Chapter 16 Second Chances
SIXTEEN
SECOND CHANCES
RYAN
I pulled into the Hale’s driveway, relieved to see her car was still here.
“Cindy?” I didn’t bother knocking. Rushing from room to room, I searched, even in the basement, just in case. But she wasn’t here. At least the suitcase on her bed stood open and unpacked yet, a small sign of hope.
I paced. I knew Cindy well. Where would she go at a time like this when she was distraught?
All the Hale women typically talked to their mother—yes, that’s it.
I ran back out to Bessie and drove to the pond. My heart raced pulling up about ten yards away from Mrs. Hale’s grave site.
With my phone battery lighting the path, I came upon her kneeling there, her eyes red from crying.
“Ryan?” She held her hands up to shield from my light.
“Thank God.” I knelt beside her, drawing her into my arms, not wasting any time.
“Let me tell you something, Cynthia Hale. You’re no damn coward.
Think about it. Your mother told you to go off to New York City at eighteen?
You were born and raised in this small town, had never been to a big city in your whole life, and yet you did it.
That takes fucking courage, while I’m the coward who stayed behind. You are not a coward.”
She threw her arms around me and sobbed. Was this a good sign or not?
“And as for strength, shit. Baby, have you seen the size of my biceps? I’m pretty sure I have enough strength for both of us to endure anything that comes our way.
So stay. Lean on me when you’re scared and worried.
I can handle anything. But please don’t go to New York.
If you do, so help me God, I’m coming with you. ”
“Would you come with me to Boston?”
I was holding her so tight, her voice was small against my chest. I wasn’t sure I heard her right. “Boston?”
She nodded. “Marcie had her baby. A girl, Brianna. I thought I’d go there for a few days to see it. Come with me.”
The breath I’d been holding blew out with a whoosh. “I um, wasn’t expecting that based on your note.”
“Oh yeah, the note. I was dead set on running off to New York, because Trudy terrified me. I only want what’s best for you and Rose, Ryan—”
“Which is you and me together, not you in a city somewhere and me here. Look, I don’t care anymore where we live as long as we’re together. If you love me, then we’ll make it work.”
“I do love you. But where do you want to raise our child?”
“Huh?” For the second time, Cindy had me blinking stupidly at her.
“When I got back to the house here, dead set on packing and leaving tonight for New York, Megan was here. She told me about Marcie’s baby delivery, but then I threw up. She made me go right to her house and take a pregnancy test and wouldn’t take no for an answer. And, well . . .”
She looked down at her belly, rubbing a hand on it. “Did I forget to mention how fertile the Hale women are?”
Like a gut punch, this time, my entire storage of oxygen left my body. “I’m going to be a father again?” I placed both hands on her belly.
“Yes. Do you think Rose wants a brother or a sister?” Her growing smile spread from ear to ear. Mine did too.
“I don’t know. I think the first question we should ask her is if she wants to be the flower girl at our wedding.”
“A wedding? But what about Trudy? I don’t think she—”
I understood her fears, but I stopped her before she could voice them. “We’ll work on Trudy. Somehow, I have faith we can work things out with her. Either way, we can’t let her or anyone or anything else stop us from being together.”
An hour ago, I worried Cindy was leaving me. Now we’re talking about babies and marriage. Life sure had a funny way of working out.
Her fingers laced with mine, and she glanced over at her mother’s grave.
“Before Mama passed away, she brought each of us in one at a time to say her peace. Knowing my dreams were to always move to a big city and study how to design beautiful buildings, she said my dreams wouldn’t come true here in this small town.
So I made a vow to her I’d leave. You’re right, it was courageous of me, and the city was scary. But now—”
She leaned forward and pressed her lips to mine in a sweet kiss, the kind I hoped we’d share repeatedly forever.
“My dream has changed. The road to this dream led me here to you and Glendale Falls. Now I have the courage to stay and be with you, Ryan, because I love you. I always have.”
I stood and brought her with me. She hung on tight while I swung her around. “Oh baby. You know I have always loved you and I always will. We’re going to make a new vow together, at our wedding on top of that hill under the prettiest gazebo you can design.”
She laughed. “Are you sure? The gazebo I have in mind is pretty intricate.”
“You design it. I’ll build it. For you, my love. Fuck, do you know how happy you made me tonight, and hard?”
She snaked a hand down, pressing a palm along my cock. “Mm. Happy enough to let me ride you good and hard in Bessie?”
“Hell yes.” The left-side of my lips curled up. “Oh, sorry Mrs. Hale, but I doubt you want to hear all the filthy things I want to do with your daughter.”
“Bye Mom, talk soon.” Cindy waved at the gravesite as I carried her back to Bessie.
In the truck, my woman’s legs straddled me. “Are you sure you feel up to this? I don’t want to do anything that might hurt you and our baby. God, I love the sound of that. Our baby. I also love the sound of Mrs. Cindy Lee.”
“Uh, would you mind if I was Cindy Hale-Lee? Remember how my mother used to watch too much of the movie Grease, driving us crazy by knowing every word to every song? I can’t handle having a name that sounds too close to Sandra Dee.”
I could argue with her about this, because I enjoyed seeing her get all riled up, but instead I laughed. “Whatever you want, baby. Just as along as you say I do.”