Chapter 26
Austin
Every morning, I wake up with Violet snuggled in my arms, and every night, I get to kiss her goodnight. Life doesn’t get better than this. Who knew I’d go from being a “love ‘em and leave ‘em” type, to a guy who can’t imagine a life without a woman and her son?
Last night, I made the mistake of asking Adrian why he’s been so attentive lately. He gave me this serious look and said, “ Because I’m the man of the house. It’s my job to take care of Mom. ” His words made so proud.
I nodded and said, “You’re doing a great job, kid. Your mom is proud of you.”
Adrian’s a great kid. We bond over TV, sports, and him “schooling” me on random facts he pulls from YouTube. He keeps an eye on Violet like a little watchdog, making sure she eats and doesn’t overdo it. He even told me once, “ You better treat my mom right, or I’ll find a new boyfriend for her .” The kid’s not messing around.
As I’m flipping pancakes for breakfast, Violet shuffles into the kitchen, still half-asleep and wrapped in a blanket like a burrito. She yawns, gives me a sleepy smile, and leans her head against my back.
“Morning,” she mumbles, her voice muffled by the fabric.
“Morning, beautiful,” I say, flipping the last pancake onto the plate. “You sleep okay?”
“Better now that I’m not freezing to death in bed,” she teases, her cheeks pinking up.
Before I can say anything clever, Adrian bursts into the kitchen like he’s been shot out of a cannon. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Pancakes,” I reply.
“Pancakes?!” His eyes light up like Christmas morning. “Bruh, I got the syrup!”
He grabs the bottle, practically saluting me as he slides into his chair. I can’t help but laugh. This kid cracks me up.
Violet shakes her head, trying to hide her smile. “You’ve created a monster.”
“Hey, I aim to please.” I wink at her before serving up a stack of pancakes. Watching them both dig in, laughing and bantering, I feel this overwhelming sense of rightness.
My past life seems like a bad dream compared to this. Who knew domestic chaos could feel so perfect?
I’m already exhausted, and it’s not even six o'clock yet. After breakfast, I took Violet and Adrian to the river. Adrian is getting better at fishing, and today, I let him do it alone while I sat with Violet and watched him. He caught four trouts and released them, each catch making him more excited than the last.
Violet and I spent the day under the shade of a tree, watching the river flow and the birds fly by us. It was very peaceful, and seeing Violet lying down in a sexy one-piece bathing suit was the highlight of my day.
Now, after arriving back home, we all get ready to go have dinner with my parents. I’m on the couch watching Adrian play one of his video games waiting for Violet to finish getting ready. She’s been nervous about meeting my parents. I told her that they are going to love her but she still worries.
Violet comes into the living room a minute later dressed in dark jeans and a pretty, flowy, pink blouse. Her hair is down and straight today—she looks gorgeous.
“Does this look okay?” Violet asks, a hint of nervousness in her voice.
“Absolutely. You look beautiful,” I assure her.
“I want to make a good impression.”
I stand and walk toward her, standing close enough that I can whisper in her ear. “You look gorgeous, but you know I like it better when you’re not wearing anything at all.”
Violet laughs and playfully slaps me on the chest.
“I know. Let me put my shoes on so we can leave.”
As she walks away, I can’t help but smile.
We pile into the car, excitement and nerves swirling in the air like a tornado. I glance over at Violet, and she’s fiddling with the buttons on her blouse, her fingers moving so fast they could break a record.
“You’re going to be great,” I say, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Relax.”
She lets out a small laugh, the kind that says she’s not even close to relaxing. “I hope so. What if I say something weird? Or worse, what if I spill something on their table?”
Adrian leans forward from the backseat, already the voice of reason. “Mom, don’t worry. Austin’s parents will love you. You’re, like, the nicest person ever.”
I grin at her. “See? Even Adrian knows it, and he doesn’t lie unless it’s about who ate the last cookie.”
“Hey!” Adrian protests, though he’s smiling.
To lighten the mood, I turn on the music and hand Violet my phone. “Pick something. DJ rights are yours.”
She hesitates before scrolling through the playlist, finally settling on something soft and easygoing. It works. Her shoulders relax, and she stops attacking her blouse like it owes her money.
