Poppy brushed aside her sister’s touch. “We’re working the details out as we go along. So far, so good. Let’s get the kids to the river and enjoy the day.”
“I’m so sorry you’re having to go through this again,” Rose said, her pale brown eyes glistening. “He’s already hurt you two enough. It doesn’t seem right. Is Rowdy okay?”
Poppy nodded, lying. Right now Rowdy was not okay. And she didn’t know what to do about it.
“We’re in the last bedroom?” Bob asked, steering the wheeled suitcase and Rose to the hallway.
“On the right,” Poppy said.
She stood at the sink, staring out the window, wishing there was a way to fast-forward the weekend. She loved Rose, and she’d wanted to show her sister all the delights of Stonewall Crossing. But now she wondered if that was wise.
“Ma?” Rowdy’s voice. “You coming?”
She spun around, smiling. “Yes, sir.”
He wrinkled up his nose. “Like that?”
She looked down at her jeans and shirt. “Nope.” She smiled. “Give me a sec.” She hurried to change, worried about Rose talking to Rowdy one-on-one. She slipped into her modest two-piece, tugged on an old button-down work shirt and hurried back to the kitchen.
Her phone rang, making Rowdy perk up.
“Hi, Mitchell,” she answered, winking at her son. His disappointment was obvious.
“Hey, yourself. You sound...funny.” The connection crackled. “Not the best service out here, I guess.”
“Where are you headed?” she asked.
“We ready?” Bob emerged alone. “Rose is going to rest.”
“That Toben?” Mitchell asked, sounding cool and calm.
“No.” She held up her finger and walked onto the front porch. “Been a few days.”
“Surprise,” Mitchell growled. “So who’s there?”
“Rose and Bob.”
“Guess that means the guest bed’s taken?” he asked.
She smiled, staring out over the pasture. “The couch is soft.”
“Sold,” he said. “I’ll be there in a few hours. You okay?”
She blew out a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess.”
“Don’t let him get you down, Pops. He’s not worth your time or tears.”
Mitchell was always on her side. “Is that from a song?” she asked.
“Is it? Might be. If not, I’ll write one.” He laughed. “See you soon.”
“Be safe,” she said before hanging up.
Mitchell was very good at cheering Rowdy up. Something her boy needed right now. If she was being honest, he was also a great buffer between her and Rose. Everyone liked Mitchell Lee. Everyone. If she were smart, she’d like him more. Mitchell would never run out on his wife and kid. When his first wife left him—not long before Poppy had finally received Toben’s picture in the mail—he’d been a sad sort. The two of them had bonded over heartbreak and built each other up, cementing a solid friendship in the process. She didn’t know how she’d have survived without him.
“Can we go?” Rowdy asked.
“Definitely,” Poppy said. “Got the sunblock?”