Chapter 37
Gracie
With the help of Maze and Indy, we’d been planning this baby shower—that they insisted I have—for the last month.
My shoulder was mostly healed, though I still needed physical therapy for the rest of the year to get it back to one hundred percent, but I was alive and healthy, and that’s all that mattered.
My hypothyroidism was under control, and my pregnancy was progressing much smoother than it had begun.
I’d finally reached my doctor’s recommended weight, and I was embracing my new curves, my health, and my new life with as much gusto as I could manage.
My Kai was my everything, my reason, my partner. He was so attentive to all my needs and insisted on coming with me to every appointment and every doctor visit, for me or for the baby. He wanted to be involved in everything, and he’d been the one to convince me to have this baby shower.
“You deserve to be celebrated. As does this little one.” He’d said as he rubbed oil over my bump and stretch marks in bed about a month ago.
“This baby is ours, and I think a baby shower is a milestone for our first pregnancy we shouldn’t miss.
” He’d kissed my belly and wrapped me in his arms, knowing he’d won that conversation.
“No fair, playing with my pregnant emotions like that!” I’d teased. “And don’t think I missed that ‘our first pregnancy’ comment. How many babies do you think I’m gonna have?”
“A football team.” Kai had spoken with such a straight face my jaw hit the floor before he burst out laughing.
“You should see your face. Come on, Wilder, I’d love to have all the babies with you, but it’s your body, your choice.
But can we have at least one more, so they can have a friend to grow up with? ”
The way his soulful blue eyes sparkled did me in. I would do anything for this man. “Let me get through this one first, and we’ll see.”
“Fair enough.”
We’d grown closer, and I’d settled into life on a ranch with ease.
Kai hadn’t let me out of his sight after my kidnapping, and I’d sort of moved into his cottage without him even asking.
I’d taken over cooking for the ranch, and although I wasn’t allowed to ride, I helped tend the horses and had kind of adopted Peanut as my own.
My shoulder had made it difficult to work, so Avery had insisted I rest and recover before she would even consider me coming back to the bar. As my pregnancy progressed and my energy levels fluctuated, I was glad to have a somewhat normal sleep schedule again.
Maisie had been a godsend, taking on my shifts at the bar and showing me the ropes for the ranch’s social media pages, as she’d seen how much I needed to feel useful and how I wanted to pull my own weight.
We’d unofficially swapped jobs for the time being.
I found that I really enjoyed the design aspects of her job and the websites she managed.
Denied the chance to go to college or have a career—other than what others dictated for me—being in the world, around the ranch, and observing what Maisie, Indy, Everett, and even Kath and her family achieved, inspired me to find my purpose.
All the new possibilities excited me, but it was my Mondays with Hazel that showed me my path and where my heart laid. I wanted to be a teacher or a childcare worker. After the baby was born, I was excited to start college and work towards a future I could choose for myself.
It was a week before the baby shower. Kai and I had discussed it at length, and we decided the baby shower would also be a gender reveal.
Neither of us cared what we were having and while the child could grow up to be whatever gender it wanted to be, we wanted to celebrate the sex that was growing inside me.
But before we could do that, we needed to talk to Everett and Gramps about something very important.
Kai had been seeing Levi ever since my attack and had embraced and dealt with things that still challenged him every day but one thing we both agreed on was we wanted to be completely free of our pasts and our last names were a weight we no longer wanted to carry.
I asked Indy, as soon as I was lucid again, if I could take his name.
It turned my stomach to discover all that Jordan and my mother had done to me, to Lexi, and so many others.
I needed that name erased from my life as soon as possible, and keeping Cain’s was just as painful.
It was a reminder that my marriage was not my choice and with what Kai wanted to discuss with Gramps and Ev today, my choice of Indy’s surname was the best, for now.
“I’d be honored,” Indy said, tears welling in his eyes. “Although we won’t share it for long.” He shared a smile with Seb, who’d kissed his temple so sweetly my heart melted. I was so happy he’d been able to find someone he deserved, and I knew Lexi would be happy for him, too.
“Thank you.” I gripped his hand in mine as we shared the weight of the moment and all we’d discovered.
Now it was Kai’s turn to free himself from the past.
