33. Ridge
Thirty Three
Ridge
T he late afternoon sun painted the ranch in hues of gold, long shadows stretching across the weathered boards of the porch. I nursed a cold beer, the condensation slick against my calloused palm, as I watched Lily and Cody ride their horses in the corral. Their laughter danced on the breeze, a melody sweeter than any I’d ever known.
Ethan lounged beside me, his own beer dangling precariously from his fingers. We’d shared countless evenings like this over the past three years, but something in the air felt different tonight. Heavier. More significant.
I took a long pull from my bottle, letting the bitter taste ground me before I broke the comfortable silence. “We’re gonna tell the kids,” I said, my voice low but firm.
Ethan’s eyebrows shot up, his gaze sharp as he turned to me. “Damn, you guys are getting serious.”
The words hung between us, charged with unspoken implications. I watched Lily execute a perfect turn on her pony, her pigtails bouncing with each movement. Pride swelled in my chest, quickly followed by a wave of anxiety that threatened to drown me.
“You sure you’re okay with me dating your sister?” The question tumbled out before I could stop it, nerves evident in every syllable. I’d faced down angry bulls and unpredictable stallions, but this conversation had my palms sweating like a teenager asking for his first date. “I mean, I think… I want to ask her to marry me. Would it be too early?”
Ethan was quiet for a moment, his silence stretching taut as a bowstring. Then he turned to me, his expression serious but warm. “You’re my best friend, Ridge,” he said, each word measured and sincere. “In the three years I’ve known you, I can say this: if there was a guy I’d want Em to date, it would be exactly like you.”
Relief crashed over me, as refreshing as diving into a cool stream on a scorching summer day. But before I could fully relax, Ethan slapped my shoulder, a mischievous glint dancing in his eyes.
“Now, I don’t think it’s too early to propose,” he continued, “but I’ll just let you know that Leo was a boxer back in the day. Still has some sort of boxing bag in his cabin. So I’d be careful if I were you.”
I chuckled, but there was a nervous edge to it. The sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the ranch. Ethan’s words hung in the air, heavy with implications I hadn’t considered.
“Also, Mom’s not going to be real happy about this,” he added, concern coloring his tone. “She’s always had some sort of impossible standard set for Em. It’s a Brown mom thing, I guess. She’s harder on her than me or Leo, so prepare for some backlash there as well.”
The nervous pit in my stomach grew, threatening to swallow me whole. I’d faced down angry bulls and unpredictable weather, but the thought of disappointing Emma’s mother made my palms sweat anew.
Ethan must have sensed my unease because he quickly added, “Relax, Ridge. We’ll get Mom on our side before you ask Em.” He paused, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “It’s funny, though.”
“What’s funny?” I asked, curiosity temporarily overshadowing my anxiety.
Ethan’s eyes took on a faraway look, as if he was peering into the past. “I remember the year Melissa was still here, and you were still married. You were like this robot, always working or taking care of the kids. Somehow, I’ve seen you loosen some reins here at the ranch in the last two months. You feel a little… human.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. I hadn’t realized how much I’d changed, how much Emma had changed me.
“I also remember the night Melissa left,” Ethan continued, his voice softening. “You went on and on about how women are the worst and that you would never, ever marry again. You even said I should never get married.” He chuckled, shaking his head. “And now you want to marry my sister. Oh, the irony.”
I let out a long breath, running a hand through my hair. The man Ethan described felt like a stranger now – a hollowed-out shell I’d left behind. Emma had breathed life back into me, coloring my world in ways I’d forgotten were possible.
“Life’s funny that way, I guess,” I said, my voice rough with emotion. “Emma… she’s different. She makes me want to be better, to do better. For her, for the kids, for myself.”
Ethan nodded, understanding shining in his eyes. “That’s how you know it’s real, man. When they make you want to be the best version of yourself.”
“Emma!” Lily and Cody’s enthusiastic shouts snapped my head towards the entrance. And there she was, like a vision stepping out of my dreams and into reality.
Emma walked towards us, her presence lighting up the whole damn place brighter than the setting sun. The nervous pit in my stomach dissolved, replaced by a flutter of soft butterflies. “Hey guys, you look cool on horses,” she called out to the kids, her smile wide and genuine.
