“Pops, this is Stella and her daughter Charlie. They’re going to be taking one of the guest rooms here for a while.”
The older gentleman rounded the kitchen island and held out a hand in introduction. I shook it, noticing how his palms were full of rough callouses - clearly from years of working on the ranch.
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“No sir needed, darlin’,” he grumped. “Hank, if you’re feeling formal, but most of these hooligans call me Pops- Ray Charles over there, included.” He hooked a thumb in Ray’s direction and she cocked a quizzical eyebrow.
“Ray Charles?” she questioned.
“You’ve gotta be blind to be hanging out with that ugly fucker over there every day.” He said, hooking the same thumb over in Wade’s direction.
My hand went over my mouth to stifle the laugh. I didn’t know this family well enough yet to be laughing at their expense, but you could clearly tell they picked on each other out of love.
I missed having friends that I could joke with. It had been so long since I’d seen any of my family, and my friends all but abandoned me the longer that Dean and I stayed together.
I should have noticed the red flags that Dean was throwing - but ignorance is bliss.
“Hey, this ugly fucker takes offense to that statement.” Wade huffed in mock annoyance.
“Anyway, welcome to the family, Stella and Charlie.” Hank said, attempting to turn the conversation back to the original topic at hand.
Family. We had instantly gone from being on our own to having a makeshift family. They had so easily welcomed us into their fold. I wasn’t sure how to appreciate all they were doing for us, but I’d make sure we pulled our weight while we were here.
“Thank you, Hank.” I responded quietly.
“How old is little Charlie here?” He asked, changing the subject. “Been awhile since I’ve been around little ones, but I’m happy to help in any way I can. I’ll have her riding, shooting, and shotgunning beers in no time.”
I chuckled, having no doubt that Hank would make an excellent grandpa to some babies in the future. “She’s ten months. It turns out she shares a birthday with the twins.” I said with a sly smile in Max’s direction.
I had left that out at the coffee shop after looking at his license. Although some might dismiss it as mere coincidence, I saw it as a sign of good faith, a subtle nod of approval from the universe.
Max gave me a small smile back as he reached for Charlie. It hit me at that moment that I’d never seen her held by so many other people. She didn’t have aunts and uncles and I kept a low profile with a small friend group. Dean was truly a father in name only. I don’t think I’d often seen him hold her, change a diaper, or show her much affection for that matter.
A line of dampness threatened to spill over my bottom lashes, and I bent my head to quell them from falling. I turned to the fridge to busy myself- after all, this was now my home as well. I didn’t want them seeing me cry over something as silly as people showing my child affection.
I reached in and grabbed a bottle of water, giving myself the time I needed to pull my emotions into line. I turned and set it on the counter beside the other bottle I’d been given.
As Wade took note of the pair of untouched water bottles remaining on the kitchen counter, a gentle nod conveyed his understanding of how uncomfortable this situation was for me.
Slightly embarrassed, I slowly twisted off the bottle cap, a warmth spreading across my cheeks; I paused a moment to quell the blush before bringing the bottle’s opening to my lips.
“Well, there, little one, you can be our third amigo,” Max said and tickled her belly. A joyous peal of laughter burst from her lips as she playfully wriggled, a giggle shaking her whole body in his embrace.
The grin that plastered on Max’s face melted some of the ice around my heart. How had this stranger taken a liking to my daughter faster than her own father had?
I pushed the thoughts away. It didn’t matter anymore. His presence would quickly fade from memory. Maybe someday, I’d meet someone willing to take on the baggage of a single mom with an almost one-year-old baby, no place to live, and no family to call her own.
Ray piped up and snatched Charlie out of Max’s arms. “I call dibs on babysitting occasionally. I miss having babies around the house. All the kids are old enough now that they don’t enjoy having their older sister cramping their style.”
“Ray is the oldest of ten,” Wade explained. “She’s got tons of experience with little kids if you ever need to get out of the house and have some ‘you’ time.”
His wink, a theatrical, exaggerated gesture, was impossible to ignore. I felt the blush creeping back up my neck and spreading across my cheeks.
“I appreciate it. I haven’t been out without her since she’s been born. It’s been just the two of us for so long. Forgive me if I take a little while to feel comfortable letting other people in.” Rubbing the back of my neck shyly, I looked down at my feet.
I felt a heavy hand drape onto my shoulder. I looked overat Hank and gave him a small smile. The smile he gave me in return was genuine and kind. I could see light crinkles at the corners of his lips, presumably from a life filled with laughter. His chocolate brown eyes peered into mine, as if silently letting me know I wasn’t alone anymore.
Those damn tears I’d fought so hard to squash bubbled up again and I swiped beneath my lashes.
