There was no denying the affection she had seen there. That little girl was as important to her as if she had given birth to her, herself. There was history there, and Maria briefly wondered if Stacie’s heart was already taken and she was wasting her time.
“We will see,” Maria murmured to herself. She returned her attention to the dress she had been admiring and made an easy decision. She had a reason to buy it now. “I’ll take this, as well as some of that white sage I smelled earlier.”
“I thought you would,” Bianca said, taking the dress from her and folding it up neatly before bagging it. “I can’t say I’m not disappointed.” Regret with a dash of bemusement colored her voice.
Maria didn’t blame her for her confusion. Until Stacie walked in, they had been flirting quite outrageously. Bianca was a handsome woman, but any of the attraction she had felt for her a few minutes ago had been snuffed out in an instant the minute she was caught in another flame. “If it helps, I’m not sure what just happened, either.”
“Yes, you do,” Bianca said. She spoke softly, but with quiet force that came from a different place than words spoken by a potential lover.
Maria bowed her head in acquiescence. “You’re right.”
The tall, blonde cowgirl with the awkward soul was meant to be here, at this time and place, just so they could meet.
“Now, go!” Bianca broke into a flurry of movement, breaking the silence and weight of the moment by enthusiastically shooing Maria out the door. “If you are cooking for this woman, you need to start soon or you’ll never earn her heart.”
Maria hung onto her purchases for dear life, laughing so hard at the bustling dismissal that a few people turned their heads to stare at her. The crazy woman, she thought, giggling like a school girl. She pointed her feet in the direction of the parking lot and practically ran through the crowd to get to her old VW Bug, muttering a quick prayer that the temperamental thing would start on the first try.
Chapter Three
Stacie walked into the house a few moments behind Rowan. Rowan had taken the lead, jumping out of the truck and running into the house with her ice cream cone held out in front of her like an Olympic torch. Rowan was more coordinated than Stacie would have given her credit for. She managed to run up the porch stairs, slam open the screen door and continue inside the house without falling, slowing down, or losing her ice cream.
After the bright sunlight outside, stepping into the house felt like wandering into a cool cave. Immediately after stepping over the threshold, she heard raised voices arguing in the living room, childish voices that broke through the quiet serenity of the old farmhouse as absolutely as a window shattering. Rowan was a precocious child but usually well mannered. Put her in the same room as her twin brother and you might as well build a storm cellar and hide in it. The two of them could be classified as a hurricane, or a tornado, depending on where you were from. It being California, she guessed the two of them could do a pretty good imitation of a decent sized earthquake once they started running around the house—at least seven on the Richter scale.
“Not fair! I’m the oldest,” Rob exclaimed.
“Only by five minutes,” Rowan responded. She didn’t yell that time, she just smiled and took a lick of her ice cream. Her gaze slid past his, she narrowed her eyes, daring him to do something. He lunged for it and she did her best imitation of Lady Liberty, holding her ice cream out of her brother’s reach. At eight, she was taller than he was, something that would change in a few years, Stacie was sure, but for now she was having a grand time taking advantage of being bigger and stronger than her barely “older” brother.
Stacie chuckled at the familiar argument. She had been listening to the twins go back and forth about who came first since they learned how to talk.
“Rob, would you put this in the freezer?” She stepped between the two of them and held out the half-gallon of ice cream she had bought. The colorful container worked better than any peace flag. “There’s enough for everyone.”
“Thanks, Stacie.” Rob gave her a quick hug before running for the kitchen. She heard Dee say something to the boy and an answering squeal of excitement. Dee must have told him he could have some ice cream now rather than waiting until after dinner.
“Aww,” Rowan pouted, deflating a bit when she realized Rob was getting his own treat.
“Nothing wrong with sharing,” she reminded Rowan. She could hear the sound of the TV playing in the master bedroom. She hoped that meant Josie was awake and feeling better. “Hey, why don’t you go see your dad? I want to talk to your mom.”
“Do you think Mom will want ice cream now?”
“I’ll ask her, okay?” Stacie patted Rowans head then shooed her towards the kitchen before heading for the bedroom. More than likely, she only had a few moments alone with Josie before the whole family descended on them.
Josie was in bed, but she was sitting up against the headboard. The television flickering in the corner was ancient. An old black and white with tired looking rabbit ears, it reminding Stacie that she had to drop by the local parts store and order a new antenna for her truck. Josie turned her head and smiled at her when Stacie knocked on the doorframe.
“Hey. How’d it go today? Did Rowan behave?” Josie asked, taking the small bag of herbs and spices from her.
“She’s a good kid. Do you even have to ask?” Stacie sat down on the edge of the bed and gave her best friend a careful hug. Josie had lost weight, it was too easy
