Page 58 of Better Together

He walked to her bedside and pulled the covers from around her neck. “Rise and shine, beautiful.”

Abby stirred, inhaling a deep breath as she rolled onto her back. “Is it morning?”

“Yep. Brother is getting ready for school, and Remi is making waffles.”

“Oh, okay.” Abby stretched out her arms and legs. “Remi said I could go to work with her today.”

“You bet, but she has to take Ben to school first. You’ll be with me at the stables this morning.”

Abby sat up quickly. “I get to see the horses!”

“Horses first thing this morning,” Colt confirmed.

Abby threw off the covers and darted out of the room with her tousled hair streaming behind her.

Colt chuckled and followed her. The kids were liking their new home, so far, and Colt was too. If only he knew if Remi was just as content. After the talk about the single bed situation, he’d let a little bit of doubt settle in. Had she really thought he’d force her to sleep in the bed with him, much less do anything physical? If that side of their marriage ever developed, it would be on her terms.

Colt made his way to the kitchen where Ben sat at the table with his head propped in his hands. Remi moved around, grabbing ingredients and things she’d need to whip up breakfast.

“Can I go to school too?” Abby asked as she climbed into a chair at the table.

“Not yet,” Remi said without turning around.

“Can you at least teach me my ABCs?”

Remi turned, holding the fork she used to pull waffles from the maker in the air. “You don’t know your ABCs?”

“Mommy always said I would learn that when I went to school.”

Colt’s eyes widened. Remi was not going to like this. Her lips thinned for a second before she turned back to the waffle. “Sounds like we have work to do.”

“Yay!” Abby shouted.

“What’s your teacher’s name?” Remi asked Ben.

Ben raised his head. “Mrs. Carmichael. Can we not talk anymore? I’m sleepy.”

Remi opened a few cabinets before finding the platter she was searching for. “Fine, but we’re singing with Patsy and Dolly on the way to school.”

“Who’s Patsy and Dolly? Are those your dolls?” Abby asked. “I have some dolls.” She gasped. “Did you bring them?”

“We have every doll,” Remi confirmed. “We’ll unpack the rest of your stuff this evening and put them in your room where you want them.”

“I can’t believe I have to share a room with her,” Ben grumbled.

Remi stirred more of the mix and pulled the spoon out, testing the consistency. “Maybe one day we’ll get a bigger place.”

Well, that comment had Colt’s back straightening. He looked at Remi, but she turned to pour the mix into the waffle maker. That had to be a good sign, right? Or maybe she was saying she didn’t like the cabin. Though, it didn’t sound like Remi to be unhappy here. Sure, she’d liked Ridge’s place, but she’d lived with Jess in a small two-bedroom house outside of town. It wasn’t much to write home about, but she’d never complained to him.

Colt filled two cups with coffee and handed one to Remi. He’d picked out her Dolly Parton tumbler.

Remi took it from him and showed it to Abby. “This is Dolly. She’s a singer. Don’t worry. I’ll introduce you to the legends.”

“Dad liked to sing,” Ben whispered.

The use of the past tense was new. The kids had been talking about their parents as if they still did the things they were used to. It was also the first time the kids had mentioned their parents so early in the day.

Grief was closing in on Colt too, and if the kids were feeling half of what he was, they were in for a long and bumpy ride.

---