When we pull up to my parents’ house, the farmhouse stands there like an old friend, its wide front porch welcoming us with its rocking chairs and colorful flower baskets swaying gently in the breeze. The paint might be a little chipped, but it’s part of the charm, like laugh lines on a face that’s seen a lot of joy.
Violet inhales sharply, and I can tell she’s bracing herself. I reach over and squeeze her hand again. “It’s going to be fine. You’re amazing. Ready?”
She nods, her nervous smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Before we can take more than a step, Adrian bolts from the car, yelling, “I’m gonna beat you to the door!”
I laugh as Violet watches him go, a mix of amusement and pure mom-mode worry in her eyes. “He’s fine,” I assure her. “Besides, it’s a good distraction. They’ll be too busy loving him to grill you.”
Her lips twitch into a real smile this time, and we walk up the path together. As we get closer to the porch, Violet tightens her grip on my hand. I squeeze back, silently letting her know she’s not alone.
It’s just my parents, I remind myself—but I can’t shake the feeling that this moment is bigger than that. It’s us, together, taking a step toward something that feels as timeless and steady as the house in front of us.
The door swings open, and my mom’s face lights up as she beams at us. "Welcome! Come in, come in!" she says, ushering us inside. She’s dressed comfortably in a loose white shirt and khaki shorts, her dark hair now streaked with white. Her eyes—just like mine—shine warmly.
The moment we step inside, the familiar smell of a home-cooked meal greets us. The aroma of freshly baked bread and roasted meat fills the air, and my stomach growls at the smell.
“Wow, your home is beautiful,” Violet says, her eyes wide as she takes in the surroundings.
“Thank you, dear,” my mom replies, beaming. “We’ve put a lot of love into this place over the years. I’m so glad you’re here.”
My dad steps into the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “Ah, there’s my boy!” he says, giving me a hearty pat on the back. “And you must be Violet and Adrian. Welcome! Make yourselves at home.”
Adrian, looking around with wide eyes, seems impressed. “This place is cool,” he says, nodding appreciatively.
“Come on in, let’s get you all settled,” Dad says, ushering us deeper into the house like we’re long-lost royalty.
As we move, I can feel Violet slowly unwinding. I give her hand a reassuring squeeze, and she glances up at me with a mix of nerves and excitement that makes me want to kiss her right there in front of my parents.
“So, Violet, how are you liking Honey Springs so far?” Mom asks once we’re all tucked into the cozy living room.
“We love it here! Everyone’s so welcoming, and we already feel at home,” Violet says with a bright smile.
“Austin mentioned he designed your house,” Dad says, leaning forward with a twinkle of curiosity in his eye. “Is that how you two met?”
“Not exactly,” Violet replies. “He’s designing the house, yes, but we actually met before that.”
I can’t resist jumping in. “Mom, Dad, did I ever tell you the first time I saw Violet, she dumped hot coffee on me?”
“You don’t say,” Mom replies, raising an eyebrow with an amused smirk.
“It wasn’t exactly like that,” Violet interjects, her cheeks flushing. “It was my first day working at the coffee shop. I was nervous and clumsy, and, well, Austin happened to be in the line of fire...or coffee.”
“And my chest suffered the consequences,” I add, pretending to look wounded. “It still stings when I think about it.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Violet says, rolling her eyes but laughing.
“What happened next?” Mom asks, fully leaning into the story now.
“Well,” I say, sitting up straighter, “for me, it was love at first sight. When I saw her, I thought, ‘This is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.’ Besides you, Mom, of course.”
Dad snorts. “Smooth, son. Real smooth.”
“But the worst part?” I continue, “I don’t think she even noticed me.”
Violet laughs, shaking her head. “That’s true. I was too busy freaking out about possibly losing my job. Josy had sent me to take a break because I was terrible at everything. Baking, making coffee, you name it. And then, boom, coffee explosion. I was so mortified, I barely looked at him.”
Everyone bursts out laughing, including Adrian, who had been suspiciously quiet until now.
“Well,” Dad says, wiping a tear from his eye, “it sounds like a pretty memorable first meeting. Sometimes the best beginnings are a little messy.”
“That’s right,” Mom agrees, beaming at us. “And now look at you two. It’s wonderful to see how far you’ve come.”
Adrian finally chimes in, grinning. “Yeah, and now we go fishing and hang out. It’s awesome.”
