Chapter 4 – Wylie
That weekend…
“You’re pregnant!?” Stevie screeched so loudly my ears instantly started ringing. I rubbed them extra dramatically, hoping to annoy her. She shot daggers in my direction as Jovie motioned for her to keep quiet.
Success.
“Mom and Rig don’t know yet, so please keep it between us until I’m further along.”
Stevie nodded aggressively, her big round blonde curls bobbing back and forth. She reached for her sister and pulled her in for a hug while I hugged Nash and then squeezed my future sister-in-law.
“Happy to be promoted to Uncle Wylie,” I said with a smile.
“When do you find out the gender?” Stevie stage whispered.
“We already know…” Jovie turned her big green doe eyes to Nash’s with a look of adoration that made me want to throw up. “They are boys – we’re having twins.”
“Shut the fuck up!” Stevie screamed again.
“Guess I don’t need my hearing,” I grumbled as Stevie shoved me while simultaneously hugging her sister excitedly.
“Okay, okay, okay we have to be quiet about this. It’s really early,” Jovie laughed, but I could tell she was genuinely happy, and so was my brother, which automatically meant I was too.
“Congrats, JoJo. I’m happy for you two and can’t wait to meet the little rugrats who’ll be tearing up Ashwood Ranch next year.”
Nash and Jovie smiled at each other again. “Okay, there’s one more thing. The only reason we’re telling you two now is because we have something to ask.”
Fuck . I knew where this was headed before the words even came out.
“We want you two to be their godparents.”
“No,” I deadpanned at the same time as Stevie screamed, “Yes!”
Nash’s eyes narrowed at my response as a displeased look crossed his face. Stevie spun toward me, hands on her hips as if she was ready to tear into me.
“I don’t mean ‘no’ as in I don’t want to be their godfather, just not with her.” I gestured my thumb towards the woman who was practically bursting with anger and excitement at becoming an aunt. The last thing I needed was more reasons to be tethered to Stevie Vector.
She rolled her eyes and let out a cackle. “Fine with me. They’ll like me better anyway.”
“Now that’s laughable.”
“What are you going to teach them? How to cuss and shoot shit?” She shot back.
I shrugged, “’shooting shit’ is a skill that they’ll need to learn if they are going to be raised on a ranch and I’d reckon so is cussing.”
Nash and Jovie looked at each other before turning back to us again. “Just think about it, Wylie. We know it’s a lot to ask, but we’d really like for them to have both of you as their godparents. You’re so important to us and we know you'll pour yourself into them with love and attention. If you decide that it’s not for you, we’ll ask Clay, of course.”
No fucking way Clay is going to be a better godfather than me.
“Sure,” I tapped my foot impatiently. “We good to get back to the party now?”
They nodded as I turned back to the kitchen in Cameron ranch, poured myself a glass of Jim Beam, and swiped a hotdog and bun from the platter that was sitting out. My dad had insisted on throwing this barbecue today to celebrate Nash and Jovie’s recent engagement and Ms. Vector’s visit back to Lonestar Junction.
I stepped onto the deck where Clay, Savannah, my dad, Ms. Vector, Stevie, Nash, and Jovie were already gathered, chatting, and listening to music while enjoying their meal. As I joined the group, my dad caught my eye, paused the music, and clapped his hands loudly to get everyone's attention.
“Alright, now that we're all gathered, I wanted to say a few things to the Vector and Cameron families.”
He stood up, holding a can of O’Doul’s non-alcoholic beer in one of his large hands, a warm smile spreading across his face as he looked at our group. My dad had quit drinking a few years before my mom passed away, and despite the challenges he’d faced and the heartbreak of losing her, he’d maintained his sobriety. I had to give him credit. I don’t think I could have been sober it if I’d lost the love of my life slowly and painfully to cancer, especially while dealing with three hot-headed sons.
I sank down into the last empty chair next to Clay, who clinked his glass with mine in a mock cheer.
“Nash and Jovie, Marianne and I are so happy for you two and the journey you’re about to embark on together in marriage. We’re also excited that you’ve chosen to have your wedding on Ashwood Ranch where your mother grew up. Your grandpa would be so proud, Jovie.” He nodded at her as she smiled back, and Nash squeezed her shoulder tightly, tucking her closer into his armpit.
