Celebrating Fathers, page 98
Claire shook her head, laughing. “I love that. I think it’s so great that Misha has that connection to her roots.”
“It’s why I put myself through the weekly dinners and do the traditional stuff sometimes, even if I’m not quite up for it. I want Misha to experience it,” Shaan said with a smile.
A gentle frown glazed her brow. “Are you not big on family, then?”
“No, I love it. But my divorce has been hard for my mother to digest…and my auntie. So, all they do when I meet them is try and fix my life.”
“Which only makes you feel worse about it?” Claire offered, with a raised brow.
“Exactly,” Shaan said with a nod. God, she’s good. He felt like a freeloader. This was free therapy right there. His heartstrings tugged as he watched Claire check her watch on her wrist. The night with her was coming to an end. But he didn’t want her to leave. He hadn’t felt so free and conversational in a very long time.
“I should probably get going,” she said, rising up from her chair.
He followed suit. “Thanks for stopping by tonight.”
“Sure,” Claire said with a warming smile. “And, oh, that’ll be two hundred and fifty dollars,” she added.
Shaan frowned back, confused. “I beg your pardon?”
“You know, for tonight’s therapy session?” she said casually. But the twinkle in her eyes didn’t get past him.
He laughed, and she laughed with him, their gazes inevitably running into each other.
She paused, as if to catch up with herself. “Would Misha like to come see the horses tomorrow? After school?” she asked.
“She’d flip if she could,” he said.
Claire nodded. “Bring her over whenever she’s ready.”
“Thank you,” Shaan said, looking down into her face. He couldn’t be sure of it, but her skin seemed to assume a deeper shade of pink. He wondered if that was her blushing. Before he could decide, though, she turned away from him and called to Daisy. Shaan called to Misha. The girl and the dog came running up to the porch together.
“Claire’s offered to show you her horses tomorrow,” Shaan said to Misha. His words caused her eyes to instantly light up.
“Really? Can I pet one?” she asked between pants.
Claire bent down to meet her eyes. “Do you want to pet a big horse or a small horse?”
“A medium horse,” Misha said.
“Excellent choice,” Claire said before turning to Shaan. “Are you okay if I introduce her to one of my mares at close range?”
He shrugged. “Is it safe?”
“Yeah, Majesty’s one of my older mares, and she’s great with kids—well, she was, when I used to work with kids.” Claire paused to clear her throat. She looked away from him, but not before he caught the shadow the words cast in her otherwise bright eyes. This seemed to happen whenever she talked about her past work.
“What do you say to Claire?” Shaan nudged Misha.
“Thank you!” she said cheerily.
“You’re very welcome,” Claire said. “Thanks for the coffee,” she added to Shaan.
“Thanks for the quiche and the free therapy.” He beamed back.
She appeared to hold back a laugh. “Thanks for giving my dog a second chance.”
“Thanks for not killing me with your broom,” he said.
She laughed, making his heart go faster. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then,” she said, heading down the porch steps with Daisy following on her heels.
“See you tomorrow,” Shaan said as he watched her go.
Chapter Five
Shaan and Misha ate Claire’s quiche with a side of salad and French bread that night.
“Her quiche tastes so good,” Misha noted between bites.
“Doesn’t it?” he agreed nonetheless. “You and I should try making it sometime. Would you like that?”
She nodded. “I’d love that. Dadi says we Soods have cooking in our blood.”
“Mmm. I think she means we have eating in our blood.” Shaan paused. “I’ll ask Claire for the recipe.”
The two of them had exchanged numbers before she left, so he texted Claire a thank you note and asked her for the quiche recipe. She texted him back with it, along with three smiley faces.
“Is she going to be my riding instructor?” Misha asked him as Shaan tucked her into bed later that night.
“No, kid, tomorrow’s horse meeting is a favor Claire’s doing us. She doesn’t offer riding lessons anymore,” he said, his heart sinking at the thought.
“Oh…” Misha cuddled her sheets. “Can we at least go trick-or-treating at her house?”
