Page 106 of Shattered Melodies

Mom’s face softened, a knowing smile playing at her lips. “How’s he doing at the ranch? Is he settling in okay?”

I swallowed, grateful for the change of subject. “Yeah, he’s doing great, actually. The animals love him, even that ornery old Midnight.”

Dad chuckled. “Midnight? I never thought that I would see the day.”

“Well, I think it’s adorable,” Mom said, her eyes twinkling.

I nodded, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. It was nice, being able to talk about Liam like this. Like he was a part of my life again, a part of my family.

“So,” Dad said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. “How are things going with you two? You taking it slow like we talked about?”

I sighed, setting down my fork. Leave it to Dad to cut right to the chase. “We’re figuring it out,” I said carefully. “Taking things day by day, you know?”

Mom reached out, covering my hand with hers. “That’s good, honey. After everything you two have been through, it’s important to rebuild that trust.”

I nodded, grateful for her understanding. “Yeah, we’re working on it. It’s good, though. Being around him again. Even if it’s not always easy.”

Dad leaned back in his chair, studying me. “You really care about him, don’t you?”

I met his gaze, not backing down. “I do. I always have.”

He held my eyes for a long moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with what he saw. “Well, just be careful, son. I don’t want to see you get hurt again.”

“I know, Dad,” I said softly. “But I think it’s worth the risk. Liam, he’s special.”

Mom squeezed my hand, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “Oh, honey. I’m so happy for you. And I’d love to see Liam again, if he’s up for it. It’s been far too long.”

I felt a smile tugging at my lips. “I’ll work on it, Mom. Maybe we could have him over for dinner sometime?”

She beamed at me, and I felt a rush of affection for this amazing woman who’d raised me. Who’d fought so hard to be here, to see me find my way back to happiness.

“That would be wonderful,” she said. “Just let me know when, and I’ll make all his favorites.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Mom, you don’t even know what his favorites are anymore. It’s been years.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “Please. A mother never forgets. It’s pot roast and apple pie, right?”

I stared at her, dumbfounded. “How did you…?”

She winked at me. “Like I said, a mother never forgets.”

Dad cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “Speaking of Liam, didn’t you mention something about a fundraiser idea he had?”

I nodded, grateful for the chance to talk about something other than my love life. “Yeah, he thought we could do a big event at the ranch. Games, food, maybe even a concert. Get the whole town involved, you know?”

Mom’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that sounds wonderful! We could set up booths in the barn, maybe have a petting zoo for the kids…”

As she launched into planning mode, I felt a warmth spread through my chest. This was nice, seeing her so excited about something. After everything she’d been through with the cancer, it was good to see that spark back in her eyes.

Dad leaned in, his voice low. “You think this fundraiser could really help with the loan situation?”

I shrugged, trying to keep my tone optimistic. “It’s worth a shot, right? And even if it doesn’t cover everything, it’ll at least buy us some time.”

He nodded, a determined look in his eyes. “We’ll make it work, son. This ranch has been in our family for generations. I’m not about to let it go without a fight.”

I reached out, clasping his shoulder. “I know, Dad. We’ll figure it out. Together.”

After dinner, I headed out to do one last sweep of the ranch. The night air was cool on my skin, a welcome relief after the stuffy warmth of the house. This was my favorite time of day - everything quiet, peaceful. Just me and the land.

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