Page 29 of More Than Falling in Love

And now I’m on the verge of tears.“I’m glad to be back.”

I set him on his feet as Ava walks up.

“He runs faster than I do.”She opens her arms.“It’s good to see you.”

Her hug is the kind that moms give, and I’m thankful to have someone like that in my life again.

“I missed y’all.”Conveniently, no one here laughs at me for using vocabulary I grew up with in Georgia.Maybe that’s why this feels like a second home.

Mason drags my suitcase as we walk toward the exit.

Ava seems more relaxed than when I was here for the wedding, and I’m taking that as a sign that she isn’t upset about me visiting so soon.“I’m guessing Mad Dog told you why he isn’t here.”

“He called this morning.Sounds like a crazy day.”

“It’s been rough.No one even had time for lunch.”She unlocks the truck.“But someone was happy to ride to the airport with me.”

I load the suitcase into the back, then buckle into my seat.

Ava glances in the rearview mirror.“You all buckled in back there?”

“Yep,” Mason says.

“Has Dad been working on the ranch a lot?”Working as a rancher is vastly different than preparing sermons and visiting church members.

Ava’s eyes twinkle.“Some.On days like today, he jumps in to help.”

My dad has been good about staying active, and living out here helps that.

“Tonight, I’m going to read to Poppy.”Mason swings his feet but doesn’t kick the back of the seat.

“Sounds like a plan.”I make a point not to look at Ava because my face will give something away.Not that I have anything to hide.Exactly.

When I showed up here for the wedding in May, I couldn’t have predicted how connected I’d feel to this amazing kid in such a short time.I don’t love my life in New York any less, but being away from the ranch makes me the tiniest bit homesick.Mason isn’t the only reason.

My phone buzzes, and I open the text from Sarah.

Sarah:Last box has been moved out.Apartment is all locked up.See you at work when you get back.

A string of hearts follows her text.

Me:Miss you already.See you Tuesday.

And that’s the other reason I chose now for a visit.When I get back, I’ll be on my own.As much as I work, I won’t have time to be lonely.But still.I might be harboring a slight fear of the unknown, which is crazy.As one of the first few hires of a start-up, I’ve been tackling the unknown on a daily basis.And it’s about to pay off.But all the success on the job front makes my personal life seem not so bright and shiny.It’s one of the reasons I look forward to having a six-year-old read to me.That feels like a success in my personal life.

Sarah:And please take a picture of the cowboy you talk to every evening.You think I haven’t noticed how you disappear each night for a few minutes?I’m hurt you haven’t told me about your sweetheart.

Me:I don’t have a sweetheart.He’s a friend.

I intentionally haven’t mentioned Mason or Kent, and I’m not about to change that.I know Sarah.She’ll make way too many assumptions about my spending every evening listening to a six-year-old read.

But seeing Mason’s excitement when he tackles a new word and gets it on the first try gets me right in the feels.

Mason is curledup on the sofa, sound asleep.He only read a couple of pages because he wanted his dad to be able to catch up.I think pure exhaustion also had something to do with it.

Ava and I chat about people on the ranch, my job, and other random topics.She’s a strong woman with a tender heart, and I like her more every time I see her.

“I promise not to barge in too often.But I’m kind of falling in love with this ranch.Tomorrow I’m getting a horseback riding lesson.”I’m excited to meet the horses, and it’s a reason to wear my boots.

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