She turned to him. “Why are you warning me against Cinco?”
Ty shrugged. “I see the hero worship in your eyes when Ricky talks about him. And now, the way you’re staring at his picture.”
So she had been staring. She hadn’t meant to, but how else was she supposed to react to finally seeing a picture of her probable father?
Ty gestured toward the door. “Let’s head out.”
Outside, the fire was burning in the large outdoor fireplace, and though it wasn’t yet dark, various lanterns and twinkle lights were already lit. The effect was charming, and Rachel found that her prickliness toward Ty was melting away in the ambience. The band was just starting to warm up, and people were milling about, sipping on drinks and talking. The crowd seemed larger than the one in the dining room.
“Where did all these people come from?” she asked.
Ty looked around the area. “I’m sure word got out that Ricky was auditioning one of the bands.”
That didn’t sound like the Ty who had chastised her for being here without a reservation. “You mean people just show up?”
Ty shrugged. “They’re friends and neighbors. They’re welcome to stop by anytime.”
“Unlike me?” She gave him a challenging look, and then felt kind of stupid for it. What was she going to gain by questioning him on this? She was supposed to make friends with him, not antagonize him further.
“There’s a difference between friends, neighbors and strangers. You were hesitant to leave your daughter with me because I’m a stranger. But a friend or neighbor? You’d be willing to leave her with someone you trusted. Rightly so. I don’t fault you for wanting to keep your daughter safe. Just like I work to keep Ricky safe.”
She knew the point he was trying to make, and it was tempting to tell him that she never left Katie with anyone other than licensed childcare providers. But that thought, rather than bolstering her position, only made her feel sad. She didn’t know anyone she’d feel comfortable leaving Katie with. No one that she would invite over or feel comfortable having them drop by.
As she looked around the gathered crowd, she once again felt the sadness that had been creeping up whenever she examined her life.
Rachel had spent years telling herself that she was just fine on her own with Katie. That she didn’t need anyone. But as she saw people greeting each other warmly, she wondered if she’d only been lying to herself.
Katie tugged at her hand. “Mom, there’s kids here. Do you think they’ll make friends with me?”
Wherever they went, Katie had a knack for making friends with every child she met. Sometimes it made Rachel nervous, letting her daughter interact with so many strangers. There didn’t seem to be any harm in it in this semiconfined space, but still, Rachel hesitated.
“Over there is Leah Jackson, and her husband, Shane,” Ty said. “Their boys are Dylan and Ryan. I think Ryan is just a little older than Katie. Leah’s sister, Erin, is the ranch accountant. They’re good people. Talking with them is Janie Roberts. She’s the pastor’s daughter. Her son, Sam, is Ryan’s age. I can introduce you if you like.”
Rachel appreciated that Ty looked at her directly as he spoke, other than to point at the various people he spoke of. “There’s not a face here that’s unfamiliar to me, and I know you haven’t sussed out whether or not you trust me, but I can tell you that if I had a little girl, I wouldn’t hesitate trusting any of these people with her. These are people Ricky knows and loves. They’re like family to us.”
She was the only stranger. That was what he was saying.
The boys began tossing around the ball. Katie tugged at her hand. “Please, Mom, can I go play?”
She supposed it wasn’t any different from Katie befriending strange children at the park. But this wasn’t just a simple day at the park. Rachel still had to convince Ty she wasn’t a threat to Ricky so she could have a moment alone with the older man to explain to him what she needed. Even if he wasn’t willing to connect her to someone who could donate a kidney, maybe he could tell her what he’d found out about her brother or sister.
Those were a lot of things to ask a stranger. Even if they were related but didn’t know it yet.
Rachel turned to Ty. “If you wouldn’t mind introducing us, I would appreciate it. I’m sure Katie would love playing with some other children.”
Though Ty’s warm smile was supposed to make her feel better, it only made her feel worse. He was trying to make her feel comfortable, safe, willing to let her guard down. But she knew it was only to see if she would slip and give away something that would indicate she was a threat to Ricky.
Still, as he guided her over to the people he’d mentioned, she took a deep breath and put a smile on her face. Maybe seeing her interact normally with other people would make Ty realize it was safe for her to be around Ricky, and while she couldn’t see her and Ty ever being friends, maybe he would relax enough for her to finally be alone with Ricky to explain why she was really here.
Ty tried to enjoy himself listening to the band. As far as he was concerned, these local boys were better than anything Ricky had ever brought in. But as he took another sip of his iced tea, he found his gaze wandering over to Rachel. She had shamed him earlier
