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Nadine touched Stephanie’s arm. “I wanted to let you know I heard you and Tate were in a relationship. I think that’s great, and if you ever need a woman to talk to, please consider me. I know you have your own mom, but she’s down in Jewel Lake, right?”

“She is.”

“So, if I may be an honorary aunt, I’d be pleased. There seems to be a lot of testosterone around here.”

Stephanie laughed. “Isn’t there, though?” It was kind of exciting, but more exciting to have been claimed by one of the men in question. “There will soon be a few other females around. Mr. Sullivan said a woman named Kaci would be starting in a couple of weeks. She’ll be in charge of the chambermaids.”

“Yes, he’s hiring additional kitchen staff, too. Soon this place will be bustling.”

“You can’t deny the boss has a lot of vision.”

Nadine smiled. “I can’t believe how he jumped on my ideas after we first met and then just started making them happen. It takes more than vision. It takes a lot of experience and cash.”

“None of that seems in short supply in the Sullivan family.”

The older woman eyed her appraisingly. “They’ve been blessed.”

“You’re part of the family now.”

“It’s hard to grasp. All my life, I wondered about my father, but Mom refused to give me any information. I only knew she’d been living in Chicago when she became pregnant. When DNA testing became prevalent, I jumped on it, knowing full well I might never find results. After all, the other party had to submit to testing as well.”

“Huh. That makes sense.” And it made Stephanie’s own issues with her parents pale in comparison. They loved her. She knew that. She only wished they didn’t have such high and specific expectations of her. But it was way better than not knowing who her father was until she was… how old was Nadine? In her mid fifties, maybe? “How did your mom feel about you going around her to find the information?”

Nadine sighed. “She was livid. She forbade me from contacting him.”

“Oh, wow. Has she come around?”

“Not yet. I’ve invited her to come visit the ranch, and she obstinately says no.”

“She must have really loved him.”

The other woman looked at her strangely. “She married when I was five, and I have two younger siblings. Randy Evans was my dad in every way that mattered.”

Stephanie readjusted her despondent image to something a little more joyful. “But you still wanted to find your biological father?”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe? I’ve never really thought about that type of scenario. Well, I’ll pray for your mom. It sounds like she’s clinging to bitterness from the past, and who can blame her? But forgiveness is good for the soul.” Listen to her, spouting off churchy words like they were embedded in her life. But wasn’t this her struggle? She’d forgiven both Eli and Harper a dozen times, but the bitterness still tried to find a way into her heart.

Not so much now that Tate looked at her like she’d hung the moon.

Moon.

She needed to keep a closer eye on her ward and spend less time contemplating the deep.

“Thanks, Stephanie. I’ll see you at dinner.”

“We’ll be there.”

Chapter Ten

Mom breezed into the lodge, looking around, her arms spread wide. “This ranch is gorgeous! What a wonderful find, Walter!”

“Welcome, Maribel! I’m glad you could make it.” Grandfather kissed the air beside both Mom’s cheeks.

Tate crossed to his father, who stood just inside the door with his hands shoved in his pockets. “Good flight?”

“Not bad.” Dad kept watching his father and his ex-wife.