My brother was so whipped, but I was genuinely happy for him. Jovie and I had grown close over the past year since she’d moved to town and though I’d given her shit at the beginning of her stay, she was good for my brother. Knowing now that Jovie was carrying my two little nephews, I was thrilled, even if I didn’t show it. I loved kids and hoped to have some of my own someday, with the right person, of course. While I wasn’t excited about being tethered to Stevie as godparents to my little nephews, I had no doubt I’d be the best damn godfather they could ever have.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to pull off this wedding in just under three months and make it the best one Lonestar Junction has ever seen.”
“Cheers to that!” Nash called out as we all chimed in and clinked glasses.
“Well, other than the celebration of y’all's engagement, Marianne and I had something else we wanted to share.”
I set my glass on the arm of the wooden chair and sat forward, narrowing my eyes.
“Marianne and I are in love.”
“What?” Stevie shouted out before I could ask the same damn thing.
Marianne stood up and walked next to my dad, placing her hand gently in his. “I know this might be a lot to take in, but Rig and I go way back. As you all are aware, we met when we were in middle school together, and life and other great loves pulled us apart. We both loved our spouses very much and will miss your parents for the rest of our lives. However, reconnecting with each other this past week since I’ve come back to Lonestar Junction has reminded us of the young love that we used to have for each other and showed us that time is short, life is precious, and there's space in life to love more than one person deeply.”
Ms. Vector looked at my dad with the same loving gaze that Nash and Jovie shared however, I was too in shock to speak. I glanced at Clay to gauge his reaction. Clay never cared about much, but he had loved our mom to her last breath and deeply missed and regretted that she hadn't been around to see him grow up. I knew that it’d been a point of pain in his young life for years and something he still struggled with. I thought he'd be a voice of reason in this however instead, he was shrugging like he could care less.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Savannah and murmured. “Happy for y’all, Dad."
My eyes found Jovie's in the corner, tears misty in hers as she clutched Nash’s hand and squeezed. Even Nash didn’t seem phased by this groundbreaking news.
Is everyone here drunk?
Finally, my eyes landed on Stevie, who was scowling and rolling her eyes. I was fairly certain our expressions mirrored each other’s, which pissed me off even more.
How was it possible that we were the only sane ones in this group who saw how bizarre this whole situation was? They hadn’t seen each other in over a decade, spent one week together, and now decided they were in love again?
Not to mention the fact that two of their children were marrying in three months.
“So,” my dad started again, “with that said, Marianne and I are going to seize the day. We don’t want to miss out on any more life together. We’re still young, and we want this new journey together to begin now. We’ll be heading out on a tour around the world to travel for the next three months until Nash and Jovie's wedding. We plan on going overseas and also exploring the West Coast, reconnecting with each other and rekindling the love and passion we used to have in our youth.”
Now my jaw was really on the floor. “You’re leaving Cameron ranch? Are you shittin' me?”
My dad’s eyes narrowed as his gaze cast my way. “No, son. Not shittin’ you. This is happening. You’re all older now and don't need us around anymore anyways.”
Nash and Jovie stood to hug my dad and Ms. Vector as if this was the best news they could possibly receive, overshadowing their own secret pregnancy with twins that would make our parents grandparents for the first time.
Guess they won't be sharing that news anytime soon.
My stomach churned as I stood up and went back inside. Sure, I’d always wanted my dad to find love again, just not with Stevie Vector’s mom . Marianne was nice enough, probably one of the nicest people he’d shown interest in since my mom passed away, but our lives were already too intertwined. Nash and Jovie getting married, Stevie and I being their kids' godparents, and now our parents falling in love—it was too much. At this point, I half expected them to reveal a secret younger sister that Clay was dating in some sort of throuple with Savannah.
I walked to the counter, grabbed the bottle of whiskey, and poured another tall glass with no ice. I knocked it back, feeling the familiar burn of the hot, brown liquid clear out the insanity surrounding our families. I turned to see Nash and Clay entering from the outside along with my dad, a serious look on his face.
“Nash, Wylie, come on into my office with me for a minute. Need to talk to you boys about something important.”