We walked into Katie’s office, and she gave me a big hug for such a tiny lady. Her eyes shifted to Madison as her mouth made an ‘O’.
“Katie and Grant, this is Madison. She’s Jim’s daughter.”And the woman I think I’m obsessed with and can’t let leave Montana. Not in a stalker type of way; well, maybe a little like a stalker. I don’t know what in the hell I’m doing.
“It’s a pleasure, Madison, please have a seat.”
My eyes shot to the little guy sitting in a chair, holding a teddy bear tightly. He jumped up, ran over, and gave me a hug.
“Hey, Grant. So good to see you again.”
He nodded, and I noticed he was wearing a Minnesota Vikings sweatshirt; it was like we were meant to be.
“Grant, do you like the Vikings, man?”
He nodded.
“They’re my favorite team. You know, last season, my brother and I went to a game in Minneapolis. Maybe we could check out a game sometime if you’d want to.”
A little smile appeared. “That would be so fun!”
Katie motioned for us all to sit down in the chairs around her cozy office. “You know, Grant, I met Jax right here in this office when he was just about your age. I had the pleasure of introducing him to his foster mother, who adopted him.”
Grant’s eyes lit up. “You, too?”
His words hit my soul. “Me, too.”
Katie looked over. “I explained to Grant that he’s going to go to your house, sleep in his Spiderman room which he loved, and see how things go. The wonderful thing is that Grant is on fall break, so he can relax with no school and have some fun on the ranch.”
Madison clapped her hands. “I love Spiderman! Do you like Spiderman, too?”
Grant let out a giggle. “Well, who doesn’t?”
Madison’s laughter warmed the room.
Grant gave a knowing nod. “Madison, I’m seven, by the way.”
“I thought you looked seven,” she shrugged her shoulders. “I’mnotseven.”
He laughed and shook his head at her.
“Since you were last at my house, I bought a few pairs of Spiderman pajamas if you feel a little wild.”
Katie leaned over to Grant. “Do you have anything you’d like to ask Jax?”
He narrowed his eyes. “How did you get those muscles?”
I let out a laugh and saw Madison put her hand over her mouth. “Well, since I live on a ranch, I do lots of work. I also lift weights. We only get one body. Might as well take care of it, right?”
He nodded as if I had passed his test.
“Now, it’s late, so Jax and Madison are going to take you to his house. I heard from Daisy that you loved the horses. Maybe you can take another ride tomorrow.”
His eyes shot to me. “I can?”
“Yes, sir.”
Katie stood up, and Grant followed. He hugged her and buried his head in her waist.
Katie stroked his hair. “I know it’s been a hard day for you, Grant. But I promise things will turn around. Okay?”
