Taylor Lynne: The Women of Merryton - Book Two Read Free

help him with her. I
could only imagine what her mother’s thoughts were on the subject.
    I was about to tell
Easton that they should probably leave when Ashley and Emmy walked in. A rush
of pride swept over me as I looked at my girl holding her half-sister’s hand.
She was the most wonderful creature on this earth.
    “Momma, I told Emmy they
could stay for lunch.”
    Of course she had. I
looked at Easton and he looked pleased with both the invitation and at his
daughters being together. Emmy still looked timid. It pulled a little at my
heart, but I thought maybe she would warm up once she got to know us. Or at
least Ashley. I was going to stay uninvolved.
    “Do you want me to order takeout?”
Easton offered. He grinned at me. “Or do you still not do takeout?”
    It’s not that I never ate
out or ordered food, but I was very particular. It was kind of my job to be.
People paid me to make their lives better and healthier through nutrition
plans. I have a degree and a plaque that says so. I’m what they call a clinical
nutritionist. Soon enough, that degree plaque would be hanging in my new office
at Merryton General.
    “I’ll make something,” I
grumbled.
    It was a great time to
have company over for lunch. I mean, I hadn’t unpacked utensils, plates, or any
of the other things I needed to entertain, but what the heck. It was only my
ex-husband. I was at least grateful I had thought to add paper products and
plastic utensils to the grocery list I had sent Ashley with. I let the three of
them get to know one another while I made lunch. Easton offered to help, but I
declined again. I didn’t know why he couldn’t get the hint that I didn’t want
or need his help. I hadn’t in fourteen years. I had learned not to depend on
him to protect myself from a lot of disappointment.
    But again, I wasn’t
thinking about it.
    I prepared stuffed whole
wheat pitas with turkey, lettuce, and tomato, along with an assortment of
berries and chopped vegetables on the side. I arranged a plate for everyone and
got out some bottles of water and called it good. It wasn’t fancy, but it was
well-balanced. I walked over to the back door and called out that lunch was
ready. They were all sitting on a blanket in the backyard talking. It would be
where we would have to eat lunch, too, either that or the hardwood floors in
the house. The movers had still not shown up.
    Easton was the only one
to come in. He surveyed the plates before he picked any up.
    “Is something wrong?” I
asked.
    He looked over to me. “No,
this looks great. I’m worried Emmy won’t like it. She’s not really used to this
kind of food.”
    “What’s ‘this kind of
food’?”
    “You know … the healthy
kind,” he said sheepishly.
    “Aren’t you a doctor and
wasn’t your wife a nurse?”
    “We didn’t do a lot of
home-cooked meals, okay?”
    I had apparently hit a
nerve. I shrugged my shoulders. “Well, maybe she’ll surprise you, but if she
doesn’t like it, I’ll come up with something she does,” I offered. I don’t know
why I offered—it wasn’t my fault he’d fed his kid crap—but there was something
about Emmy.
    “Thanks,” he said
politely.
    He grabbed two plates. I
grabbed the other two and followed him outside. I couldn’t believe I was having
a picnic with my ex-husband and his daughter. I didn’t sign up for this when I
read the “How to Live Near Your Ex” brochure.
    Emmy looked warily at the
food and me.
    I smiled warmly at her. “Try
it, and if you don’t like it, I’ll make you something else.” I said it as nice
as I could so she would know I was sincere and it was okay if she didn’t like
it.
    She nodded her head yes,
but she didn’t look hopeful at all.
    “One thing you need to
know about my momma, Emmy, is she’s a total health nut, but she can make
anything taste good.”
    “Thanks for that, Ash.”
    Easton laughed.
    Ashley laughed at me, too,
but she turned toward her half-sister, grabbed her pita, and