Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Ayden
The next two days in Beaumont fly by with family-friendly activities and some mom-and-dad-only activities, and then I’m packing my bags to go home.
I don’t want to say goodbye to my girls, but I know it’s temporary.
They will fly up in a couple of weeks to see the ranch and help me pack.
I’ll give Garrett my two-week notice as soon as I'm back. Even though I hate disappointing him, he’s a good man who understands family comes first.
Yesterday, I met Reagan, and we talked for hours over beers while we had a cookout.
He’s deep in grief, but meeting someone so close to Howie was nice.
I shared many stories of Howie and me growing up, and Reagan shared details of their lives together.
They were in the process of adoption when Howie passed, which made me feel even more horrible.
At least he got to be in Serena’s life and be with someone who made him happy.
“Can’t I come with you now?” Serena pouts as she sits on Laney’s bed, watching me pack my carry-on.
“You gotta wait for your mama, sweetheart. I work durin’ the day, and you’d be home all alone.”
“Nuh-uh. I’d help you work!”
“Ya know, that is a brilliant idea!”
“It is?” she squeals, her whole face lighting up like a Fourth of July firework.
“Yeah! We’ll wake up at five to feed the horses, fill up their water buckets, and then bring them to the pastures. Once they’re out, we’ll shovel their poop and wheel it out, then lay more straw before bringing them back in.”
“Wait...I can’t do all that.”
“Sure ya can. Mallory does, and she’s only a couple years older than you.”
“But she lives on a ranch. She’s used to it!” She pouts, and I can’t help the laughter that bursts out of me.
“I’ll teach ya. You’ll have biceps as big as mine before you know it.”
“Are you scarin’ our daughter?” Laney waltzes in with a smirk planted on her beautiful face.
“Just givin’ her a little insight to livin’ on a horse ranch. A lot of work is involved. It’s not all fun ’n’ games.”
“But the website says it is...” She gives me a duh expression.
Laney snorts. “She’s gotcha there, cowboy.”
“Well, since I have to work, maybe it’s best ya just wait to come with your mama. We’ll do all kinds of fun stuff then.”
Serena folds her arms. “Fine. I hope it comes fast.”
I boop her nose and kiss the top of her forehead. “It will.”
Since our shower, Laney and I have slept in her bed the past two nights, and I’ve already grown used to her sleeping next to me.
I’ll miss her and Serena like crazy. It makes my mornings when I find them in the kitchen as they make breakfast and coffee.
I know it’ll be different when we’re all living together and rushing off to work or school, but I liked knowing I'm waking up to my family when I go to bed at night.
Things have been amazing between Laney and me. After Serena goes to bed and we make love, I hold her, and we talk for hours. I might be close to being sleep-deprived, but it’s so damn worth it. We’ve discussed expanding our family and what life will be like when we’re all together for good.
I’ve never wanted anything more.
After I zip up my suitcase, I motion to them that I’m ready.
“Before we go, we have a surprise for you.” Laney smiles wide, then nods to Serena.
“What kinda surprise?” I raise a brow.
Serena takes my hand and leads me down the hallway with Laney behind us. Once we get to the living room, Laney stands in front of me.
“There’s been a change of plans with you movin’ here,” Laney says, and my heart sinks.
My eyes twitch as I look at Serena and then back at Laney. Both are smiling.
“What do you mean?”
Laney opens the front door, and Serena pulls me to follow.
“What’s goin’ on—” It’s then I see a FOR SALE sign in the front yard. “You’re sellin’ the house?”
“We’re movin’ to Tennessee!” Serena shouts, and I stare at them in disbelief.
“We decided a fresh start is what we all needed, and in order to put the past behind us for good, we wanna come with you. We can buy a new house and make it our own.” Laney chews nervously on her bottom lip as I cup her cheek. “What do ya think?”
“I...what? How is this possible?” I blink hard, trying to form a coherent thought. “What about the store and Serena’s school? I mean, I’d love for y’all to live with me in Sugarland Creek. But you have a life here already. Why the change of heart?”
“It wasn’t just my happiness on the line, it’s yours too, and I know how much you love workin’ there and the Hollises. You selflessly offered to move here without question, and as much as I appreciate that, I should’ve considered what you were sacrificin’.”
“Plus, you have horses there, and we don’t,” Serena adds.
“Yeah, it didn’t take much to persuade her.” Laney laughs, and so do I.
I pull them in for hugs, kissing the top of Serena’s head and then planting my lips on Laney’s. “This makes me the happiest man alive.”
We pile in the car, and Laney tells me about her plans during the drive to the airport.
They’ll spend the next two weeks packing the house and will fly up to Tennessee while a moving truck brings their stuff. With the money from the sale, we’ll use it as a down payment on a new house for the three of us.
“What if we built our dream house?” I offer.
“That’s a bit more complicated. We’d need a construction loan and somewhere to build, and I’m not sure—”
“I’ll buy some land from Garrett. He’s offered it to me once before, but I had no reason for it at the time. This way, we can design it exactly how we want and make sure we have extra bedrooms.” I flash her a wink, and she blushes, knowing exactly what I’m referring to.
“I love that idea.” She squeezes my hand. “They won’t mind us livin’ with you in the ranch hand quarters until then?”
“Nah. It’s a two-bedroom, and it’ll be plenty of room temporarily. And then when school starts in a couple months, Serena can take the bus with Mallory.”
“Yes!” she squeals from the back seat.
