Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“So I guess this is goodbye.”
Huck finished loading the porch swing he and Camden had made for Cadee into the back of his truck before he turned to Poppy.
This morning, she was wearing a Cinderella nightshirt with her hair spilling around her shoulders in messy light brown waves.
Sad Hennessy hazel eyes stared back at him through the fringe of her long bangs.
Slamming the tailgate, he walked over and pulled her into his arms.
“Like I told you before, Pops. I’m moving out, but I’m not going anywhere. My workshop is right over there so I’ll be here every day.”
Poppy clung tightly for a second before she drew back. “And you better not forget to stop by Grounds For Divorce every morning and get me a dozen mini cinnamon sugar donuts.”
He grinned. “Of course I won’t. What are brothers for if it’s not filling their little sisters up with sugar?” He pinched her cheek. “That’s why you’re so sweet.”
She batted his hand away. “Don’t be a smartass.”
“You love me being a smartass.”
She nodded sadly and his heart panged.
As happy as he was that Cadee had wanted to get married before the holidays—so he got to experience Thanksgiving and Christmas with his wife and son—it was still hard leaving his little sister.
After the wedding, he and Cadee planned to take a short honeymoon to South Padre.
When they returned, he’d be living at the Stockton Ranch.
“The ranch is less than twenty minutes away.” He reminded himself as much as Poppy. “You’re welcome anytime.”
“No, thanks. Perfect families make me nervous.”
He understood. He was more than a little nervous about becoming part of the perfect Stockton family.
“Oh, come on, Pops,” he said. “Camden would love it if you came out to the ranch and taught him how to play the guitar.”
Poppy hadn’t picked up her guitar once in the last couple months and he was hoping teaching her nephew would change that. Poppy had a soft spot for Camden. Even though she liked to act otherwise.
“I’m not teaching that hyper kid how to play the guitar.
He can’t even sit still for a game of checkers.
And I know what you’re trying to do, Huckle.
But I’ll pick up my guitar when I’m good and ready.
And just so you know, I’m not sad about you leaving.
Now I won’t have to compete with you for the washing machine and dryer. Or for hot showers. Or bacon.”
He grinned. “I never doubted that my tough little sister will survive quite nicely without me. Especially now that you have a project.” He glanced at the house. She’d had him make shutters for the front windows and was in the process of painting them a sky blue.
She followed his gaze. “The house needed a facelift. And with all the spare time I have on my hands, I figured why not.”
Jaxon and Tully had hired more employees, giving Poppy more time off. Everyone had hoped it would help her get over her ex-boyfriend and back to singing. Instead, it seemed to have just pissed her off.
“I still can’t believe Jaxon and Tully hired that asshole bouncer from Booby Trap to replace you at the front door.”
Huck was as surprised as his sister when he’d heard his replacement was the huge hulk of a man who had thrown him and Poppy out of the men’s bathroom that night. Although Huck figured Steele wouldn’t last more than a week. Not when Poppy still seemed to be holding a grudge.
“Do you know what he called me the other night?” Poppy’s eyes flashed with anger. “Pop Tart!”
Huck bit back a smile. “Give the guy a break, Pops. Steele is just trying to make friends with you.”
“Well, he’s going about it the wrong way. Besides, I don’t need a friend.”
He ruffled her hair. “Because you have so many.”
She glared at him. “It’s hard to have friends when you have three annoying brothers.”
“Three annoying brothers?” He placed a hand on his chest. “And here I thought you loved me better than Dawson and Jax.”
“Well, you’re wrong. I don’t love any of you Hooligans.” But the teary emotion in her eyes said something different. “Now if you’re done screwing around, we need to get ready. If I don’t get the groom to the church on time, Cadee will have my hide and yours too.”
Due to his fruitless efforts to get his wayward cowlick to stay down and Poppy losing one of her boots, they barely made it to the First Baptist Church on time.
When he finally got to the room where his groomsmen were waiting, Huck worried about what he’d find.
Hennessys and Stocktons hadn’t ever gotten along.
Of course, that was before they shared a nephew.
Huck walked into the room to find Dawson and Camden lying on the floor in their tuxedos having an arm wrestling match while Jaxon, Cooper, and Callum stood around them issuing encouragement and advice to Camden.
“Don’t give up, Cam!” Callum yelled.
“You got him!” Cooper agreed.
“Keep eye contact,” Jaxon said. “First Hennessy rule of fighting, don’t show any weakness.”
About then, Dawson’s arm gave out and Camden pinned it to the floor with a crow of victory. “I won!”
