Page 59 of Stables Spurs Suits
“You know what I did. I chose your father, and I don’t regret that choice for one minute, because it brought me you. I’ve always said you’re the luckiest thing to happen to me, Matthew, and I mean it.”
“So I should stay?”
“You have to choose for yourself, just like I did.”
“Urgh.”
My phone chimes and I turn the screen to check it and find she’s sent me a photo of her hand holding a half-flattened penny.
“Did you just find that?” I ask, and she laughs.
“Yep. I stepped out of my book club to take your call and I’ve been strolling down the alleyway beside the bookshop as we’ve talked. It’s really quite pretty; there are all these purple-flowered vines snaking along one wall and yellow dandelions poking up every few feet. It was just sitting there beside one of those puffball ones, you know, the ones you blow on to make a wish.”
“So, you found a lucky penny and got to make a wish, all while I’m over here trying to decide between staying for a man I only really met a few months ago or leaving for a job I’ve worked for my whole adult life?”
“Pretty much. Do you want me to wish that you make the right decision? Will that help?”
“Yes, do that please.”
“Okay, hold on.”
It’s silly, I know. Wishes on dandelions don’t actually work, though I guess people would say there isn’t really any such thing as a lucky penny either, and we’re still collecting those. My phone makes another sound, and I turn to find her trying to connect as a video call. I tap the screen, and then there she is, all wide bright smiles and golden eyes, just like mine.
“Are you ready?” she asks, holding the puffed ball of the dead dandelion up to her lips.
“Yep, now make sure you wish for it properly,” I say, and she shakes her head.
“I know how to make a wish. Now shh, so I can concentrate.”
She closes her eyes, and I watch her breathe in and then purse her lips together and blow, sending the tiny seedlings of the flower into the air all around the camera and blurring my view of her in a cloudy haze for a moment. Then it clears, and all that’s left is the nub of the flower and my mother’s soft smile.
“Feel better, my boy?” she asks, and I nod, even though I’m no closer to actually making a choice than I was when Imessaged her. But somehow, I feel like whatever I choose, it’ll be okay. Hmm, maybe there is something to those wishes after all.
***
“Are you really leaving?” Skye asks when I reach the stables late in the afternoon. He’s holding a basket of carrots, a late-night snack for all the horses before they settle in for the night.
“How do you know about that?” I ask curiously.
“Connor mentioned at dinner last night that you might be moving on. Some job in the city, right?”
“Maybe. I haven’t really decided yet. I mean, I thought I had but… it’s complicated.”
“Well, I hope you choose to stay, and not just because you haven’t taught me your trick with Loki yet.” He reaches in and grabs a carrot from the basket. “You want to give him one so that he actually takes it?”
“How about we try and get him to take it from you tonight.”
“Really? How?”
“He has to know you’re there, so I’ll get his attention first, then you’re going to ignore him completely.”
“I don’t see how that will work, but I’ll try.”
“Okay, give me one second. Stay here, and maybe keep your back to us.”
He gives me a nod, and I walk past him into the stables. As I reach Loki’s stall, I catch sight of a penny just sitting angled against the post beside Loki’s stall. There’s no way this found its way here by chance, I think, as I bend to pick it up. But how else would it get here? It’s not like anyone would be leaving them around for me. Except that is totally something Atlas would do. I should have known when I started to suddenly find them in really open places out here on the ranch. He doesn’t believe thatfinding a penny is lucky, but he knows that I do, and he’s trying to give me every piece of luck he finds. This one’s a little dirty, but otherwise in pretty good condition. I quickly take out my phone, snap a pic, and send it off to Mom, then shove the penny and my phone back into my pocket.
The moment Loki sees me, he’s at the gate, nudging me with his head. He should be able to see Skye from here too, which is exactly what I want.
