Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Ayden
TWO WEEKS LATER
The more I obsessed over my father’s last words, the more frustrated I got.
It wasn’t until Laney reminded me that Howie became a paralegal and worked for another law firm in town that it started to make sense.
My dad probably saw him numerous times over the years.
Howie must’ve said or done something to make my father aware that he had some kind of evidence about Gabby.
It’s the only thing I can tie together that’d make him a threat to my dad.
And if it’s true, my father’s a worse monster than I thought, and I have no remorse for turning him over to Judge Carmichael.
I wasn’t planning on telling Laney the details with my dad and Boyd, but she begged, and I couldn’t lie.
Mostly, I was worried she’d think differently of me or demand I tell the police, but she never did.
She said it was my decision and supported whatever I’d done.
I knew she deserved the truth so she no longer had to live in fear.
Laney’s house is uninhabitable, which means she can’t sell it. We hired a lawyer to fight with the insurance company so she can at least get a payout. Everything inside needs to be replaced, but now that they’re living with me in Tennessee, they only needed the essentials.
Laney’s still on restrictions to take it easy and hates every second of it. She thinks she’s fine and then moans that she’s in pain after a while. She’s not used to being taken care of, but I’m back in her life to change that now.
Garrett let me take some time off, but I still show up in the early mornings to help with feeding, and then by midday, I head back to make the girls brunch.
Regardless of not being able to sell her house, I had enough savings left over after I paid the security team and my lawyer. So when Laney’s resting, she looks at ideas to keep busy.
Now that it’s August, Serena starts at her new school in only a couple of weeks. Mallory’s really taken her under her wing and shown her around. I have no doubt she’ll thrive here and can’t wait to watch her grow. Every day, she goes off running with her and only returns when hungry or tired.
“Laney, I’m goin’ to the Hollises to grab the mail. Want me to bring back some sweets?” I ask, grabbing my truck keys.
“Ooh yes. See if she has those little brownie peanut butter bars left from the other day. If not, then the raspberry cheesecake ones. Oh, and—”
“Do you wanna just come with me?” I smirk.
She playfully rolls her eyes. “Are you allowin’ me outta the house?”
Bending down, I slide my hands under her knees and lift her off the couch. “Smart mouths get spankings, so I’d watch that if I were you.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Oh, I will. As soon as you’re fully recovered. I’ve been keepin’ track in my head. You won’t be able to walk for a month.”
“You already won’t let me,” she sasses.
“Because you’re clumsy as hell. I don’t need you breakin’ another rib.” The last time she walked out to the truck, she tripped on the sidewalk and nearly face-planted. If I hadn’t been right there to catch her, she would’ve added a black eye and bruised face to her list of injuries.
Laney wraps her arms around my shoulders and holds on tight. “I think you just like takin’ care of me.”
I lean in and press my lips to hers. “For as long as I’m alive on God’s green Earth, I always will.”
When we arrive at the Hollises’ house, she walks inside on her own. Dena’s in the kitchen with Gramma Grace as usual, and their faces light up when they see us.
“Hey, you two. Take a seat. I’m serving lunch.” Dena smiles wide.
Although we didn’t come for that, I know Laney’s hungry, so we do as she says and find a chair. Dena hands me a stack of mail from the past few weeks. As we chat about Serena, I flip through the envelopes and find one addressed to me from my mother.
My mother, who I haven’t seen in over a decade, because when I came home, she stayed hidden. I wasn’t even sure she was still alive.
Curiosity gets the best of me, so I rip it open while Dena refills our sweet teas. Wilder and Waylon file in, and their rowdy asses echo throughout the house.
“Well, Miss Laney. Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Wilder gushes, taking the seat next to her. He’s still bitter that Laney and I are a couple, but I’m secure enough now to let him flirt because the love of my life only has eyes for me.
“I swear, you get more charmin’ each time I see you,” Laney sweet-talks him, and he eats it right up.
I roll my eyes at their banter as I unfold the letter and then a check falls out.
Holding it up, I read my name and $500,000 next to it.
What the hell?
“What’s that?” Laney asks.
“A letter and check from my mom...” I’m too stunned to read the words on the page.
“Your mom? Wow.” Laney’s just as surprised as I am. “What’s it say?”
Blinking, I clear my vision and look at the handwritten letter.
Dear Ayden,
I know you’ll never believe me, but I’m going to say it anyway.
I love you, son. I always have. Even when it seemed I didn’t.
My life was never my own. I’m glad you left when you did because you didn’t deserve the abuse your father put you through.
I’m sorry I brought you into a world that was only determined to bring you down.
