by five.”
Five? Dear Rachel Whethers had always been a little scatterbrained, but this was over the top even for her. “No, I need longer than that.” She heard Grant’s chair shift. “Please, Rach. Take them somewhere. Anywhere.”
Concern crossed Rachel’s face, a slight breeze picking up strands of her dark hair. “What’s going on? You okay?”
“That Rachel Gunsing I hear?” Grant appeared over Kallie’s shoulder.
Rachel made eye contact through the screen, and suddenly understanding bloomed across her face. “Grant Young. Well, that’s a surprise I’d never expected.” She glanced at Kallie as if in question, and Kallie shook her head in response. Rachel turned back to Grant. “I’m actually Rachel Whethers now. Got married to Kyle eighteen months ago.”
“That’s great, Rach.” He reached around Kallie for the door. “Why don’t you stop in and catch up?”
Kallie’s heart rate tripped. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not necessary. She’s probably pretty busy—”
Grant eyed her. “She drove the twenty minutes from town to stand on your doorstep for thirty seconds? I don’t think so.”
“Actually, I do need to be going.” Apology slashed her friend’s gaze. “Kyle’s taking me out for my birthday tonight since I have to work on the actual day.”
Just then, Peter began to cry, no doubt eager to get out of his seat.
Kallie cringed. Grant glanced at the babies for the first time, and his brows rose. She closed her eyes and offered up a silent prayer for mercy.
Grant Young glanced between the two car seat carriers on the porch, then back up at Rachel Whethers. No doubt about it, things sure had changed in the span of two years. Last time he saw Rachel, they were all newly out of high school, and she’d been full of life and totally disinterested in settling down.
And now it seemed she’d become a mom.
“Twins?” he asked.
Rachel began to pale before glancing at Kallie. “Yep.”
And Kallie. Grant couldn’t believe how seeing her again had nearly knocked him flat as he’d stepped out of his pickup.
He wasn’t exactly sure why he’d traveled all the way out to the farm just to tell her his simple plans regarding his half of the inheritance. He supposed a piece of him really wanted a reason to see the place again, to remember Frank in the environment the man had loved so deeply and to offer his condolences to Kallie. And, of course, he was curious how she had fared these past two years and what she was up to these days.
But now, after sitting in her kitchen and drinking from a random mug he actually remembered, he realized it was a huge mistake. Emotions he’d assumed were long buried had begun to resurface the instant he saw her standing on the walkway, her sweet blue eyes and waist-length blond hair tucked behind her ear. Man, she still looked good. Sounded good. Still fit snugly into a pocket he hadn’t realized lay open in his heart.
A pocket he knew he needed to close forever. Because he and Kallie would never work. He’d left here a young man scared of commitment and full of big ambitions—and he’d always regretted it.
Growing up with a bum for a father had scared him into believing he’d repeat the man’s mistakes. That he wouldn’t be a good husband to Kallie and wouldn’t be a good father if they ever had kids.
So at the time, it was easier to run away. But he’d been wrong to do it. She deserved better treatment than that. Now here he was, a bit washed up and lost, looking to regain his sense of direction. But he needed to remember he wasn’t going to find that here.
Rachel coughed softly into her fist, standing there awkwardly, like she wasn’t sure what to do next, which only served to make Grant suspicious. What was going on and why wouldn’t she come in?
He was about to ask when the phone in his pocket chimed. Cell service was nonexistent out here, so it had to be Kallie’s Wi-Fi. Hmm, an email. How about that? His phone remembered this place and had automatically connected.
Quietly he excused himself to check the email. As he did, Kallie scurried out onto the porch, her voice hushed as she asked something of Rachel.
Who knew what they were discussing. Turning his attention to the phone, Grant opened his inbox. The email was from Will Parker, his contact for the Helping Hands board of directors, responding to Grant’s question of whether or not they’d held their meeting yet—the one they were supposed to have last week in order to okay the plans for the facility’s office rebuild, which they’d lost in a fire earlier this year. Something had postponed last week’s meeting, though he didn’t know what, and they’d promised to hold a new one today.
Grant,
No meeting yet. Waiting on some measures to finalize before we meet. Perhaps next week.
—Will
Grant frowned. Not the answer he’d anticipated, for sure. He tapped out a reply.
Finalize measures? What kind of measures?
Kallie opened the screen door, so Grant slipped his phone into his jeans pocket. He froze in his movement, though, when he noticed her hefting one of the carrier seats. Rachel came in behind her with the other one.
Okay, so maybe she was staying for a visit after all.
Grant stepped out of the way, watching the two women head to the living room and unload two dark-haired babies onto the carpet. A boy crawled toward a stuffed giraffe Kallie handed him, and a girl toddled quickly after him before also dropping to her knees.
“Well,” Rachel glanced hesitantly at Grant before sending Kallie a look, “I’ll see you Sunday.”
“Thanks for watching the kids, Rach.”
Grant blinked. Wait, what?
Rachel brushed thick hair over her shoulder, and inched back toward the screen door, peeking at Grant as she retreated past him. “Safe trip back to Iowa.”
“Um, thanks.” He watched her go before turning back to the living room.
Was Kallie a mom?
And was she married? Grant glanced around the kitchen for any sign of a male’s presence. A work coat or muddy boots or even a family photo taped to the fridge. But nothing.
His focus returned to the babies making themselves at home, and he was suddenly aware of the muscles tightening in his stance. Stiffly, he made his way into the living room, lingering just inside the doorway, eyesight never leaving the twins.
This made no sense. Was there a guy? There must not be because otherwise, why would Frank will half of the farm to Grant? Actually, regardless of whether or not Kallie was seeing someone or married or whatever, he had no idea why Frank had left Grant in the will. But especially if some guy’s kids were involved. Unless Grant was…
No.
