CHAPTER 6
FLETCHER
Tearing myself away from Eden last night was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was much harder than letting go of her 13 years ago. Now, I know what it’s like living without her in my life and doing it again would be impossible.
I’m not sure if it’s simply the hand of fate or random circumstance, but having Eden walk back into my life feels like something I have to pay attention to. For years I sent my wishes up to the stars, especially whenever I saw a shooting star, hoping she would come back to me.
It took a lot longer than I thought it would, and I had given up a long time ago, but she’s back.
After being able to sift through all my feelings at seeing her again last night, it was like I couldn’t keep still. I was restless as hell and knowing Eden was next door, even though there were acres between us, was wreaking havoc with my mind. I needed to see her.
When I set out, jumping on the four-wheeler, and taking a path toward her house that I hadn’t taken in a long fucking time, I wasn’t sure whether she was going to let me in or not. I wasn’t even sure she would be in the same room. Thankfully, she was, and it only took a couple of taps for her to come to the window.
The moment I was inside her room, it was like being transported back in time. Even though I kept up a neighborly relationship with Eden’s parents, I never asked about her. It didn’t surprise me at all to learn she never asked her parents about me. If I had heard about her and how well she was doing out in the world, away from me, I don’t think I could have survived it.
I’m so fucking glad I didn’t scare her off with the anger I’ve been pushing down throughout the years because she didn’t come back to Wintervale. There was no way I could hold onto my anger for long anyway. Not while looking at her beautiful face filled with regret.
Far too much time has passed between us, time which left us searching for something we weren’t going to find because we found it when we were only kids. Do I wish we had been capable of holding onto it? Of course. But we were young, and we didn’t have the capability to make the distance between us work.
It was more than just a physical distance. And the loss of the other was so much more profound because we had spent almost all of our time together. Not having Eden around felt like I lost part of myself, and I know it was the same for her even with everything she was putting into school.
Last night, when Eden was in my arms and I was able to kiss her, something changed in me. A rightness I hadn’t felt in far too long settled around me. I knew I would do anything to keep her in my life.
Everything in me roared with understanding. Mine. Eden was mine when we were 14 years old and now, at 33, she’s still fucking mine.
The distance doesn’t matter.
The time doesn’t matter.
The pain we’ve endured being away from each other while yearning for each other—because I could see it so clearly written all over her face as we talked—doesn’t matter.
Her having a son doesn’t matter. I can admit that he’s mine too.
I left her last night and came home and crawled into my bed while going over all the ways to show Eden that she’s mine again…or still. I took some time to come up with a plan and now it’s time to put it into motion.
I’ve already checked the ranch, and everything is in order. Huxley gave me a strange look when I didn’t jump into helping him in the barn this morning. Normally, I would, but I have things to do.
Hopefully, it’s not too early. Eden was never the best morning person, but maybe she’s changed after having Macklin. Or at least maybe she’s getting up and not grumbling about it as much.
It doesn’t take long to hop in my truck and drive over to Eden’s house. I notice Walter is already out of the house and feeding the cows. When he sees my truck approaching, he waves, and I follow suit. Nerves are bubbling in my gut as I park in front of the house.
Even though I’ve made this plan, I’m not feeling very confident as I sit in front of her house ready to start on step one. I’m not sure how many steps it’s going to take, but I know a full-court press is the only way to approach Eden.
I need to show her I’m here and aren’t going anywhere. Not only with her, but when it comes to Macklin as well.
The moment I turn off my truck and climb out, slamming the door behind me, Eden’s mom, Edith, pops her head out of the front door. She steps out onto the porch with a huge smile on her face and I bound up the few porch steps.
“Fletcher Burns,” there’s a warmth in Edith’s voice which has me grinning at her as I approach and press a kiss to her cheek. “I was wondering how long it would take you to show up here after Walter told me you saw Eden at the store yesterday.”
I make a humming sound, not willing to mention how I was over last night without her knowledge. Sneaking into my woman’s room last night felt illicit even though we’re not the kids we were when I used to sneak in all the time.
“Not long,” I murmur softly.
She squeezes my arm, and her eyes soften as she looks at me. “I always knew you two were meant to be. I’m sorry you’ve lost so much time together, but I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and right when it’s supposed to.”
“I’m trying to keep that in mind.” I sigh, “I missed her so much. I’m sorry I wasn’t over here more often checking up on you and Walter. I should have because you have always been family and the best neighbors we could ever have.”
Edith waves her hand dismissively, her tone light, “Don’t worry about it. We always understood why you kept your distance. Pain is pain, and you have to heal in your own way. I hope you both can heal fully now; together.”
