Chapter 39
CHAPTER 39
Pris
“This came for you.” My dad drops the letter on the desk in front of me. “Are you going again this year?”
“Going where?” I pick it up to see The Farmers of Central Texas Membership Committee on the return address. I burst out laughing, covering my mouth with the back of my hand. My sweet ole dad. “I don’t think it’s necessary.”
He sits on the end of my bed with his hands resting in his lap. He doesn’t hang out for no reason, so I ask, “Something on your mind, Dad?”
Taking his time as he always does, he looks out the window at the leaves blowing in the gentle breeze. When he redirects his gaze to me, he says, “I wish your mom could be here to help you with all this wedding planning and hullabaloo.”
“I do, too.” My heart pings over it from figuring out the flavor of the cake Peaches is making for us or shopping for a dress, which has been done online before bed since that’s the only real time I have to dedicate to it. “But you’re here, and I’m so grateful for all you do to help with the property.”
He takes a breath and looks down. “You deserved a mom to be here. I’m sorry she’s gone, and you’re stuck with me.”
I get up to sit next to him. Wrapping my arm around his back, I lean my head against his shoulder. “You’re enough, Dad. You’re not a consolation prize. I’d love for Mom to be here, but I’m at peace with how things are. I need you to find it in this life as well.”
He covers the hand I rest on his shoulder and pats it. “I can find joy in these special occasions. I’ll celebrate every family milestone on this earth that I’m given. I will do my best to be all you need, but you have to tell me if I’m failing. I’m not good with this stuff, but I’ll keep trying.”
“That’s good enough.” I kiss his cheek, then return to the desk to finish putting on my makeup. Lauralee has insisted we go all out with all the occasions. I’m not sure what to expect at a bachelorette party, but I’m worried it will be like what I’ve seen in the movies.
He stands and goes to the door. “So you and Tagger Grange, huh?”
I waggle my finger, unable to stop the epic smile taking over my face. I’ve smiled so much recently that my cheeks hurt. “Seems that way.”
“You’ll make a good wife and a good bonus mom to his son, but make sure he understands that you’re your own woman and he needs to be a good husband. Or else he’ll have to deal with me.”
“And Baylor.” I laugh.
He opens the door, and adds, “You make a fine pair.” When he ducks out, I hear crinkling in the hallway. “And since this seems to be a done deal, I wanted to give you something.”
I stand, having no idea what it could be. We’ve always had modest birthdays and Christmas gift exchanges, so a present out of the blue is new for us. “Is this a wedding gift?”
“Two gifts.” He comes back into the room and hands me a little store bag. “This one is from your mother.”
My breath deepens as a swarm of emotion overcomes me. I don’t know why I’m afraid to open it. I look at him, and ask, “What is it?”
“Just open it, Christine.”
I do, the crinkling of the bag connecting to the sound he made outside my room. I pull out a little velvet bag, then pour the contents into my palm. He says, “I know you can buy your own, but I thought you might like to have Mom’s sapphire earrings. I had them cleaned and polished. They look new.”
A tear falls on top of one of them. Glancing up at him, I take a staggered breath. “I forgot about these. She used to wear them on her birthday?—”
“And our anniversary.”
“She once wore them to the grocery store and whispered we don’t have to save our special things for only special occasions.” The memory makes me sob. “I don’t think I’d ever seen her smile and laugh so much while shopping for pantry staples. It was like she had discovered the secret to happiness.” I turn them over in my hand. “Enjoy life and every day you’re given.” I put one on and then the other. “How do I look?”
He nods and clears his throat, but I see the tears in his eyes so I can only imagine the size of the frog in his throat. “You look beautiful, dear daughter.”
I hug him. “Thank you. I’ll treasure them forever.”
“Good. Now,” he says, standing and going into the hallway again. “I have something from me. Well, your mom and I, but you’ll understand.” Pushing open the door, he holds her white dress on a hanger in front of him.
