30. Thirty
Thirty
Rhett
“I’m sorry . . .” Kyla stammered as soon as we walked into the hotel room.
During our short time with her mother, it shocked me to see Kyla stand up to her mother the way she did. I was even more shocked when Mrs. Richards just took it. The look she gave her daughter was daunting, I could see her breaking as Kyla said every word. Almost as if a switch flipped and she finally— finally —listened to her daughter. But she must have been too proud to say anything because she willingly let us leave. It even occurred to me that the entire time we were there, I never once got her first name. She was Mrs. Richards. Nothing more.
I knew she wouldn’t accept me, or our marriage, but I was hoping she would listen to us. I didn’t even imagine she would still be in contact with David. If Kyla hadn’t stood up when she did, I would have lost it—gotten louder than I already was. My skin was boiling when she said “just by looking at us,” she could tell the marriage was fake, and that she assumed Kyla was using me to hide from David. That she was only playing a game. And now here she was, thinking she had to apologize.
After all the tears she shed. After holding everything in for so long, breaking . . . she thought she had to apologize.
“Why are you apologizing?” I asked, locking the door behind me.
She sniffed and sat on the bed. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Kyla.” I put my keys on the dresser and went to stand in front of her. She sat with her knees tight together, her hands under her thighs. Her eyes were heavy from the tears, swollen as she swallowed. I took a deep breath, taking in the sight of my wife. I kneeled, placing my palms on her knees. Biting her bottom lip, she met my gaze. “You have nothing to apologize for. If anything, I need to apologize. I shouldn’t have spoken to your mother like that, I should have kept my mouth shut, but she was hurting you. She was talking about you like you weren’t even in the room, she was just . . .” I closed my eyes, taking another deep, grounding breath. “What you’re feeling—felt—is real. The tears, the words, everything was real. I’m proud of you for saying what you felt, standing up for what your heart is telling you is real. I’m real, Kyla, with you—always. You don’t need to be sorry for anything, ever, when you’re with me.”
Her bottom lip quivered, and more tears welled in her eyes. She blinked and let out a long sigh. “A part of me really wanted her to like you.”
“Me too, but I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon.” I stopped, thinking of the words she had screamed just an hour prior. I love him . Did she mean that? Or was that just . . .
“I meant it,” she whispered, almost reading my thoughts.
“I know,” I responded, desperately wanting to tell her how I felt. Ever since I had met this woman I’ve wanted to protect her, let her know she was safe and cared for. I gave her my home, my family, my name, and here I was still searching for something else I could give her. If three little words was all she needed, then I would be happy to oblige. “I . . .” I began. “Tell me how to make you better.”
She gave me a soft smile. Pulling her hands from her thighs, she placed them on mine. “Just hold me? All that crying . . . just . . . takes a lot out of me.”
She didn’t have to say anything else. I stood, kicked off my boots, and then climbed over her on the bed. She followed me, scooting up on her elbows until we reached the pillows. Turning to her side, she laid down facing me, allowing me to wrap my arm around her waist, pulling her close to me.
“I’m here, I’ve got you,” I said softly, not exactly sure what to say.
Sighing, she nuzzled her nose into the crook of my neck, giving me just enough space to lean down and kiss the crown of her head. Her free hand found my chest, and I reached up and grasped it with mine. She breathed deeply at first, but soon she calmed and fell asleep.
I laid there all night, thinking there was nothing I wouldn’t do for this woman.
I sat at Grace’s kitchen island, the coffee mug still warm around my hands, while Grace and Kyla talked on her back porch. Kyla woke up in my arms, gave me a sweet kiss before getting ready to have breakfast with Grace, and even though we were here now, I felt like a knife could slice through the tension between us. She told me she was better, but I didn’t fully believe it. I had hoped that Grace’s famous French toast (which was delicious) and mimosas would help, but I was also worried it would only alleviate some of the anxiety. She would smile and laugh with Grace, but when her eyes met mine she would blink them away, and it had me worried that I was causing the fear to grow stronger inside her.
