Epilogue #3
“Ruby’s gone through her whole life thinking you don’t give a shit about her.”
He shakes his head. “She knows better than that.”
“No, she fucking doesn’t. And it’s fucked up you’d let her think that,” I snarl. I’m so angry, I should have left the combine engine switched on. “Your daughter is smart, funny, beautiful. It’s a privilege to have her in your life, and you’ve fucking wasted twenty-five years—”
“I like you.” He grins at me.
“What?”
“I like you.”
“The feeling isn’t fucking mutual,” I grunt as he swings an arm around my shoulder. “You’d better tell Ruby now, or we’re leaving.”
“C’mon, let’s get a beer.” He chuckles.
Shrugging his arm off me, I walk side by side, seething with each step. As soon as we’re in sight of the house, Ruby comes running out of the front door, like she was watching out for us. From the look on her face, it’s clear she knows they know.
“Hi, Daddy,” she says, stopping in front of him.
Today’s full of surprises because just like her mum, he pulls her into a hug and drops a kiss on her head. “I’m proud of you, honey. You did good. Just in case you didn’t know that already.”
She steps back, frowning. She looks at me, then back at her dad. “Are you okay?”
“I’m dandy. Just enjoyed visiting with my new son-in-law.” He slaps me so hard on the back, I jerk forward.
Ruby groans, her eyes flicking to me again. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, it was spur of the moment . . . but we want to talk to you and Mom about a real wedding.”
Her father doesn’t see the pleading look she shoots my way, and if he hears the panic in her voice, he doesn’t give anything away. I have to hold in a smile because I’m still trying to be pissed at him.
“Come on, let’s go see your mother.”
Ruby slips her hand in mine, applying enough pressure to pull me back, “We’ll catch you up, Daddy. Mama’s going to want you to wash your hands, anyway.”
He laughs again, muttering something, before planting a kiss at her temple. “Don’t be long. Your mama won’t be happy.”
“Ruby, what’s going on?” I ask once he’s out of earshot.
She shakes her head so hard her hair flicks around. “I don’t know, I swear. But my mom already knew we were married—”
“Yeah, your dad told me we had a better game in Gloucester.”
Her mouth drops. “What?”
“I think they’ve been watching your career.”
“I haven’t had a career to watch.”
“Ruby . . . enough. Stop putting yourself down. You have had a career, and you’ve got one now. You have a one handicap, and play for a high-goal team. You’re a polo player. You’re living the dream you always wanted, and it’s only going to get better.”
She shakes her head. “You’ve given me that dream.”
“You gave it to yourself,” I correct her.
“Yeah, because my parents . . .” She stops talking and peers around me toward the house. Her eyes find mine again, wide and aware. And maybe I underestimated her dad when he said Ruby’s smart enough to know better.
I still maintain it’s a fucked-up way to support your child.
“Miles?”
I nod, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her into me close enough I can kiss her nose. “Yes, we can stay longer than one night. The Bahamas will be there whenever you want. We’ll go for the whole off-season, if you’d like.”
She grins, but her head shakes. “We’re going to Argentina for the off-season.”
“Yes, boss.”
“And don’t you forget it.”
I lean in to kiss her properly, just as a loud whistle sounds.
“Shit, we need to go for lunch.”
“Then let’s go. I don’t need my new in-laws mad at me already.”
“Thank you.”
“No.” I drop my lips to hers, willing to risk the wrath. “Thank you. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and I could never imagine loving anyone as much as I love you, Ruby Burlington.”
“I love you, too.”
It would have been the perfect moment to repropose, if her dad hadn’t leaned out of the door and yelled, “Get your asses inside, lovebirds.”
It takes a couple of days, but instead of me winning Ruby’s parents over, after the stunt they pulled, it’s Ruby's parents begging for forgiveness.
Halfway through the first afternoon, Ruby’s brothers arrive—two behemoths who look just like their dad—and take one look at me.
“Do we get to fuck him up?”
Thankfully, Ruby’s dad shakes his head. “Not today.”
And that’s all there is to say about that.
I call Lando and Johnny at the Burlington yard, begging them to talk me through everything I need to know about John Deere machinery, enough that I can help Bobby change the oil on two tractors and finish the work on the combine harvester.
While I’m in the shop, Ruby helps her mum in the kitchen, and I finally find out what a vanilla sheet cake is.
But the best afternoon is when we tack up a couple of the ponies and play against her brothers two on two. I know Ruby’s going easy on them, but they don’t, and it’s so fucking funny to watch her bump on a pony who looks like he wished he’d never gotten out of bed.
Then finally on day four, it happens.
“Miles?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I give you permission to marry my daughter. On one condition.”
“Name it. It’s yours.”
“You have a proper wedding, and I walk her down the aisle.”