Chapter 36 – Ainsleigh
thirty-six
THREE MONTHS LATER
AINSLEIGH
Something was up with everyone around here. There were hushed conversations when I walked into the room. They all tried to play it off, but they were hiding something from me. Especially when it came to seeing Gentry and my brothers huddled together.
I wouldn’t say I hated surprises. I loved them. But I had a feeling they were all being quiet because everyone was in on whatever big secret they were withholding.
I was extra tired, and my dad told me I could leave early as long as everything was finished for the day. For the past hour, I’d hurried to get my work done. All I wanted was my comfy yoga pants, an oversized shirt of Gentry’s, and our bed.
Finally, I shut the computer down and was thankful I drove my Jeep to the office instead of riding the four-wheeler.
One less stop I’d have to make before heading home.
It was just past three in the afternoon.
The sun was high in the sky as I exited the office and locked the door.
I held my hand over my eyes to block the bright rays as I looked out into the front field.
I’d always loved this land, but even more so now that I was older and appreciated it.
Letting out a sigh, I walked to my Jeep and set off for home.
Thankfully I only lived a two minute drive away.
Once inside the house, I dropped my keys in the bowl by the door and walked to mine and Gentry’s bedroom.
A gasp escaped me when I walked into the room to find a bouquet of sunflowers on the bed along with a beautiful white sundress.
On unsteady legs, I walked over to the bed and picked up an envelope that laid on top of the cotton material.
Inside was a letter written in Gentry’s handwriting. My hands shook as I read the words he'd written.
Good afternoon beautiful girl,
I need you to put on the dress and boots and meet me out at the tree.
I have one last confession to make.
Yours,
Gentry
Confession.
What would he have to confess now?
My heart pounded as the piece of paper dropped to the floor.
I sat down on the bed, careful not to wrinkle the dress as I went over the words I’d just read in my head.
Part of me wanted to race out of the house and say screw the dress.
No way could I do what I’d intended when I came home early now.
Instead, I quickly undressed and slid the material over my head.
The dress was simple yet beautiful. It hit me at the top of my knees. He knew me so well.
Carefully, I bent down and pulled my boots on.
I walked over to the dresser and looked in the mirror. My hair was still in waves down my back, but if he wanted me to meet him outside in this heat, I’d have to do something with it.
I fluffed it out with my fingers and grabbed a ponytail holder and made sure I got all the lumps out before I tied my hair back into a low side ponytail. The curls that flowed down across my shoulder made the look more sophisticated.
I took a deep breath as I shut my eyes.
Then another.
And another.
Until I was ready to face the confession Gentry had to share with me.
Without procrastinating any longer, I walked to the door, grabbed my keys, and set off for my parents’ house.
I parked my Jeep in the driveway and looked around the backyard. No one was around and all was quiet. Not unusual for this time of day, but something felt off.
On shaky legs, I exited the Jeep with my phone in hand and walked toward the tree.
With every step I took, my anxiety grew worse.
My mind couldn’t stop thinking of what he could possibly have to say.
Everything was going well.
The tree came into view, but there was no sign of Gentry.
I looked down at my phone and checked the time. It was a little after four. Maybe he hadn’t finished his last tour just yet. The note made it seem like I should come right away. Like he knew I’d be leaving work early. But maybe I was wrong.
The sun was high in the sky, and the closer I got to the tree the more I longed for the shade it would provide.
I was about twenty feet away from the tree when I stopped dead in my tracks. My mom and dad were heading in the same direction as me, riding my dad’s horse.
What in the world was going on here?
I couldn’t move.
Let alone think.
My mind just went blank at the sight of them when I was supposed to be meeting Gentry here.
My dad pulled on the reins of the horse and stopped her in her tracks. He hopped off first, then helped my mother down. Seeing the way they looked at each other melted my heart. The look in their eyes still showed the love that they held for each other all these years.
“Come over here, baby girl,” my dad demanded as he waved me over.
I walked over and stopped right in front of my dad. I searched his eyes for some type of clue, yet they held none. He was hiding whatever this was very well. I didn’t bother looking at my mother. She could keep a secret better than any of us.
“What’s going on, Daddy?” I choked out, fearing the worst with his upcoming response.
Instead of my father speaking, my mother spoke instead.
“Sweetheart, from the moment we started having children, I always wanted a baby girl. Time and time again, we had one boy after another. I told your father we’d try just once more after Holden was born.
And luckily, we finally got you. I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you’ve become.
Seeing you flourish and grow over these years has warmed my heart and given me a few of these gray hairs I’ve been trying to hide. ”
Tears filled my eyes as my mother made a confession of her own.
“The loss you’ve had to endure, I’m not sure I could’ve made it out of that.
But you did. In your own way, you’ve overcome your pain and came out on the other side of it.
I’ll admit, we weren’t very happy when you told us you and Gentry were becoming an item.
Y’all were so young and had so much life left to experience.
But now, I wouldn’t have chosen a better man for you than him. ”
Two tears escaped as she said her final words.
But this didn’t explain why they were here.
I tried to figure it out, but before I could think too hard, my dad spoke.
“You kept us on our toes from the moment you could walk. Your brothers tried to torture you, but you played them at their own game. You never backed down from them. Seeing you stand up for yourself, especially to them, showed me we’d done something right.
No matter how many times I tried to tell them to back off, you’d always tell me to let you handle it.
I just never thought I’d see this day so soon.
It’s a beautiful sight to see, and I couldn’t be prouder of the woman you are and the man you have in your life. ”
He kissed me on top of my head, and I closed my eyes taking in the scent of my father that had comforted me so many times over the years. The spicy scent of his aftershave always made me feel safe when I was near him.
I heard the grass crunch under someone’s feet in the distance and pulled back from my dad to see who was here.
Brooks.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I took him in. He was dressed simply in a pair of blue jeans, a fitted shirt, and boots.
“Hey there, sis,” he said as he walked toward where we stood.
“Brooks?” I questioned, hoping someone would tell me what was going on. “What is going on?”
He leaned down and kissed the top of my head just like my dad had done.
“You’ll see,” he replied with a cocky grin, leaving me with more questions than answers.
“By the time you came along all I could think of was that there was going to be another person in the house to crowd my space. You were so little and needed protecting. And I protected you more than you’ll ever know from all the boys who looked your way in school.
Except for one. He didn’t take the hint all the others had.
And over the years, even though I didn’t always like him, I’ve come to love him just as much as I love all my siblings.
He’s another brother to add to this crazy bunch.
He’s one lucky man to have you in his life. ”
“Thank you,” I said as I turned my head to give him a questioning look.
“You didn’t think I wouldn’t be here, now did you, Ainsleigh,” I heard Leo say from a distance.
I looked around Brooks and saw Leo coming toward us from behind the tree.
How many other people were back there?
“I have to say when Mom and Dad brought you home, I was hoping for another brother. Four boys would’ve been awesome.
You’ve kept us all on our toes all these years, and you never backed down when we did all those crazy things to you.
You laughed and got us all back ten times as bad.
You were devious when it came to revenge.
I’m so glad you’re more of a tomboy than a girly girl.
You hunt and fish with the best of us. And you can ride a horse like there’s no tomorrow.
And just remember, if Gentry ever hurts you, he’ll have me to deal with. ”
“And me,” I heard Holden say from behind us.
Leo stepped out of the way just as Holden made his approach.
The smile on his face was genuine. He seemed lighter today. Freer than he had since I'd arrived.
I could only imagine what he had to say.
He’d most likely make me cry.