Chapter 69
CHAPTER 69
DIXIE
I t was Friday, and I had been looking forward to this day all week. The past few days had been good—really good. I’d been fully present in my life in a way I hadn’t been in a long time. I’d been working in my shop, losing myself in the rhythm of sanding, painting, and creating. I took a lunch break one day to go for a walk, my favorite playlist in my ears, the music lifting my spirits as I strolled through the neighborhood. I’d been eating well, thinking about what was best for me and the baby. I even made time to meet up with Frankie for brunch, something we hadn’t done in ages.
We talked about our parents, about how things were shifting in our relationships with them. Frankie told me she was proud of me for standing up to Mom, and I felt a surge of gratitude for her support. It had been a good week, but today? Today was the day I’d been waiting for.
Hayes and I had been playing phone tag the last couple of days. He had some emergency situation with one of their people and then I had a client demand a retouch on a piece I did. I was so looking forward to seeing Hayes. I liked that I didn’t have to be around him all the time. I was independent. I knew he was going to be right there if I needed him, but he wasn’t trying to run my life or tell me what to do.
And tonight, he said he had a big surprise for me. I was expecting a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom carefully doing my makeup. The dress I had chosen for tonight hung on the edge of my closet door. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it made me feel pretty. And I figured I may as well wear it before I couldn’t fit in it.
I reached for the dress, slipping it over my head. I adjusted the straps, letting them rest just so on my shoulders, and smoothed out the material around my waist. The dress was perfect—not too fancy, but still special enough for whatever Hayes had planned. I swiped on a little lipstick, smacking my lips together.
I stepped back to admire the full effect, running my fingers through my hair and turning this way and that. My phone beeped, notifying me of a text. It was from Hayes, letting me know he would be arriving in a few minutes.
It wasn’t even two minutes later when I heard the knock on my door. I grabbed my bag and took a deep breath, smoothing down the front of my dress before opening the door. Hayes stood there, looking as handsome as ever in a crisp button-down shirt and dark jeans. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and for a moment, we just stood there, smiling at each other.
“You look incredible,” he said, his voice soft but sincere.
“Thank you,” I replied, feeling a warm blush creep up my cheeks. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He chuckled and stepped aside to let me pass. “Ready for your surprise?”
“More than ready,” I said, curiosity bubbling inside me.
Hayes led me downstairs. To my surprise, there was a fancy town car with a personal driver. “This is nice,” I said as we slid into the backseat.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“So, where are we going?” I asked. “You said casual, but your idea of casual and mine are very different.”
He grinned. “I’ve got a bag packed for both of us.”
“Bags?” I asked. “I thought we were going to dinner.”
“You don’t have anything planned for the weekend, do you?”
“No, but…”
“Then sit back, relax, and prepare to be pampered,” he said. “Trust me.”
We ended up at an exclusive and luxurious spa retreat resort. It was the kind of place I’d only ever seen in magazines.
“Seriously?” I asked with surprise.
Hayes smiled. “Seriously. I figured you could use a little time away, especially with everything that’s been going on. And besides, it’s not every day I get to spoil you like this.”
I couldn’t help but grin as we stepped out of the car. The resort was even more stunning than I could have dreamed of. Manicured gardens, glowing lanterns, and the faint sound of a bubbling fountain somewhere nearby. It felt like stepping into another world.
“This is nuts,” I said, taking it all in. “You really didn’t have to do all this.”
“I wanted to,” he said simply, taking my hand in his. “You deserve it, Dixie. You’ve been working so hard, and I just wanted to give you a chance to relax and unwind.”
We walked into the lobby, where a friendly staff member greeted us by name and handed us each a glass of sparkling water infused with cucumber and mint.
“Welcome to Haven Springs,” she said with a warm smile. “We’re so glad to have you with us this weekend.”
I felt like I’ve been transported to another world. The air is scented with lavender and mint. I can feel my stress evaporating almost immediately.
“Checking in for Bancroft,” Hayes said.
Five minutes later, we were walking into our suite.
The rooms took my breath away. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the surrounding gardens. The décor was very Zen. Natural wood accents and touches of greenery that made it feel alive. A bottle of champagne chilled in an ice bucket on the table, though I knew I wouldn’t be partaking in that tonight.
Hayes placed our bags down and turned to me, his expression soft but playful. “So? What do you think?”
I shook my head, still taking it all in. “I don’t even know what to say. This is incredible.”
He stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “Good. Because the best part is yet to come.”
“Oh?” I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And what’s that?”
“Our first treatments,” he said. “Before dinner. We need to change. The robes are in the bathroom, I presume.”
Once undressed and wrapped up in fluffy robes with slippers that made it feel like I was walking on clouds, Hayes led me down a long hall. We passed other couples wearing the same attire. We were taken to a private room for a plunge soak in a warm mineral spa.
Soft music played and the smell of lavender was strong in there. The woman nodded before leaving us alone.
“Ready?” Hayes asked.
“I can already feel my shoulders loosening.”
He removed his robe and hung it on a hook. I did the same and allowed him to help me into the water. It was the perfect temperature.
“I told them you were pregnant,” he said. “This is all baby safe.”
