Chapter Four – Beck
Chapter Four
BECK
I wasn’t sure what to do. The way Avery’s father was staring at me caused me to sway on my feet. Bradly walked up to me and gently hit my back.
“I think they’re both just in shock,” he stated. “Give them a minute.”
Nodding, I cleared my throat. I wasn’t sure what to even say. “Should I come back at a different time?”
Merit seemed to break out of the trance first. “Nonsense! You’ll stay with us for dinner. We have so much to talk about.”
Dirk stood back up and made his way over to me, holding out his hand. “It’s a real pleasure to meet you, Beck. I’m so sorry; it’s just that you look so much like him.”
“I’ve only seen a few pictures of him that my mother had. He was always in a uniform. One of them is a picture of the two of them together. I used to hold it when I went to bed, and it’s rather worn out. The rest were of him with other Marines. I guess I never really thought we looked that much alike. His eyes, for sure.”
Dirk shook his head. “Jesus…if I didn’t know any better, I would think I was literally looking at your father right now.”
“In a way, you are,” Avery said. “I should have given you a heads-up, but…”
Turning to his daughter, Dirk let out a soft laugh. “You love a good surprise.”
She laughed. “That I do.”
“I hope you like stuffed bell peppers, Beck,” Merit said as she pulled two trays out of the oven.
Bradly grinned. “Mom always cooks for an army.”
“I don’t think I’ve had stuffed peppers,” I replied.
The entire group turned and looked at me.
Mackenzie blinked a few times before asking, “Are you being serious? You’ve never had stuffed bell peppers?”
I shrugged. “Stuffed poblano peppers, but never green peppers.”
“You’re in for a real treat then,” Avery said as she handed me a stack of dishes. “Just follow Bradly to the formal dining room.”
It was clear Avery and her family were taking me under their wing. I had never, not even at a friend’s house, been so easily accepted and felt so quickly like part of a family.
Following Bradly into the dining room, I started to put plates down at each chair as he followed behind me with the silverware.
“No one else will ask you this, so I will.”
Stopping, I turned to face him.
“Are you looking for money from the Shaw family?”
I nearly laughed out loud. Instead, I shook my head. “I’m not. My own family…or um, my mother’s side of my family, is very well off, Bradly. Money is not something I need, nor do I desire any more of it. I’m not here looking for anything other than to meet my father’s family. And to be honest with you, had I not met Avery on that plane, I’m not sure I would have followed through and attempted to meet them.”
“Why not?” Dirk asked as he stepped into the room.
I finished putting the plates down on the table. “Nerves? Not wanting to disrupt their lives? I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to accept me in any way.”
Dirk smiled. “I can tell you this, Stella and Ty Senior are both going to take one look at you and know you’re Beck’s kid. You can tell us your story during dinner, and then we’ll talk afterward. I’m sure Avery told you the Shaws are like family to us.”
I nodded. “She did, sir, yes.”
Dirk hit me lightly on the arm. “Good. Now, I want you to relax. You’re pretty stiff, son, and there’s no reason to be nervous around us.”
With a slight nod, I replied, “Thank you, sir.”
He smiled, looked at his son, and winked.
We were soon all sitting at the dining room table. After everyone had put food on their plate, I felt five sets of eyes on me. I glanced up and smiled. “Am I missing something?”
Avery chuckled. “We all want to see you take your first bite of a stuffed green pepper.”
I looked down at the pepper, which was filled with a hamburger mixture. I used my knife to cut it, then took a bite. I raised my brows as I chewed. It was delicious. Setting my fork down, I wiped my mouth and said, “That’s amazing.”
Everyone smiled and started to eat as conversation broke out.
“So tell us, Beck, how did you find yourself on an airplane after all these years, heading to Montana to meet the Shaw family?” Merit asked.
I told them the same story I’d told Avery. At one point in the conversation, Dirk excused himself and was gone for a few short minutes. He apologized for the rudeness, but I quickly told him he wasn’t being rude at all.
Merit and Mackenzie both wiped their eyes as I retold my mother’s story. Even Avery appeared to blink back tears. I guess now that she’d heard the story already, it hit her differently.
“He never knew about you,” Dirk said as he sat back in his chair. “Damn, that really sucks.”
I nodded. “My mother talked about him, not a great deal, but enough to let me know she loved him, and he loved her. She never did tell me his last name, only that his family was from Montana. I really learned more about him through his letters to my mother. He was a romantic,” I said with a smile. “Seemed like a really great guy. He clearly wanted to bring my mother to Montana to live here. He wanted to marry her, and I’m sure if he had known she was pregnant, he would have.”