As she approached where Ethan and I sat, with little Avery sleeping peacefully, her head on my lap, my heart did that familiar stutter-step it always did around her.
“Hey,” I managed to whisper, drinking in the sight of her.
“Hi,” she replied softly, leaning in to press a kiss to my cheek. The simple gesture sent warmth coursing through me, settling deep in my bones.
Ethan piped up with an exaggerated pout. “What about me? It’s like I don’t even exist.”
Emma rolled her eyes, but I caught the affectionate gleam in them. “I saw you an hour ago in the cellar, you idiot.” Then, as if remembering something, she added, “Oh, that reminds me. Leo wants to go over the cost reduction in barrel maturation with you.”
Ethan’s groan was almost comical. “He’s been a pain in my ass since he showed up. How am I supposed to make wine if he keeps reducing costs everywhere?” Emma just shrugged, clearly used to navigating the choppy waters between the two brothers.
“Well, see you later sister and brother,” Ethan said, pushing himself to his feet. As he passed me, he leaned in close, his breath tickling my ear as he whispered, “in-law.”
I tipped the hat on my head, muttering a gruff “Fuck off” under my breath.
“Not in front of the kids!” Emma’s scolding was immediate, her eyes narrowing at me even as a smile tugged at her lips.
I ducked my head, mumbling an apology that was more for show than genuine remorse. Ethan’s knowing grin as he waved goodbye to Lily and Cody only added to the moment’s lightness.
As Emma settled beside me, her warmth a comforting presence against my side, I marveled at how seamlessly she fit into our lives. The kids adored her, Ethan treated her with the same affectionate teasing he’d always shown his sister, and even Avery, usually so wary of strangers, slept peacefully in her presence.
Lily’s excited voice rang out across the yard. “Emma, come ride Melly with me!”
I felt Emma tense beside me, her eyes darting nervously between Lily on the horse and me. I gave her a reassuring smile, squeezing her hand gently as I stood up, carefully placing a pillow under Avery’s head.
“Come on,” I said, offering Emma my hand. She took it, her fingers trembling slightly in mine. “It’s fun. We can teach you. Right, kids?”
Lily and Cody’s enthusiastic chorus of “Yes!” echoed across the yard, their excitement palpable.
I reached up and took off my well-worn cowboy hat, placing it gently on Emma’s head. The sight of her in my hat, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension, made my heart skip a beat.
Lily guided Melly closer, her small hands confident on the reins. The pride I felt watching my little girl handle the horse so skillfully was overwhelming.
“You look like a grown-up cowgirl,” Lily declared, beaming at Emma. Then, pointing to herself, she added, “I look like little you!”
The comparison startled a laugh out of me, deep and genuine. The sound seemed to relax Emma a bit, her shoulders loosening as she smiled at Lily.
“Come on, up you go,” I said, my hands spanning Emma’s waist as I lifted her onto Melly’s back. She let out a surprised squeal, her arms immediately wrapping around Melly’s neck. Lily giggled as she found herself sandwiched between Emma and the horse’s mane.
“Go slow, Lily,” I cautioned, my hand resting on Melly’s flank. “Don’t scare Emma off.”
As I watched Emma gradually relax, her death grip on Melly’s neck easing into a more natural posture, I felt a surge of emotion. This woman, who’d grown up so far from this life, was willing to step out of her comfort zone for my kids, for me.
The sight of Emma on horseback, my hat perched on her head, with Lily beaming in front of her, painted a picture of a future I hadn’t dared to dream of until now. It was a future filled with laughter, love, and family – a future I wanted more than anything.
After the riding lesson, Lily dragged Emma off to show her a new painting, with Emma scooping up a sleeping Avery to tuck her in. Cody stayed behind to help me with the horses, a welcome change from his recent obsession with cricket and time spent with Ethan.
“Hey Dad,” Cody said, his voice tentative.
“Yeah, bud?”
“Can I go to Cricket camp?” The hope in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Of course, bud. When is it?”
“It’s supposed to be during summer.” He shifted from one foot to another, nervousness radiating off him in waves. “But… it’s in Dallas.”
“Dallas, Texas?” The words came out more sharply than I intended, surprise coloring my tone.
Cody nodded, his eyes never leaving my face, silently pleading.
“Oh.” The word hung in the air between us. Texas was a world away from our little corner of Maine, and Cody was only ten. But the hope shining in his eyes… how could I extinguish that?
