Flynn(7)

When she’d had an ultrasound and they’d suggested there could be something wrong with the baby, she’d assumed her mother had paid them to say that as a ploy to get Natalie to end her pregnancy. Her mother had wanted that from the minute she’d found out that Natalie was having a baby. However, now she knew she was telling the truth.

She looked at Emily again.

She stood unable to move even a mere inch as she watched her help her father unload the bags of groceries from the back of his truck. She’d come here with every intention of telling him who she was, and why she was here, but after setting eyes on her daughter she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was suddenly tongue-tied.

“Let’s head inside before we all freeze,” said Flynn.

“Come on Natalie, it’s warm inside.” Emily pulled on her arm.

How she wished she could head back to her motel room and sit all alone for a few hours so she could process this into her brain. But she had no way of getting there until he got her car out of the ditch.

Natalie followed her and Flynn up the driveway and to the front door. The wind had picked up, and she shivered. Maybe her mother had been right; she should have left things in the past. But she’d promised Jon, and in her heart she’d always wanted to set eyes upon their child.

Flynn opened back the front door and Emily grabbed Natalie’s arm again and encouraged her inside.

If you only knew who I am. What would both of you think? What would you do?

She smiled at Natalie, and now that they were inside and in the light, she could see that Emily had reddish hair just like Jon’s. She swallowed. This was the girl they’d made and never got to see grow up or to love for the last thirteen years.

Even through the thick lenses on Emily’s glasses she could see a little of Jon’s eyes. The color somewhere in between blue and green. She suddenly missed him. If only he could be here to see Emily. Most of all, to give Natalie the strength she now felt she needed.

“Why don’t you take off your coat so we can hang it up to dry? And then come through to the kitchen and I’ll make some coffee to warm you up,” said Flynn.

Now she was inside she also got a better look at him. Rugged old man. So far from it. Sexy tall cowboy. That described him perfectly.

“I can do it,” said Emily.

“I’ll do it, but you can offer Natalie some cookies,” said Flynn

“They come from my grandma’s café,” said Emily.

Her grandma.

She had a family and Natalie probably had no right being here. She was an outsider and stranger who was intruding.

“Come on,” said Emily.

Natalie followed them through the living room. She glanced at the photos on the walls. Most of them were of the young Emily with Flynn. She’d been such a cute little girl. If only she could stand here and study them some more. Maybe even ask for a photo album so she could see evidence of her child growing up…but she couldn’t.

Flynn put the bags down on the countertop.

“I don’t want to put you to any trouble,” said Natalie seeing Flynn fill up the coffee pot.

“Truth is I was going to make some for myself. It’s been a long day.”

“A new calf was born. She’s mine, and her name’s Sharon,” said Emily.

Natalie smiled. Had her daughter enjoyed growing up on a ranch? She had to stop thinking of her as her daughter. While she’d grown in Natalie’s womb, she was Flynn Malone’s child.

“Have a seat, warm yourself up, and then we’ll see about pulling your car out of the ditch,” said Flynn.

Emily opened up a plastic container in which sat the most delicious cookies Natalie had ever seen.

“Those are chocolate chip, those are oatmeal, and these are peanut butter. I like them the best.”

“Wow, all my favorites,” said Natalie.

Natalie, on Emily’s advice took a peanut butter one as Flynn handed her a mug of coffee. She looked at his hands, weather beaten and calloused, but so big and strong too. And his eyes. He had the most beautiful blue eyes. Windows to the soul. His soul was gorgeous no doubt.

“Cream or sugar?” he asked.

Natalie shook her head. “No, black’s perfect.”

“I like your earrings,” said Emily. She moved closer to her and touched the one in her left ear. How strange that she’d noticed and admired them. They’d belong to Natalie’s grandmother which meant Emily liked something that had once been her great-grandmother’s.

“Honey, what have I told you about touching people’s things without their permission?” said Flynn.

Emily’s hand shot away from Natalie’s face. “Sorry.”