Chapter 35
Fitz
One Month Later
“I have to admit, I’m impressed with what you’ve done so far.” Hazel coaxes Dolly back to the stable, patting her flank and leaning toward her ear to promise her a carrot.
Hazel is already my favorite of Tessa’s sisters.
She’s so blunt and logical about everything, yet she worries like an old lady.
When Tessa told me she was the most skeptical about trying to turn the property around, I figured she’d be a pain-in-the-ass woman with all kinds of ideas about small-town life.
Instead, she’s oddly the most fun to see on a horse.
The first time I took her out riding, she’d already done thorough research on western saddles and knew minute details about breeding and breaking the most stubborn of the breed.
Not that she needed any of that to saunter around on one of my gentle girls in the barn, but I like that she came prepared.
“It looks great, doesn’t it?” I beam with pride as though I’m the one who gets up early every morning and meets with the painters and woodworkers to explain the fine design details and make sure everything runs according to plan.
Speaking of plans, my new plan is to spend as much time with my girls as humanly possible, and now that we’ve prevailed in the lawsuit against Tomahawk, I can rest easy that we’ll have enough water for the foreseeable future.
This is the second weekend that we’ve all gathered at Loveland Ranch. Tessa’s sisters seem to like it better now that ground has been broken on the new addition even though there’s more dust than before.
The first visit required a spreadsheet and about 100 texts, but once Tessa managed to get all of her sisters to Willow Springs so we could meet, everyone agreed to make it a regular thing. It helps that everyone is gaga over Charlotte.
That first time, we all ended up back at the Hitching Post for dinner, swapping embarrassing stories—mostly about Tessa—but she managed to laugh along, especially once I leaned over and promised to take her to the office next door if she made it through dinner without throttling any of her sisters.
This trip has been more relaxed. Fewer embarrassing stories, and Dylan loves working in the garden, which keeps her out of Hazel’s hair.
I help Hazel down from the horse and untie the saddle from Dolly’s back. Hazel helps me put the tack back into the barn and goes to where I keep the brushes.
“Be honest, you’re only humoring me with riding her. You’re really in this so you can brush her and whisper into her ear.”
She stands on her tiptoes, and Dolly bows her head obediently so Hazel can answer my question privately. I nod. “What’d she say, Dolly?”
“Hey, a girl’s secret stays between her and her horse.”
“Whose horse?” I love that she’s taken to Dolly, especially after the look of fear she had on her face the first time I suggested a ride.
We walk back to the house, where the other sisters sit on my back deck, taking turns fussing over Charlotte and bouncing her on their knees. Hannah came with Dexter, who is totally absorbed in telling Chad about his Pokémon cards. “This one is my favorite, so be careful.”
Chad pulls his hands away in mock fear and pretends to sneak up on the card to view it, which sends Dex into a fit of giggles.
It’s so good to see him healthy and engaged in his life again.
A few guys from the police department have reached out to me to say how grateful they are that he took his two weeks in rehab seriously.
Now, he’s in recovery, a lifelong journey, and one of his previous coworkers is now his sponsor at his AA meetings, never having shared his own struggle with alcohol abuse years earlier.
And Chad’s boss said that if he stays on the straight and narrow, there’s a good chance of being reinstated with the department.
Callie lifts Charlotte and kisses her belly, and our daughter beams with delight. I tamp down the urge to pull her from Callie’s hands. They don’t get to see her as often as I do, I remind myself. I need to let them have this time.
“Who’s cooking?” I smell something enticing coming from the barbecue, which is a surprise because I usually do the cooking around here. As soon as she hears my voice, Charlotte turns her head in my direction and reaches her little arms toward me.
“Do you mind?” I ask Callie, who is already standing and bringing Charlotte over to me.
“Are you kidding? That’s the cutest thing ever. The second she heard you, she wanted her daddy.”
I’d act modest and pretend it was just a coincidence, but Tessa is already confirming Callie’s impression. “Every time. Even when I’m reading to her and thinking we’re having a mother-daughter bonding moment, if he walks into the room, she’s gone for him.”
“Kinda how I feel about you, Duchess.”
“See? And this is why I can’t say no to him.” Tessa beams at me, and with my daughter snuggled against my chest and my best girl smiling, my heart floods. How I got to be this lucky, I’ll never understand.
Hannah goes over to the barbecue and lifts the lid, sending a trail of delicious smoke into the air. “I’m cooking, in answer to your question. Burgers. Simple. I figured I could count on you for condiments.”
It’s then that I notice Dylan sitting on Chad’s other side, also engaging in the discussion of Pokémon cards but sneaking side glances at my brother when he’s engaged with Dex.
Interesting. Karen is gone for good, and I don’t hate the idea of the two of them together.
Her sassy energy could be just the thing my brother needs in his life. But I’m getting way ahead of myself.
I lean against the rail of the deck and take in the scene. It’s the most people I’ve ever had at my house even though the place has enough space for double this number. Guess I’ve never had the right people in my life to invite.
Tessa comes over and wraps her arms around my waist. She tips her head against my chest, and Charlotte snuggles between us. “This is the life I never knew I was missing,” I say.
I don’t have to look down to know she’s smiling. “I think I knew I was missing it, but I had no idea where to find it.”
“Glad you didn’t stop looking.”
I kiss the top of her head and drape an arm over her shoulders, turning her to face the view. Everything is green and healthy, saved by this smart, beautiful woman next to me. And I’m never gonna let her go.