Chapter 16

Chapter Sixteen

Briar

" H ow are the classes going?" Darla asks me.

She's not leisurely talking to guests this morning but waiting for me. My back straightens, and my gut clenches because this is it. Am I being let go? People have tried the yoga class and seem like they enjoyed it, but even I know the attendance has been low.

"They're going well," I say.

She falls in line with me as I walk toward the studio. "Scarlett has started to advertise in Hickory, but we recently got word that Wild Bull Ranch is building a spa." She rolls her eyes. "That boy just loves to push buttons."

"Why would he build a spa, and who is he ?" I ask.

Darla stops at the kitchen doors. There's no way I can have a big breakfast today. So I take a few steps away as if I'm about to go to the studio.

"Walker Matthews. He's got something to prove, but I'm not sure what. He's Plain Daisy's biggest competition. I think he got word about you and now thinks this is how he'll one-up us."

I remember a Walker hitting on me last year at the Plain Daisy Ranch ball game, so I'm assuming he's one and the same. I actually drove past Wild Bull Ranch the other day and saw how much it resembled Plain Daisy Ranch.

"Anyway, that lit a fire under Scarlett." She shakes her head. "Nothing gets that girl's engine revving like some good old-fashioned competition."

"I imagine with her job, she's all about making this ranch successful."

Scarlett runs the office for the entire ranch, and I'm pretty sure she's in charge of all the financials, marketing, and everything else.

"Exactly. So, keep at it. I've heard great things. Especially the one you did for women over sixty the other day. Brad and I were downtown this weekend, and everyone kept stopping us and telling how sweet you are and how fun the class was. That they didn't think they could bend like that."

"Oh, I'm glad."

"Yeah, I won't fill you in on the rest. Let's just say you spiced up some bedrooms."

I smile and laugh. "Maybe that should be the marketing line."

She points at me and chuckles. "I'm telling Scarlett that idea." She runs her hand down my arm. "Have a good day. I just wanted to check in with you and let you know we're committed to making this work."

Here I was worried for nothing. Although they might not feel the same once they find out I'm pregnant. Maybe that's when they'll kick my ass to the curb.

"No breakfast today?" she asks as I step farther away from the door.

"I had a big one at home."

Her eyes dip to my stomach and fear grips me, until I see she's following my hand. Shit, I really need to figure out a way to tell everyone.

"Aunt Darla!" Emmett walks out of the dining room with Wren on his shoulders.

He and I share a smile, and although it should feel awkward, he's worming his way into my life.

"Briar." Wren wiggles, and Emmett struggles to get her free before she falls headfirst to the ground.

Once her feet hit the floor, I squat and open my arms, allowing Wren to run into them. Her little arms squeeze me tightly.

"I've missed you," she says.

My eyes sting, but I push back the tears. I barely know this girl. Why am I getting emotional?

"Did Briar eat at home, Emmett?" Darla asks.

I stand, bringing Wren with me, her legs wrapping around my waist.

"Yeah, for sure." Emmett holds his hands out for Wren, but Wren doesn't let go of me.

"Are you two in cahoots now? I thought you hated one another." Darla's gaze shifts from me to Emmett.

"I do. She's got cooties," Emmett says, and Wren laughs.

"Yeah, he drives me crazy," I add, but Darla hears the sarcasm and continues to stare us down.

"Emmett drives everyone crazy." Bennett comes out of the dining room with Wren's backpack and coat in hand. "Time to go."

"Hold on." Wren puts her hands on my cheeks and turns me to look at her. "Will you do my hair?"

"Sure." I lower her to the floor while Bennett digs her hairbrush out of his bag then hands it over.

"Jeez, Danson, you'd think you would figure it out by now," Emmett razzes him.

Bennett gives him a fuck off look.

"Okay, why do you call him Danson? I've been meaning to ask." I run the brush through Wren's hair.

Darla rolls her eyes.

I quickly braid Wren's hair, squatting to be level with her.

"Ever seen the movie Three Men and a Baby ?" Emmett asks.

"Um… I think a long time ago. That guy from Friends , right?"

"Tom Selleck? Yes, Briar." Darla appears offended, sighing. "He was Magnum P.I. as well." She stares off dreamily. Guess the mustache does something for her. "But Ted Danson was the baby's biological father in the movie."

Emmett and Bennett laugh at Darla, and she gives them a look of disgust.

"Danson and Wren live at the boys' house, so we joke that it's like Three Men and a Baby ."

"Who's the third guy?" I ask, knowing his only male cousins are Bennett and Jensen.

"Jensen's friend, Nash," Emmett says.

"And I'm not a baby," Wren says, sounding annoyed.

"Oh, you all live together. That must be fun." I put the ponytail holder around the end of her braid.

"If you think having three bossy boys telling me what to do is fun." She twists around and furrows her forehead.

I point at the mirror on the wall by reception. "Go check it out."

