Page 72 of A Dream for Daphne

She believed him over any other man in her life that she’d been intimate with and that meant trying to be herself, since he seemed to like that person.

And hours later when he’d left for the day, she made her way to the main house to watch the kids. Abe had left after breakfast and said he had a lot of things to do but they’d talk later.

She knew they couldn’t or wouldn’t spend all their free time together. She didn’t want a relationship like that.

But she was going to miss him.

“Have fun last night?” Poppy asked, wiggling her eyebrows when she came into the kitchen. Daphne had texted to say she was on the way.

“I did,” she said. “Abe spent the night. I hope that was okay.”

“Yes,” Poppy said. “It’s fine. I told both of you that. But I saw his truck leaving this morning.” Poppy moved closer. “You looked like you were walking funny. Bet it was a good night, huh?”

She smiled. “It was a great night.”

“Good for you, Daphne. We are going to get you to open up some before the year is out.”

“I already am,” she said. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Poppy asked.

“For being understanding. And nice. Really for being a nice person. I think it’s sad to say this, but I’m not sure how many truly nice people I’ve been around in my life.”

Between annoyed or frustrated parents at the daycare and waiting on people at night whose food wasn’t just right. It seemed she never went a day where someone wasn’t yelling or berating her for something.

Then she’d go home and hear it from her mother.

It wasn’t until that moment she realized what a verbal beating she took in her life and it was no wonder she was so unsure of her actions.

What a pathetic thought for her age.

Poppy moved over to hug her. “Honey, I’ve been in your shoes. I know what it’s like on a different level. I’ve never wanted anyone to feel that way.”

“I don’t,” she said. “Not from people around here. That is just priceless.”

And about damn time.

As Abe said, her life was changing, good and bad. Right now, she couldn’t think of one bad thing.

25

FOUND IT TOO

“You got engaged yesterday,” Abe said to Easton on Sunday morning. He was outside in the barn looking for a part for his lawn mower. The damn thing wouldn’t start.

He’d been stunned when Easton came out to talk to him.

“I did,” Easton said. “I popped the question before we went to the wedding.”

“Good for you,” he said, moving toward his cousin and hugging him. He’d always been a huggy type of person.

Easton laughed. “Yeah. No reason to wait. I know it was fast, but when it’s right, you just do it. It’d been hard work keeping it quiet while Rose made the ring at Blossoms.”

“I’m kind of hurt you didn’t tell me you were doing it,” he said.

“I didn’t tell anyone,” Easton said. “I surprised myself when I made the decision a few weeks ago.”

“Why?” he asked.

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