Chapter 35
thirty-five
. . .
Cutler
“I’m just so happy that we got to spend Christmas Eve with you both,” my mother said as we all sat around the big farmhouse table at my parents’ house. All my uncles and aunts and cousins who lived here in Magnolia Falls had just left after we’d had dinner together, like we did every year.
My mom lived for Christmas, so every square inch of our home was decorated in garlands and lights and holiday décor, and it smelled of fresh pine.
She put up six Christmas trees every year, and there was even one in my childhood bedroom, which Gracie was thrilled about because that’s where we were staying.
“It was so good to see everyone,” I said. “And you know anytime you make unicorn Krispies, I’m going to come running.”
“I remember being obsessed with these when I was younger.” Gracie tore off another piece of my mother’s famous Rice Krispie Treats covered in rainbow sprinkles and popped it in her mouth.
I was so fucking in love with this woman, and I’d missed her like crazy, so I was savoring every second we had together this week.
The distance was challenging but manageable. Now that we’d made the decision to be together, we talked a couple of times a day and planned when we’d get to see each other next. And it was working well for now.
But I was already taking action in case she decided she wanted to stay in New York. I’d started studying for the Home Improvement Contractor License for New York City, but I hadn’t told Gracie yet. I’d have to do a few things if I wanted to move my company across the country, which would take time.
So I’d get the ball rolling and be ready if the time came for me to do it.
“I can still picture you as a little girl, with those big brown eyes, asking me how I’d caught a unicorn to get all the sprinkles.” Mom chuckled.
“I remember that.” Gracie shook her head with a huge smile on her face. “I used to love when we’d come to Magnolia Falls. We’d go to Demi’s coffee shop for the best pumpkin lattes, and then my dad dragged me to Romeo’s gym a few times to try to teach me how to box.”
“I still love going to Uncle Ro’s gym,” I said. “Man, it’s just always good to be home.”
“It is. And tomorrow we’re heading to Blue Sky Bay when you two leave for Cottonwood Cove,” Pops said. “I guess we’ve got a lot of homes now. And it sounds like we might have to start coming out to New York too, if you two end up there.”
“I love big cities,” my mom said. “I mean, I don’t know if I’d want to live there, but I love visiting.” She was still scrolling on her iPad, looking at Gracie’s recent designs. “Are you loving it there?”
“I’m happy that I did it. It’s still an adjustment, and personally I like small-town living a lot. But it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity right now, so I’m where I’m supposed to be, I guess,” Gracie said, and our gazes met.
She struggled with what she wanted to do, and I tried to be supportive, because at the end of the day, it didn’t matter where we were. All that mattered was that we were together.
“You’ve got to take those opportunities,” Pops said. “We’re proud of you for doing it. And we support Cutler if he decides to open up ROD there and close the office in Blue Sky Bay. Because what matters most is that you two do whatever you need to do to be together.”
I was lucky to call these two my parents. They’d always been supportive and loving, no matter what was happening in my life.
“I haven’t said anything, because I’ve got it handled, but Tara called a few days ago,” I said, catching them all off-guard.
It wasn’t something I talked about often, but I’d realized I didn’t need to keep it to myself.
My parents had dealt with her manipulative behavior when I was young, and Gracie was very familiar with her popping in and out of my life over the years.
“What did she want this time?” Pops asked.
“She wanted more money,” I admitted as I scratched the back of my neck. “And I realized that I’d given her money a few months ago for the wrong reasons.”
“What do you mean?” my mom asked, her eyes wet with emotion.
“I was doing it for myself. I’m not proud to say that I think in a way I wanted to impress her.
To show her that I’d done just fine without her, and that she’d messed up by walking away all those years ago.
” I shrugged, and my gaze locked with Gracie’s as she smiled the slightest bit.
She’d reminded me many times that I didn’t need Tara’s approval, which wasn’t something that I could buy.
“And I realized that I don’t resent her for leaving, because look where I am.
I’ve got the most incredible family and the most incredible girl.
I’m not lacking in any area of my life, and I don’t need the approval of a woman who doesn’t know anything about me. ”
“That’s very true,” my father said, his eyes filled with compassion as he looked at me.
“And if you keep giving her money, I don’t think it’ll ever stop, unfortunately.
But I don’t judge you for having a big heart, Cutler.
I’m proud as hell of you. But you sure as shit don’t need anyone’s approval, least of all Tara’s. ”
“Agreed. And it’s a tricky situation, because she’s your mom too,” my mother said.
I took her hand in mine. “That’s the thing, Mama.
I don’t feel that way at all. And it hit me when she called the other day, because she told me that she has COPD from years of smoking.
And I didn’t feel the way I thought I would.
Instead, I felt irritated, like she’d never taken care of herself, nor cared for anyone else.
But when you were sick, I felt like I’d lost a limb.
I was angry at the universe because it wasn’t fair.
Because you’re the most amazing mother and friend and sister and wife.
You are my only mother. My Sunny. I love you so much it hurts. ”
Tears were streaming down her face, and I glanced over to see the tears moving down Gracie’s cheeks as well.
“It’s been the honor of my life to be your mother.” She sniffed a few times.
My dad wrapped his arms around Gracie and chuckled. “Nothing like Christmas Eve with the Hearts, huh? We’re a sappy bunch.”
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” Gracie said. “So, what did you end up telling Tara?”
“I told her I couldn’t give her money in good conscience again, because she’s just going to use it for drugs and alcohol, and I wouldn’t take part in that.
But I sent some groceries to her house, so she’d have food in her refrigerator.
And I didn’t do it to prove anything. I did it because I’m able to, and that was reason enough. ” I shrugged.
“How did I get so lucky to call you mine, Cutler Heart?” Gracie said, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
“I’m pretty sure I claimed you when we were five years old, and you finally got on board after all these years.” I winked at her.