I took a deep breath. “I’ll think about it, bud. Dallas is far away, and you’ll be on your own. If I see that you can handle yourself, you can go.”
The joy that lit up his face was worth every ounce of worry gnawing at my gut. “Yay!” he exclaimed, bouncing on his feet before wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug.
“I can take care of myself, Dad. I’m almost 11 years old,” he declared proudly.
I chuckled, ruffling his hair. “Come on, let’s go in, get some food in y’all.”
As we entered the house, I called out for Lily and Emma. Their voices guided us to the kitchen, where a sight that simultaneously warmed my heart and sent a chill down my spine greeted me.
Emma’s eyes met mine, brimming with unshed tears she was clearly trying to hide. A frown creased my brow. “Hey girls, what’s up?”
Before I could probe further, Lily’s excited voice cut through the tension. “Look, Daddy! I made this painting for Emma. She thinks it’s perfect!”
Lily proudly held up her artwork – a charming depiction of her and Emma in the kitchen, baking together as they often did on Sundays. It was messy but I could clearly tell how much of her heart she put into it.
As I looked from the painting to Emma’s tear-filled eyes, a realization hit me. Emma saw exactly what I saw in this picture - a glimpse of our future, a family, a home, a place where she truly belonged.
The depth of emotion in Emma’s eyes, the way she looked at Lily’s painting like it was the most precious thing in the world, it all came together in that moment. Emma wasn’t just stepping into our lives; she was finding her home here, with us.
The kitchen suddenly felt too small, too warm, as if the very air was charged with electricity. I took the painting from Lily’s hand, my eyes never leaving Emma’s face.
“It’s beautiful, Lily,” I said, my voice rougher than I intended. “How about we put it up on the fridge?”
As I moved to do just that, Emma’s hand on my arm stopped me. “Actually, I was thinking of having it on my refrigerator,” she said softly.
An idea, wild and wonderful and terrifying all at once, burst into my mind. “What if it was on both our fridges?” I suggested, my heart hammering so hard I was sure everyone could hear it.
Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion. “You suggesting we tear it, Ridge? No.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle, even as nervousness threatened to choke me. “No, I was suggesting we share a fridge.”
I watched as understanding dawned in Emma’s eyes, her lips parting in surprise. “Ridge, are you…?” she trailed off, unable to finish the question.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to Cody and Lily. “Guys, I have something I need to tell you.” I could feel Emma stiffen beside me, but I pressed on. “Um… I really like Emma.”
Lily giggled, her eyes sparkling. “We know, Daddy.”
I crouched down to her level, my eyes flicking between my two children. “I like her like I want to marry her,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself.
Emma’s sharp “What!” cut through the air, but I couldn’t look at her. Not yet. I needed to see my children’s reactions first.
Lily’s face lit up like a Christmas tree, but it was Cody’s reaction that caught me off guard. “No,” he said firmly, his fingers fidgeting with his shirt. “Moms leave. I don’t want Emma to be mom. I don’t want her to leave.”
My heart broke a little at the fear in my son’s voice. Before I could respond, Emma was there, her voice soft but firm. “Cody, I’m not leaving. Whether I’m your mom or not, I’m not leaving.”
I took Cody’s hands in mine, stilling his nervous movements. “I know you’re scared. I was too. I am too. But I’m also excited to make Emma a permanent part of our lives. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
Cody nodded slowly, while Lily’s excited squeal of “I will!” filled the kitchen.
Finally, I turned to Emma, my heart in my throat. “I know it’s early, and I don’t have a ring, but I do want to marry you. I’m just putting it out there, Em. I will ask you to be my wife soon.” The words tumbled out, fueled by hope and fear and love. “And right now, I’m asking you to move in with us. I want to go to sleep with you next to me, wake up next to you. I want to cook dinners with you. Please say yes.”
Emma swallowed hard, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “I…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes… I’ll move in with you.”
The kitchen erupted in cheers from Lily, while Cody offered a small, tentative smile. As for me, I felt like I could fly. This wasn’t how I’d planned to do this, standing in my messy kitchen in my work day’s sweaty shirt and my kids as witnesses. But as I pulled Emma into my arms, feeling her warmth against me, I knew it was perfect.