Debbie patted her cheek. “Honey, we have eight grandchildren. We’re used to high energy. We’ll be stopping along the way and—”
“If he acts up, we’ll lock him in the toilet.” Uncle Ben topped off the comment with a teasing grin.
Chance ran back into the room, his arms full of stuffed animals, miniature trucks and his special blue pillow. “I’m ready. Can we go now?”
Georgie fought back the surge of panic. “Can I at least have a hug, baby boy?”
As if she sensed her daughter’s distress, Lila took the toys from her grandson’s grasp. “I’ll put these in the RV while you tell your mama goodbye.”
In that moment, Georgie appreciated her mother more than she could express. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome, honey. Take your time.”
After her family filed out the exit, Georgie knelt down on Chance’s level and brushed a dark lock from his forehead. “You’ll be a good boy, right?”
“I’ll be good. I’ll brush my teeth and go to bed on time. And I’ll mind Grandma.”
“Are you going to miss me?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, Mama.”
She drew him into her arms. “I’m going to miss you something awful, too. I love you, sweetie.”
“I love you, Mama.”
Georgie held him tightly until he began to wriggle away. “I gotta go now, okay?” he said, his hazel eyes flashing with excitement.
“Okay.” She kissed his cheek and straightened. “Eat some vegetables while you’re gone.”
He wrinkled his nose. “Do I hafta?”
“Just a little. That’s better than nothing.”
After taking him by the hand, Georgie led her son to the RV where she earned one more hug, one more kiss and an understanding smile from her aunt. Chance scurried up the stairs with Debbie following behind him, and once he had disappeared, Georgie turned to her mother. “You’ll call me later, right?”
Lila raised her hand as if taking an oath. “I swear I will report back to you on a regular basis. And I also swear I will not sell my grandson for gas money.”
Georgie felt a little foolish. “I’m sorry, Mom, but this is the first time we’ve been away from each other for any length of time. He’ll be gone for two weeks.”
“Two weeks’ worth of amusement parks that he’ll dearly love.” She laid a palm on Georgie’s cheek. “I know it’s hard, honey, yet there comes a time when you have to let go a little. I learned that the hard way with you.”
“I know, Mom. It’s just so difficult.”
“It is for both myself and your father, even if he doesn’t show it.”
“I wouldn’t know since he’s clearly still refusing to speak to me, much less see me or Chance.”
“He’ll come around, and that reminds me...” Her mother hesitated a moment, which gave Georgie pause. “Speaking of fathers and their children, have you given any more consideration to telling Chance’s father about him?”
She’d been considering it nonstop. “I’m still on the fence about that. The hows and the whens and whether or not it would serve any purpose at this point in time.”
“Honey, it would serve a major purpose. It would give your son the opportunity to know his dad. They deserve to know each other.”
With that, Lila climbed on board and closed the door without awaiting her daughter’s response.
As Georgie watched the RV drive away in a cloud of dust, she felt more alone than she had since she’d realized she would be raising a child on her own.
She could stay at home this evening, missing her baby boy. Or she could go to the Calloways for dinner. Then again, that would mean facing Austin while reuniting with his family. Several years had passed since she had seen Maria and the boys, and the thought of eating a frozen dinner held little appeal.
Decision made. Wise or not, she would go.
* * *
“She’s not coming.” That reality had become apparent to Austin with every passing moment.
Dallas stopped rocking the back porch glider and shot him a hard look in response to the comment. “You don’t know that, Austin. Dinner isn’t even on the table yet.”
Austin pushed off the wooden chair and stared out at the fence row lined with mesquites. “Georgie is never late. If she’d decided to be here, she would’ve already shown up.”
“For a man who claimed five minutes ago, twice, that he didn’t care if she stepped foot through the door, you sure seem concerned.”
He spun on his brother and glared at him. “I just don’t like people to go back on their word.”
Dallas leaned forward and rested his arms on his knees. “So she told you she’d be here for sure?”
He had him there. “Maybe not in so many words, but she did seem open to the idea.”
“That’s a stretch from saying yes.”
Austin muttered a few curses as he collapsed back into the chair. “Doesn’t matter one way or the other. I was just being nice when I asked her.”
“You were wishful thinking, Austin. You can protest all you want but you’ve always had a thing for her. You still do.”
Time for a subject change. “Tyler mentioned that Fort called you earlier today. What did he want?”
Dallas sighed. “A part of the proceeds from Texas Extreme.”
Austin couldn’t believe his stepbrother’s nerve. “He’s never even stepped foot on this place. Why the hell does he think he’s entitled to any profit aside from what the will stated?”
“Because he’s a greedy jackass, and that’s what I pretty much told him.”
“I just hope he doesn’t make this into some legal issue.”
“That’s why we have attorneys on retainer.” Dallas checked his watch. “Looks like it’s dinnertime, and that means your girlfriend probably isn’t coming.”
“No big deal.”
Dallas smirked. “Yeah, right. That’s why you look so damn disappointed.”
He’d obviously been too transparent. “You’re full of it, Dallas.”
“You’re foolin’ yourself, baby brother.”
“Am not.”
“Are,