“He was a great guy,” Dirk said. “He was an amazing son, brother, and friend.”
“And your grandfather was against you coming to Montana to search for your other family?” Mackenzie asked.
“He’s not thrilled about it. He doesn’t understand why I can’t just leave it alone, since my father’s gone.” Avery and I exchanged a look.
“But it’s your family. I mean, I know you have your mother’s family, but why would he think meeting your paternal family is a bad thing?”
I chuckled without humor. “You don’t know my grandfather. He thinks everyone is out for a piece of the pie, if I may speak frankly.”
“The pie?” Merit asked.
“My grandfather is in the oil and gas business in Texas.”
Dirk nodded. “No need to say more.”
Mackenzie stood. “Bradly, help me clear the table so your parents can talk to Beck.”
“I’ll help too,” Avery said, then looked at me. “Unless you would rather I stay.”
My chest warmed, knowing that Avery didn’t want me to feel abandoned. “I don’t mind either way.”
Bradly reached for my plate. “Stay, Avery. You’ve had a long few days. Mackenzie and I will get this.”
Merit beamed up at her son and his girlfriend. “Thank you, both of you.”
“First thing,” Dirk said. “You’ll stay here, not at a hotel.”
“Oh no, sir, I couldn’t do that.”
“Yes, you can, and we insist,” Merit added. “You’re like family, Beck.”
I stared at her. “You don’t even know me. I could be lying about my name, where I’m from…”
“Oh, you’re not,” Dirk said. “When I excused myself during dinner, I was answering texts from my lawyer. I texted him before we sat down, and he’d already confirmed you are who you say you are.”
My mouth dropped open as Avery said, “Daddy! Are you serious?”
Dirk shrugged unapologetically. “When my daughter brings home a guy, regardless of if he’s the spitting image of a Shaw brother, I’m going to look into him.”
I finally shut my mouth and said, “If I’m being honest, I’m impressed with the speed of your lawyer.”
Dirk smirked. “I’ll pass that along.”
Merit rolled her eyes. “Beck, please say you’ll stay here.”
I looked at Avery, and she nodded. I wasn’t sure it was such a good idea, considering every time she smiled at me, I could feel my body react.
“Mrs.…um…Merit, I truly do appreciate the offer, but I think I should stay at the inn.”
Merit looked at Dirk, and then back at me. Sighing, she said, “Okay. But I want you to at least consider staying here. We’re much closer to the Shaw Ranch and it will be less of a drive for you.”
Dirk laughed. “Are you kidding? The moment Stella lays eyes on him, she’s going to insist he stays there.”
When I glanced over to Avery, she had a look on her face I couldn’t read. She blinked a few times, then asked, “When do you want to meet them?”
I let out a breath. “Man…I don’t know,” I said with a nervous laugh. “Now that I’m here, I’m worried.”
Merit reached across the table for my hand. “Oh, Beck, please don’t worry. I promise you, they are going to welcome you with open arms.”
I slowly shook my head. “I don’t want to bring back sad memories for them.”
“Sad? Beck, no, you’re going to be a miracle for them. Trust me. I’ve grown up with all the Shaw boys, and Stella and Ty Senior were like second parents to me. They’re going to be so grateful for you,” Dirk said.
The feelings that were tumbling around in my head and heart were hard to put into words. When I found my father’s letters, I had the overwhelming urge to hop on a plane and meet everyone right then and there. But then the doubts started to creep in.
Something on my face must have shown, because Avery took my hand. “Beck, what’s really going on in your head?”
Dirk and Merit both looked from their daughter to me. How in the hell did this woman, whom I had only known for a day, figure out I was keeping something locked inside?
I swallowed the lump in my throat and ignored the way my tongue felt like it was growing bigger. The fear was there, and I needed to voice it out loud. Why not do it to a bunch of people I’d only known for a few hours?
Clearing my throat, I adjusted in my seat and stared at the table before I forced myself to look at Avery and then her parents. “I don’t want to replace my father in their eyes,” I said.
Merit’s and Dirk’s eyes widened. Avery tightened her grip on my hand. The feel of her thumb rubbing gently across my skin instantly relaxed me. I knew I would lay in bed later tonight and go over how this girl made me react to her touch.
“Beck, as a mother, I can honestly tell you that a child can never be replaced. Stella and Ty aren’t going to think of you as a replacement for their son. They’re going to look at you as a gift from their son.”
