Mom joined us, standing at Dad’s side. “And I’m Anne.”
“Nice to meet you both.” Jasper dipped his chin. “Thanks for having me for dinner.”
He sounded like this visit was a one-time trip. Maybe it was.
“Hey.” Lyla came over with that too bright, too friendly smile on her face. “How are you guys?”
“Good. You?”
“Great.” Her gaze flicked to Jasper for a split second before it dropped to the ground. Except on its downward path, it landed on my left hand. She tensed when she saw my ring.
We hadn’t talked about her crush. But I should have forced it. I should have gotten the awkward over with before a family gathering. How could I have not realized she’d been into Jasper? I was such an asshole. Worst sister ever.
“Heard we have a new addition,” I said, desperately wanting the attention to go anywhere else.
“A colt,” Dad said, leading the way to the stall.
Inside was a black foal with a white star on his forehead.
“Isn’t he handsome?” I smiled. It was as fake as my marriage. I knew without turning around that Jasper hadn’t followed us over. That he was standing apart.
Dad’s arm came around my shoulder, pulling me into a side hug.
I looked up, meeting his blue eyes. They were full of concern, probably because Dad always saw what his children were trying to hide. Not all of it, but enough.
“Well, now that you’re here, we can name him,” he said.
“No planets,” Knox said from where he stood beside Memphis. She was holding baby Harrison while he had Drake in his arms.
“We’re out of planets anyway,” I told him.
Years ago, Dad had bought eight horses. At the time, I’d been doing a school project about the solar system, so I’d asked to name the horses after planets. My horse was Venus. Her stall, three down, was empty, probably because she was out grazing in a meadow with the others.
Jupiter, Griffin’s horse, was at his house. But otherwise, the other seven lived here. Mars belonged to Knox. Saturn was Mateo’s. Neptune and Mercury were Lyla’s and Talia’s. Mom and Dad had volunteered for the least desirable planet names.
Ever since those horses, I’d been naming our animals. The dogs. The milk cow. The kittens. Whenever a creature needed a name, they came to me.
But it was time to pass the torch.
“Let’s let Kadence name him,” I said.
Foster’s seven-year-old daughter stood on her tiptoes beside Mom, her eyes locked on the foal. At my suggestion, her gaze whipped to me, then Dad.
“Really?” she asked. “Can I?”
Dad nodded. “He needs a name.”
“What should I pick?” she asked.
A deep voice filled the air. “Anything other than Earth or Uranus.”
Mom gasped.
We all turned as a man strode into the stables.
Mateo.
“W-what are you doing here?” Mom rushed toward him, pulling him into her arms.
She blamed her recent gray hairs on the fact that her baby was flying planes in Alaska. That, and Mateo hadn’t been great about visiting.
“Hey, Mom.” He swept her into his arms, looking bigger than when he’d left. Grown up, like Griffin and Knox.
When Mom stepped aside, Dad claimed him next for a back-slapping hug. “Welcome home, son. This is a surprise.”
“Good to be here, Dad.”
Something settled. Something clicked. With all of us on the ranch, it was like being hugged by home. I glanced at Jasper, wondering if he felt the love too.
His arms were crossed. He stared blankly at an empty stall.
My good feeling dimmed.
Matty got mobbed with hugs and handshakes. He became the center of attention, and I breathed a sigh of relief, moving to stand beside Jasper. Maybe we’d survive tonight after all.
“Hi.” Mateo walked over, pulling me in for the last hug, keeping me tucked against his side as he held out a hand for Jasper. “You must be the husband. Jason? James?”
“Matty.” I elbowed him in the ribs.
He chuckled. “Kidding. Nice to meet you, Jasper.”
“You too,” Jasper said, shaking Mateo’s hand. It was the first genuine sentiment I’d seen from him since we’d arrived.
“Congratulations.” Mateo glanced down, pinching my cheek like he used to when we were kids.
“Don’t.” I swatted his hand away. “What are you doing here?”
“Can’t I come home?” he teased.
“How long do we have you?” Mom’s voice was cautious, like she already despised his answer. “What’s your plan?”
He shrugged, letting me go to drag a hand through his hair. It was longer now than I’d ever seen it, like he hadn’t cut it in months. “Well, first I was hoping for dinner. Then I’m going to find an empty bed and sleep for two days. After that, whatever. See who needs help around here.”
“Me.” My hand shot in the air. Griffin had his mouth open, like he was about to offer Mateo work too, but I pointed my finger at his nose. “Don’t even think about it. I called dibs first.”
Griff chuckled. “Fine.”
Matty, like the rest of us, had spent his teenage years working here on the ranch and at the hotel.
“Even if it’s just for a few days, I’d love some help,” I told him. “Thank you.”
“How about if it was for more than a few days?”
“Wait.” I blinked. “What do you mean? What about Alaska?”
“Alaska’s great. But it’s not Montana.”
“Does that mean you’re home?” The hope in Talia’s voice was written on every Eden face. “For good?”
He nodded. “For now.”
Mom coughed, clearing her throat. She had tears in her eyes. “I need to get started on dinner.”
Without another word, she turned and walked out of the stables. She’d retreat to her kitchen and shed a few tears of joy. Then she’d fuss over Mateo the moment he crossed the threshold.
Everyone trickled out behind her, one by one, heading for the house.
Except Jasper.
He walked toward the stall, peering inside to look at the foal.
I took the space beside him, but I didn’t look at the baby. I stared at his profile, waiting for him to look my way. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Liar.
He’d told me last night he wasn’t one for family functions. Why? What was I missing? What was his family like? Maybe I shouldn’t have pushed so hard for this. Part of me wanted to beg, to plead with him to just . . . try. Instead, I told him what was in my heart.
“I don’t want them to hate you when this is over,” I whispered.
“Don’t you think it’s easier that way?”
“What do you mean, easier?”
He lifted a shoulder. “They don’t need to know me to hate me.”
“But I don’t want them to hate you.” My heart twisted. Why would they hate him?
“I don’t care if they do.”
“Jasper.” My voice cracked. “I do.”
Was that how he saw us ending? With hate in our hearts? Part of me wanted to hug him. The other part wanted to throw a handful of horse shit in his face for being such an idiot.