My makeup is ruined, so I don’t worry about it and rush to the dress. Holding it between my fingertips, I pull it out in front of me. “How?” I look at him, smiling proudly. “It’s perfect, not a stain on it. I thought it was ruined. How did you get it so clean?”
“Your brother set me up on the computer and introduced me to YouTube. I must’ve tried ten techniques that strangers on the screen recommended. But then I went to the laundry, trying to remember how your mom got everything so clean. Baking soda, Borax, and a lot of elbow grease did the trick.”
To say my dad loves me is an understatement. Taking the dress from him, I hold it to me as I hug him with my other arm. “Thank you. It’s perfect.”
“Perfectly clean?”
“Yes, but also perfect for the wedding.”
* * *
My head might hurt from drinking too much last night at a mildly wild bachelorette party that involved me drinking too many Blow Job shots without using my hands and having Deputy McCall driving most of us home—I sat in the front seat this time and was on siren duty— last night, but I arrive to the transfer of ownership meeting with our attorney on time. The meeting is being held at our kitchen table, but I’m still here along with my dad and Baylor. Barely.
I’m handed a pen before the lawyer goes through the paperwork to explain. The percentages don’t add up. “It’s supposed to be thirty-eight percent in my name, correct?” I tap the numbers on the page. “This says fifty-one percent.”
The door opens. “Sorry, I’m late.”
“Griffin.” I jump from my seat and run into his arms. “What are you doing here?” I cry into his shoulder. Getting married sure does bring out the emotions.
“Hey, baby sis.” When I step back to give him access to my dad and brother, he says, “You’re getting married. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
I’m so tempted to text Tagger and share the good news, but he’s at the elementary school signing Beckett up for school and taking a tour to get him more comfortable before it starts in the fall.
As soon as they take their seats again, I hug him. “I’ve missed you so much.” Even though I’ve grown up since last seeing him, he’s bigger than I remember. Dark hair like my dad once had, and Baylor’s mop top. His eyes are blue like mine, and the spark I remember so vividly being in his eyes has returned to be a part of the festivities.
Griffin Greene is not someone we can keep up with. His life has led him all over this earth and back again. He left like Baylor after my mom’s death, but we didn’t get many texts after that, and fewer calls came through. I have no idea what he’s been up to.
And due to all that needs to get done, I’m not sure we’ll have time to catch up.
The attorney calls us over and goes through the numbers again to show me how it got to fifty-one. “Baylor is transferring thirteen shares. Griffin is doing the same. That puts it at fifty-one.”
My head swivels so fast on my neck to look at Griffin that I think I twinged it. Rubbing it, I ask, “You did that?”
“It only makes sense. Like Baylor has said, you’ve earned it. We keep some of it in our family name, but you deserve it, Christine.” He nods toward the document. “Go ahead and sign, and let’s make this official.”
I take the pen and sign my name. I don’t think it sinks in that this ranch is mine like it is my dad’s. I gave up a lot to be here, to pick up the pieces when no one could. I never imagined I’d get this kind of payoff.
When I walk the lawyer to his car, he stops and looks around like he wants to make sure we’re alone. “I have one more thing for you.” He digs into the pocket of his briefcase and pulls out more documents.
“What is it?”
“A prenuptial agreement from Mr. Grange.”
The words strike like a slap across the face. “We’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Time is of the essence, but I think he was wise to protect the assets.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “What asset are we specifically talking about?”
“The ranch, the business, the farm, the orchards, and the houses on the property.”
“There’s only one house.”
He replies, “For now.”
I find the statement as confusing as this whole surprise prenuptial agreement. There was never a mention of anything or protecting ourselves from the other. So to say this feels like a blindside . . . a Mack truck hitting me and coming back for a second round is more fitting.
Taking the papers, I say goodbye and march straight into the house and up to my bedroom, ready to give Tagger a piece of my mind. If he doesn’t want to share, fine, we won’t share a damn thing, including that bed I was promised.
