*Amelia*
Calving season is nearly over. Between early morning opens and Jim not being able to leave the ranch, I’ve barely seen him. I miss him.
I open the door of Teresa’s house, fully expecting to see Paul. Instead, I’m shocked to see my dad.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, sure that he’s here because Lucy has done something else.
“Nothing,” he looks at me in surprise. “Teresa invited me.”
“Oh,” I say foolishly. I remember her telling him to come anytime, but I didn’t realize he would.
He smiles awkwardly as I step back to let him in. “I can leave if you don’t want me here.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not that,” I lie. I don’t want to hurt him, but I’m afraid of him getting close to my friend. I don’t want to lose her if things go poorly, but I can’t tell him that. “I was just af
