“He had a lot of responsibility,” Chloe mused. “Did he never get angry and take it out on you?”
“Never,” Aileen told her daughter emphatically. “He talked to me about it, but he never blamed me for anything that wasn’t my fault.” She studied her daughter’s face, and noted the dark circles under Chloe’s eyes and the stress lines around her mouth. “Is everything all right between you and James, sweetheart?”
“Yeah. Fine. They’re fine,” Chloe answered quickly. Maybe too quickly. “He just seems pre-occupied and stressed out about work. And with me starting my practice, things are a little tense, I guess.”
Something was wrong. Aileen could sense it. But her daughter was an adult, nearly thirty years old, and she was so proud of Chloe. She didn’t want to pry, but she planned to watch their relationship much closer. Her instincts as a mother were rarely wrong. “You know you can talk to me about anything?”
Chloe smiled at her weakly. “I know, Mom. Thanks. I missed you while you were gone.”
Aileen had missed her children, too. Chloe had been gone for school for so long, and now she was getting married and leaving home for good in a matter of months. Luckily, James was a local doctor and they would live here in Rocky Springs, but she’d gotten used to having Chloe back in the house again, and it would be hard to see her move out again.
I wish I could get rid of this nagging, motherly feeling that something isn’t right with Chloe. I’m sure it’s just because I’m sad that she’s leaving. James is a doctor, a respected physician, and my daughter is a local veterinarian now. He and Chloe should live a wonderful life together.
Unfortunately, Chloe just didn’t seem like a happy bride-to-be, and James was polite but distant. He always had been, so it was difficult to really get to know him well. “You and James haven’t gotten your rings yet?” Aileen knew her daughter wanted a ring. She’d seen Chloe look longingly at wedding bands and diamonds for months. Ultimately, she knew that Chloe wanted a child. Although her daughter had plenty of time left to have babies, Aileen wondered whether Chloe felt as though her biological clock was already ticking. There were moments where she wondered whether Chloe wanted a child more than she really wanted a husband.
“He still wants to wait until closer to the wedding.”
A male voice behind Aileen startled her.
“Then dump the loser and marry me instead.”
Aileen smiled and turned around, happy to see her son, Blake, and his friend Gabriel Walker, the mysterious male voice teasing her daughter.
“Blake,” Aileen said excitedly as she jumped out of her chair quickly for a woman her age and threw herself at her son.
Blake’s duties as a US Senator had kept him in Washington DC for way too long. He hadn’t been back to Rocky Springs in months.
He picked her up and swung her around. “How’s my favorite mother?” Blake joked as he hugged her tightly.
She swatted Blake’s shoulder. “I’m your only mother. Now put me down.” She scolded him, but she secretly adored the way her children were able to openly display their affections for her and for one another. They fought and scrapped like all siblings did, but their devotion to one another was always evident. And she was so blessed with the children she and Russell had created together: every one of her kids a child to be proud of, and that she loved with all of her heart.
He squeezed her tightly before he lowered her feet back to the ground. “Ah…well…even if I had fifty mothers, you’d still be my favorite,” Blake answered glibly.
Sweet talker! Of all of her boys, Blake was the most charming—which was probably good because he was a politician. But honestly, Blake had always been that way. Even as a child, he could charm the rattles off a rattlesnake.
Gabriel held out his arms to her, and Aileen didn’t hesitate to hug him. “It’s so good to see you, Gabe.” It was always nice to see Gabe Walker. He and Blake had been friends since they were teens, and Gabe was living permanently in Rocky Springs now. He owned a very profitable horse ranch that bordered Blake’s cattle ranch, which stretched way beyond the city limits of Rocky Springs. Her husband and Gabe’s father had been good friends, and Blake and Gabe had bonded like brothers when they were teens. Aileen had also been friends with Gabe’s mom, and she’d hurt for him when he lost first his mother, and then his father. Since then, she looked at him almost like another son. He had to be lonely all by himself out in the big mansion he’d built on his horse property, but he never spoke about it.
Gabe had obviously known Blake was coming in. He’d probably met him out at the airstrip and followed him home for breakfast.
As she released Gabe, Aileen turned to her daughter, who had risen to throw herself at her brother, Blake. Her second eldest son was currently nearly squeezing the life out of his little sister.
Aileen asked her daughter jokingly, “You just got another marriage proposal, darling. Aren’t you going to respond to Gabe’s offer?”
“No,” Chloe answered irritably as she glared at Gabe. “I’m already spoken for.”
Aileen had to bite her lip to keep from smiling. The way that Chloe and Gabe sparred amused her. Secretly, she wished that her Chloe was marrying a man like Gabe. He’d keep her on her toes without bringing her down. Gabe was obviously fond of Chloe, but her daughter was having none of him. For some reason, Chloe avoided Gabe at every opportunity.
Gabe caught Chloe’s gaze and winked at her. “You know you were just waiting for a better offer to come along.”
“Then I’d have to wait forever,” Chloe told him in almost a hostile voice, but she shot him a fake smile. “Luckily I’m marrying the man of my dreams in just a few more months.”
“If you were my woman, I’d have a ring on that finger by now.” Gabe’s voice was light, but his eyes were intense.
“It’s a good thing I’m not your woman then,” Chloe answered sharply.
Blake spoke up to dispel the tension in the room. “Where is everybody?”
“Zane’s in Denver, working on a project. Marcus was due home yesterday, but he got delayed by the storm. He should be home today. And Tate is at home.” Aileen motioned for everybody to sit down and she went and dished up some breakfast for the two men. She didn’t miss the fact that Chloe was quick to pull her long-sleeved shirt all the way down to cover her bruised wrist.