What Happiness Looks Like (Promises) Read online

  “How about this?” He selected a strip and pointed toward a yellow rectangle.

  Kate read the name aloud. “Sunshine. Hmm. I kind of like it.” Except that she wanted this decision to take longer. She wanted to savor every minute of preparing for Lily to move in with them. “What about this color?” She reached for a less buttery hue.

  He narrowed his eyes. “No. We both liked this one. Let’s buy some cans so I can get home and start painting.”

  She crossed her arms, stalling. “I don’t want to rush this.”

  “But we need to. I want the paint fumes to be gone before the baby moves in.”

  The baby. He was concerned about the baby. It was amazing how things had turned around for them in an instant. “OK.”

  He tapped the yellow paint strip against the palm of his hand and headed toward the counter. Once he’d calculated how many gallons he needed, he turned toward Kate. His warm, brown eyes twinkled with anticipation. “Want to go to Babies ‘R Us after this?”

  She couldn’t help but grin. The whole day was going to be about preparing for a baby. A real, live baby girl.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  JOELY

  Joely dreaded going home.

  She had just walked Anna into the kindergarten classroom, helping her carry her “foil family”, a sculpture she’d made out of aluminum foil in honor of F, the letter of the week. A little boy wearing a Cubs hat bumped into her leg as he hurried down the hall. Joely barely noticed him or the other children on their way to class since her mind was elsewhere.

  Yesterday Anna hadn’t hesitated to twist the metal to form a tall figure to represent her dad. She created floor-length skirts for her mom and aunt. Uncle Mitch sat next to them on the shoebox, sporting shiny silver pants like Jake’s. Monte, the cat, stood on four foil balls with his tail in the air. He was barely shorter than the crinkled foil figure representing Anna.

  Joely felt a little unsettled, seeing how quickly Anna had added Jake to her family tree. Her daughter hadn’t yet learned how to build a wall around her heart. Was age five when she would learn? Joely shoved her hands in her coat pockets. Anna was too young for that kind of lesson. She was too young for that kind of pain—the kind of pain Joely knew loving and losing Jake produced.

  Unfortunately, their family was even more fragile than Joely had realized. The other night she’d overheard Mitch asking Kate when her sister was going to move out. Something about how he wanted to walk around in his boxer shorts but couldn’t because she lived there. She knew he had a point.

  As Joely exited the school, she heard someone’s cell phone go off behind her. It played the theme song from “Dukes of Hazzard”. She smiled to herself, remembering how she and Kate had argued over who was cuter—Bo or Luke Duke. Joely thought it was Bo, the blond. Curious, she turned to see whose phone it was. Then she smiled even more, realizing it belonged to Dalton.

  Dalton held the slender black phone against his ear. “Be there in a few minutes.” He snapped the phone shut and made eye contact. “Have you ever seen a foal being born?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “Are you interested? I got a call from my neighbor that she needs me to come over.”

  The wind blew a strand of hair in her face. She tucked it behind her ear. “Why does your neighbor need you?”

  “Because I’m a vet.”

  Funny how their occupations hadn’t come up yet. Joely had continued to dodge his offers for a one-on-one date, and when the kids were around, it was hard to carry on much of a conversation.

  Joely thought about what she had planned to do today: clean out her daughter’s closet, putting sweaters and hats away to make room for spring and summer clothes. With all the reaching and bending taxing her joints, it could take her several days. The whole time she’d be feeling guilty that she’d overstayed her welcome. Was it possible that her presence had contributed to the deterioration of Mitch and Kate’s marriage? Soon she and Anna needed to find a new place to live.

  Overwhelmed with all of these thoughts, Joely took a deep breath. “I’d love to come.”

  # # #

  The sun never broke through the morning clouds as Joely followed Dalton in her rusty Ford. They pulled into a horse farm with several pastures encircled by white wooden fences.

  A blond woman in a short dress and high heels walked quickly toward Dalton after he parked his pickup in the grass. She had two coats of mascara and heavy eye shadow layered on her lids. Nothing about her appeared natural.

