Only now did I allow myself to reflect on Easton’s words from the night before. He’d come looking for me two years ago after he realized I wasn’t easily replaceable. I didn’t know how to take that. Did we have a shot at a relationship, even being a family? I’d experienced so many changes in the past several months, I couldn’t fathom what he was proposing, not yet. I needed time, and so did my children. I cared for Easton. I might even go so far as saying I’d never stopped loving him, but did we have what it took to make this work?

There was a knock at the door. I’d been expecting Easton, certain he’d come bearing gifts for the kids. I hoped he hadn’t gone completely overboard, but I doubted that’d be the case. Easton had money, and he was bent on spending it.

The kids ran to the door and waited for me to look in the peephole. At least I was getting through to them about something. I opened the door and stood back for Easton to enter. He carried a large wrapped box. By the messy wrapping, I was certain he’d wrapped the gift himself. A lump formed in my throat over his efforts.

“Easton! Did you get me something?” Hailey jumped up and down, her little fingers grabbing for the box. Heath hung back but his eyes were bright with curiosity while he eagerly leaned forward to study the package.

“Hang on, honey. Yes, I have something for both of you.” Easton set the package on the floor. “This is for you, Hailey. Heath, yours will be here in a minute.”

Hailey grabbed for the ribbon and yanked it off.

“Hailey, what do you say to Easton?”

“Thank you.” She paused and gazed up at him with her big blue eyes. He smiled down at her, and his eyes were suspiciously moist.

“You’re welcome.”

With that out of the way, she ripped the gold and green wrapping paper off and tossed it aside. The text on the box indicated it contained athletic tape, and she frowned, glancing up at Easton.

“It’s the only box I could find.”

Her smile returned. Easton bent down and helped her peel the tape off the top of the box and open it. Tissue was discarded as she dug through the box and finally pulled out her prize. She held it up for all to see.

“Mommy, it’s a real saddle.”

I gaped at him in surprise, but he avoided my gaze.

“Ice’s wife, Avery, told me that’s one of the best children’s saddles you can buy,” Easton said.

“Am I getting a pony?” Hailey screeched with excitement, and Heath scowled and held his hands over his ears. I didn’t blame him. Hailey’s decibel level hurt my ears at times too.

Easton didn’t respond but grinned and ran his hand over the smooth leather of the saddle.

I glared at him, ready to rip him a new one—in private. A pony? We hadn’t discussed this. “You did not buy her a real pony?”