Page 7 of Single Dad at Mountain Creek Ranch
"Hi, Dad." She sets down the book on planets she got at the library this week.
“You should be asleep.”
“I was until Sophie started calling for you.”
I sit down on the side of her bed. She scoots over to allow me more room. I stare down at Abbie and see in her face how much she's grown in the past year. She'll always be my baby, but she isn't a baby anymore, and I need to stop thinking she can’t handle things.
“Eden told me what you told her.”
Concern furrows Abbie’s brow. “She wasn’t supposed to say anything.”
“I know, but I’m glad she did.”
“You are?”
"Yeah." I nod. "I felt something was off between us, and I didn't understand why, but I need you to know something. There isn’t anything you can do that will ever make me leave you or Sophie.Ever.”
A small tear falls down Abbie’s cheek. I reach out and wipe it away with my finger. She sits up and wraps her arms around my neck. Her soft sobs into my shoulder, shattering my heart into a million little pieces. I hold her tight, wanting her to know with more than just my words that what I’m saying is true.
“I know it’s unfair that your mom had to leave us, but that wasn’t because of anything you or your sister did. She left because there are some things she needed to figure out.”
“Will she come back once she figures it out?”
“I don’t know, but in the meantime, you’re stuck with me, kiddo. Forever.”
She chuckles and pulls back slightly. “I’m glad Eden talked to you.”
“And I’m glad you talked to Eden. But I hope you know you can always talk to me too.”
She nods. “I wish she could stay with us forever.”
Me too, kiddo. Me too.
4
EDEN
I was worried that Abbie wouldn't forgive me for telling Nash what she told me, but the first thing she did when she saw me the next day was give me a hug and a quiet “thank you”in my ear. I'm so glad they talked things out. I know that it weighed on both of them, but they didn't know how to handle it.
The following few days, I had to stay at home and take care of my mom. I wasn’t planning on going to theSummer in CentennialFestival, but I think my mom could tell that I was distracted and eager to see Nash and the girls.
"You should go tonight. Get out and see that, Holloway boy."
I chuckle. “He’s hardly a boy, Mom.”
She waves my comment away with a flick of her hand. "You've been working so hard helping me. I think you should go have fun and get a break."
“Will you be okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I’m tired from the physical therapy this afternoon, and I'm going to bed early."
“Okay, but just know that I have my phone with me.”
I get ready for the night. Making sure my hair and makeup looks just right. I want to look good when Nash sees me for the first time in seventy-two hours. Not that I’m counting or anything.
I decide to walk into town to avoid having to deal with parking. The streets will be packed with cars from all the people visiting our town for the festival. The others have been sectioned off to allow for rides and booths. Tonight, there is a dance to kick off the next few days.
Willow spots me as I approach the pavilion and waves me down. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her one on one much since I started watching her nieces.