“I hope so,” I mutter, my stomach flipping at the sound of small giggles coming from inside the house.
Edith’s face hardens slightly, and she gives me a stern look. “You’re a good man, Fletcher, always have been, but you should know if you hurt my grandson and my daughter then you’ll be dealing with me.”
“I’ll never hurt them,” I vow, feeling the truth of my words to the depths of my soul.
She nods once and then steps into the house, waving me inside. She nods toward the kitchen, and I can’t help but look around as I walk through the house. I haven’t been inside here in a long fucking time.
Everything looks the same for the most part. When I start noticing the new pictures on the wall, I still. There are still all the pictures of Eden and me as we were growing up, but it’s a new one which has me stopping and staring at it in awe.
It’s a profile shot of Eden standing in front of a white wall. Her belly is big and round, showing off her pregnancy and she’s fucking glowing. Still, when I lean a little closer, I can see the strain in the smile on her face and the shadows in her eyes.
She’s happy, but not at the same time.
Without thinking about it, I reach up and trace my finger along the curve of her belly.
“She was radiant, wasn’t she?” Edith’s voice startles me even though she’s talking softly. All I can do is nod mutely while finding it hard to tear my eyes away from her. “Radiant, but sad.” When I look over at her, there’s a soft and hopeful smile on her face. “She’s been sad a long time and I could see you were too. Take this chance and grab hold.”
“I won’t let her go this time. I won’t survive it again.” Questions cross her face, but before she can voice them, I add on, “I won’t let Macklin go either. They’re mine.”
“Then go get them,” her words are filled with glee as she nods toward the kitchen.
The moment I step into the room, my heart fucking melts. Eden is sitting at the table, an empty plate in front of her, as she watches Macklin with a huge smile on her face. His face is smeared with maple syrup as he reaches for a piece of pancake.
Eden gently prods, “You sure you don’t want to use the spoon?”
“Mama,” Macklin sighs, “my fingers work just fine.”
My beautiful woman bites her lip, clearly trying to stop herself from laughing. I’m unable to and chuckle softly. The sound pulls their attention to me. Eden’s eyes widen in surprise as Macklin starts wiggling in his chair and reaching toward me.
“Fletcher,” Eden breathes out and then clears her throat, “what are you doing here so early?”
I smirk at her, “So early? It looks like you’re up with no problem.”
She huffs out a small laugh and rolls her eyes. I sit down next to Macklin, but only because if I sit next to Eden then I’m not going to keep my hands off her. The last thing I want to do in the world is rush her or put her in an uncomfortable position.
“Hi, little man,” I greet Macklin.
He’s practically vibrating with excitement. “Hi, Fletcher,” he chirps.
I want to pull him out of his highchair and snuggle the kid, but that would probably be strange. I push the feeling aside, for now and settle for smiling at him.
I look over at Eden to find her eyes pinging between her son and me. “I was hoping to take you over to Limitless.” She bites her lip and looks at Macklin, like she’s unsure. “Both of you,” I clarify, not wanting her to think I’m excluding her son.
No fucking way.
The smile that grows on Eden’s face is so bright it’s fucking blinding. She leans closer to Macklin and wipes his face off with a damp cloth. “What do you think, Mack? Do you want to go with Fletcher next door? He has horses on his ranch,” her voice goes up and she shoots me a look like she’s asking if we still have horses more than telling Macklin.
“We have the best horses in the entire state,” I drop my voice a little like I’m sharing a secret with Macklin.
His eyes go big and round as he breathes out, “Horses?”
When I nod, he squeals and gives a sharp look toward Eden like he’s annoyed to still be sitting in his highchair instead of being set free. Eden pulls the tray away and then gets him out.
“Well, it sounds like we need to go and get dressed,” Eden teases her son.
I breathe a little easier knowing she’s going along with step one of my plan without even realizing it. My only goal is to have her, and Macklin, in my life permanently. I won’t let her go this time.
What she doesn’t know, what no one ever knew, was I had bought her a ring all those years ago. I figured I was either going to ask Eden to marry me or I was going to set her free when I visited her in Rhode Island. The ring is in the drawer of my bedside table; it’s haunted me, but I couldn’t get rid of it.
When we get to the point that I’m slipping my ring on her finger, which will be sooner rather than later if I have anything to say about it, she deserves something better than what I was able to afford at 20.
It doesn’t take long for Eden and Macklin to walk back into the kitchen. Edith was kind enough to give me a cup of coffee and chat while I was waiting. My breath hitches when Eden steps back in the room, but I can’t fully appreciate how damn good she looks because Macklin runs straight to me and climbs up into my lap.