“What about a job? Do you think any place is hirin’ in town?” Laney asks nervously. “Maybe something in sales?”
“I have an even better idea for ya.” I smirk.
“Dena’s openin’ a massive gift shop next to The Lodge this fall.
She’s gonna have tons of merch—clothing, drinkware, key chains, magnets.
You know, all the stuff tourists love. She’ll need a manager to run it.
And I just might have the connections to help you get an interview. ..”
“Seriously? That’d be awesome if I could do something on the ranch!”
“Yep, and then we could meet for lunch, or I could swing by to give ya some sugar.” I waggle my brows.
“Gross.” Serena groans, and we burst out laughing.
Two days ago, we sat her down to tell her that we were together together.
We wanted her to understand that when they came to the ranch, Mom and Dad would be sharing a room and what that meant as a whole.
When Howie lived with them, his bedroom was what is Laney’s office now, but they were strictly roommates.
Although they were married and everyone referred to them as Mr. and Mrs., Serena didn’t know the details behind that.
Luckily, she was too young to understand most of it.
So we wanted to be sure she understood her parents were an actual couple who would show affection and, hopefully someday soon, get married.
She’d never been around anything like that, so she made a gagging noise the first time she saw us kissing in the kitchen yesterday.
Now it’s just fun making her squirm in disgust.
“Just wait till she asks where babies come from,” Laney leans over and whispers.
“Um...you didn’t have that talk with her yet?”
“No. She’s never asked.” She shrugs. “I figure the time would come when she got curious or learned it in health class.”
I chuckle at her expression as if to say she’d rather do anything but have that talk.
“Mallory learned from Landen when she asked a bunch of questions about the breedin’ operation, and he told her all about baby-makin’.”
“Oh my God...” Laney drawls with wide eyes. “Guess we better get to her before Landen does.”
Checking in the back seat, I see Serena with her nose in a book, hopefully not listening to a word we said.
“Maybe we should in a couple months when we tell her you’re pregnant,” I say, keeping my voice low.
“We don’t know that I’m pregnant. It’s too soon.”
“My boys got the job done. Don’t worry.”
She rolls her eyes and smirks. I want to reach over and tell her how much I love her, that it means the world to me that they’re moving to Tennessee, and how badly I want to give her everything she’s ever wanted.
Her dream house.
A husband and another baby.
The perfect family dream.
I’ve made it clear she’s the love of my life. My soulmate. She’s yet to say those words to me, but I’ll wait. When she’s comfortable and ready, I know she will because actions speak louder than words.
When we get to the airport drop-off, we get out, and I grab my bags.
“I’ll see you in two weeks, okay?” I give Serena a tight squeeze. “Be good for your mama.”
“I will. Can we FaceTime?”
“Of course, sweetie. Every night,” I promise. Then I kiss the top of her head, wishing for these next couple of weeks to go by fast.
“I’m gonna go crazy not seein’ you for two weeks,” I tell Laney, embracing her in my arms and burying my face in her hair, inhaling her sweet coconut shampoo.
“We’ve gone ten years,” she reminds me, holding me close. “We can manage a little longer.”
“God, I hope so. And you better be in my bed every night.” I press my mouth to hers, sliding my tongue between her lips and wishing desperately I could take them with me now. “I love you.”
“I’ll be anywhere you are.” She smiles as I lean my forehead to hers. Then I kiss her once more before grabbing my bags.
“Text me when you land.” She climbs into the driver’s seat and rolls down her window. “Or FaceTime when you get home.”
“I’ll do both.” I shoot her a wink, then wave to Serena in the back seat.
Walking toward the entrance, I’m excited and nervous for this next chapter of my life, but I couldn’t ask for anything more.
But then three loud honks echo, making me stop before walking through the sliding glass doors. I turn around and hear three more.
I. Love. You.
Laney stares at me through the windshield and mouths, “I love you, too.”
I shouldn’t run to her and hold up the drop-off line. I definitely shouldn’t leave my bags in the middle of the walkway.
But that’s exactly what I do.
Rushing back toward her car, I poke my head through the window and claim her mouth. She cups my face and kisses me with deep fervor. Tears slide down her cheeks, and I break apart enough to wipe them.
“I love you so much, Laney Bennett. I always have and always will.”
“I love you, too. So much.”
Music to my fucking ears.
Serena pops her head up from the back, giving us looks as if we’re crazy.
“I love you too, kiddo. See y’all soon, okay?”
With one final kiss to Laney’s lips, I pull away and head back to my luggage.
I can’t wait to tell Dena and Garrett about our plans. Noah and Mallory, too.
But Wilder better stay the fuck away for real this time.
As I sit at my gate, I think about how I’ll manage financially to pay back my dad, but then I think about all the shit he’s done and how he doesn’t deserve it.
All his secrets and scandals. The control over my family and me.
The way he always manipulated the situation to get what he wanted.
The more I dwell on it, the more I realize I don’t want to pay him off to leave us alone.
I want payback. I want to hurt him in a way he can’t ever come back from.
I’ll use the money to hire a lawyer and my own private security team and expose him instead.
He isn’t the only one who has connections.
It’s what he deserves after intentionally hurting everyone I love.
Gabby deserves justice, and I’m going to make that finally happen.
The best part?
The bastard will never see it coming.
He thinks I’m a coward, but I’ll prove I can act like a Carson just like him.
People are scared of him because he’s wealthy and powerful, but I’m not.
Not anymore.