Page 6 of A Montana Secret Admirer
It was fine. She was a survivor. Serenity might not be happy like she’d once been, but she could look at what still remained of her shattered life and be grateful.
Her boys were alive and well. Both of her parents were still alive. And she’d be able to survive the summer before needing to get a job.
“You okay?”
Serenity jumped at the sound of her sister’s voice. Jane had her shoulder leaning against the doorframe, her arms folded. That same concern Serenity had seen in Noah’s eyes was ever present in Jane’s, too.
“Yeah,” Serenity sighed. “I just don’t… want to put anyone out. Tana seems so nice, but she’s your mother-in-law, not mine.”
Jane scoffed. “You know Tana. This whole thing was probably her idea to begin with, and she just incepted it into our heads.”
Serenity released a half-hearted chuckle. “She’s such a nice lady.”
Jane pushed away from the door and pulled Serenity into a hug. “I’m glad you’re here. This place? It’s going to be so good for you. The boys, too. There’s just something about being out in the middle of nowhere that makes you take stock of what you have and?—”
“I’m fine, Jane.” At her sister’s furrowed brows, Serenity sighed. “I don’t want you to think I’m some child who needs looking after. I’m doing okay. I might not be thriving, but I can appreciate the good in my life.”
Jane pursed her lips. “I know. We just… I want to see that light in your eyes again.”
The guilt Serenity felt over her sister’s words had a nasty habit of poisoning her stomach. She hated feeling like she was a burden, whether because of her own failures or because people were worried about her.
“Does that mean you’ll come out and see the sunrise with me on Saturdays like you?—”
“No,” Serenity cut her off.
Jane frowned. The question she didn’t want to voice was written clearly in her eyes.
Serenity folded her arms. “That was our thing. Finn and me. I’m not ready to watch the sunrise without him, Jane. Sorry.”
Jane nodded. The hurt was present in her eyes. When they were younger, after Serenity had started dating Finn, the three of them would watch the sunrise together occasionally. Serenity hadn’t known if Jane had continued with the habit after she’d moved away. Apparently so, if she was asking Serenity to join her.
“Maybe toward the end of the summer?” Serenity asked.
Her sister nodded again. “I’ll look forward to it.” She hesitated before leaving the room. “You need anything?”
Serenity shook her head. “The boys are already drooling over the bunk beds that Will dragged out of storage. Dad’s not going to be happy to hear he’s at risk of being replaced as the best grandpa ever.”
At that, Jane laughed. “Let’s just not tell him.” She left, and Serenity moved to the window. The neighbors were some of Noah’s cousins. Serenity had heard all about how the ranch had become a family compound of sorts. There were five families living on the property. Two of those families had married off all their children. She looked at the simple ranch-style home out her window, and her thoughts drifted back to the wedding.
Did Reese live in that house? Or was he in one of the others that surrounded the little circular road leading to these residences? It didn’t matter. She wasn’t interested in dating him.
Nope.
Reese was off limits, just like everyone else.
“This lasagna is delicious,”Serenity insisted.
Tana gushed with pride. “Thank you, dear. It’s been a while since I’ve had to feed little ones, though.” Her eyes drifted to the boys. Jessi had a face covered in sauce that nearly reached his hair. Tegan seemed less than thrilled about the meal and had only picked at it.
“Something less messy next time?”
Serenity gave Tegan a look that told him to be grateful and eat some more. He’d been moodier lately. Out of her two boys, the seven-year-old wasn’t nearly as thrilled about leaving his friends for the summer.
Tegan frowned but picked up his fork anyway and took another bite.
“Whatever you like to fix will always be appreciated,” Serenity insisted. “Don’t go out of your way for us.”
“Oh, nonsense. You’re just as much part of our family as Jane. We are thrilled to have you here.”