“I’m ready to go see your horses, Fletcher.”
I stand up with him in my arms and the way he snuggles against me feels so fucking right. I have to swallow down the wave of emotion trying to take me under. Everything about him radiates joy. When I glance at Eden her eyes are bright and shining with unshed tears.
With my free arm, I wrap it around her shoulders after she grabs a bag overflowing with things she might need and tuck her against my side as I lead her out to my truck. Even though I’m trying to not get ahead of myself, I can’t help but feel like these two are my family.
“Oh,” Eden exclaims, “I need to grab Mack’s seat out of my car.”
“I’ll grab it,” I tell her before turning my truck on remotely and helping her slide into the front seat. I plop Macklin down on her lap, not wanting him to get too cold, and hold my hand out to her. She looks down at my hand and then at me like she’s confused. “Really, Eden, I’ll get it. I promise.”
I know why she’s hesitating. She’s had to do it all on her own for a while now. Relying on someone else isn’t something she’s used to, but she can rely on me.
After she hands over her keys, getting the car seat moved over doesn’t take long and I pay very careful attention to how it’s attached as I take it out of her car. It’s a little nerve wracking installing it into my truck because the need to ensure my little family is healthy and safe is riding me hard.
Once everything is buckled in and doesn’t move even the slightest bit, I get Mack buckled in and I slide behind the wheel. It only takes a few minutes to drive back to Limitless. I point out a few changes as I drive closer to the barn. It’s cold outside and I don’t want Macklin to get too cold.
I hustle the pair inside the barn, glad that Huxley has already finished taking care of the horses. I’m sure if he’s in the house then he’s plastered his face to a window to be the nosey bastard he is. But I can’t find it in me to care as I lead Macklin and Eden around the barn and introduce a very excited little man to all the horses.
Eden gasps and when I look up at her, there are tears in her eyes and she’s staring at a horse. She sounds bewildered and surprised, “Buttercup?”
I chuckle and lead Macklin to where Eden has rushed toward the queen of the ranch. If you thought there would be a beautiful reunion between the two, you’d be wrong. Buttercup lets out a huff and then pulls her head back into her stall and turns away from where Eden is standing.
“Buttercup,” Eden’s voice is thick, but the horse doesn’t even acknowledge her, “I’m sorry for leaving you all these years. I wish I didn’t do that. I wish I could have come home sooner. I’m sorry, sweet girl. I missed you.”
Buttercup eyes Eden warily but makes no move to step closer. I’m not surprised, out of all the horses she’s the one who can hold a grudge like no other. Normally, it’s a little funny, but the pain on Eden’s face wipes away any amusement I might feel about the stubborn horse.
“Hi, Buttercup,” Macklin’s voice breaks the sad tension between the horse and my woman. Buttercup jerks slightly and then lifts her head over the wall of the stall before looking between Macklin and Eden.
Eden’s hands grip her son’s small shoulders, and she clears her throat. “Buttercup,” she begins, a waver in her voice, “this is my son Macklin. Macklin,” she gives his shoulders a squeeze, “this is the best horse I’ve ever known, Buttercup.”
Buttercup lets out a chuff, one which could be filled with annoyance or acceptance. I’m not even sure at this point and I know these horses well. She lowers her head until Macklin can reach up and press his small hand against her nose. He starts murmuring soft words to her, too low for me to hear, but I watch as the horse relaxes.
Eden doesn’t push it; she steps back and lets them bond with tears in her eyes. She melts into me when I wrap an arm around her shoulders and tuck her into my side. There’s a tremor in her voice as she watches the scene in front of us, “Why did you bring us here?
I bury my face in her caramel-colored hair and breathe in her apple and cinnamon scent for a moment. It’s intoxicating and I’ve missed it so damn much.
“Because,” I murmur softly so only she can hear me, “this is what I want. You here. Macklin here. I want you both to be comfortable here. I know it might not make a lot of sense to anyone else, but when has that ever mattered to us? I knew the moment I kissed you last night that I’m all in.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispers, an edge of panic in her voice.
I step in front of her, blocking her from Macklin’s view and cup her soft cheeks in my hands. The callouses on my hands must be rough against her skin, but she doesn’t flinch.
“There’s no rush,” I promise her, “all I’m asking for is a chance.” Her tentative nod feels like a victory. “Will you two stay for dinner?”
“Yeah,” she breathes out, “we can stay.”
Her dark eyes are sparkling pools as she speaks and, for a moment, I’m not sure if she’s talking about just for tonight or if she’s saying she’ll stay forever.
That’s the goal; it’ll always be the goal.
I just need a little time and to make some new memories, ones neither of us can walk away from.