I reach over and ruffle his hair. “That’s right, buddy. We’re building something special here, messy beginnings and all.”
My mom keeps peppering Violet and Adrian with questions, and to my surprise, they both seem to be enjoying it. Adrian’s answering like a pro, and Violet’s holding her own, her smile never faltering. Mom’s practically taking notes, I wouldn’t be shocked if she whips out a clipboard next.
By the time we finally move to the dining table for dinner, I can tell Violet’s shoulders have relaxed a little. The spread on the table is classic of my Mom. Roasted meat, mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, and a cheesecake that’s practically glowing under the dining room light.
As we dig in, the conversation flows naturally, though Mom doesn’t let up. “So, Violet, what are your plans for the future?” she asks, passing the mashed potatoes like she’s passing a mic.
Violet pauses thoughtfully, then smiles. “I’m planning to study online to finish my marketing degree. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, and now feels like the right time.”
My mom beams. “It sounds like you’ve got a lot of ambition, Violet. That’s wonderful. And what about you, Adrian? What do you like to do?”
Adrian lights up at the attention. “I love fishing, playing soccer, and video games. Austin and I have been fishing a lot, and it’s awesome. My first soccer game is Friday, and I can’t wait!”
Dad leans in, intrigued. “Fishing, huh? Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”
Adrian grins proudly. “Sure! I caught four trout today and released them back into the river.”
“That’s impressive!” Mom says. “We might even make it to your soccer game and cheer you on.”
Adrian’s face flushes. “Really? That’d be super awesome. Bruh, did you hear that? Your parents are coming to my game!”
I smirk, catching Violet rolling her eyes at the “bruh”. She hates when he calls me that, but the kid’s clearly excited, so she let it slide. The table erupts in laughter, and the banter rolls on with everyone swapping stories like old friends.
As the last crumbs of cheesecake disappear, I glance around the table. Violet’s chatting with my mom, Adrian’s listening intently to my dad, and for the first time, everything feels just… right.
When it’s time to leave, Mom pulls Violet in for a hug that lasts a beat too long. “It was so nice to meet you both,” she says, beaming.
Then she turns to Adrian, wrapping him in a gentler hug. “You take good care of your mom, okay?”
Adrian nods, his chest puffing out. “I will, Mrs. Caldwell.”
Dad claps Adrian lightly on the shoulder and gives Violet a warm smile. “You’re welcome here anytime.”
As we step toward the door, Mom calls out one last thing. “Oh, Violet! In a few weeks, I’m inviting Austin’s siblings and their kids over. You have to come. Promise me you’ll make it?”
Violet smiles nervously but nods. “Of course. We’d love to.”
“That’s great. It was so nice to meet you both,” my mom says again, her eyes shining with happiness.
“Likewise. Thanks for having us. The meal was delicious,” Violet responds.
We wave our goodbyes and step out into the cool evening air. As we walk to the car, I can’t help but feel that the night went well.
Driving back home, Violet reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Your parents are wonderful,” she says softly.
I smile, squeezing back. “They think the same about you.”
Adrian, sitting in the backseat, chimes in. “Yeah, your mom’s pretty cool, Austin. And the food was great.”
We all laugh at Adrian words, as we drive back home I realize that this feels like a real family.
When we get to Violet’s apartment it’s almost nightfall and the warm glow from the evening's dinner starts to fade. Adrian heads to the back to play soccer, and I pull Violet into my arms, holding her close. “Thank you for tonight,” I whisper.
She looks up at me, her eyes soft and loving. “Of course.”
Just as we’re about to relax, Violet’s eyes widen, and she gasps. “Austin, look!”
I follow her gaze to the front door. There, lying lifeless on the welcome mat, is a dead rat. A chill runs down my spine as I notice a note pinned beside it.
I quickly move forward and pick up the note, my hands trembling. The words are scrawled in a menacing script:
This will be him if you don’t let him go.
The sight of the rat and the note sends a wave of fear and anger crashing over me. I turn to Violet, her face pale and eyes wide with terror.
“We need to call the police again,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “This isn’t over.”
Violet nods, her voice barely above a whisper. “Yes, we need to tell them.”
Holding the note tightly, I dial the police, knowing that the battle to protect Violet and Adrian has just begun.