Page 41 of A Simple Regret
How about 10:30? That gives us time to play for a bit before he needs to eat lunch and get back for his nap?
Me
That works.
Camden
Sounds good. We’ll just need to grab the new sled from the garage. Everything else is out at the farm. We can go together if you want, since we’re next door.
Me
OK.
Camden
I’ll see you in the morning.
Me
Ok.
Lame. Yes, I’m this lame.
I spend the rest of the night contemplating whether I’ve made the right decision or not, but the fact remains. Theo will love this, and any discomfort I might feel about being near Camden so much takes a back seat to his well-being and what will make an impact on him.
And tomorrow’s four-wheeling adventure will do just that.
So, I’ll smile and pretend being around the first—and only—man I’ve ever loved isn’t both a blessing and a curse. I’ll act like it doesn’t affect me. I’ll be a mom first and foremost and make decisions based on what’s best for him.
I’ll leave my heart at home, not even taking that pesky organ with us to the farm. Then I’m not risking feeling things I have no business feeling.
Shouldn’t be a problem, right?
CHAPTER
ELEVEN
Camden
“Faster!”
I’m sure my smile is ear to ear as I press on the accelerator just a touch. The excited cheers of the little boy behind me are all I hear, and it’s the best sound ever. We’re not traveling fast. I promised Maren I would go slow, and even then, Theo seems to be having the time of his life.
And do you know what?
So am I.
We ride around Wyatt’s pasture and timber until I know it’s time for them to get ready to head back home. Theo needs to eat lunch and take a nap, and despite the fact I would love to stay out here for a while longer, the fact remains our time is about up.
Slowly, I start to make our way back up to the barn, knowing he’ll have to see the animals once more when we get there. It took us an extra twenty minutes to go sledding, because the moment we arrived, Theo wanted to see the horses, dogs, barn cats, and cattle. I’m certain it’ll be the exact same way when we return.
When we reach the barn, I pull to a stop near the back sliding door. It’s wide open, one of the horses outside in the paddock.
“Again!”
I chuckle, shutting off the machine and hopping off. “Did you have fun?”
He nods, his mom helping him stand before he runs straight toward the paddock where Winnie is at. “Wait a minute, little dude,” I say, sweeping to the left and scooping him up before he can get to the fence. “We don’t go running up to Winnie, remember?” I ask, repeating the instructions I gave him when we first arrived and he wanted to see the animals.