  Dalton climbed out of his truck, carrying a rectangular case. “Renee, meet Joely. Our kids go to school together.”

  Renee barely looked at Joely before grabbing Dalton’s hand and pulling him toward the stable. “I called my trainer, but he isn’t here yet.”

  Joely found her way into the stable and saw Renee and Dalton leaning against the door to a stall, their shoulders touching. Renee’s hand rested on the small of Dalton’s back. When she came near them, Joely could see a large black horse lying on the straw floor, its tail wrapped with some kind of white tape.

  Renee tossed her long, bleached hair behind her shoulders. “I hate to miss this, but I’m already late for a meeting.”

  Dalton nodded. “Most horses give birth on their own without human intervention, but I’ll be here just in case. Don’t worry about it. Go.”

  Renee leaned in and gave him a peck on the cheek. “You’re the best.” She tossed a kiss-my-ass look toward Joely before she exited the barn. A moment later she sped off in a little black sports car.

  Joely took her place next to Dalton. “What’s her story? She doesn’t seem like the kind to take care of horses.”

  He chuckled. “No. She hires someone to do that. She just likes to ride.”

  Joely wondered if Renee and Dalton were dating. Renee had touched him in such a familiar way, they probably were. Maybe Joely had missed her chance with Dalton. And she didn’t even realize that she cared until now.

  She studied the shiny, black horse that appeared to have been tipped onto its side. She didn’t know much about horses, but she knew they didn’t usually lie down. “Tell me what to expect.”

  He wedged the pointed toe of his boot between the stall’s wooden slats. “Mares have personalities much like people. If they’re nervous or high-strung, they resist delivery. But typically they foal rather quickly.”

  Joely made an affirmative sound in her throat. “Oh look.” She pointed toward the mare’s tail raised in the air.

  The horse snorted and acted as if it wanted to stand up. Dalton opened the gate and entered the stall. “It’s OK, girl. Easy.” He placed his hand on her ebony neck. She calmed for a moment and they waited. The barn fell silent while he stroked her mane.

  Jerking with a contraction, the mare broke the silence. Her hooves banged against the walls as she labored.

  Joely’s muscles clenched in solidarity. She whispered, “Push,” under her breath. Joely told herself to be patient, but the horse’s efforts didn’t seem to be doing anything. Minutes felt like hours. “You’re doing great. Push.”

  Before she realized it, her eyes watered. She spoke louder now, to Dalton: “Can’t you do something?”

  He moved toward the horse’s backside. He examined the hooves just starting to protrude from the womb. “It looks like it’s going to be breech.” Quickly he opened his case and slipped on some long, rubber gloves that covered his arms like sleeves. A moment later his hands were deep inside of the mare. “I’ll see if I can give her some help.”

  “She looks like she’s in a lot of pain. Is she going to be alright?”

  His eyebrows pointed down. His face looked serious. “I’m trying to reposition the foal.”

  Suddenly she heard rain pounding on the roof, like marbles dropped on the floor. She glanced toward the open door at the grayness, but quickly returned her attention to the birth. Nothing else mattered. Somehow both life and death seemed eminent.

  He shook his head in disappointment.


  “What?”

  He didn’t answer, his focus on the mare and the life caught inside of her. Clearly, he hadn’t been able to turn the foal.

  Time seemed as if it ceased to exist. All that mattered was here and now. The mare strained with another contraction and Joely’s heart banged inside her chest. This didn’t feel right. Did animals die from breech births? Even when a vet was there?

  Dalton tugged on the tiny horse’s hooves. There was resistance. This was what it meant to be caught in limbo. Somewhere between born and not born, between mother and earth.

  This was taking forever. Standing by without any way to help was the worst feeling ever. It seemed wrong to idly watch another living creature suffer. She wished she could do something.

  With a determined look, Dalton gripped the foal’s hindquarters and pulled.

  Joely held her breath. Please-be-OK-please-be-OK-please-be-OK.

