Christian chuckled and said something back, but all I could focus on was the word "Chrissy." I'd never once in all the years I'd known him heard someone call him that. Almost everyone at work called him Mr. Frost. A couple called him Christian and once or twice I'd heard him called Chris. But never Chrissy. Somehow, the name just seemed so alien to a man like him.
It took a moment before I realized Christian was waving me over, and I stepped over, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I had not been on the ground for five minutes and I was already making a complete fool of myself. Wasn't that just the way my life seemed to be going?
"Mom, I'd like you to meet Jade," Christian said when I finally approached. Once again, a single word seemed to echo in my mind. Mom. This short, older woman was Christian's mother! "Jade and I work together," he continued, but those words barely registered.
Instead, his mother rushed over and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me almost as tight as Christian hugged her just moments ago. She was small, but her strength was surprising! "Oh, it's so nice to meet you, Jade. Everyone has been wondering who Christian would bring with him. He doesn't tell us much about what's going on in his life, so you'll have to fill us in on all the details."
I blinked rapidly, trying to decipher the woman's fast-paced drawl, but before I could even think to respond, she was shuffling the two of us toward a small black limo that waited a few feet away. A man in a black suit was already loading our bags into the trunk as we approached. When I glanced over at Christian, he just offered me a small smile and a shrug.
That look told me everything I needed to know, and I returned his smile. Family could be awkward, but they were family, and you just had to go along with the flow. That was something I knew all too well. I had a large extended family, and though I'd been an only child growing up, I'd had probably dozens of cousin and second cousins running around, not to say anything about the countless aunts and uncles.
Family, I understood.
At the same time, I let Christian handle most of the talking. His mother seemed to be talking a mile a minute, like if she stopped to take a breath, she wouldn't have enough time to tell him everything she wanted to get in before we left on Sunday night. It was all a lot to take in, and I found myself staring out the window of the limo, watching the beautiful scenery go by.
It wasn't quite freezing back home, but it was definitely cold. Here though, it was like it was still spring. The sun brought warmth and the fields were golden. I let out a sigh as I watched. I'd never been a fan of the cold, but until the incident a couple of days ago, I'd never really considered leaving the city I'd grown up in.
Now, I wondered what it would be like if I did leave town. Christian had promised me a reference that would open doors to most any company back home, but I wondered if it would've held weight out here. In a couple months, everything was going to change anyway. Wouldn’t it be better to just cut a clean line between my old life and my new life?
By the time we'd turned off the main road and were going down a long dirt driveway, I still hadn't come to any real decision. Just like everything else lately, it seemed like making a real choice was nearly impossible for me.
I let out a sigh, then pushed those thoughts out of my mind. Now wasn't the time to get bogged down in my thoughts. This was supposed to be a vacation, a chance for me to relax and clear my head. Sure, I was out here mostly as a favor for Christian, but I was hoping when I got back, I'd have a renewed sense of self, that I'd no longer feel so exhausted, mentally and physically.
There would be plenty of time to reconsider my entire life after the trip was over. For now, it was time to just focus on enjoying around me, especially since I had no idea when I'd get to go on another vacation. Once the baby was born, I doubted I'd have much time or energy to travel. Traveling with a newborn or a toddler did not sound appealing, especially by myself. Nor did I really want to leave the baby with someone while I went off on a trip.
Besides, traveling would cost money. I was making enough money to support myself and the child currently, and I was assuming I'd make a similar amount even after finding a new job, but it wouldn't leave me with much splurging money. Diapers and food and all that stuff were expensive. Plus, any extra money I had would end up needing to go into the child's college fund or other similar expenses. Children were not cheap.
And since Christian footed the bill on this trip, that meant I really needed to just sit back, relax, and enjoy myself.
The ranch truly was beautiful, too. There countryside was highlighted with golden grain as far as the eye could see, with a tree line just barely visible at what I assumed was the edge of the property. I had an urge to just run around out there, feeling like the world opened up as wide as the sky. Christian had told me about the horses Nick kept on the ranch, but none of them were visible yet.
What was visible was what had to have been the largest house I'd ever laid
