Page 76 of A Taste of Whiskey
“I know, buddy. I’m sorry, but it looks like your mom isn’t going to make it tonight.”
“I don’tcare. Can we go home and eat at the big house with everyone?”
“We sure can.” He was becoming increasingly concerned about Gus’s apathy toward his mother and made a mental note to speak with Wynnie about it.
Gus was quiet on the drive back to the ranch, but when they got there, he ran into the dining room in his tiny cowboy boots and shorts, calling out hellos as he raced by the tables. Ezra didn’t know if Gus had gotten a second wind, or if he was just thrilled to be back among people he could count on, but when his little boy made a beeline for Sasha as she stood at the buffet, filling her plate, he was happy to follow.
She looked cute in shorts and a T-shirt. He fought the urge to slide his arm around her and pull her close. He couldn’t stop thinking about last weekend and craving more time with Sasha, when they didn’t have to hide their feelings. Seeing Gus run to her made him want to share those feelings with Gus, too. He wanted his son to know how much he cared about her and to see him giving and receiving affection from a woman they both adored.
“Hi, Sugar.” Gus pushed up on his tippy-toes to see the buffet. “Did Cowboy eat all the good stuff?”
“Nope. There’s plenty left.” She gave Ezra a curious look.
“Grab a plate, buddy.” Gus went to get a plate, and Ezra lowered his voice. “Tina got hung up shopping with her girlfriends.”
She rolled her eyes.
Gus squeezed between them. “Dad, can I have chicken wings?”
“You sure can. Broccoli, carrots, or peas?” Ezra began filling Gus’s plate.
“Trees!” he exclaimed.
“Hey, Gusto. Do you want to work on our elf costumes tonight?” Sasha asked.
“Yeah! Can I, Dad?” he asked hopefully.
“Sash, if you had plans—”
“I was going to work on my costume.” She ruffled Gus’s hair. “Now we can do it together.”
He handed Gus his plate. “Carry this carefully over to the table, and I’ll get you a drink.”
After Gus walked away, she said, “Are you okay? You don’t look happy.”
“I’m just sick of this shit with Tina and worried about how it’s affecting Gus.”
“Was Gus upset when you told him?”
“No. That’s what worries me. Thanks for watching him tonight while I’m at church. I owe you one.”More like a million, but who’s counting?
“I’m sure you’ll think of a way to pay me back,” she said with a seductive twinkle in her eyes, and sauntered away with an extra sway in her hips.
He could think of about a dozen ways and looked forward to doing each and every one.
When he got back to the table, Sully and Sasha were talking about Posey, and Gus was looking at one of Sully’s sketches. “What are you looking at, buddy?”
“A picture Sully drawed of me and Sasha and Posey.” Sasha had introduced Gus to the sweet mare last week. He had asked dozens of questions, and Sasha had patiently answered each and every one of them.
“Sullydrewnot drawed,” Ezra corrected him, admiring the sketch of Sasha in cutoffs and barn boots, her hair trailing down the back of her tank top. She was petting Posey’s cheek with one hand and holding the lead in the other. She wore a careful, loving expression, which was trained on Gus, who was standing on his tiptoes in shorts and cowboy boots. His face was tipped up, his curls falling away from his chubby cheeks. His eyes were at half-mast, and his mouth was closed but curved into a smile as Posey sniffed him. Every wayward curl looked so real, it was as if he could reach out and touch them.
He looked across the table at Sully. “I can’t get over how lifelike this is. You’re really talented.”
“Thanks,” Sully said. “It’s not quite as good as Gus’s drawings, but I’m getting there.”
“Did you draw it for anyone in particular?” he asked. “Because I’d love to hang it on my wall if you didn’t.”
“I’m glad to hear that, because I made it for you and Gus.”
