Page 22 of Trig
I could only give Trig a quick glance as I was led across the main room and to the kitchen. He offered me a wink of reassurance as I went.
I stood beside Ann at the counter, unsure of what to do. Everyone had removed their boots so her feet were covered in blue and white polka dot fleece socks. She had on black pants that looked warm and cozy. A pretty red sweater fell to below her hips. While her hair was a little wild from what I assumed was a hat, she looked pulled together and was really pretty. While herchildren were all grown, I might’ve assumed she’d be haggard from the hard work of raising such a brood. I would keep that very wrong assumption to myself.
Covered dishes, plastic storage containers, a jug of something dark, perhaps iced tea, were spread across the granite.
“We have beef stew leftovers,” she said, reaching for one container. “Cam said he brought potato salad. Hayes always makes some kind of jello. The other containers, I’m not sure what’s in them.”
“I don’t know where to start,” I admitted, my eyes flitting over all the offerings. Like all the people, the sheer quantity of food was overwhelming. I could cook. A little. It didn’t seem like that was expected, but I didn’t want to mess up.
She eyed me with blue eyes that held softness. Kindness. I had to assume it was because she had raised nine humans that she could look at someone and learn a lot.
“You can tackle napkins.”
I bit my lip trying to stifle my smile because Trig had a napkin holder in the center of the island beside a set of ceramic cowboy boot shaped salt and pepper shakers. “I think I can handle that.”
“Good. Now, I can see why Trig’s fallen for you, but tell me about yourself.”
I swallowed. Fallen for me? “Um, Trig and I just met, so I don’t think he’s fallen for me.”
She looked my way and just smiled. “I met Charlie at a mutual friend’s wedding and we were married ourselves a month later.” She leaned in close and whispered, “Don’t tell the kids, but I got pregnant with Trig that night.”
My eyes widened. “That night?”
She nodded, not the least bit ashamed or embarrassed. “Charlie saw me and that was it. I became his then and there.”
His. Just like that. He saw her, he wanted her. He got her pregnant. All in the same night.
Just like what Trig had been saying. That he felt something different between the two of us. Something special. Something that made him all growly and bossy and call me his.
“Well, I’m not pregnant,” I blurted out.
When I realized what I said, I slapped my hand over my mouth. I could feel my cheeks were on fire.
Ann laughed as she took a lid off a container and peered inside, but I didn’t feel like it wasatme. “You can give it a few days.”
I dropped my hand and my mouth fell open.A few days?
“Is it a family thing then? This… pace?”
“Trig’s the first to fall, and it’s not a surprise he did it just like his father. I’m so pleased, honey.”
I needed to set her straight because I couldn’t let anything happen to Trig. “I can’t stay, Ann.”
“Ma,” she corrected.
I cleared my throat. I didn’t want to call her Ma. It was too dangerous. She seemed like the perfect mother. Stern but loving. Calm and sweet. Sober. Not interested in sleeping with random men to live in their house. I wondered if she even drank.
If I let her in, I was going to be in really big trouble. Because I always wanted a real mother. I didn’t want her or her huge family to get hurt because of me.
She waved her hand. “Trig won’t bull ride anymore now that you’re here. He hurt his knee last season and no doubt you helped him decide he was done.”
I gasped. “I don’t want to be the reason he quits.”
“Quits? Honey, he’s retiring. And to a better life. With you.”
“That’s… a lot.”
“You have to come over and see all his trophies and belts. He won’t have them here, but I like to show them off. That’s what we’ve got from his time competing. Memories.”
