Page 7 of Coming Up Roses

“Come meet my mum,” she says and my breath catches. They stop in front of us, Sadie clearly in charge of the introductions. “Flynn, this is my mum, Abigail.” She grins up at me. “Flynn is one of my bestest friends.”

He wraps a big hand around the end of one of her braids and gives it a gentle tug. “The feeling’s mutual, sprout.”

“I’m not a sprout,” she grumbles.

“A sprout is just a little plant. And you’re a little person. Sosprout you are.” He grins at her then meets my eyes. There’s concern there. I don’t want to see it. “Also, I met your mum a little earlier. Did you bring her to meet the horses?”

Sadie nods.

“I’ll go grab Scout’s lead,” Dallas says, heading for the barn.

Flynn turns to me and watches me carefully for a moment. I shift uncertainly under his gaze. “You good?” he asks eventually, the concern in his eyes making my skin itch.

“I’m fine.” I glance at Sadie, who’s wandered towards the paddock, calling out to Scout. The horses are both slowly making their way across the paddock.

“Sure, okay. Let me know if you need anything.” He smiles. “Catch you later, Sadie,” he calls out and the grin he sends her way is a thousand times brighter than the one I got.

Whatever. I don’t need some random farmhand in my business. I just need to focus on my job and on Sadie.

The panic attack makes sense. It’s the first time I’ve seen Sadie in years. She doesn’t remember me from before. Feeling anxiety over that makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is feeling jealous of my five-year-old because Flynn gave her a better smile than me.

4

FLYNN

“How’s it going?”

“Shit!” I jerk in fright when I round the corner of the tractor and find Katie leaning up against the back wheel. The running hose in my hand jolts, and I somehow get soaked.

“Oops. Sorry,” Katie says, only looking about five per cent apologetic. The rest of her looks highly amused. She’s in jeans and work boots, a faded grey sweatshirt and the cap Dallas was wearing a few minutes ago when he walked down the driveway with Abigail and Sadie. Now I understand why he volunteered to get a lead rope they probably don’t even need.

“I should get you,” I grumble, shaking my now wet hair out of my eyes. “Why the hell are you hiding behind the tractor?”

“I’m not hiding exactly. More just, preferring not to be seen.”

“Why? Dallas clearly knows you’re here.” I gesture toward her head, then glance back over my shoulder where I can justmake out Dallas and Abigail standing at the fence, Sadie balanced on the railings between them. “Oh. You’re spying.”

“I am not. I’m making myself scarce.” She sighs and slumps against the tractor. “I didn’t realise they’d be coming down here. I wanted to give Abi a chance to hang out with Sadie without me around. Figured meeting the ex’s new girlfriend on the same day as her daughter might be a little much.”

“That’s remarkably considerate of you,” I say, then tauntingly flick the hose towards her, yanking it away just before the water hits Katie’s boots.

“I’m a remarkably considerate person, thank you very much.” She scowls at me, then redirects her attention. “So, how’s it going?”

I glance back at the trio standing at the fence. Do I tell Katie about the panic attack Abigail had earlier? Is it even relevant? Maybe it’s a one off and it was purely because she knew she was seeing Sadie for the first time in years.

I shrug. “Fine, I guess. Sadie seems excited. I hope Abigail doesn’t let her down.”

Damnit, that sounded more angsty than it was supposed to, I know it the moment Katie’s attention, which has been mostly focussed across the yard, snaps to me.

“I know it’s everyone’s biggest concern. But Dallas is sure Abi’s in it for the long haul.”

“That’s good,” I say, finally returning my focus to washing down the tractor, trying to avoid the rest of this conversation.

“You all good, Flynny?” Katie’s voice is soft, just like the hand that lands on my arm.

“Yep. Just tired. It’s been a long day.”

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