Her mouth tightened, but she didn’t protest.
The gathering flowed out of the apartment and loaded in the vehicle.
The fifteen-minute drive was filled with chatter from the twins as usual. Upon arriving, Stacia was able to park close.
As they stepped inside the OST, his dad looked around. “What’s the name of this place?”
“The Old Spanish Trail, OST for short.” Stacia gave the hostess a head count.
“Could we get a table in the John Wayne room?” The side room decorated with the Duke memorabilia was a bit more private and less noisy the times Ross had stopped in over the last month.
“Of course. Right this way.”
“Isn’t it awesome?” Mason pointed out the covered wagon salad bar, the saddle barstool seating and the enormous trophy elk on the wall that servers had to duck underneath.
“They don’t serve alcohol here.” Stacia smiled, obviously on hyper alert trying to prove she was a suitable guardian for the twins. “The bar is just for food.”
Once they were seated, they gave their drink orders and checked out the menu. When their drinks arrived, the server took their food orders and left them alone.
“Thank you for making us feel so welcome.” Mom patted Stacia’s hand. “We’ll probably head back to Houston Sunday morning.”
Stacia paled. “So soon?”
Huh? Ross expected her to be glad.
“We need to check on our house and the store. But we should be able to come back in two weeks, if that’s okay with you.”
“Two weeks?” Her voice cracked. “The kids have school.”
“Yes. If it’s not too much, we’d like to come and visit Mason and Madison every other weekend.”
“Visit them, here?” Some color returned to her face.
“Well, yes. This is where they live. Eventually, we might want them to come visit us, maybe in the summer. But for weekend visits, it’ll be easier if we just come here. We’ll try not to crowd you or be a nuisance.”
Stacia clutched a hand to her heart. “That sounds fine.”
She must have thought they planned to take the twins with them for two weeks.
“Wonderful. Now that we have things settled, have you decided about tomorrow?”
She glanced at Ross, then the hopeful faces of their mutual niece and nephew. “I think they’d enjoy visiting more grandparents.”
“Yay!” the twins echoed one another.
“You’re the best, Aunt Stacia.” Mason smacked her a high five across the table.
“Thank you.” Mom gave Stacia’s hand a quick squeeze. “And Mason is right, you kids are very blessed to have Stacia for an aunt.”
The tension eased and she seemed to relax as their food arrived.
Could Mom be right? If Stacia could get it settled in her heart that the twins were hers, could she see him in a new light? Dare he hope?
* * *
This had to be the longest day in history. Stacia had seen the twins off this morning, but it seemed like days ago. The store had kept her busy with getting the B and B shipment off and a constant flow of customers. But she’d been unable to focus and as the workday ended, she was anxious for their return.
Thankfully, the Lyleses seemed content with the twins living with her. Eventually, she’d have to deal with the twins going to Houston for visits during school holidays. She dreaded dragging them back and forth for road trips and if she took them or Ross picked them up, they’d have to see each other.
Tying her to him and his fake feelings forever.
She checked her watch. Shouldn’t they be back by now? Had she been too trusting? Her hands shook.
“Relax.” Daddy shot her a wink. “Ron’s out of the picture. Karen and Sam are content with visits. The twins are probably having the time of their lives.”
“I hope so. I really do. But I was expecting them back by now.”
“They’re meeting their great-grandparents for the first time. That’s not something you can rush.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“Sweetheart, the Lyles family aren’t scheming, manipulative or obsessed like your aunt was.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I am. Why don’t you go take a walk? You’re wound tighter than a roll of barbed wire.”
It was tempting to let the chatter of birds and the fresh air soothe her fried nerves.
“Go on. I’ll close up.”
“Okay.” She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but didn’t quite pull it off.
Outside, the sun shone bright, mid-eighties with a slight breeze. Autumn wildflowers lined the familiar path to the river. But her heart was too troubled to really appreciate it. Birds lent their voices, but peace refused to come.
By the time she made it to the river, she was ready to turn back and go home. Instead, she sat on her favorite rock near the shallow crossing and tried to let the trickle of the water wash away her worries.
“Please let them be all right Lord. Bring Madison and Mason home to me.” Tears came but no more words would. He was listening. She could feel God’s presence and He knew all that weighed so heavily on her. Time stood still as she soaked in His comfort, but her peace would be unattainable until the twins’ return.
“There you are,” Ross said from behind her.
She jumped up then whirled to face him. “Why did you stay gone so long?”
“The kids were having a good time and Nanny and Papaw loved having them. We kind of lost track of time.”
“I thought you weren’t coming back.” Her voice broke.
“I can’t believe after all this time, after all of my assurances and meeting my parents, you still don’t trust me.” Ross’s shoulders slumped and he closed his eyes.
“You should have called me.”
“Maybe.” A tic developed in his jaw. “But I shouldn’t have to. I said we’d be back and I meant it.”
“People say things they don’t mean all the time.”
“I don’t.” He jerked his Stetson off, ran his fingers through his hair, then clamped it back in place. “You know what? I’m done. I’m done trying to win your trust, much less your heart. I’ll go clear out my apartment and