Avery sniffled next to me, and I was pretty sure I saw Dirk act like he was rubbing under his nose while he wiped a tear away.
Smiling, I softly said, “Thank you, Merit.”
She returned a smile of her own. “I say, since you’ve flown all this way, don’t wait another day. Dirk and I can both tell you that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”
My hand went to the back of my neck, and I rubbed the tension there. “Wow. Okay, you’re right. Is tomorrow too soon?”
Dirk leaned forward. “You leave that to me. Go to the hotel, get a good night’s sleep, and be back here tomorrow afternoon. I’ll make arrangements to have dinner with Stella and Ty Senior. I think you should meet them first.”
“I agree,” Merit added.
“If you think that would be the best way to handle things,” I stated. Avery was still holding my hand, and she gave it a soft squeeze.
Dirk nodded. “I do, and we’ll all be there for you.”
I pressed my lips together tightly and attempted to keep my emotions in check. “I don’t know what to say. Your kindness is…is overwhelming, if I’m being honest.”
Merit gave me a small smile. “I think it was fate that had our Avery sitting down next to you, Beck.”
Turning to look at her, those stunning turquoise eyes sparkled. I gave a small nod and replied, “I think so too.”
I walked into my suite and sighed. The bathroom was to my left, and as I walked in farther, I saw the sofa, small kitchen area, and, like a sign from above, double doors that led to the king-size bed. I dropped my suitcase and computer bag onto the sofa. The rental car keys and my phone went on the table, and I walked straight into the bedroom and fell onto the bed.
“God, this feels so good.”
Just as I felt my body completely relax, my phone rang.
Groaning, I rolled over and sat up. I knew it was my grandfather, and I also knew if I didn’t answer, he would keep calling. Reaching my phone in time, I swiped to connect. “Hey, Gramps.”
“I take it you made it to Montana.”
I started to kick off my boots. “I did. And you’re never going to believe this, but the person who sat next to me on the plane knew the Shaw family.”
“Really?” he said, the doubt in his voice nearly oozing through the phone. “You didn’t find that strange?”
“Not when her plane was delayed, and she was rerouted from Paris, France. No, I didn’t.”
“How did the subject come up?” he asked. I could hear someone in the background, and I figured it was Shelly, my grandfather’s assistant. I swore the poor lady worked twenty-four hours a day. She was well paid, but still. She had no kind of life since she was pretty much always on call.
“Are you still at the office?” I asked, glancing at my watch, which showed that it was nearly eleven at night in Texas.
“Yes, did you get those reports I asked you to do?”
“Gramps, I’ve been traveling all day.”
“All day? You landed how many hours ago?”
I closed my eyes. “The friend I met on the plane invited me to meet their parents, since they’re good friends with my father’s family.”
He let out a harumph. “You didn’t even know your father. How can you call them family? You have a family here in Texas. A large family with plenty of cousins. I don’t know why you felt you needed to search for his brood.”
“ Brood ?” I asked with a laugh.
“Yes, brood. When do you think you’ll be finished with this little adventure of yours, Beck? We’re in need of you here at the office. There is a new drill site I want you to research.”
“There isn’t anything I can’t take care of while I’m here.”
“You didn’t do the reports I asked you to do.”
“Gramps, it’s Friday. You don’t need them until next week. Here’s a crazy idea: Why don’t you leave the office so poor Shelly can go home? Leave her alone for the weekend and just take a few days off.”
He laughed. “I’ll have you know I pay her enough money for her inconvenience.”
“I’m sure you do, but at some point, hopefully you’ll realize that work isn’t everything.”
Mumbling under his breath, he sighed. “When will you be back?”
“I’m not sure yet. Like I said, I can do any work that I need to do from here, but I did take two weeks of vacation, so after these reports, you shouldn’t need anything from me.”
“Vacation?”
Sighing, I replied, “Yeah, it’s this thing people do where they walk away from their jobs for a few days, or weeks, to enjoy life. You really should try it sometime.”
“You don’t actually think you’re being funny right now, do you?”
Rolling my eyes, I sighed again. “Gramps, it’s been a long day, and I’m going to take a shower and go to bed.”
“I’ll expect those reports first thing Monday morning. Be sure and check in with me.”
My eyes closed as I said, “Have a good weekend, Gramps.”
“Good luck with the brood. Talk to you Monday.”
And just like that, he hung up, leaving me staring at the floor. Tossing the phone onto the bed, I looked toward the sky. “Nothing is the same with you gone. I don’t even know what happiness is anymore, Mom…and I’m not sure I ever will again.”