notes.
There were trailers for everything. Presentations, temporary housing and hauling just about anything that needed to be moved. From horses to boats. But what intrigued her the most were the ones that were multiuse. She’d seen several custom trailers that were divided into living space and work space. What if they found something like that? A trailer they could modify so they lived in half and she had a commercial kitchen in the other half?
She spent a couple more hours doing research, and when she was done, she thought that maybe, just maybe, it was possible. Madness, but possible. Shelby had a thriving mail-order business. She’d had rave reviews on the cupcakes in a jar. Nancee could mail those from anywhere. If she could work with Shelby to start with, then maybe get her own website up and going...
She made more notes. What if she and Shep returned to Fool’s Gold every Christmas? She would like to see Gladys, and she could bake for Shelby while she was here. Once they paid for the trailer, they wouldn’t have a lot of expenses. Shep had always been able to find work. They would be fine. And together.
The thought of simply taking off was terrifying, yet oddly right. It had been nearly ten years—she obviously wasn’t going to get over the man, so she had to figure out how to make it work for both of them.
She pulled out her phone and sent him a text, asking him to get in touch with her. The rest of the day passed in silence.
She told herself to be strong. To have faith. But as the hours ticked along, she began to wonder if she’d waited too long. Had she finally figured out what she wanted only to lose Shep? Fear blended with sadness as she waited, each hour longer than the one before. Where was he, and when was he going to give her a chance to explain?
CHAPTER NINE
S HORTLY AFTER NINE the next morning, Nancee heard a truck pull into the driveway. She’d just mixed up batter, and now she set down the large mixing bowl and raced to the front of the house. She nearly collapsed from relief when she saw Shep’s truck. Despite the cold and the falling snow, she raced out to greet him.
“You’re back! Where have you been? I’ve been texting you. We have to talk. I have so much to tell you. Please say it’s not too late. Please.”
Shep looked at her and frowned. “Didn’t Gladys tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Where I went.”
“No. She didn’t say anything.”
He shook his head. “That woman and I are going to have a talk.” He opened the rear door of his extended cab pickup and pulled out a small pet carrier. “I went to DC, Nancee. To bring you this.”
He handed her the carrier. She took it and stared inside. Familiar green eyes looked back at her, then Calvin meowed loudly.
She dropped to her knees and unzipped the front of the carrier. Calvin flew out and into her arms. He was warm, and his thick fur smelled so good. He purred loudly, and the sound eased the ache inside her. She wrapped her arms around him.
Tears formed again, but these were the good ones. Happy tears.
“Baby boy, I’ve missed you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I had to leave you. I’m so sorry.”
Calvin hung on, purring and butting her chin with his head. She patted him, barely aware of Shep urging her to her feet and getting her into the house.
Still holding Calvin, she faced him. “You flew to DC to get my cat?”
“Uh-huh. Day before yesterday. I met with Sean—then Calvin and I took the red-eye back last night. Gladys knew. I don’t know why she didn’t tell you.”
Because she’s smart enough to know I needed to figure out my next step by myself , Nancee thought.
“This is so like her,” she said, then understood why Gladys had made a point of saying she had a brunch meeting with friends.
Shep’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then smiled.
“She said to tell you there’s a litter box set up in the laundry room and Calvin’s favorite food in the pantry.”
“She’s
There were trailers for everything. Presentations, temporary housing and hauling just about anything that needed to be moved. From horses to boats. But what intrigued her the most were the ones that were multiuse. She’d seen several custom trailers that were divided into living space and work space. What if they found something like that? A trailer they could modify so they lived in half and she had a commercial kitchen in the other half?
She spent a couple more hours doing research, and when she was done, she thought that maybe, just maybe, it was possible. Madness, but possible. Shelby had a thriving mail-order business. She’d had rave reviews on the cupcakes in a jar. Nancee could mail those from anywhere. If she could work with Shelby to start with, then maybe get her own website up and going...
She made more notes. What if she and Shep returned to Fool’s Gold every Christmas? She would like to see Gladys, and she could bake for Shelby while she was here. Once they paid for the trailer, they wouldn’t have a lot of expenses. Shep had always been able to find work. They would be fine. And together.
The thought of simply taking off was terrifying, yet oddly right. It had been nearly ten years—she obviously wasn’t going to get over the man, so she had to figure out how to make it work for both of them.
She pulled out her phone and sent him a text, asking him to get in touch with her. The rest of the day passed in silence.
She told herself to be strong. To have faith. But as the hours ticked along, she began to wonder if she’d waited too long. Had she finally figured out what she wanted only to lose Shep? Fear blended with sadness as she waited, each hour longer than the one before. Where was he, and when was he going to give her a chance to explain?
CHAPTER NINE
S HORTLY AFTER NINE the next morning, Nancee heard a truck pull into the driveway. She’d just mixed up batter, and now she set down the large mixing bowl and raced to the front of the house. She nearly collapsed from relief when she saw Shep’s truck. Despite the cold and the falling snow, she raced out to greet him.
“You’re back! Where have you been? I’ve been texting you. We have to talk. I have so much to tell you. Please say it’s not too late. Please.”
Shep looked at her and frowned. “Didn’t Gladys tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Where I went.”
“No. She didn’t say anything.”
He shook his head. “That woman and I are going to have a talk.” He opened the rear door of his extended cab pickup and pulled out a small pet carrier. “I went to DC, Nancee. To bring you this.”
He handed her the carrier. She took it and stared inside. Familiar green eyes looked back at her, then Calvin meowed loudly.
She dropped to her knees and unzipped the front of the carrier. Calvin flew out and into her arms. He was warm, and his thick fur smelled so good. He purred loudly, and the sound eased the ache inside her. She wrapped her arms around him.
Tears formed again, but these were the good ones. Happy tears.
“Baby boy, I’ve missed you,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I had to leave you. I’m so sorry.”
Calvin hung on, purring and butting her chin with his head. She patted him, barely aware of Shep urging her to her feet and getting her into the house.
Still holding Calvin, she faced him. “You flew to DC to get my cat?”
“Uh-huh. Day before yesterday. I met with Sean—then Calvin and I took the red-eye back last night. Gladys knew. I don’t know why she didn’t tell you.”
Because she’s smart enough to know I needed to figure out my next step by myself , Nancee thought.
“This is so like her,” she said, then understood why Gladys had made a point of saying she had a brunch meeting with friends.
Shep’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then smiled.
“She said to tell you there’s a litter box set up in the laundry room and Calvin’s favorite food in the pantry.”
“She’s
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