“I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either. You know how strained it is with them since you two moved in together. I’m sure she’ll be back. There must be some miscommunication, Paul.”
“I don’t think so, Maude. Not a single stitch of her clothing is left. She took everything.”
Hoping to sound sincere, she asked, “Did you have an argument?”
There was a lengthy pause before he finally answered. “Yeah, but it wasn’t anything big. She shouldn’t have left.”
“Okay, I’m sure she’ll be back. Whenever Mary got like this when we were kids, she just needed time to cool off.”
Another pause.
Does he believe the lie I’m feeding him?
“If she contacts you, Maude, I expect you to let me know.”
“Oh, I will.”
They ended the call, and she slammed the receiver onto the cradle. “Not even when hell freezes over will I ever let you know where my sister is.”
* * * *
Grant Strong took the big diaper bag for the four boys to the van.
His twin brother, Greg, was getting the little guys dressed. It was always such an ordeal to go to town even for something as simple as lunch, but they definitely needed to get out of the house and off the ranch.
He and Greg had moved in together after the accident not only out of necessity but also to console each other. After losing their wives in a horrific car accident, they were completely lost and alone. With their parents passing years ago, they had no one but each other to turn to. They were so overwhelmed and had no idea how they were going to raise the boys and work the ranch. Moving in together was the best decision they’d ever settled on. He was certain that he and Greg wouldn’t have made it without each other.
Trying to keep the ranch afloat and the boys fed and cleaned took every bit of energy they had. They shared all the chores. One day, he would do all the ranching and Greg would take care of the boys. The next, they would switch, and he would be on diaper duty and Greg would tend to the cattle and whatever else needed to be cared for. And there was always something that needed to be done on their ranch.
“All ready to go.” Greg walked in with Nate and Seth in his arms, with Heath and Tobias following behind him on their little legs.
“Let’s get them loaded up.” He turned to Heath and Tobias. “Come here, boys.”
“Daddy.” Tobias held up both his hands, inviting him to lift him up in his arms.
He hoisted his nephew up with his left arm and Heath with his right, and the six of them headed out the door to the van.
Having spent so much time with his nephews, Tobias and Seth, Grant was as close to them as he was to his own sons, Heath and Nate. He knew that Greg felt the same way about all their boys, too. In both their hearts, there was absolutely no difference. Following in the Wilde tradition, they were teaching the four boys to call them both “daddy.” Funny, since he and Greg had never been in the typical Wilde family, which consisted of more than two parents, even though they were related to those that were. Their dad had no other siblings but had grown up with Jack, Tom, and Will Wilde, who were all like brothers to him.
“I am happy to finally get this break.” Greg opened the van door, placing Seth and Nate into their car seats. They’d modified the vehicle so that they were able to fit all the boys, side by side in the backseat. “It’s been over a week since we left the ranch. Too long.”
“I agree. Way too long. I know it’s just burgers, but we both need to talk to some other adults.” He buckled Heath and Tobias into their seats.
“Allie dropped by this morning with a roast,” Greg said, hopping into the passenger seat.
He got behind the wheel and started the engine. “How is your old high school girlfriend doing?”
“Determined but nice. And how about your Brenda?”
“That lemon cake on the counter is from her, but she’s not my Brenda. She’s just Brenda.”
“They are both very sweet, but I don’t feel that way about Allie and I’m pretty sure it’s the same with you for Brenda.”
He and Greg had talked about dating again, but there was no time. By the end of the day they were just ready to crawl into bed. “No matter what I say to Brenda, she just won’t give up. Did you know she brought a card with the cake?”
Greg shook his head. “Allie brought flowers. She keeps telling me that you and I need her help. She even offered to move in. It’s very sweet, but she’s made it clear she wants something I just won’t be able to give her.”
“Same with me for Brenda. One day I believe you and I will be ready to date again. This just isn’t the time with the boys so young.”