I hope you, Laney, and Serena are safe now.
Your father “missing” has been the greatest blessing.
I know I have you to thank for it, even if you don’t want to hear from me.
No excuse could take back what I allowed to happen.
I wish I had the nerve to leave him and take you with me when I had the chance.
That’s all in the past now, and I can’t change that, but I can give you something for your future. They won’t declare your father dead for a long time, but this money I saved is yours. It won’t fix what he broke, but perhaps it’ll give you a start to the life you deserve.
I hope one day you’ll forgive me for being the worst mother.
The more he abused me, the more I abused alcohol to cope.
I was hardly functioning on my own, let alone as a mother.
Again, it’s no excuse, but I hope you’ll accept this gift.
Build your family their dream home and get as many horses as Serena can ride.
I loved walking past the store every weekend and seeing a glimpse of her through the windows. She looks so much like you.
For what it’s worth, I love you, and I hope you have everything you could ever dream of.
Love, Mom
Everyone’s staring at me by the time I look up. Tears coat my eyes.
“Well?” Laney raises her brows.
“It’s a check for half a million dollars.”
“What?” they all shriek at the same time.
“Have I ever said that I think of ya like a brother?” Wilder says.
Waylon elbows him. “Shut up.”
I hand over the check and letter to Laney across from me. They all huddle around her to read the words I never expected to read.
After a few minutes of silence, Laney looks at me. “I can’t believe this. She knows he’s dead?”
“I think half the town presumes so,” I admit.
“This is life-changin’ money, Ayden.” Dena grins. “Hope this doesn’t mean y’all gonna leave us.”
“Of course not, Mrs. Hollis. Just means Laney’s engagement ring gets to be as big as she wants.”
Laney’s eyes widen, and I chuckle.
“Ayden!” she whisper-hisses. “We’re buildin’ a house. I don’t need an extravagant ring.”
I’ve talked nonstop about making her my wife. She knows it’s coming, but she doesn’t know when. I’ll do my best to surprise her when it’s time. I hope to take her up on Sunset Trail and get down on one knee—the same place I took her when she showed up here—and ask her to marry me.
Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms. “I beg to differ. Gotta make sure all the men ’round here know you’re mine.” My eyes slide to Wilder, who’s pretending to be clueless.
“Men like Wilder don’t even know what an engagement ring is, so if that’s your plan to scare him off, you’re gonna need a picture book to explain when a woman’s off-limits to him,” Waylon rambles off, and we all laugh.
“I think he’ll get the message when he sees Laney’s round belly in a few months.” I shoot her a wink, and she rolls her eyes at me.
“Stuff like that is how rumors get started, Ayden Carson,” she scolds.
“Are y’all tryin’?” Dena beams.
“Only every goddamn night,” Wilder mutters.
I shoot him a death glare.
“What? I can hear y’all from next door.”
Laney’s face goes beet red, but I can’t help laughing. She’s not been cleared for that kind of activity, but that hasn’t stopped me from giving her multiple orgasms each night.
“What’s everyone laughin’ about?” Noah walks in, glancing around. She’s dirty from riding and is wearing a cowboy hat to cover her wild hair.
“Clearly you,” Wilder teases, noticing her appearance.
“Oh, quiet. I rolled off Donut durin’ a stunt.” She brushes dirt off her shirt.
“Noah, I swear that horse is gonna kill you,” I tell her. Donut’s her show horse, and she likes to practice on him before working on the others, but he’s not always cooperative.
“It’s not my fault! Donut wouldn't have spooked if Landen would stop ridin’ his stupid dirt bike near the trainin’ center.”
“What?” Landen shouts, and a door slamming echoes throughout the house. “Don’t be pointin’ your finger at me. You were already on the ground when I walked in.”
He comes into view, and Noah glares at him. “That’s because the sound of it scared him before you came inside.”
“You’re wrong.”
“No! You saw me fall! I know you did.”
“What I saw was you moanin’ and rollin’ ’round on the dirt,” he exaggerates his words, and it further pisses off Noah.
“Both of you, knock it off,” Dena snaps. “Landen, no more ridin’ your dirt bike near the trainin’ center or corrals. Noah, you need a spotter if you’re gonna do tricks like that. I’ve no interest in findin’ you with a broken neck.”
“Geez, Mama,” Noah groans, sitting down. “I don’t need a spotter. As long as no one spooks him, I’ll be fine.”
Dena’s lips turn into a firm line not even I’d argue with.
Noah sighs. “Fine.”
“Alright,” Landen agrees.
“Wonderful.” Dena claps her hands. “Now, who’s ready for dessert?”