My phone buzzed on the counter, dancing away from me as Lachlan’s name lit up my screen.
Heaving a sigh, I answered, “Hey, Lach.”
“He’s back again. I swear Rhett I’m going to punch this guy.”
“Go for it.” I sighed. “I won’t stop you.”
“Uncle Leo is convinced we need to sell. Your mother, thankfully, is saying no. They’ve said they would wait for you to get home to make the final decision. Abi looks like she’s about to lose her mind.” I could hear his distress, and could picture him pacing back and forth in the barn. This ranch was his life, there was no way he would lose it.
“Calm down, it’s not going to happen. Dad is just seeing the financial side of it. I’m sure David offered him a pretty penny.” I raised my mug to my lips, glancing at Kyla and Grace on the porch. Kyla laughed, lifting her chin in the air, making my heart lurch.
“Oh, he did, and your pops think getting rid of five hundred acres is worth it.”
“He wants five hundred acres?” I stammered, my attention going from Kyla back to Lachlan.
“He wants to build real estate and a business complex, he even mentioned apartments. He says it would bring appeal to Alpine Ridge—get more people to move here. Fuck this Rhett, the town doesn’t want this. Your parents aren’t the only ones in control here.” Lachlan’s voice was growing louder, deeper as he began his spiral.
“I know, I know. Fuck . . .” I ran my hand through my hair. “And Dad’s going for it?”
“Says it would be a good investment. David wants the back end—away from the stables but the fields would share a fence line to it.”
“The cattle . . .”
“Yeah, Rhett.”
“Listen, I’ll call my dad and talk. Once he learns David’s not in it for business, he’ll understand.” I looked at my wife again, beaming with joy as Grace talked to her. “I can’t have that asshole there any longer. Get him off the property.”
I hung up before Lachlan could respond. Placing my phone screen down on the counter, I turned just in time to hear the sliding glass door open, and watch the two laughing ladies stroll in. I spun in my chair, putting on my best “just looking at social media” face, hiding the fact that Lachlan had just managed to put a dent in my day. I reached for Kyla and when she stepped into my arms, her hips knocked my knees out of her way so she could press her body into mine, and I felt my world stop spinning. She gave me a light kiss on the lips.
“You almost ready?” I asked softly, knowing full well she’d rather be with her friend.
She hummed in approval and gave me another small kiss. “I just need to use the restroom.” She grabbed my hat from the counter and placed it on my head. “Give me a minute?”
She left, leaving Grace and I alone in the kitchen. I turned to look at her, not knowing exactly what to say. I knew she helped Kyla overcome what plagued her, and I couldn’t thank her enough for that.
So, I settled with, “Thank you.”
“For?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Talking with her, comforting her.”
“Me?” She placed her palm on her chest. “I didn’t do anything. I just listened to her tell me what happened and then called her mom some very choice words. You comforted her.”
I scoffed. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You were there. You held her, you let her know she was safe without really telling her she was safe. She just knew. I’ve seen her take days to recover from an attack—anxiety or panic. You, Rhett. You just”—she waved her hand—“you seem to take it away.”
I blinked at her, my breathing stuttering as her words rang over and over in my mind. You seem to take it all away.
“Okay, I’m ready.” Kyla came back in the kitchen, sounding as if nothing had happened the night before. The tension that I must have created myself completely gone as her smile lightened up the room. She wrapped her arms around Grace’s neck for one last hug, closing her eyes and enjoying the moment with her friend.
Grace squeezed once more, before pulling her away. Kyla walked around the island and stood in front of me again, cupping my face in her palms. Beauty. Confidence. Self-worth. It all radiated from her.
“Ready?” she asked, raising her eyebrows as her thumb traced my jaw line.
Staring at her in awe, I nodded, moving my face slightly to kiss her palm. “Yeah,” I responded. “Let’s go.”