Chapter 3 #2
"Really. I know just the spot too. Up at Iron Vine Estate, there's this overlook that shows the whole valley. Sunset views that'll make you cry."
"The estate your cousins inherited?"
"The same one. And before you ask, yes, they'd be honored to host our wedding. Family is everything to the Kanes."
She smiles, and for the first time since she arrived, it reaches her eyes completely. "A mountain wedding sounds pretty perfect."
"Then that's what we'll do." I stand and start clearing our plates. "But first, we make it legal. Can't have you changing your mind and running off on me."
"I'm not running anywhere." The certainty in her voice makes something settle in my chest. "I'm exactly where I want to be."
"Good. Because I plan on spending the rest of my life making sure you never regret ending up on my doorstep."
"Even when I'm huge and cranky and can't see my feet?"
"Even then." I wrap my arms around her from behind, my hands settling on her belly. "Can't wait to watch you get rounder with our baby."
She leans back against me, and I can feel some of the tension leaving her body. "This is really happening, isn't it?"
"This is really happening." I press a kiss to her temple. "And it's going to be incredible."
My phone buzzes again, this time with a call from Silas. I consider ignoring it, but legal advice might be useful right about now.
"Kane."
"Rosco. I did some research on those services we discussed last week. If you're serious about pursuing that option, I have some recommendations."
I glance at Gia, who's listening with obvious curiosity. "Actually, the situation has evolved. I need to schedule an appointment. Today, if possible."
"Oh?"
"I need to discuss marriage licenses, asset transfers, custody law, and restraining orders. Possibly all at the same time."
There's a pause. "Rosco, what's going on?"
"I'll explain when I see you. Can you fit me in this morning?"
"I'll make time. Bring whoever you're marrying. I'll need to meet her anyway."
"Thanks, Silas. See you in an hour."
I hang up and turn to find Gia staring at me with wide eyes.
"Asset transfers? Restraining orders?"
"Protection," I say simply. "For you, for our baby, for whatever future we're building. Silas is the best lawyer in three provinces. If anyone can make sure Zack can't touch you, it's him."
"And the asset transfer?"
"We’ll figure out standard procedure when there's assets involved. Plus, it'll show the courts that this marriage is legitimate, not just some scheme to avoid custody issues."
She nods, but I can see the wheels turning in her head. "What kind of assets are we talking about?"
"Well, there’s the construction business, this cabin, and my stake in the estate. Nothing huge, but enough to complicate things if we don't handle it properly."
"I don't want your money, Rosco."
"I know you don't. That's why we need a setup that will protect you too. Make sure you get what you need if..." I can't bring myself to finish the thought.
"If you change your mind about wanting me around?"
"That's not going to happen." I cup her face in my hands, needing her to see the truth in my eyes. "But if something happens to me, I want to make sure you and our baby are taken care of."
Her expression softens. "You're really serious about this. About us."
"Deadly serious." I lean down to kiss her, pouring all my certainty into the touch. "I told you yesterday, I'm not letting you go. I meant it."
When we break apart, she's smiling again. "Okay then. Let's go make this official."
"That's my girl." The words slip out before I can stop them, possessive and satisfied.
"Your girl?"
"My woman. My wife. Mother of my child." I trail my fingers down her arm, watching goosebumps rise in their wake. "Mine."
The word is loaded with promise and possession that makes her breath catch. "I like the sound of that."
"Good. Because I plan on saying it a lot."
We spend the rest of the morning getting ready for our trip to town. Gia showers while I make phone calls, arranging for the DNA test at the local clinic. I grab my phone where I find a response message from Silas following my request for him to conduct the ceremony.
Silas:
This is all happening very fast. Last week, you were asking about mail order brides, today you're trying to marry to the mother of your child no one knew existed?"
Me:
Life moves fast sometimes.
Silas:
And you're sure about this? Sure about her?
