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“It must have really been hard raising so many headstrong women.”

“You have no idea. If they even knew what I was up to tonight… there would be no end to the prodding and questions. Count yourself lucky you only have the one.”

“Thomas is wonderful. I was truly blessed with him.” Her eyes got a far-off look and she picked less at the food she held in her hand.

“And his father?”

Her eyes bounced to meet his, then dropped. She didn’t even attempt to meet his gaze as she picked at the crumbs on the blanket. “What about him?”

Zeke hesitated. This kind of conversation wasn’t the best to have on a first date. They probably should be keeping things light.

When she lifted her eyes once more, he knew he needed to just push through.

“Was he present?”

“Not in the slightest.”

Zeke didn’t know what he’d expected Agatha to say. He’d figured the man would have been involved at least a little through Thomas’s childhood. But nothing? The thought sent an insidious tremor through his body. A man needed to be there for his family. It didn’t matter that they’d separated; it was his duty to raise his boy right. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly how it sounds. Thomas’s father didn’t raise him. Honestly, it was a good thing he wasn’t around. I get the sense he would have been more trouble than he was worth. He had a drinking problem and a drug problem. And a… yelling problem.”

That tremor from before only grew stronger. She wasn’t inferring that her ex was abusive, was she? His free hand balled into a fist, but then Agatha placed hers over it.

“It’s fine. He passed away a few years ago. I don’t much care for dredging up those memories. I’m just glad I was able to leave with my self-worth intact.”

18

Agatha

“You shouldn’t have had to go through any of that,” Zeke said.

Agatha focused on her hand that still covered Zeke’s rather than meeting his gaze. Even after all these years, she’d never told anyone exactly how hard it had been being married to Thomas’s father.

As much as she would have liked to forget everything she went through, she knew she never would. The scars left behind by the way he treated her emotionally were many. But at least those experiences were enough to pull her out of the darkness and help her fight for the future. “I will never regret or resent that I had to go through any of it.” This time she did meet his gaze. “Those experiences were what helped me realize I could only count on myself. And perhaps they’re the reason why Thomas and I are so close.”

Zeke stiffened. “You had to lie to him about what you were doing tonight.”

Her lips curled into a half-smile. “Actually, I didn’t. Everything worked out for the best. Turns out you played a big part in it, too.”

His brows furrowed and he inched closer. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you mean.”

Agatha laced her fingers through his, tracing her thumb on the back of his hand. “Well, you have that overnight cattle run or something. He volunteered to help. So he said he couldn’t make it. I guess things seem to work out for us in ways we don’t expect more often than we realize.”

“What overnight cattle thing?”

She glanced at him before she tugged her hand free to reach for her wine glass. “I don’t know. It’s your ranch. He said you were looking for more men to keep an eye on the cattle at a new pasture or something. I don’t know all of it. But it sounded pretty perfect to me. Did you plan that part too?” Her smile stretched wider at the thought of Zeke creating a job just so she wouldn’t have to lie to her son.

While misguided, it was still romantic.

“There’s no overnight cattle drive, Agatha.”

“What are you talking about? He stopped by and told me himself.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. My cattle are right where they should be and won’t be moved for another couple of days.”

She stared at him, unseeing. His words didn’t make sense. It was like he was speaking another language altogether. “What do you mean they won’t be moved? Thomas said—”

“Thomas lied, Agatha,” he whispered.