Page 50 of Wanting a Family Man

Trystan poured enough liquid to cover the bright yellow fruit neatly stuffed into each mason jar, then he used a wand that must have been magnetic to pull the sealing lids from steaming water. He secured them to the jars with rings, then set the rack across the mouth of the canning tub, lowering the jars into water that was bubbling loudly.

His mother set a timer and finished packing another jar. Trystan topped up and closed each one so they were ready to go into the tub when the first ones came out. Pauline gave her hands a wash with soap and used a fresh tea towel to dry them.

“Let’s sit outside and hope the flies aren’t too bad.”

“With you smelling like a stack of pancakes?” Trystan teased. “Good luck.”

“I’ll keep them off you, won’t I?” She walked outside and sighed in relief.

The deck was covered, and it was only ten thirty so it was a pleasant temperature with a nice breeze floating up the valley.

“Where’s Andy and the kids?” Trystan asked as he handed his mother a glass of water.

Cloe lowered into one of the lawn chairs that stood open and were scattered haphazardly in little groups, as though there had been a party here last night. She soon figured out it was just a busy houseful of middle-grade kids and their friends.

“He and Nash are hunting. Kristen’s at Amy’s, but she knows it’s Friday. She’ll turn up to say hello. Owen is mowing lawns. He’s saving up for some gaming thing.”

“Like he has the time to play games, kid’s such a go-getter. Good for him.” The corner of Trystan’s mouth kicked up in affection.

“This is a surprise,” Pauline said as she turned her attention to Cloe. “I understood no one could find family on Tiffany’s side. That’s why the boys took custody of Storm.”

“Boys,” Trystan repeated with a significant glance at Cloe. “Like I’m also saving up for a GameCube.”

“Pfft. You wish you had that kind of money,” Pauline scoffed. “Maybe see if Owen will subcontract to you.”

Cloe tried to stifle her chuckle, but she loved everything about their relationship, from the part where Pauline had taught Trystan the mysterious art of preserving peaches, to the fact he had obviously shared with his mother some of his cash-flow problems, to the way her teasing put such a big grin on his face, reminding him that money was not the most important thing in life.

Pauline returned her attention to Cloe, her expression patient and friendly, not demanding any explanations, but open to hearing whatever she cared to share.

“I had some personal issues that I had to figure out,” she said cryptically.

The ringing phone saved her from having to say more.

“I’ll get it.” Trystan rose.

“You know that’s Kristen, asking you to come get her so she doesn’t have to walk. You don’t have to spoil her,” she called to his back.

Apparently, he did because he came outside a moment later to say to Cloe, “It’s five minutes up the road. Do you want to come with me?”

“Stay,” his mother insisted. “It’s nice to have company. But ask Iris if she has any wide-mouth lids she can loan me until I get to the store.”

Trystan nodded and climbed into the truck. He backed it into a worn patch on the lawn that seemed to exist for that purpose, then drove away.

“How do you come to be working on theStorm Ridge? Is Sarah all right?” Pauline asked.

“Yes, she moved to theStorm Front.” Cloe explained how Trystan and his brothers were actually helping her by giving her this job. “I’m pretty much broke and starting from scratch.”

“That happens,” Pauline said simply, then mentioned gently, “I met your sister once. We were visiting Trystan’s uncle Har in Wág?ís?a. Wilf brought her and the baby across for a checkup with the health nurse. They came into the coffee shop while we were there. Everyone was full of smiles, Tiffany and the baby and Wilf especially. You’d think he was the first man to ever make a baby.” She shook her head in amusement at the memory. “Like he didn’t have three others already.”

Cloe’s lips didn’t know if they wanted to turn up or down. Pauline didn’t betray any resentment, but it must have been hard to see Wilf acting as though he had forgotten the son he’d made with her.

“Thank you for telling me that,” Cloe said sincerely. “It’s important to me to know Tiffany was happy. I’m really upset with myself that I didn’t come sooner.”

“Loss is hard.” Pauline gave a knowing nod. “Regret always seems to be part of it.” Her worried gaze looked to where the truck had been parked. “Trystan pretends he’s not bothered, but…”

Cloe’s mind ticked over with the few things Trystan had told her about his father. She wound up speaking without thinking. “Maybe it’s easier to let someone go if you convince yourself you’re angry with them, so you don’t have to face the regret.”

Pauline’s brows went up and she nodded thoughtfully. Her gaze seemed to take Cloe in with more consideration, as though she was wondering if Cloe knew her son better than she had expected.

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