things had been.
“Of course. He thinks you’re so smart, and he envisions great things for you once you settle on a career.”
Emily grimaced. A smart dilettante wasn’t particularly admirable. “Finding a career has taken far too long, I’m afraid. You’d think by twenty-seven I’d have more direction in my life, but instead I’m working at something that pays the bills but doesn’t really interest me all that much.”
“My, my.” Pam exchanged an amused glance with Sarah. “Twenty-seven already and you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. Sweetie, I was past fifty before I figured that out.”
“As for me,” Sarah said, “I married Jonathan and that made the decision for me. I was a rancher’s wife. But I chose the man, not the vocation. I didn’t realize until after the wedding that I’d made a career choice at the same time. Turns out I love it, but I didn’t know I would. Jonathan’s first wife wasn’t so lucky. She hated ranching and left.”
“She did?” Emily had never heard that story. “Like my mother?”
“Not exactly like your mother.” Sarah took a sip of her wine. “Diana left her son, Jack, behind. He was only four.”
Emily gasped. “She left him? How could she do that?”
“I don’t know, but Jack had some major problems dealing with his mother’s abandonment. Thank God for Josie. She’s helped him come to terms with it. I think having a baby is the best thing that could happen to them because Jack can give that kid the security he didn’t have.”
Emily shook her head in amazement. “And all this time I thought he was your son.”
“Well, he is. Just not biologically.”
Emily wondered what other important facts she’d missed over the years because she’d visited the ranch under protest and had kept a protective shell around herself the entire time. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Jack. At least I’ve known all along that both my parents love me.”
“And that’s a gift,” Pam said. “I can vouch for the fact Emmett loves you dearly. You should see his face light up when he talks about you.”
Emily discovered that she couldn’t dredge up a single ounce of resentment toward this woman. Pam obviously loved Emmett, and that had to be a good thing. If he couldn’t have his daughter around all the time, he should have someone like Pam to brighten his days.
His objection to marrying a wealthy woman seemed silly and old-fashioned. Emily hadn’t planned to champion Pam’s cause, but now she was inclined to do exactly that. Life could be rough sometimes, and it made no sense to reject love when it was offered.
The front door opened and Emmett came in.
“Speak of the devil.” Pam set down her wineglass and stood. “Hey, stranger! Did you get lost in the feed store?” She started toward him.
“I did not. But Ronald’s jacked up the price on that watering trough you wanted, Sarah.”
“I hope you got it anyway.”
“I did, but it took forever. I looked for one with a small dent in it, but then I had to haggle with him for thirty minutes before he knocked a few dollars off.”
Pam chuckled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good bargain hunter, Em.”
“Thanks.” He smiled down at her. “I try.”
Emily had thought she might be uncomfortable seeing a woman being affectionate with her dad. But from the way he was looking at Pam, he obviously returned her love—whether he was ready to admit it or not. Emily was happy for him.
Sarah stood. “Now that you’re here, we can have dinner. Let’s go tell Mary Lou to start serving.”
Picking up her wineglass, Emily stood, too. “So who will be here for dinner?” She vaguely remembered the evening meal as a boisterous affair with all the Chance boys in attendance. But so much had changed since her last visit.
“Just us,” Sarah said. “Now that the boys are all married with homes of their own, we’ve designated Friday as family dinner night.
“Of course. He thinks you’re so smart, and he envisions great things for you once you settle on a career.”
Emily grimaced. A smart dilettante wasn’t particularly admirable. “Finding a career has taken far too long, I’m afraid. You’d think by twenty-seven I’d have more direction in my life, but instead I’m working at something that pays the bills but doesn’t really interest me all that much.”
“My, my.” Pam exchanged an amused glance with Sarah. “Twenty-seven already and you don’t know what you want to be when you grow up. Sweetie, I was past fifty before I figured that out.”
“As for me,” Sarah said, “I married Jonathan and that made the decision for me. I was a rancher’s wife. But I chose the man, not the vocation. I didn’t realize until after the wedding that I’d made a career choice at the same time. Turns out I love it, but I didn’t know I would. Jonathan’s first wife wasn’t so lucky. She hated ranching and left.”
“She did?” Emily had never heard that story. “Like my mother?”
“Not exactly like your mother.” Sarah took a sip of her wine. “Diana left her son, Jack, behind. He was only four.”
Emily gasped. “She left him? How could she do that?”
“I don’t know, but Jack had some major problems dealing with his mother’s abandonment. Thank God for Josie. She’s helped him come to terms with it. I think having a baby is the best thing that could happen to them because Jack can give that kid the security he didn’t have.”
Emily shook her head in amazement. “And all this time I thought he was your son.”
“Well, he is. Just not biologically.”
Emily wondered what other important facts she’d missed over the years because she’d visited the ranch under protest and had kept a protective shell around herself the entire time. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Jack. At least I’ve known all along that both my parents love me.”
“And that’s a gift,” Pam said. “I can vouch for the fact Emmett loves you dearly. You should see his face light up when he talks about you.”
Emily discovered that she couldn’t dredge up a single ounce of resentment toward this woman. Pam obviously loved Emmett, and that had to be a good thing. If he couldn’t have his daughter around all the time, he should have someone like Pam to brighten his days.
His objection to marrying a wealthy woman seemed silly and old-fashioned. Emily hadn’t planned to champion Pam’s cause, but now she was inclined to do exactly that. Life could be rough sometimes, and it made no sense to reject love when it was offered.
The front door opened and Emmett came in.
“Speak of the devil.” Pam set down her wineglass and stood. “Hey, stranger! Did you get lost in the feed store?” She started toward him.
“I did not. But Ronald’s jacked up the price on that watering trough you wanted, Sarah.”
“I hope you got it anyway.”
“I did, but it took forever. I looked for one with a small dent in it, but then I had to haggle with him for thirty minutes before he knocked a few dollars off.”
Pam chuckled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good bargain hunter, Em.”
“Thanks.” He smiled down at her. “I try.”
Emily had thought she might be uncomfortable seeing a woman being affectionate with her dad. But from the way he was looking at Pam, he obviously returned her love—whether he was ready to admit it or not. Emily was happy for him.
Sarah stood. “Now that you’re here, we can have dinner. Let’s go tell Mary Lou to start serving.”
Picking up her wineglass, Emily stood, too. “So who will be here for dinner?” She vaguely remembered the evening meal as a boisterous affair with all the Chance boys in attendance. But so much had changed since her last visit.
“Just us,” Sarah said. “Now that the boys are all married with homes of their own, we’ve designated Friday as family dinner night.
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