She runs over, and I stand up straight, feeling a little lightheaded when I do. I close my eyes for a moment to gain my bearings. A large body comes alongside me, his arm around my waist, allowing me to use him as support.

"She needs to eat. I told you. Jensen is going to make you a plate." Darla disappears into the kitchen.

Wren comes over and wraps her arms around my legs. "My friends are gonna love it. Last time, they all went home and asked their moms to do their hair like mine." She beams, and it makes me smile.

I don't know anything about Wren's mom, but she's clearly not in the picture if she lives at the guys' house.

"That makes me happy," I say, looking at Bennett and handing him the hairbrush.

"Let's go, Wren, I have a meeting," her dad says.

"What is it that you do?" I haven't asked a lot of questions since being here, I realize.

"He plants flowers and trees," Emmett says.

Bennett laughs. "Do I say you ride a horse and tractor? I'm a landscape architect."

Emmett shrugs. "I'm not into fancy titles. Wouldn't bother me."

Darla comes out with a wrapped-up sandwich in hand. "Breakfast sandwich. You'll love it." She thrusts it my way. "Emmett." Her eyes go from him to my sandwich and back to him.

"I'm on it," he says and gives her a salute.

"Wren, let's go," Bennett says, walking toward the door.

"Can I come over to your house sometime?" Wren asks me.

"It's Emmett's house."

She turns to him.

"Of course," he says.

"Yay!" She skips through the lobby toward the door. "Come on, Dad!"

Bennett shakes his head. "Have a great day, everyone." Then they leave.

"I need to go set up. Thank you, Darla. See you at home, Emmett," I say, walking backward down the hall.

"Home, huh?" Darla's eyelids flutter. "Emmett, make sure she eats that sandwich."

"I guess that means I'm your escort." Emmett comes up alongside me.

"Are you going to force-feed me?"

We walk shoulder to shoulder toward the studio, the sandwich hot in my hand.

"I'll make you a deal," he says. "You eat half, and I eat half."

"Or you eat the whole thing?" I ask, stepping into the studio.

He follows me. "I'm kind of with Darla on this one. You need to eat." His gaze falls to my stomach. "You need nourishment, and so does…" He lets his words die on his lips, thank goodness. I'm paranoid about all the ears around here.

"Can I ask you about Wren's mom?"

"You can ask me anything, but it doesn't mean I'll tell you."

I raise my eyebrows. "That's such a dad thing to say."

He chuckles, taking the sandwich from my hands. He takes half and hands me the other half in the wrapper. "She died."

My stomach lurches. "That's horrible."

He bites his sandwich and eyes mine, so I take a bite. Jensen really is a brilliant chef, and I wonder if he's self-taught or went to school.

"Died during childbirth. Wren never even met her."

I can hear the sorrow in his voice. My stomach twists even further, given my own situation. "That's so horrible. I feel terrible for both of them."

He nods, finishing the last bite of his half of the sandwich. "Wren's just now getting to the age when you start to realize your family is different. I still remember when moms would volunteer at school or for sports. Since my mom never came, my friend asked me when my mom was coming. Dad told me to tell him my mom was in heaven. He asked when she was getting back, like it was a vacation. And I said I didn't know. Death and kids aren't an easy mix."

"So, you don't remember anything about your mom?" I don't remember mine, and I was older than when Emmett lost his mom. The only mother figure I've ever known is Gillian.

"Sometimes I think I do, but then the same stories about her are told all the time, so am I just remembering that?" He shrugs. "I don't know, but I don't think so."

"My mom left after Koa was born. The difference when someone leaves instead of dies is that no one talks about them at all. It's like they never even existed. I have no memories of her or very many pictures." I take another bite of the sandwich. "But why would I want to know anything about someone who didn't want me anyway?"

He comes over and leans in next to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. "Bet you didn't realize how much we had in common. Now finish that sandwich so I can hug you."

"Hug me?" I put the last piece in my mouth.

"Don't act like you don't need one. We just divulged to each other the shit that messed us up. We bonded." He tugs me into his side, but when I don't move, he steps in front of me and, using his finger, forces my chin up to make me look at him.

"I wouldn't say bonded." My excuse is weak, but I do feel as if someone understands a little bit of what it feels like to grow up without a mother. Your mom is supposed to love and nurture you. Give you hugs and kiss your boo-boos. Gillian did her best, but she was a kid herself for the majority of my upbringing.

"Bring it in." His hands run down my arms, and I step into him. At first, I don't wrap my arms around him, but he tightens his arms around me. "Life sucks, but the good thing is that you get to change this baby's path. And you get to feel what it's like to be a mother. And you'll be a great one."

"How can you say that? I didn't have a role model." Finally, I wrap my arms around his waist.

His chest vibrates against mine. "Because you'll be hell-bent on giving your kid everything you didn't get. And I know this kid is going to have love in spades."

I rest my chin on his chest, allowing the wall I put up to crumble. And it feels good to let someone else hold me up, even if it is just for a little bit.