I flop on the bed, my head still pounding from too much alcohol last night and pull the papers from the envelope. Holding them above my head, I start to flip through pages but land on one—the division of assets. Should I have seen this coming? He’s in finance, so it would have been a stretch. Otherwise, it’s not in his character to surprise me with last-minute betrayal-nuptial agreements.
Scanning the page, I stop when I see what’s included and what’s very much not listed. I sit up to reread just in case I didn’t read it correctly the first time. But there it is, plain as day. “There shall be no claims to Rollingwood Ranch or any associated businesses, properties, financials, or incomes.” No claim?
Why do we need a contract to state he has no claim to my family’s property?
And then it occurs to me . . . He has no claim to my money and assets, but I have full rights to his. Oh my God. Tagger, what have you done?
He’s getting so lucky for this.
* * *
“You’re pretty,” Beck says, standing in front of me in his spiffiest jeans, button-up, boots, and hat. He’s acclimating.
“Thanks, buddy.” I squat to adjust the little lariat around his neck. “You look very handsome yourself.”
“Wait until you see Daddy. He said he looks handsome for you.”
“Oh yeah?” Standing back up, I add, “I can’t wait.”
He pulls something from his pocket and holds it in his hand. “I have something for you.”
“What is that?”
“I made you a friendship bracelet.” He holds up the satin ribbon with beads on it. “It has my name.”
I can’t handle his cuteness. Taking it, I hug him. “Thank you so much.” When I sit back on my heels, I ask, “Can I wear it now?” He nods. “Will you help me?” He takes the bracelet and slides it on my wrist. I twirl it back and forth several times to admire it. It really is perfect for the occasion. I manage to get one hug out of him before he dashes because he heard there were the good kind of gummy bears on a table somewhere.
A kid after my own heart.
* * *
With a ring of flowers wrapped around my head and my hair flowing over my shoulders, Sunrise brings me across the fields to where our friends and family have gathered.
It’s the perfect spot to see the sunset explode in stunning oranges and pinks with blues mixed in. The sky will be on fire before we seal our nuptials with a kiss.
In the shade of the orchard with the fragrance of peaches floating in the air, my soon to be betrothed is waiting for me. My cowboy looks as handsome as ever in his pale gray felt cowboy hat and his shined-up boots. He went with dark denim and a white shirt for the occasion. His incredible smile wins me over as if he hadn’t all those years prior.
Lauralee holds the bouquet of wildflowers I picked this morning near the ridge of where my mom is buried. A gentle breeze welcomed me with dew still shining on the leaves as the sun rose over the greener pasture. I only had a few minutes, but it was good to share the peaceful moment with her.
There is no music, but who needs music when love is in the air? Tagger isn’t an overly emotional kind of man. But the sunset shines in his eyes, and I can see the tears forming while he watches me.
The sun beats down, so I don’t want to keep everyone waiting in the heat. Griffin helps me off the horse, and Baylor guides me to where my dad will walk me down the makeshift aisle to my handsome soon-to-be-husband.
After a quick embrace of my best friend, I take the bouquet in one hand, and the tissue she sneaks with it, and hook my arm around my Dad’s arm. I catch the tears in his eyes as he looks me over as if it’s the last time.
We know it’s not, but this is the end of one chapter and the beginning of a whole new adventure. “You’ve made me unbelievably proud, Christine. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Dad.”
I turn to take Tagger’s offered hands, his heart, and give him mine in exchange because the way we look at it, it’s a win-win.
Dabbing the inner corners of my eyes with the tissue, I laugh from the happiness escaping me. I always thought I had a crush on Tagger Grange. It wasn’t. It was love. I knew he was my soul mate. The universe took us in different directions but destiny brought us together in the end.
And now, standing with our boots touching and our hands held together, the man I dreamed about my whole life is ready to marry me as if I’m his dream come true as well.