say is, I think we could be something, if you even wanted that, but if you did, I doubt I could think about anyone but you, and I want to get to know her, to figure out who I am as a father.”

His brows pick up. “That good, hey?”

“Amazing,” I reply, then feel the blush rise to my cheeks.

“I get it, Doc. I’m okay. We can just be friends.”

“I can do friends, too,” I say, and he laughs, and the double meaning clicks. “I mean, I can be friends.”

“Good, now come on, Doc. Sally-May will have dinner ready. Are you hungry?”

“Starving,” I reply and follow him out of the mini barn.

I know I just said we could be friends, and that this is what I need, but the way he was just so amazing about it all has me internally kicking myself that I might have just friend-zoned the most amazing guy I’ve ever known.

***

I tie the last of the pink, “It’s a Girl” balloons to the base of a cherry tree as Poppy and Isabel walk around front to wait for my mom. When I saw them at the store, I had to get them. Mom is going to be over the moon to find out she’s a grandmother, and while the giant banner strung up over the table with pink plates and cups and the cake Poppy made might be going a little overboard. I don’t care. She missed out on so much already. We both did. It’s only right that we make it a little special for her.

I hear Poppy’s sweet voice.

“This way, it’s a good surprise,” Poppy says, and a second later, I see my mother, eyes covered by a pink blindfold, as Poppy walks backwards holding her hands to lead her toward me.

“Is it much farther?” my mother asks, and Poppy giggles.

“Just a few more steps,” she says, and as nerve-wracking as it would be for me to be led blindfolded by a child to God knows where, my mother doesn’t seem to mind at all. Her smile is wide as she takes each step closer to us.

Isabel stands beside me.

“I think I’m more nervous than Poppy,” Isabel whispers in my ear, and I reach down and take her hand in mine.

“She’s going to be so happy,” I whisper back, offering a reassuring smile. I’m still pissed she kept this from me, but right now, this isn’t about her. It’s about mom. And I won’t spoil this moment for anything.

“Are you ready?” Poppy asks, and my mother nods.

“These must be some amazing cherries,” she laughs, and Poppy lets go of her hands.

“Wait there,” Poppy says and moves to stand in front of us under the sign. “Okay, you can look now.”

My mother strips off the blindfold, smiling at first when she sees me standing there, but then she frowns as her gaze goes from me to the sign hanging above us. Her eyes flick from decoration to me and to Poppy and Isabel, and it is almost like I can see the cogs turn in her mind.

“Surprise,” I say, putting a hand on Poppy’s shoulder. “I’d like you to meet your granddaughter, Poppy.”

Her eyes go wide, as her mouth spreads into an enormous smile.

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