I look toward the bathroom, where I can hear Gia humming in the shower, and think about six months of dreams and longing and the way it felt to hold her in my arms again.
Me:
I've never been more sure of anything in my life.
Twenty minutes later, we're in my truck driving down the mountain toward town. Gia sits quietly beside me, looking out at the scenery with wide eyes. The morning sun turns the aspens golden, and the first snow of the season dusts the higher peaks.
"It's beautiful here," she says softly.
"You sound surprised."
"I grew up in the city. The biggest trees I saw were in parks." She points to a hawk circling overhead. "Is that normal?"
"Red tail hawk. They hunt the meadows for mice and rabbits. You'll see them a lot."
"What about bears?"
"Black bears mostly, some grizzlies higher up in the mountains. They're usually more afraid of you than you are of them."
"Usually?"
I grin at the note of alarm in her voice. "Don't worry, city girl. I'll protect you from the wildlife."
"What about the locals? Are they going to think it's weird that you suddenly have a pregnant wife?"
"Probably. But weird is pretty normal for Crimson Hollow. My cousin Noah proposed to a woman he'd known for a month. Zaire's dating someone he met at a kink club. The bar for strange relationship stories is pretty high around here."
"Kink club?"
"Long story. The point is, nobody's going to ask too many questions."
We pull into the town hall parking lot, and I can feel Gia's nervousness ramping up. Her hands fidget with the hem of her sweater, and she keeps taking deep breaths like she's trying to calm herself down.
"You okay?"
"Just... this is really happening, isn't it? In twenty-four hours I'm going to be married to the father of my baby."
"Having second thoughts?"
She looks at me for a long moment, those dark eyes searching my face for something. "No. Are you?"
"No." The answer comes without hesitation, which should probably worry me more than it does. "Come on, let's go make it official."
The clerk at the marriage license desk is a woman in her sixties with kind eyes and a knowing smile. She looks between Gia and me like she's seen this exact scenario a dozen times before.
"First marriage for both of you?"
"Yes ma'am," I answer.
"IDs and birth certificates, please."
We hand over our documents, and she starts entering information into her computer. "Any previous marriages that need to be disclosed?"
"No."
"Are either of you currently under the influence of drugs or alcohol?"
"No."
"Are you entering into this marriage freely, without coercion or duress?"
Gia's hand finds mine under the counter, her fingers warm and slightly trembling. "Yes," she says firmly.
"Excellent. That'll be a hundred dollars for the license fee."
I pull out my wallet, ignoring Gia's protest. "I've got it."
The clerk chuckles. "Smart man. Pick your battles wisely."
Outside, Gia lets out a long breath. "Step one complete."
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I just signed my life away to the father of my child." She looks up at me, and there's something vulnerable in her expression. "A really attractive father who makes excellent coffee and has very large hands."
"You think I'm attractive?"
"I think you know you're attractive." But she's smiling when she says it, and the tension in her shoulders eases slightly.
"For the record, I think you're even more beautiful now than you were in New York."
Pink floods her cheeks. "I'm six months pregnant and wearing yesterday's clothes."
"And you're still the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen."
The honesty in my voice seems to catch her off guard. She stares at me for a moment, lips slightly parted, and I have the sudden, overwhelming urge to kiss her right here in the town hall parking lot.
Instead, I clear my throat and gesture toward the truck. "Ready for stop number two?"
Silas's office is busy when we arrive, but his receptionist waves us straight back. He looks up from his computer as we enter, taking in our joined hands and the obvious tension between us.
"That was fast," he says mildly.
"We filed for the license this morning," I tell him. "Wedding's tomorrow. I need you to draft some kind of prenup that protects her interests and makes this look legitimate for the custody proceedings."
"Custody proceedings?" Silas's lawyer instincts sharpen immediately. "What kind of custody proceedings?"
I look at Gia, letting her decide how much to share. She launches into the whole story, and I watch Silas's expression grow grimmer with each detail.