Shaan paused. “Well…I guess we could?”
Her arms flew out of her sheets. “Because I’ve decided I want to be a cowgirl,” she said excitedly.
“A cowgirl? Great idea.”
“And you?” she asked.
He hadn’t the faintest clue. “I don’t know yet.”
“Miss MacDonald always says to brainstorm when we get stuck,” Misha said.
“That’s a good idea,” Shaan said, reaching to turn out the light on her side table before kissing her good night.
“Daddy?” she called out to him just as he began to walk out. “I’m really excited to see Daisy and Claire again tomorrow…and her horses.”
He smiled. “I’m excited for you, too,” he said as the thought pumped eager anticipation through his own veins. “Good night, baby girl.”
“Good night,” she said softly.
*
In his bathroom the next morning, Shaan studied his reflection in the mirror as he readied himself for the day. An image of Claire quietly floated around in his brain as he ran his hand down his beard. He was looking forward to seeing her again. But he was also wary not to let the guard down on his feelings. His past actions, based on his feelings, had hurt his child. He couldn’t afford to repeat this mistake again.
He heard his bedroom door squeak. When he leaned back, he caught sight of Misha as she entered. She was dressed in a tutu skirt, jeans underneath, and—
Shaan’s brows furrowed. “Is that from your Diwali outfit that Dadi gave you?” he asked her. His mother always gave Misha a brand-new outfit in the fall to wear on Diwali day. And her outfits could usually be seen from space with all the glittery beads sewn onto them that Shaan realized was tradition yet blinding.
Misha nodded. “Yes.”
He started to respond, but Claire’s words instantly floated into his brain from the night before. Misha’s outfit had long sleeves, so technically it was weather appropriate. Nothing else was wrong with it except from an aesthetic standpoint. Shaan gave it one last try. “The outfit looks great on you, but just remember that Dadi wanted you to wear it on Diwali day. And you’re visiting Claire’s farm today after school.”
“I know. That’s why I chose this outfit,” Misha countered.
Ah. He smiled. “Okay. And you’ll be okay if it gets dirty? Stables can be muddy.”
“I know. But I noticed you got the pancake stain off the ceiling, so maybe you could get stains off my outfit if it gets dirty?” she said with a quick comeback. “I’ve thought this through, Daddy.”
Yes, she had. He gave in. “All right. Go get your breakfast, and I’ll be out in a minute to do your hair up—do you want a fishtail braid?”
Misha appeared tentative. “No thanks, Daddy,” she then said. “I’m tying my hair up in a ponytail today.”
*
After Misha left for school, Shaan settled into his porch chair, facing the backyard of the home. It was a rainy fall day, and he needed to knock out at least a chapter in his book that day if he wanted to meet his deadline. He opened his laptop and read some of what he’d written so he could revise then add to it.
He’d managed to work on it all the way through noon, getting as far as the queen, Maharani Ayesha Devi, taking a stroll in the woods, only to catch sight of her sister-in-law, the Maharani Yuma Bai, having a heated argument with a mystery man amid the thicket of trees, whom the Maharani didn’t recognize. She returned to the palace, hoping to confront her sister-in-law upon the latter’s return, except Maharani Yuma Bai never did.
Shaan shut his laptop and massaged his eyes. He stood up to stretch his spine, wondering if he had time for a quick bike ride before Misha returned. He decided to text Ryan to see if he was up for it. When he walked back to his home to grab his phone, he noticed a text from Claire. See you both at four.
Shaan smiled down at his phone and texted her back. I’m really excited. He paused, then retyped the message: Misha’s really excited.
*
“Sure she didn’t give you a concussion?” Ryan asked Shaan as they zipped down on their bikes on their usual trail. “Because I’ve never seen you so into any woman before.”
“I’m pretty sure she did,” Shaan said, coughing up a laugh. He’d told Ryan all about Claire on their bike ride. “I like her…she’s great. I don’t know if I’m into her in that way, though,” he stuttered back as he pumped down on the pedals as they now approached a hill.