We invited Ev and Gramps over for afternoon tea, and I made sure to bake Gramps’ favorite huckleberry shortbread and Ev’s favorite triple choc muffins.
Baking had become a therapy for me, and while doing it one-armed at first had been a challenge, it was a skill I’d quickly mastered, and everyone on the ranch loved to play taste tester.
I’d also integrated baking into my physical therapy, and rolling and kneading dough was part of my strength training.
Thanks to Indy’s tweaks, I was getting stronger every day.
Just as I was pulling scones out of Kai’s tiny oven, a knock sounded at the door.
“Coming,” Kai called as he finished laying the pot of coffee and mugs on the coffee table before opening the front door.
The weather was warmer, but the wind still held a bite, and coats were a must. Hanging their coats and hats by the door, Ev and Gramps greeted me with their usual affection and a little twinkle of curiosity.
It was unusual for Kai to invite anyone over in the middle of the afternoon on a busy working ranch, and when he’d said it was important, Ev had readily agreed.
Once everyone was situated with their coffee and treats, I sat next to Kai and clasped his hand in mine. I’d seen his nerves and knew how much he respected Everett and valued his friendship and the brotherhood they shared.
“We asked you here today because I wanted to ask your permission for something,” Kai started, and I squeezed his hand reassuringly.
Gramps spoke before Kai could continue. “I’m not sure what you’re asking us for.
Your girl can make her own decisions, but if you wanted our approval to marry our Gracie, you never had to ask.
I can’t think of anyone better for you or our family.
Though my waistline isn’t thanking her.” He winked at me as Kai gaped open-mouthed at Gramps’ words.
“Marriage? What? No, that’s not—”
“Ahem, are you saying you don’t want to marry me?” I gazed up at a slightly stupefied Kai.
“Wilder, of course I want to marry you! I’d love nothing more than to call you my wife, but that’s not…not what this was.” His gaze shot between Gramps and me. “Wait, wait…is marriage something you’d want?”
It was not something we’d talked about, not since we were innocent kids and it was a faraway dream.
After Cain, I never thought I’d want to be married again, and I’d expressed that much, but Kai was different.
He was my forever in any way he wanted. He was who I was meant to be with, and being his wife was not the lead weight it was with Cain.
With Kai, I was free to be myself and explore and grow, together and apart.
Marrying him would not be a shackle; it would be love and freedom and forever, and I couldn’t think of anything better.
“I’d love to marry you.” I squeezed his hand again, my heart overflowing with the love reflected back at me from his gaze. “But that’s not what this conversation was about.”
“You would?” His eyes sparkled with joy.
“Of course.” I was hypnotized by his vibrant blue eyes and the emotions that streamed across his face. Sometimes, like this, it felt like we were the only two people in the world, and my heart swelled with love at the depth of care Kai clearly had for me and that I had for him in return.
He kissed my ring finger and whispered, “Soon,” before kissing my cheek.
“Ahem,” Everett cleared his throat to remind us that they were still here. “Before Gramps jumped the gun, I know you had something you wanted to ask us. We have something to discuss, too.”
Turning back to face Ev, it was my turn to have my curiosity sparked. What did he mean by that?
“Yes, well, as you know, I’ve been seeing Levi and he’s helped me deal with much of my past trauma, and one thing I’d like to change, or really need to change, is my name. And that’s what I wanted to ask you. My surname is tainted and I would love your permission to change it to Garrison.”
Emotion clouded Everett’s eyes as he stared at Kai. “You want to be a Garrison. Radar, brother, I’d be honored.”
Both Ev and Kai stood up at the same time and shared a massive hug. I loved that these men weren’t shy about showing emotions and thumped each other’s backs as tears streamed down both their faces.
Gramps and I shared a smile as we watched the brothers and best friends hug.
“I’m so proud of you,” Ev said as they separated and retook their seats. “You’ve embraced and taken charge of your mental health and not let him tarnish the new life you’re building. You should be proud of how far you’ve come.”
Wiping at his eyes, Kai smiled at Ev. “I couldn’t have done it without you and the team.
Thank you, both of you, for giving us a safe place to land when our worlds went to shit.