"Zack Whitmore," he says when she finishes. "I know that name. His family's law firm tried to poach one of my associates last year."
"Is that good or bad for us?"
"Bad for them. I don't like their tactics." He turns to his computer. "I'm going to draft an agreement that establishes separate property rights but also creates the appearance of a committed partnership. Joint bank account, shared living arrangements, provisions for the child's welfare."
"Joint bank account?" Gia shakes her head. "I don't have any money to contribute."
"Doesn't matter. It's about appearances." Silas's fingers fly over the keyboard. "I'll also include a clause about decision making regarding the child, establishing Rosco as the biological father with full parental rights pending DNA confirmation."
"Is that legal?"
"With proper documentation, yes. And speaking of which..." He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out a business card. "Dr. Martinez at the clinic. I called ahead. She can do the paternal DNA test this afternoon."
Relief floods Gia's face. "Really?"
"Really. It's a simple blood test for you, cheek swab for Rosco. Results in 24-48 hours."
An hour later, we have a stack of legal documents that makes our marriage look more legitimate than most actual marriages.
I sign papers establishing myself as the presumed father pending DNA confirmation.
Gia signs documents that allow me to act as her representative in legal matters.
We set up joint insurance policies and establish shared financial responsibilities.
By the time we're done, my head is spinning.
"This is a lot," Gia says as we load the paperwork into my truck.
"Good lot or bad lot?"
She considers this. "Good lot. Definitely good lot."
The DNA test takes ten minutes. Dr. Martinez is professional and efficient, explaining that we'll have results by tomorrow evening at the latest. As we leave the clinic, Gia seems lighter somehow, like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders.
"How are you feeling?" I ask as we walk to the truck.
"Hopeful. For the first time in months, I feel hopeful." She stops walking and turns to face me. "Thank you, Rosco. For believing me, for helping me, for giving our baby a chance at a real family."
"You don't have to thank me for that. This is what we do for the people we care about."
She smiles, but her expression tells me that she’s still processing, so I don’t push.
We spend the rest of the afternoon grocery shopping and exploring town.
I introduce her to Sage at Bean & Bloom, who immediately takes Gia under her wing and starts making plans for a proper reception dinner.
Then we stop by Chapter & Curse, where Luna recommends a stack of pregnancy books that makes Gia laugh.
At Grizzle & Grind, Diesel gives my truck a quick once over and declares it suitable for hauling a pregnant woman around mountain roads.
By the time we get home, Gia looks more relaxed than she has since she arrived. The fear is still there, lurking under the surface, but it's not consuming her anymore.
"I needed this," she says as we unload groceries.
"Needed what?"
She steps closer, close enough that I can smell her shampoo and see the gold flecks in her dark eyes. "This, feeling normal. Thank you for introducing me to people like I actually belong here instead of like I'm some kind of charity case."
"You do belong here." I set the last bag on the counter and turn to face her.
"This is your home now, Gia. For as long as you want it to be, and I’ll remind you of that as often as you need me to.
" I reach up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her cheek.
"I told you yesterday, I'm not looking for temporary. "
Her breath catches, and she sways slightly toward me. Time stills as the moment builds.
"Rosco," she whispers.
"Yeah?"
"I think I'm going to like being married to you."
"I think I'm going to like being married to you too."
I lean down, she tilts up, and our lips are inches apart when her phone explodes with sound. The ringtone is harsh, jarring, and Gia jerks back like she's been slapped.
She looks at the screen and goes pale. "It's Zack."
The moment shatters like glass. Whatever was building between us evaporates as fear floods back into her eyes.
"Don't answer it," I say.
"He'll just keep calling. He always does." But her hand shakes as she reaches for the phone.
I catch her wrist gently. "Let me."
"What?"
"Let me answer it. Let him know you're not alone anymore."
She stares at me, conflict written across her face. Fear of her idiot of an ex warring with trust in me.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." I take the phone from her trembling fingers. "Time to let him know the rules have changed."