“Or maybe she’s into you? I know I felt that way with Sahana. I fell crazy in love with her on day one, but the fact that she repaid the feelings…or at least flirted with me enough, kept me chasing after her,” Ryan said between pants.
They both switched gears, standing up on their pedals to charge forward up the steepest part of the hill.
“How can you tell if a woman’s into you or just…I don’t know…being herself?” Shaan asked, pushing the words out between breaths of air.
“The fact that she’s offering to show you her horses makes me scratch my chin a bit. Why would she want to do that, unless…”
“Nah, she’s just being sweet,” Shaan countered quickly. “And she’s showing Misha her horses, not me.”
“Mm-hmm. My wife’s the expert on this subject. I’m more of a feel my way around the dark until I find the doorknob kind of guy.”
“That makes two of us,” Shaan said. “And anyway, I’m not really looking for a doorknob with Claire. I’m just glad I made a friend, and she’s sweet… Misha’s excited about meeting her horses…which is what matters in the end.”
Ryan gave Shaan a supportive nod. The two men continued down the trail, completing their full loop, which left Shaan pumped to the core. He and Ryan moved on to other topics of conversation through the rest of their ride, and yet Claire remained plastered to the back of his brain. And he quietly allowed her to stay.
*
When Misha returned that afternoon, Shaan and she walked down the street toward Wellington Farm. As they approached Claire’s house, Daisy came bounding up to them. Misha ran toward her, which was, oddly, the exact opposite reaction Shaan realized he’d had to the dog the last time he was there. He watched Misha laugh through Daisy’s slobbery kisses. “Stop, stop, s-s…st…op!” She chuckled, petting Daisy.
Shaan caught sight of Claire in the distance. His heart instantly soared. He waved at her and she waved back. She looked beautiful in her jeans, riding boots, and tucked-in flannel shirt.
“Hello there!” she said when they neared.
Misha ran to her, with Daisy bounding by her side. She gave Claire a hug.
“Thanks for having us today,” Shaan said, catching up to them.
“My pleasure,” Claire said, her smiling eyes scanning Misha. “Did you put that whole outfit together?” she asked her.
Misha nodded with pride. “I wanted to impress you.”
Claire laughed as her eyes rose up in time to meet Shaan’s. “I’m very, very impressed,” she said to Misha.
“My dad wasn’t too sure at first, but he saw my point of view,” Misha explained.
“Did he?” Claire asked with posing to look surprised, as her twinkling eyes caught Shaan’s. They exchanged a smile before Claire shifted her focus back to Misha.
“So, Misha, are you ready to meet the brood?” she asked in her tinkling voice.
“Yes, please,” she said.
“Right this way, then,” Claire said, leading up the dirt path toward the large gates of Wellington Farm. Claire walked with Shaan as Misha and Daisy ran ahead.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said, giving Claire a brief sideways glance.
“My horses love kids, so thank you for bringing Misha over,” she said.
A draft of cool wind blew up the pathway, sending a cloud of flowery fragrance his way which he recognized was Claire’s perfume.
As they arrived at the farm, Shaan noticed the large, fenced space adjoining the blue barn with white-trimmed panels on the outside. Claire led them straight in.
“Oh, WA-OW!” Misha gasped as they entered.
“This is incredible,” Shaan said as he looked around. The barn was divided into stalls on either side. Each one had three paneled, wooden sides and a sliding half front door which allowed the horses to poke their heads out. A few horses did, while the others stayed tucked away in their stalls.
“This is Sir Price,” Claire said as she ran her hand down the forehead of a stunning white horse that peeked out of the first stall. Misha stepped forward and reached her hand up to pet him.
“Here,” Claire said, placing a step stool for Misha to climb on.
“He feels rough and soft,” she observed as she climbed up to pet the horse. “And his eyes are huge.”
“Did you know horses have the biggest eyes out of all land mammals?” Claire asked.
“Really?” Misha asked as she pet Sir Price.
“Really?” Shaan whispered to Claire.
She tittered softly, glancing his way. “You didn’t know that, huh?”
