Page 89 of What Remains True
“Okay.”
She hopped down from the stool and went into the restroom.
“This whole thing is quite a surprise.” Maizey blinked. “Hard to digest still.”
“Well, like I said, I didn’t know about her until recently.”
“This wouldn’t be the reason you’ve suddenly been seeing so much of Merry Anna, is it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, you never really have been the settling-down kind, and now all of a sudden you find out you’re a father and you’re spending a lot of time with her. You’re not using Merry Anna to watch Zan so you can keep being a rodeo hero, are you?”
He didn’t appreciate what she was suggesting. “I’m not playing hero. I rodeo for a living. And as for Merry Anna, she’s my neighbor and we enjoy each other’s company. She knows everything that’s going on.”
“Sorry if that sounded harsh, but, Adam, you’re a dreamer. Always have been. I love you, boy, but that little girl deserves a hero, and the kind of hero is you—her father—not some guy risking his fool neck every night.”
He’d been prepared for looks, even gossip, but this was hard to take. Especially from Maizey.
“I’m doing the best I can. I’ve got to make the finals this year. My whole life plan depends on it. But after that—”
“That plan was all well and good when it was just you.” Maizey sounded clipped. “It’s not just you anymore.”
“I do have to earn a living, though. I can’t change that overnight,” he said.
“You own the town’s Feed & Seed. You have a college degree. There are other ways than rodeo for you to earn a living. You need to think about Zan, and in case you’ve been too busy with rodeo, making a living, and this little girl, you need to consider Merry Anna too. That’s love in that woman’s eyes, if you haven’t noticed.”
Love?“No. We—”
“I don’t care what she’s said or what you think. You two need to open your eyes and acknowledge what is growing between the two of you. I’m not the only one who’s seen it.” Maizey’s jaw set.
Miss Vickie, sitting in the booth across the way, chimed in from over there. “It’s true, Adam.”
This wasn’t going like he’d expected at all.
“Don’t screw that up with her, Adam. She’s a good lady,” Maizey said.
Why is it that everyone is on her side, and she’s not even from Antler Creek?He should’ve never sold that bunkhouse, and maybe none of this would’ve happened. Seemed like everything started sliding once he started selling things. He looked to heaven.Grandpa, there’s a better way to give me guidance. I’m listening, sir. I won’t sell the Feed & Seed. I promise.
Zan walked out of the bathroom, and the chatter stopped.
“Are you ready to go now, Daddy?”
Every time she called him that, it gave his heart a stutter.
“Yes. Are you going to pay the check?” he teased.
“I don’t think I have enough money.” She dug into her pocket and took out a penny, a nickel, and two dimes. She handed the coins to him. “Is this enough?”
Maizey took the coins from her hand. “It’s the exact change. Y’all have a great day together.”
“Yes ma’am.” Zan waved her hand over her head in a whopping goodbye as they walked out of the Creekside Café. Ginger caught the door as it opened. “Hey, Adam. I heard you had a new little girl in your life.” Her kids gathered around Zan.
“The rumors are true,” he said.
“I was picking up dog food. Guys there mentioned it.” She squatted to Zan’s level, her hands on her knees. “I’m Ginger. I have children too. You’ll have to come over and do crafts with us sometime.”
“Thank you. I love to color.”