“That was thoughtful. Thank you. Now it’s even easier for me to relax.”
The warmth enveloped us as we sat close, our bodies touching. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against a pillow stuck to the side.
“Holy cow,” I murmured. “This is incredible.”
Hayes chuckled softly beside me. “I thought you’d like it. Figured you needed something to ease all that tension you’ve been carrying around.”
“You figured right,” I admitted, letting out a long sigh. The water seemed to melt away every worry, every knot in my shoulders. I opened my eyes and glanced at him, his face relaxed. “You really went all out for this, didn’t you?”
“You’re worth it, Dixie. You deserve to be pampered every now and then.”
I leaned my head against his shoulder. “Thank you,” I whispered. “This is perfect.”
He reached over to a tray I hadn’t noticed before. He pulled off the silver dome to reveal chocolate-dipped strawberries and more cucumber water waiting for us.
“A snack before dinner,” he said.
“This is so decadent.” I reached for a strawberry and took a bite. The sweet tang of the fruit burst in my mouth. I couldn’t help but let out a contented sigh. Hayes watched me with a smile.
“Good?” he asked.
“Beyond good,” I replied, licking a stray bit of chocolate from my thumb. “You’re spoiling me, Hayes. I’m not sure how I’m ever going to manage without all this after the weekend.”
He chuckled, leaning back against the edge of the pool. “Who says it has to end after the weekend? Maybe I’ll just keep finding new ways to spoil you.”
I raised an eyebrow at him, though I couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at my lips. “Careful,” I teased. “You might make me expect this kind of treatment all the time.”
“Maybe that’s the plan,” he said.
After the soak, we bundled up in our robes and moved to another room for full-body massages and skin treatments.
“A couple’s massage?” I asked with a smile.
“Yep.”
We stretched out on the massage tables. I turned my head to look at him and felt a blooming feeling in my very soul.
The masseuses entered and got to work. I closed my eyes, the scent of mint filling the air. Her hands worked magic on my back. I could hear Hayes exhale deeply beside me, his own tension melting away. I felt like I was floating on a cloud. My body was boneless. I was so relaxed I could barely keep my eyes open.
The masseuses left the room. I sat up and sighed. Hayes helped me with the robe before gently cupping my face and kissing me.
“Good?”
I moaned. “Beyond good.”
We returned to our room to relax before dinner. There was a window seat recliner that was big enough for both of us. We stayed in our robes and lounged together, gazing out at the trees outside. The view is breathtaking. Soft lighting was embedded in the landscaping. It looked like a magical forest. I felt a sense of peace I had not felt in a long time.
“So, we haven’t had a chance to talk about your conversation with your mother,” he said. “Want to talk about it?”
I sighed, leaning back against Hayes’s chest. “It didn’t go well,” I admitted. “She showed up at my workshop, criticizing everything as usual. We went for a walk, and she tried to make small talk about gardening and redecorating, but I could tell she was just dancing around the real issues.”
Hayes nodded, his arms tightening around me slightly. “What happened then?”
“I confronted her about trying to run you off,” I said. “She tried to justify it, saying she was just trying to secure my future and the baby’s. That she didn’t want me to struggle like she did.”
“That’s twisted logic,” Hayes muttered.
I nodded. “I know. I told her that going behind my back and trying to get money from you wasn’t okay. That it wasn’t her place to interfere like that.”
“How did she take that?”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Not well. She kept insisting she was just trying to protect me. That’s when I really lost it.”
“What do you mean?”
I took a deep breath. “I told her the truth. That she’s been hurting me for years, always making me feel like I was a disappointment. That she’s always loved Frankie more than me.”
Hayes was quiet for a moment, his hand gently rubbing my arm. “That must have been hard to say.”
I nodded, feeling tears prick at my eyes. “It was. But it felt good to finally get it off my chest. I told her that I don’t need her approval anymore. That I’m happy with who I am.”
“How did she react?”
“She was shocked,” I said. “I don’t think she’s ever heard me stand up for myself like that before. I told her that I want her to be there for all the good things coming in my life, but if she can’t accept me for who I am, it might not be possible.”
Hayes pressed a soft kiss to my temple. “I’m proud of you, Dixie. That took a lot of courage.”
I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his. “Thank you. It wasn’t easy, but it felt necessary. I can’t let her keep trying to tear me down. I have a child that is going to look to me for strength. To be a good role model. I can’t do that if she is constantly making me second-guess myself.”
“You’re right,” he said. “And you shouldn’t have to.”
“It was hard, but it was necessary. I feel lighter.”
“I get that. I’ve been stepping outside my comfort zone too.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “Oh?”
“I looked into that doula thing you told me about.”
I looked at him, unsure if he was being serious. “What?”
“I went to an information session. I got a glimpse into pregnancy and childbirth. I booked a session for us to do together if you’re interested.”
I was stunned. It was the last thing I expected from Hayes. I felt a wave of emotion realizing how much effort he was putting into this.
“Hayes, that’s amazing. Thank you.”
“I want to be there for you, Dixie. For our baby. I want to do this right.”
I nodded, tears welling in my eyes. “You are. You’re doing everything right.”