  Still nothing happened. Dalton did not give up. He kept pulling.

  Suddenly, in one fluid motion, the torso slid out. Its head and front legs remained hidden. With another tug from Dalton, the foal’s entire body was revealed. It was alive! Mother and baby survived!

  The foal was encased with some kind of white covering, dappled with blood. Dalton peeled it back like a sheet.

  Flooded with joy, Joely clapped and cheered. “That was amazing.” She’d never seen an animal the instant it came into this world. And she’d never seen such a miniature horse before. It was black with one white hind leg. “She’s beautiful.”

  “Yes.” He checked the gender. “He is.”

  “Oops.” She laughed at herself. “I guess that’s why you’re the vet.” Her palm against her pounding chest, she tried to catch her breath. Adrenaline zinged throughout her body. “Wow. I’ll never forget this day.”

  Dalton smiled and winked at her. “It’s something special, isn’t it?” The mare rested for several minutes while Dalton peeled off his gloves and cut the wrapping off her tail. He stroked both horses. “Good job. You did a good job.” The mare turned and licked the colt’s nose.

  Joely saw a thick, twisted, umbilical cord still connecting them. “Do you need to cut the cord?”

  “No. It’s important it stays connected for a little while. When the mare stands, she’ll break the cord.”

  “Wow. Mother Nature has it all figured out, doesn’t she?”

  “Pretty much. Makes my job easy.” He continued stroking the foal’s nose. “Too bad Renee couldn’t be here for this.”

  Joely stiffened. “Yeah.”

  “She’s missing her opportunity to imprint with this newborn like I’m doing. Now we’ll have a strong bond.”

  “Oh.” She put her hands in her pockets, wondering how to ask about his relationship with Renee. “Are you and Renee. . .”

  “Hi there, Doc,” a husky voice boomed.

  They both turned to see a sixty-ish man with broad shoulders, swaggering toward them. He was dressed like John Wayne, water dripping from his hat.

  “Hi. Glad you’re here. She just delivered.” Looking at Joely, Dalton nodded toward the big man. “This is Renee’s trainer. He takes care of everything around here.”

  The John Wayne look-alike entered the stall and put his hand on the foal. “Just doing my job.”

  Dalton stood. “Do you think you could take over for me? Make sure he nurses? If not, call me and I’ll bring some frozen colostrum over.”

  He nodded. “No problem.”

  Dalton exited the stall, but continued talking to the man. “Do you have Nolvasan to disinfect the navel?”

  The trainer nodded.

  After staring at the two horses a while longer, Joely said goodbye to the stranger. Dalton walked with her toward the open stable door. The rain had lightened, but she still thought she’d make a run for her car. Too bad her coat didn’t have a hood.

  Dalton seemed to hesitate at the edge of the rain. “You want to come to my house for lunch?”

  She looked at her watch. It was only 10:30. “I don’t think so.”

  “Coffee then?”

  She wanted to, but part of her held back, kept her in check. How could she compete with blond, vivacious Renee? Besides, Dalton deserved a simple romance. “Not today. I need to look for a job.” The words surprised her.

  “A job? What kind of job?”

  “Anything, really. I need to start saving some money.”

  He shifted his weight, glancing at the rain. “What’s your field?”

  “I’ve got to go. Really. Thanks for letting me be a part of this.” Thinking of the awesome event she’d just witnessed made her want to stay. How could she go back to the everyday grind now? She wanted to hold on to the joy.

  Somehow she made herself turn up the collar of her coat and take off running through the grass. The rain flattened her hair, making it stick to her cheeks.

  Then swoosh! Her left foot slid behind her in the mud and she landed on her forearms, facedown in the patchy wet grass. She could feel the mud stuck to her hands. As she slowly raised herself, she saw brown stains where her knees had landed on her cotton skirt. She was filthy.

  Dalton, instantly at her side, took her hand and helped her stand. “Are you alright?”

  She nodded, now really soaked. She couldn’t wait to get in her car and get away from this moment. This totally embarrassing moment.

