Single Dad Cowboy by Brenda Minton

Author:Brenda Minton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Harmony cleaned Dylan’s kitchen after he left with Jackson. Cash woke up first, toddling into the room, his thumb in his mouth. She offered him crackers and tea. He sat in the chair and nibbled the crackers and then sipped from the teacup.

She didn’t know what else to do for him, and the only person she could call, her mom, was hundreds of miles away in Nashville. If she did call, what would she say to Olivia Cross? She remembered her parting words and cringed.

Rather than calling, she sat at the kitchen table with Cash in her lap and swiped away a few stray tears that trickled down her cheeks. She shouldn’t have blamed her parents. Her heart ached at the memory, then she buried it, instead choosing to hug the sleepy little boy curled against her shoulder.

“Harmony, are you crying?” Callie walked through the door from the living room dragging a child-size quilt and a teddy bear.

Harmony smiled and shook her head. “No, sweetie, I’m fine. I made tea that I think will help you.”

“I don’t like tea.”

“This is a different kind of tea. It tastes like ginger and cinnamon and apple. Will you take a few sips for me?”

Against her shoulder, Cash nodded. She smiled down at the little boy. She wondered if he remembered his mommy. She knew that Callie did. The little girl had told her earlier that her own mommy used to have blond hair before she got sick. The child’s memory had left a lump in Harmony’s throat.

Sometimes she thought she remembered her own mother. The memories weren’t pleasant. They were of a woman who always looked too thin, who never seemed warm and loving. She didn’t want to be a replica of Olivia Cross’s sister, Patricia. Her real mother.

“Let’s get your tea and we’ll go sit in the living room together.” She put Cash on the ground. “Callie, can you take your brother to the sofa?”

Callie nodded, took Cash by the hand and the two tottered off together, the quilt dragging along behind them.

Harmony fixed a second cup of tea and as she did, she dialed a familiar number. When her mom answered, Harmony sobbed.

“Harmony, honey, are you okay?”

She sniffled and brushed away the tears. “I’m good, Mom. I just...” Where did she start? “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for letting you down. I’m sorry for the mess I’ve made of my life. Most of all, I’m sorry for what I said to you. I need time, but not distance from my family.”

Olivia Cross was silent for a moment, and Harmony wondered if it was too late for apologies. She waited, holding her breath as she stirred honey into the cup, adding an ice cube to cool the liquid.

“Harmony, I love you. You are my daughter in every sense of the word. My sister might have given birth to you, but you are my flesh and blood. Mine. We just want you happy again.”

“I’m working on that. Coming here to Dawson was the right decision.

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