The Long Way Home by Liz Isaacson

Author:Liz Isaacson [Isaacson, Liz]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: AEJ Creative Works

Chapter 13

Ty leaned away from the picnic table, the blueness of the sky above him almost unbelievable. “Best lunch ever, Ma.” He shot her one of his I’m-your-favorite-son grins, which always won her over. He’d learned the skill when he was only fifteen, and even when he got himself into a stitch or two of trouble, he could flash that grin and she’d soften considerably.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d brought a woman to meet his parents. As he watched Lexi and Hannah play on the swing set, he realized he’d never brought someone to meet his parents. He simply had never been serious about someone the way he was about River Lee.

His throat narrowed and his stomach felt overly full of brisket, bread, and that delicious potato salad. Still, he managed to sling his arm around River Lee’s shoulders and enjoy the summer breeze coming through the trees. Her mother had eased some of the pressure on him to keep the conversation on the right topics, but he was ready to be alone with River Lee now.

“Should we go to the pond?” he asked.

Before River Lee could respond, a shrill wail filled the summer sky. His gaze anchored on the girls, one of whom was running toward them and one who was lying in the grass crying.

River Lee got up and hurried toward her daughters, scooping up Hannah and asking her what had happened. Ty had seen River Lee console her kids before, get them settled down, fix everything. She was remarkably good at it while Ty didn’t have the first clue about what to do.

“Let me go see if she needs help.” Her mom got up and crossed the deck, leaving Ty alone with his parents.

“She’s a nice woman.” His mom patted his hand as she stood. She gathered whatever leftovers she could carry and headed into the house.

The weight of his father’s gaze stayed on Ty’s face, and he finally looked at his dad. “Go on, then,” he said.

His dad looked toward the playground and back to Ty. “You think you’re ready to be a father?”

“Dad.” Ty exhaled, the sound full of exasperation. “We’ve spent a couple of days together. We’re not getting married tomorrow.”

“You’re not gettin’ any younger.” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “And neither is she.”

Ty pushed himself up, his muscles as tired as this conversation. “All right, Dad.”

“What will you do to support yourself and maybe a family when you can’t ranch anymore?”

Ty paused, confusion racing through him at the topic change. “Why wouldn’t I be able to ranch?”

His dad stood and stacked the plates. “All cowboys eventually become something else,” he said. “That’s all I’m sayin’.” He lifted the dishes and left Ty to his thoughts.

And Ty didn’t like where his thoughts went. He’d never given much thought to what he’d do when he got older, when his body wasn’t as strong as it was now. Heck, he rarely thought much beyond that day’s chores and activities.

As Lexi continued to cry, a sense of inadequacy dove through Ty, saturating his muscles, his bones, his very soul.

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