41. Lainey
Lainey
“Are you ready?” Lachlan asked, our fingers laced together as we climbed the front steps at his parents’ house. Reid was fast asleep on my chest, but I knew as soon as we got inside Dolly and Daniel’s house, and I wasn’t moving around anymore, he’d be wide awake. And probably furious.
It was as if he could feel the tension in my body these last few days.
And I knew Lach could, too. Like always, his mind was working overtime to fix everything.
Our initial meeting with the lawyer—over the computer because leaving the ranch felt so overwhelming to both of us right now—had eased my mind about so much.
But there was still a part of me that knew the other shoe would eventually drop. And it was torture waiting.
Maybe no one would notice if I didn’t sit down for dinner? Maybe I could just slip out the back of the house and walk on the back deck until it was time to go home.
“Lainey?” Lachlan said my name, gentle and filled with understanding.
“Yeah. Of course. It’s just dinner with your family. The first dinner with your family since we said our ‘I love you’s. Since we decided to be together. There’s no pressure there.”
He squeezed the fingers held gently in his grasp. “They’re all happy for us.”
“Isn’t it too fast? Won’t they think I’m taking advantage of you?”
“Well, seeing as how you haven’t been cleared by your doctor to take advantage of me yet, I don’t think they’ll be thinking about that.”
“Lachlan,” I groaned. I hadn’t told him yet that I was, in fact, cleared at my appointment earlier in the week.
Not because I thought he’d demand anything from me, but because I didn’t want him to feel pressured to do something just because he’d said those big, beautiful words to me in the middle of my panic.
“It’s going to be great. We’ve got this. Together.”
He took an exaggerated breath, eyes encouraging me to do the same. So I did.
“Oh, look. The newest Ford lovebirds.” Hayes rolled his eyes as we walked into the house.
“Ignore him,” Lach instructed. “I do.”
“Very funny. How about I take the little guy off your hands for a bit?” My face must have given me away, because Hayes took two steps back with his hands up by his face. “Okay, mama bear. I see you. Just saying, I’m the best uncle around. Kids love me, babies love me…”
“If only you could get a woman to love you.” Beau chuckled as he walked into the living room. “Hey, Lach. Lainey.”
“You’re an asshole,” Hayes grumbled, but he smiled looking down at Reid.
“You can take him for a bit,” I said, surprising myself. “Just no—”
“Kissing him. I know.” He chuckled. “Just cuddles from Uncle Hay Hay.”
I managed to get Reid passed over to Hayes just as Nate walked into the living room with drinks.
“Hey, Lach. Beer?” he offered, holding out a bottle to him.
“Yeah, man. Thanks. You good?”
“Better than good. I’ve actually been dying for the two of you to get here, because I have some news.”
Lach slipped his beer into his left hand as he held onto his cane, his right hand instantly wrapping around my waist, pulling me into his side.
“What is it?” I asked, swallowing down my nerves. He’d said he was better than good. It wasn’t going to be something bad…
“Your order of protection was seen by Judge Alonso today. She doesn’t play when it comes to situations like this, and adding in the evidence that Greg showed up here at the ranch and threatened you, he and his wife sought you out at your doctor’s appointment…”
“Spit it out, Nate.” Lachlan’s chest rumbled.
“Your order of protection against Greg has been granted. I haven’t heard back that he’s been officially served, but as soon as he is, it’s done. If he contacts you in any way that isn’t through his lawyer for the contested custody situation, you let me know. I’ll throw his ass in jail so fast…”
My hand slipped out of Lach’s and I wrapped my arms around Nate.
“Thank you. For believing me. For not giving up. I know it’s just a piece of paper. I know it can’t physically stop him if he decides to do something to me again, but I feel so relieved.”
“Good.” Nate chuckled as I finally let go of him. “Does that mean maybe I can sneak a cuddle with Reid? It’s been one of those weeks. Isla and I…” His words drifted off as he looked over at Reid.
“Oh, man. I’m sorry,” Lach said, stepping up beside me again. “That sucks.”
“What? What happened?” I asked.
“We split up.” Nate shrugged. “She’s always wanted to live in Denver and finally got the chance, and I didn’t want to hold her back. Long distance just isn’t my thing.”
“Well, you definitely need baby cuddles.” I turned to Hayes who was sitting on the sofa this whole time.
“Oh, yeah. You gotta get in line though, bro. Happily-ever-after-less Hayes and No-Girlfriend Nate. What a sad team we make.”