  He raised his voice a little to be heard over the rain. “I have an idea. Let me give you a ride in my truck. I have vinyl seats so the mud will wipe right off.”

  She shook her head. What grown woman falls in the mud? That was something Anna might do.

  Dalton still held her hand, as if she needed steadying. “Seriously. Get in my truck. I’ve got some clean clothes at my place. Then I’ll drive you back over here to get your car.”

  The longer she resisted, the more miserable and damp she became. “OK.” He opened the door for her. Always a gentleman, even in the rain. She climbed into the passenger side of his truck and he closed the door behind her. Watching Dalton walk around to the other side, Joely listened to the rain plunking on the metal roof. Then she let him take her to his home.

  # # #

  After removing her shoes, Joely joined Dalton in the log cabin’s bathroom. The room held a white pedestal sink and claw-footed tub. The toilet was hidden behind saloon-style doors.

  She heard the tub filling with water. “I’ll just wash my hands and face in the sink.”

  He pointed toward her mud-splattered shins. That’s what she got for wearing a skirt to a horse farm. She sighed. Maybe a bath wasn’t such a bad idea.

  He showed her the wine-colored robe hanging on the back of the door. “After your bath, you can either wear this or I brought you some of my clothes; you can see if they fit. I’ll put yours in the wash.”

  “That’s not necessary.” Even as she protested, she appreciated his offer. “I can wash them when I get home.”

  “Are you sure? It’s no trouble.”

  “Really. Kate has some kind of super stain-fighting detergent that gets grass stains out of Anna’s clothes. But thank you.”

  He closed the door behind him as he left. She turned the lock and hesitated. Even with the door locked, it felt very intimate to get naked in Dalton’s house. A moment later, she undressed, setting her locket next to her pile of clothes.

  The water almost burned when she first lowered her ankle into it. But her body soon adjusted to the temperature. By the time her shoulders were submerged, she felt wrapped in a warm, liquid blanket. A soft moan escaped her lips.

  She should take a bath every day. Her body needed it.

  After savoring the heat for a little while and replaying the foal’s birth, she pulled the plaid curtains to the side and looked out the window. Outside she saw Dalton’s three dogs chasing each other through the rain. Two were collie mixes and one looked like a golden retriever. They had run to the pickup to greet them when they’d first arrived and she’d laughed at their enthusias
m.

  Joely could see woods in the distance and a small river snaking its way through the trees. Once their branches filled with summer leaves, the trees would obscure much of the river’s path.

  There was no sign of civilization. His closest neighbor’s house was miles away, on the other side of the cabin. If Joely lived here, she would leave the curtains open when she bathed so she could appreciate the view.

  She pushed the thought away.

  Suddenly embarrassed that she had lingered too long in another person’s tub, she pulled the plug. She dried off and stepped into a pair of Dalton’s faded blue jeans, finding them tight across her hips and loose around her waist. She rolled the hem up an inch then slipped on his T-shirt, which advertised the Oklahoma State Fair. The freshness of laundry detergent mixed with Dalton’s own body chemistry created an invigorating scent. Her heart skipped.

  She put on the heart-shaped locket that contained Anna’s newborn picture and tucked it under the shirt, close to her heart. That’s where she always wore it.

  On the way out of the bathroom, she noticed a family portrait hanging on the wall—Dalton, Ryan and what must be Dalton’s ex-wife. They were all wearing coordinating outfits in black, which blended in with the black background. The effect made you focus only on their faces. Dalton stood behind the others, his dark, wavy hair also blending with the background. His dimpled chin made him look adorable. The ginger-haired woman had a frozen smile and a look in her eye as though she wished she were somewhere else. Ryan was wearing his round, wire-rimmed glasses and had a little baby fat in his cheeks. This was probably the very last picture they had taken before his mother left. Joely thought it a bit strange that Dalton kept her photo on display. She certainly didn’t have any pictures of Jake framed on the wall.

  She followed the sounds of clanking dishes into the kitchen.