For embracing my Gracie when she stumbled back into my life, for being my confidant and forcing Cal on us, and for giving me a new purpose and meaning when so much of my life felt unstable.
I can’t thank you enough for giving me the family I’ve always longed for.
And thank you for allowing me to change my name.
I am proud to share a name that is respected and represents honor, love, and family. ”
Gramps pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his own eyes before clearing his throat again.
“Well, that’s enough emotion for one day.
Malachi, we are honored to have you as one of us, now in name, even if you have always been a part of the family since the twins brought you and the team home.
You will always have a place here, name or not, and we will be honored to have Grace share the name too, when the time is right.
” Gramps winked at me, and I couldn’t help but blush as we finished our coffee and treats.
“That leads perfectly into the thing we wanted to discuss with you both,” Everett said as he leaned forward in his seat, the air in the room shifting with the unknown as he continued.
“This cottage was only meant for short-term stays and designed for bachelor ranch hand types, not a settled couple with a baby on the way. So, Gramps and I have been talking, and we have decided to divide the Northeast section of the ranch into house plots for you, Maisie, the twins, and the team if they want it?” Everett looked between us.
“So, what do you think? Want to build a house for your growing family and stay on the ranch?”
It was my turn to gape, mouth open at the words that had just left his mouth. “You want to build us a house?”
“Pretty much, yes,” Ev answered.
“How? Why? Don’t you need that land for the cattle or ranch stuff?” I asked dumbly, completely flabbergasted and awed by his offer.
“We have plenty of room, and we haven’t used those paddocks and acres since building the guest suites. I could think of nothing better than allowing you and my brothers to build your forever homes there.” Sincerity shone from Everett’s face as he watched for our reactions.
Emotions clogged my throat as I croaked, “Thank you. That is such a generous offer.” I squeezed Kai’s hand as tears welled in my eyes. “It’s too generous.”
“Ev, do you really mean that? You’ve put so much work into these cottages, especially for me and Walker.
We can’t just abandon all you’ve given us.
” Kai’s words echoed with disbelief and awe as he glanced between Gramps and Ev.
“You’ve already saved us, given us a home and purpose we could never repay you for.
We can’t accept anything else from you.”
Everett crouched down, his elbows on his knees, as he caught Kai’s gaze imploringly. “As you’ve just confirmed, we’re family. You’re my brother and best friend, in all the ways that matter. Why wouldn’t we do this for you?”
“Come now, boy, you’re a Garrison, and Garrison men live on this ranch.
We can’t have you running off to grow your family elsewhere when we have all the underutilized space just waiting for a family to lay claim to it,” Gramps added, gruffly.
“And I can think of no one better than you, son, to start a new chapter and bring that land back to life.”
Tears shone in Kai’s eyes as they trailed freely down my cheeks. I watched the sincerity, love, and care pass between these men. I felt so privileged to be enveloped into this family and to witness Kai being accepted and becoming a part of a family that loved him as he deserved.
“We’d be honored and eternally grateful.” Kai swallowed thickly when his voice cracked. “Thank you.” He turned to me. “I guess we’re building a house.”
“I guess we are.” I beamed at Kai before turning back to Ev and Gramps. “Thank you so much for this and for everything you’ve done for me and Kai.”
“No need for thanks. It’s what family does.” Everett said as he waved off my thanks before his face turned serious. “It’s not something either of you have been able to experience, and I hope you can both find the family and home you deserve here, with us.”
Emotions threatened to overwhelm me as I jumped from my seat and launched myself up to hug both Ev and Gramps. Kai followed, and once we were all hugged out, I was exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions. Ev and Gramps said their goodbyes, and Kai took me for a nap.
As he wrapped his strong arms around me and laid his hand protectively over my belly, I felt content, safe, and with more hope and love in my life than I ever thought was possible.
Family is not always blood; it’s who comes in and out of your life and leaves a mark on your heart.
We’d build our lives here and raise this child surrounded by a family we chose.
A family full of honorable men and women who had shown us time and time again that we were worthy of a life filled with love, happiness, and trust.
Even as sleep pulled me under, my heart full and a smile on my face, I couldn’t believe I’d gotten so lucky.