Page 7 of Secret Baby at Mountain Creek Ranch
5
JAMESON
The days fly by in a fantastic blur, and before I know it, it's been over two weeks since Tris and Sam came to stay with me. Without trying, we’ve all fallen into a nice rhythm of living together as a family. I work the ranch with my brothers and Sam by my side on the three days a week that Tris goes into town to help out at Sugar Gravel, Willow’s bakery in town.
It's easy to forget that we aren't a traditional family. That Tris isn't my wife, and Sam knows the truth that I’m his father.
“Did you ask her?” My older brothers Nash and Landon ask as we take a break for lunch on the back porch.
I glance over at the cushioned bench where Sam is lying down asleep. He was determined to keep up with us all morning, but the work wore him out quickly.
“I haven’t had the right moment.”
Landon chuckles humorously. “When exactly is the right moment to talk to her about telling Sam the truth.”
“I don’t know how she’s going to react. I thought she would have brought up the subject by now. She’s the one who said that she wanted us to wait a bit.”
“Wait on what?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe she doesn’t think that I’m good father material.”
Nash runs his hand over his face. “You've gone above and beyond to show her that you are in this for the long haul. Take it from me. As a single parent, it's clear when someone is trying, and you are more than trying.”
“Yeah,” Landon sits forward. “You move them both out here when they had nowhere else to go. How much more proof does she need?”
“Maybe it’s not about you and Sam,” Nash suggests.
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean is maybe she’s not concerned with your relationship with Sam, but with her. I mean, what are you guys? Co-parents only? Or are there possible feelings between you two that she is trying to figure out?”
“You two have been playing nice happy family for weeks now. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that feelings she thought were over have come back. Do you have any feelings for her that are more than just friends?"
The sound of gravel crunching saves me from answering that question. Do I have feelings for Tris? I mean, I know I'm attracted to her. Who wouldn't be? She's smart, funny, and if I'm honest, she's been the subject of quite a few fantasies of mine since she came back into my life. But I think I pushed those feelings away, instead focusing on my relationship with Sam.
I look over at my son asleep on the bench. He and I are forever. He will never not know me in his life, not after I lost so much time already. The car door slams, and Sam's eyes startle open. He looks around, and his face crumples before he starts crying. He's so tired he can't handle it.
“Jamie,” he cries out.
I scoop him up in my arms and hold him close to me.
“I got you, buddy. Don’t worry. Just go back to sleep.”
Sam's sobs fade quickly back to some little kid heavy breathing. He's warm and relaxed in my arms, and I never want to give him up. I never want to let go of him or this moment of him needing me.
“Is he okay?” Tris whisper shouts, standing by her car.
I give her a thumbs up. "Hey, do you guys think you can handle the rest of the afternoon? I think you're right, and I need to get some answers.”
They both nod in agreement.
“Why don’t you let Sam take a long nap. When he wakes up, give me a call, and I will send the girls to come to get him. He can have a sleepover with us at the main house. That will give you two some time to talk in private,” Nash offers.
“Sounds like a plan.” I stand up and head down the steps towards Tris.
Neither of us says anything when she drives us back to the cabin. I take Sam up to his bed and tuck him in. Tris is unloading some groceries when I come back down.
“I was thinking of making tacos tonight for dinner. What do you think?”