He offered her a sheepish shrug. “Can I pet Sir Price?”
“Go right ahead.” She smiled.
Shaan reached over to feel the hardness of the animal’s forehead. Yet under it, he felt a palpable warmth. The horse looked at him, and something about the way it did sent a soft wave of calm through Shaan’s body.
They moved over to the next stall, where Claire introduced them to a horse named Micah. “He’s my oldest horse,” she said. Micah hadn’t been sticking his head out. But the moment Claire walked up to his stall, he moved toward her so she could lay a warm kiss on his forehead. Micah responded with something that sounded like a snort.
“Did he just cough?” Misha asked.
“No, that’s called a nicker,” Claire explained as she gently rubbed Micah’s neck. “That’s a horse’s way of letting us know they’re happy.”
Misha let out a soft laugh.
“That’s a human nicker,” Claire then pointed out. She looked up to meet Shaan’s gaze for a moment, causing his heart to nicker.
*
“Do you want to pet Micah?” she asked him.
“Yes, please,” he said, running his hand down Micah’s black coat. It seemed Micah nickered just for Claire.
“A few of the horses I board for clients are out at shows, but I have one more that I’d like you to meet, Misha,” she said as she led them to the last stall in the row. A large chestnut horse stood there in crossties. Next to it was a large bucket with some items in it.
“Oh, wow!” Misha gasped as Daisy tucked under her tutu skirt.
“Come on, let me introduce you two,” Claire said.
Shaan watched with a warm smile as she led Misha by the hand toward the horse.
“Misha, this is Majesty,” she said, placing the step stool for Misha to ascend.
“Hi,” Misha said as she ran her hand down the horse’s side.
Incredibly, Majesty responded, lowering her head toward Misha to pet.
“She’s so beautiful…” Misha paused. “It’s a ‘she,’ right?”
Claire let out a laugh. “Yup. And I was going to give her a bath today, and I need a helper.”
Misha’s eyes widened. “Can I be a helper?”
Claire looked at Shaan, who’d been watching them with a smile. “Would that be okay?”
“That sounds fantastic,” he said.
She now led Misha to the side as she pulled out a hose attached to the stall’s wall. “The first thing we do is check our bucket here to make sure we’ve got everything we need for Majesty’s bath. How about I call out the item and you can check it?”
“Sure,” Misha said, squatting down to the ground to eye the contents of the bucket before her.
“Horse shampoo?” Claire called.
“Is it this one?” Misha asked, pulling out a blue-and-yellow bottle.
“Yup,” Claire said as she ran her hand down Majesty’s body.
Shaan moved to lean up against a barn post next to them while Daisy sauntered over to settle down next to his feet. He instinctively bent down to gently scratch her neck. “For someone so mellow, I still can’t believe you ate my jeans,” he muttered to her. Daisy let out a curly sigh and licked his fingers.
“Yeah, yeah, okay…” Shaan said, patting her on the head before turning back to Claire.
“Sponges, scrub brush, towel? We’re good to go,” she said. “Do you want to hold the hose, Misha?”
Misha walked over to her. “Yes, please.”
“Great, I’m going to turn on the faucet, but before I do, just a couple things to remember,” she said. “We’ll set the water flow to a gentle spray, and as you hose Majesty down, start with her hooves. That’ll give her a heads-up on what’s about to happen. She likely knows already, since she’s done this so many times, but horses like to be eased into a bath.”
“I like to go real slow into the shower, too. So the water doesn’t squirt in my face.”
“See? There you go,” Claire said. “Okay, here goes…”
The water flowed out, and Misha followed Claire’s directions to a T, starting with Majesty’s hooves and rising up slowly to spray the water across the length of her body.
“She’s so tall,” Misha noted as she watched Claire squeeze shampoo into two sponges.
“Yes, Majesty is about fifteen hands tall.”
“Hands?” Misha asked, puzzled.
“That’s how you measure a horse’s height—in hands,” Claire said. “Wanna see?”
“Yeah.” Misha smiled as she climbed the step stool to sponge down Majesty.