Dawson sat up and rubbed his arm. “You sure did. Have you been lifting weights?”
Camden shook his head. “Just bales of hay.” He shot a glance at Cooper and Callum. “With a little help.”
“Well, it sure shows.” Dawson glanced at Huck and winked. “You’re much stronger than your daddy was at your age. I whooped his butt on a regular basis.”
The night after they’d gotten into it at the Stockton Ranch, Dawson had shown up at the Hennessys’ house to apologize to Huck. Cadee and Camden had been there watching Jurassic Park and Dawson had apologized to Cadee too, then joined them for the ending of the movie.
That’s what brothers did. Fight and then make up.
Although while Dawson had been pissed at Huck for robbing Mickey’s, Jaxon had forgiven Huck immediately.
“You were a kid, Huck. We all make stupid decisions as kids. Let’s leave the past in the past.”
And that’s exacted what Huck intended to do. There was too much happiness in the moment to worry about the past.
“I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong, Dawg.” Huck stripped off his tux jacket and got on the floor.
It was an arm-wrestling battle to beat all arm-wrestling battles. With Camden standing there watching, there was no way Huck was going to lose. Finally, he pinned Dawson’s arm to the floor. Although the twinkle in his brother’s eyes made him wonder if Dawson hadn’t let him win.
Just like Huck let Callum win in the next round because he was still trying to get on the youngest Stockton’s good side.
After Callum won, he made some comment about being the strongest Stockton brother and Cooper proved him wrong by pinning his arm in seconds.
Then Cooper challenged Jaxon and Jaxon won.
And finally Jaxon and Camden battled and Camden pinned him quickly.
Which resulted in Camden taking the title of overall winner.
Being a proud daddy, Huck hoisted him up on his shoulders and paraded him around the room to the cheers of all the brothers . . . until Poppy arrived.
“What the hell are y’all doing?”
Huck lowered Camden to the floor. “Just celebrating the Hennessy-Stockton arm-wrestling champ.”
Poppy looked at Camden and raised her eyebrows. “I don’t think so. There’s one Hennessy who hasn’t gotten to compete.” Regardless of the fancy dress she wore, she stretched out on the floor on her stomach and braced her arm. “Come on, Brat. Show me what you got.”
Of course, Poppy didn’t let him win. But she did let him have a moment where he thought he would. Once she had his arm flattened to the floor, she got to her feet and brushed carpet lint off her dress.
“Now come on, you hooligans. Let’s get this wedding over with so we can party our asses off.”
And they did party.
By the time Cadee and Huck had finished with post-wedding photos, they stepped through the doors of Honky Tonk Heaven to a loud, drunken cheer.
The townsfolk hadn’t been surprised when they’d learned Huck was going to marry Cadee.
The rumor that he was Camden’s daddy had already spread through the gossip mill.
Instead of being angry at Huck, they all seemed thrilled that some “outsider” hadn’t impregnated their sweet Cadee Stockton.
Huck might be a Hennessy Hooligan, but he was Promise Springs’ hooligan.
And how could they blame him when he was finally doing the right thing?
And when he’d given them a free open bar and barbecue.
Jaxon had done most of the cooking for the reception. There were big serving trays of smoked meats and all kinds of side dishes. The A-Sisters had made Huck and Cadee’s requested wedding cake—three tiers of oatmeal spice cake layered with vanilla cream frosting.
It tasted just like Little Debbie Oatmeal Crème Pies.
As Huck and Cadee fed each other the cake, they couldn’t help giggling like the two kindergarteners they’d once been.
They laughed a lot that night. They laughed at Poppy’s and Jaxon’s toasts that included embarrassing childhood stories. They laughed when the A-Sisters got into a big argument over which one of their husbands had been the worst. And they laughed at Camden attempting to two-step with Poppy.
“He got his dancing ability from you.”
Huck stared down at Cadee as he two-stepped her around the dance floor. “What? I’m an awesome dancer.”
“You’re an okay dancer. But, luckily, you’re a great father and kisser.”
“I’ll take fathering and kissing over dancing any day.” He kissed her. When he drew back and looked into her pretty blue eyes, he couldn’t control the swell of emotions that washed over him. “Thank you, Catydid, for giving me my dream.”
She tipped her head. “Dancing with me at Honky Tonk Heaven?”
He shook his head. “Marrying my best friend.”
Tears filled her eyes. “That was my dream too. And now that we’ve achieved that dream, what’s next, Huckleberry?”
He thought for only a second. “How about giving Cam some siblings and living happily ever after?”
She smiled. “Sounds like the perfect dream to me.”
THE END
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