“Mr. Nat’an?” Lucas asked crawling up onto the couch between them. “What should I name my pony?”
“I don’t know,” Nathan admitted. “What name do you like?”
The boy shrugged, trotting the pony across their laps. “Can I call him Jack or Scott like my friend Kadence’s mules?”
“If you like,” Rainy said. “Or you can wait and decide later.”
“I’ll think about it,” the boy mused seriously.
Anne slouched into the living room plopping herself in a recliner and opening a book as she shot a hard glare at Nathan.
“Rainy,” Nathan ignored Anne, even as he felt her eyes flick between them. “I was wondering if you and Lucas would go to church with me tomorrow? You don’t have to, but I’d like Gram to at least meet this little buckaroo.”
Rainy bit her bottom lip looking between Lucas and Nathan. If she went to church with him, would people think they were back together? Gossip had run amuck when he had first left town, but this would be a different crowd.
“Alright,” she finally made up her mind. “For your grandmother.”
“You have a Mimi?” Lucas looked up at Nathan. “Can I meet her? Does she make good cookies?”
Nathan chuckled. “She makes the best cookies.”
“Mommy, I want to meet Na’tan’s Mimi, p’ease?”
Rainy laughed feeling something hard lift from her heart. This was a new beginning. Perhaps it wouldn’t have the outcome she had dreamed of so long ago, but it was something, and her son would get to know his father.
“When did you start going to church?” Anne snapped. “You didn’t go in high school.”
“No, I rebelled against my grandparents' beliefs then,” Nathan admitted, his eyes flicking to Rainy as memories of their time together flooded back. “I’ve learned since then that I needed salvation and forgiveness for all I’ve done wrong. When Pap died, my whole world turned upside down. All that cock-sure faith in myself evaporated and reality set in. I’m learning day by day to walk in grace.”
Anne huffed, turning back to her book but keeping a close eye on Nathan Draper. If he made a move on Rainy, she would be there to put a stop to it.
***
“I don’t know why you are doing this or making such a fuss about it?” Anne snapped the next morning as Rainy tried on her third dress. “It’s only Nathan.”
“I’m doing this for Mrs. Draper,” Rainy said examining the soft green floral print. “Besides, if Nathan has truly changed, doesn’t Lucas deserve to have a father?”
Anne squirmed under Rainy’s soft glare, wanting to argue. “Sometimes I don’t know if you have a soft head or a soft heart,” she mumbled, “but either way I love you.”
Rainy wrapped her arms around Anne. Even now, after all the changes in their lives, they were best friends, and it wasn’t uncommon for Anne to drop by and spend a night in the spare room.
“I’m coming with you,” Anne declared suddenly. “I’ll meet you at church.”
Rainy blinked as Anne raced from the room. “Will wonders never cease? I hope this doesn’t mean the church roof will fall in if she walks through those doors.”
“I’m ready,” Lucas raced into the room ahead of his grandmother. He was dressed in his best shirt and jeans and wearing his oversized Stetson.
“You look perfect,” Rainy grinned winking at her mother. “What do you think?” She twirled flaring the hem of her dress.
“You’re b’utiful Mommy,” Lucas sighed.
Rainy knelt before her boy accepting the hugs and kisses from her best little man.
Chapter 14
The peace that swept over Rainy as she stepped into the small church was palpable and she felt goosebumps speckle her arms.
“There’s a class for kids Lucas’s age if you want to take him there?” Nathan suggested following Rainy inside. “Or he can stay with you.”
Rainy peeked through the double doors leading to the sanctuary as people flowed past her, offering a warm greeting or simple smile. “I’ll check it out,” she finally replied.
“Is this the class for little cowboys?” Nathan asked as they stopped in front of a small room.
“It sure is,” a woman in her forties replied. “Do you want to join us?” she asked Lucas who in turn looked at his mother. “If you’d like him to stay, I’ll give you this card and your little guy will get a bracelet that is coded to the card. No one can collect him without specific permission from you.”
“Do you want to stay here or go with Mommy,” Rainy asked feeling pulled to keep him with her yet wanting to let him play with children his age as well.
Lucas looked inside the room where a little girl smiled back at him. “I stay, Mommy.”
Rainy nodded, accepting the card and filling out the small information request for the worker.
“If he gets worried, I’ll text you,” the woman assured. “I know it’s hard leaving them the first few times.”
Rainy felt herself relax at the woman’s words. It had been exactly what she had been thinking and knowing that her son was only a text message away set her heart at ease.
“He’s already having fun,” Nathan encouraged as he peeked through the door. “Are you ready? Gram is saving us a place.”
Rainy nodded turning to walk back the way they had come, surprised when Nathan’s hand met the dip of her back. A warm shiver ran through her, and she suddenly felt more at ease.
“There you are,” Gram Draper grinned scooting down the bench seat as she looked beyond Nathan and Rainy. “It’s nice to see you again Rainy,” she added.
“We left Lucas in the children’s room,” Nate said in a hushed voice.
“You can meet him after church,” Rainy hurried to assure. It felt odd being here with two people she had once loved.
“If you have the time I packed a picnic for after service,” Gram smiled. “You and Lucas are welcome to join us in the park across the road if you have the time.”
The first strains of an unfamiliar song began to play, saving Rainy from having to