Reid started to fuss, and I closed my eyes.
Twenty-eight minutes. It’d been just twenty-eight minutes since I fed him.
Thankfully, I’d had enough time to sit at the table and eat my own meal, feeling lighter than before as I listened to all the conversations going on.
Juniper and Connor were sitting next to each other, Birdie and Violet laughing every time one baby reached over for food on the other’s tray.
But here my son was, rooting once again against my chest. My boobs ached, and his whimper was all it took for a letdown to start. I felt like I was going to throw up.
The table had gone quiet, all eyes pressing hard on me. Everyone in this room knew I was struggling. My skin crawled from the weight of that knowledge. They want to help you. Just let them help.
Lach’s chair scraped next to mine as he pushed back to stand. Before I could say a word, he pressed a kiss to my temple and scooped the baby out of my arms.
“Come on, son. Let’s give your mama a break. What do you say?”
If I thought the room was still before, every molecule of oxygen felt frozen in the air after what he’d just said. Because Lachlan had just done something wild and wonderful, and I didn’t know it was possible, but I fell even more in love with him in that moment.
He winked at me, his free hand running across my back until it reached out to grab his cane.
He was calmly claiming my son as his own.
If his family had any negative thoughts about it, they didn’t say them out loud.
But as I looked around the room, I saw that same love that was so clear in Lachlan’s eyes every time he looked at me…
or Reid…reflected in each of the Ford’s eyes.
Even Jessie, who I was still walking on eggshells with, had a glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes watching Lachlan hold Reid as he rocked him back and forth.
“Why don’t you give him to me, honey? Take Lainey out for some fresh air?” Dolly smiled at me as she stood up from the table. “Would that be alright, sugar?”
I sighed. “That would be great, Dolly. Thank you.”
“His formula is in the diaper bag. We won’t be long—”
“You just go right ahead and make sure Lainey’s okay. We’ve got it from here. Take as long as you both need.” Dolly winked, Lachlan’s ears turning bright red as his brothers all snickered. “We’ll bring him home and sit with him if you need some extra time.”
“I feel like I’m missing something…” I said as we walked out the front door.
“Nope. We’re just taking a walk. You doing okay?”
I shook my head. “I think I’m ready to stop nursing Reid.” I planted my feet in place as soon as we landed on the dirt at the bottom of the stairs.
“Whatever you want to do, sweetheart, I support. You know I love getting to feed him, and I hate seeing you in pain.” His fingers swept over my cheek.
“Am I being selfish? I could push through…”
“Reid deserves a happy, healthy mom, Lainey. And more than that, you deserve to be healthy and happy. He’s going to be just fine on formula, and it’s going to make you feel so much better. There’s nothing…nothing…wrong with that.”
I nodded, slipping my hand back into his. We walked silently around the house, and down the path towards the barns.
At first, I thought Lach was taking me to the main one. My stomach flipped, remembering what had happened to my sister there.
“I don’t think I can go in,” I said, clearing my throat.
“I know. I wouldn’t take you in there. Beau’s been talking about tearing it down, building a new barn in a different spot.”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
I shuddered as we walked past it, down a winding little path I’d never been on before.
Not that my knowledge of the ranch was all that extensive, but by the time another building came into view, the main house felt miles away.
My heart jumped into my throat as Lachlan’s hand wrapped around mine.
We stepped into the smaller barn, my breath leaving in an instant.
“What? What is all this?”
This barn didn’t look like a working barn.
The floor was swept clean, the tables I’d expected to see covered in tools, gloves, and feed were all cleaned up and covered in flowers.
Old fashioned Edison bulbs were hanging from the rafters, and George Strait was playing on a small radio in the corner opposite of us, surrounded by lots and lots of candles. Flameless candles.
A sly smile filled Lachlan’s face. “You told me you were sad you’d never be able to go out two-stepping again now that Reid is here. I can’t…I’m not ready to go into town for something like that. I might never be, Trouble, unless it’s to make sure your stubborn, gorgeous ass is safe.”
“I’m perfectly capable—”
Lachlan’s laugh filled the whole barn. I swear I hadn’t seen him smile that big since Reid was born, and it made my heart melt. “Goddamn. You’re really going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, aren’t you?”
“I fear I know no other way to be, but exactly how I am. Are you saying you plan on dealing with me for that long?”