“I don’t know about that, but I’m definitely on board,” she said.
My parents both chuckled. “Well, seeing you two together is the best Christmas gift you could have given us,” Mom said.
We stayed up late into the night opening presents and making new memories.
And tomorrow we’d be doing the same thing with Gracie’s family in Cottonwood Cove.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Gracie’s family was large and loud and lots of fun, and I’d always felt like I was home when I was here.
My uncle Bridger had offered us his helicopter so we could make it there much quicker this morning, so we’d made it here to open gifts at her grandparents’ house.
Gracie had always been close with them, and they adored her.
They’d made a big deal about us being together, as I’d grown up around all of them.
“So our little Gracie finally ends up with the right guy,” her uncle Finn said as he gave me a pound with his fist. “Welcome to the family, Beefcake. Well, I guess you were already a member, but now it’s more official.”
“He’s always been part of the family,” Hugh, another uncle, said as he looked between us with a big grin on his face.
“I always knew you’d end up together,” Gracie’s aunt Brinkley added.
“I’m the one who told you that I thought they were more than friends.” Georgia, another aunt, let a loud laugh escape before turning her attention to her niece. “Remember when you confided in me in high school that you had a big crush on Cutler?”
“What?” I feigned surprise and tugged my girl closer to me. “You had a crush on me in high school? Was this before you were dating Bowie, the Virgin King?”
“Hey now,” Cage said, pretending to cover his ears as everyone laughed.
“I’m actually the one who predicted they would end up together,” Burke said, and Gracie smiled at her brother, who was home from school in Italy.
“You also predicted that Cutler would go on The Bachelor and become a famous reality star,” Gracie said with a smirk.
Burke laughed. “Hey, that could have happened during his college years. Listen, this is a dream come true for me, because I’ve never liked any of the dudes you’ve dated, and now you’ve hit the jackpot.” Her brother high-fived me.
“I’m the one who hit the jackpot,” I said as I wrapped my arms around her a little tighter.
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching football and hanging out with family. When we got back to her parents’ house, Gracie helped her mom unload all the leftovers that her grandmother had sent home with us.
Burke said he needed to go lie down, as he was jet-lagged and still on Italy time.
Cage and I each grabbed a beer, bundled up in our coats, and went out back to light a fire.
“Is this a good time to talk to you about something?” I asked, clearing my throat.
His expression turned a bit more serious, and he leaned forward in his chair. “Of course. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is great,” I assured him.
Why am I suddenly nervous?
“Yeah? I’m sure the distance isn’t easy, Cutler.
But I want you to know that I appreciate you encouraging Gracie to do this,” he said, giving me a steady look.
“I know she regretted her choice to go to Paris, but I really think she’s gotten her confidence back now.
It was too good of an opportunity to turn down.
And you guys are young, and you’ve got your whole lives ahead of you. ”
“I agree. And I’m proud as hell of her for doing this.
” I intertwined my fingers, resting my elbows on my knees.
“She doesn’t know it yet, but I’ve started the process to get licensed in New York City.
I don’t want to wait until she tells me it’s where she wants to stay permanently and then have to start the process.
I want to be ready. The ball is in her court, and when she says jump, I’ll just ask how high. ” I chuckled.
“You’d really close down your business and move across the country, wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not even a question. I’d do it right now, but she’s not certain she wants to stay there. So we’ve agreed to give it six months, and see how she feels,” I said. Gracie’s lease had been extended for three more months, so she’d make the decision in the next few months.
“You’re a good man, Cutler Heart.”
“Well, not sure about that, but I’m certainly a lucky man.” I exhaled. “And what I wanted to talk to you about is my commitment to your daughter.”
“I don’t have one bit of hesitation about your commitment to one another,” he said confidently.
“That’s good to hear, because I need you to know that I’d walk through fire for that girl.
She’s the first person I want to talk to when I wake up in the morning and the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep.
She’s always completed me in a way. I want to give her everything her heart desires, and then some.
She’s my girl. Always has been. Always will be.
” I looked him in the eyes, and I mean I really looked him in the eyes.
Wanting him to see all the love that I had for his little girl.
“I want to propose to her in the near future, and I want to make sure I have your blessing. You know how much respect I have for you, so knowing that you’re on board with this would mean a lot to me. ”
“I thought Presley getting me a new set of golf clubs was going to be the best Christmas gift this year.” He pushed to his feet and tugged me up to stand. “But you just made me a very happy man.”
He clapped me on the back, and we just stood there hugging for the longest time.
Cage Reynolds had always felt like family to me. And now we were going to make it official.
We both sat back down. “Do you know how you’re going to do it?”
“I’m working on that right now,” I said. “We’ve been through a lot together, so I’ll need to make it really special.”
“Well, damn. You’ve got me all choked up, so I think you could just speak from the heart like you did tonight, and you’ll be just fine,” he said. “But knowing you the way I do, I have no doubt it’ll be something we’ll all talk about for years.”
“That’s the plan,” I said.
“What’s the plan?” Gracie came walking outside wearing her white ski jacket and white hat with a big pompom on the top of her head.
“The plan is that we wake up tomorrow and go get some pancakes at the Cottonwood Café,” Cage said, thinking quickly on his feet.
“Oh, I haven’t seen Mrs. Runither in a few months, but Mom said she’s still working there on the weekends. And you know how much she loves you, Cutler.” Gracie settled on my lap and chuckled.
“She was a big fan of the Beefcake.”
“I’ve yet to meet anyone who isn’t,” she said as she rested her head in the crook of my neck.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said, my gaze locking with her father’s again.
“It sure does,” he said with a smirk.
Because now that he’d given me his blessing, I was putting this plan into action.