Page 60 of Coming Home to Maverick

“What! Tell me!” Her heart started to feel lighter, and she managed a real smile for her daughter.

“I’m gonna name my pig Nash!”

She laughed. “What!”

“Yeah, Maverick said that was a good idea. It’s ’cause Nash helped me pick out the right one. And we’re gonna win, so I want his name up there with me.”

“That’s a great idea!” She laughed again and looked for Maverick.

He stood leaning in the barn’s doorway. “I had very little to do with it.”

“That I can’t hardly believe.” Bailey lowered Gracie to the ground. “Why don’t you show me what your Nash can do.”

Gracie ran back and picked up her piglet. “He’s so smart.” She took him to a larger, empty stall and tied a mini rope bridle around the pig’s neck.

“How does she know how to do that?”

“She’s a natural. I promise. Just explained it once.”

“Wow.” She paid closer attention as Gracie worked with her pig. At first, the animal was reluctant, resisted instructions, but Gracie kept at it, kept asking, kept showing, and soon, Nash the pig was prancing around doing what he was told. “You’re so good at that, love.” Her eyes flitted to Maverick’s. “And I’m sure you had a great teacher.”

Maverick was everything a young girl should have in a father. Again, the guilt piled on as Bailey considered the consequences of her choices. Maverick could have been her father.

He sidled up to her. “I love your little girl, you know.” His eyes were full of sincerity, full of love. “All this time, I’ve been thinking about our kids, wondering what they would have been like.” He dipped his head toward Gracie. “She’s so much more amazing than I even thought.”

Bailey’s eyes filled with tears. “If only you were her father.”

Hurt flashed through his face. “Understood.” He stepped back and called out, “Well done, Gracie. Should we give little Nash a bath?”

“Wait. No, you don’t understand.”

“What don’t I understand?” He turned around, his face closed, his eyes guarded.

“I’m just…” She glanced at Gracie, who was paying closer attention. “I was just saying I was stupid.”

Gracie widened her mouth in surprise. “Did you just say a bad word?”

“No, what I meant was dumb.”

Gracie’s expression did not change.

“I made a poor choice.”

She nodded her acceptance and then turned back to Nash the pig.

Maverick’s expression became less guarded as he looked from mother to daughter.

“What I’m trying to say, Maverick, is that if I’d been smarter, you would be a father already. And we wouldn’t even be having this awkward conversation.”

“And I’m just sitting here noticing that I still could be, because I love you and her, and you’re pushing me out.” The hurt grew in his eyes, and he turned away with a forced cheerfulness. “You know, piglets don’t like baths too much, but I once read if you bathe them in milk, it makes all the difference.”

Gracie took his hand and glanced back at Bailey. “Are you and Mama okay?”

“Yeah, we’re great.”

Gracie frowned. “Whose daddy are you? Why’s she mad about it?”

“I don’t know, Gracie Faith. Some things are just too confusing for me to figure out. But one thing I do know, you are one special girl, and I’m glad we’re friends.”

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