Chapter 32
Willow
My heart pounds so hard behind my chest that it feels like it’s about to break out. I know that I’m being ridiculous. I’ve eaten dinner at this house a million times, and the last time I did, I was someone else's fiancé. West and I are happy; the best I can hope for is that they’re happy for us.
Maybe I’m overthinking because of all the stress I've had lately, but Grandpa is fine now. He’s set up with a cardiologist who he will hopefully listen to better than he listens to me.
“You about ready to go?” Weston asks as he pokes his head into the bathroom. He takes me in, head to toe, before smirking at me. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
My heart sputters a little bit. I look from him to myself in the mirror. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
“So you're a little nervous, I take it?” Weston’s arms come around me, pulling me to his chest.
I look at him through the mirror and sigh. “A little would be the understatement of the century.”
His brows furrow. “Why?”
“To be honest, I can’t really put my finger on it, but I’m nervous about whether they won’t like me anymore.” I’m not blind to the fact that I’m not the same girl that left, and sometimes I don’t like the version of me I became after leaving. What if they decide they don’t like who I am now?
He shakes his head at the thought, softly bringing his lips to my neck, kissing my fluttering pulse before looking back up to me. “You are aware you’ve been around them multiple times since you’ve been here, and everyone still loves you the same as they did twelve years ago.”
But that was before I was his girlfriend again, before we became us again.
“I know that, I want them to still like me, you know? Your family was my second family for as long as I can remember, and then they weren’t anymore, and I don’t know how it’s going to be today.
Is it gonna be like old times, or are we starting over?
” I shake my head; even I can see I am diving way too deep into this.
“I’m overthinking it. I know. It’s just the first time since, you know.
” Since we fell apart all those years ago.
He nods in understanding. “I’m sure you’ll find it as soon as we sit down for dinner. My family is as dysfunctional as it always has been.”
His family is the opposite of dysfunctional.
They’re kind, they love each other fiercely, and they have some of the best senses of humor I’ve ever seen.
His family is literally a dream. When I was a kid, I always wanted a family like his.
Siblings to fight with, parents who loved me and put me first, and a big kitchen table where we can eat dinner at the end of the day and talk about everything.
I’m really grateful for my grandpa, but sometimes I wish I had a traditional family.
It was both heartbreaking and freeing when I realized I was going to have to create that myself someday to have it.
When we walk up the steps, Weston gives my hand a little reassuring squeeze before opening the door and ushering me inside.
“Weston, you live like five seconds away. How are you late for dinner every single week?” Aspen says, cocking her hip out and pointing to the clock hanging on the wall.
I can almost hear his eyes roll, and I can’t help but laugh at their spat. “Aspen, I really don’t think you want to be talking about running late. I think the last time you ran on time was the day you were born.”
“I’m not late. I’m just running on my own time. It's my world, and y’all are just living in it,” Aspen replies with perfect amount of attitude. I look around the room and see Mabel heave out a deep sigh and shake her head. She’s been dealing with their shenanigans forever.
Weston looks over to his mom. “I’m not sure what you did wrong, but Aspen didn’t quite turn out right.”
“Sweetie, I'm not sure if you really want to start comparing things.” Mabel jokes from the kitchen.
It’s been twelve years, but things are exactly the same, and I’ve never felt such a huge relief. Me being here wasn’t some big shock.
“Glad to see you’re back at family dinner with us, Miss Willow. Would you like a beer, wine, or some water?” Mabel asks.
“If I’m gonna have to listen to these two bicker all night, I’m gonna need some liquor in me. Surprise me with the beer or wine, please.”
“God, I would kill for a couple glasses of wine,” Ava says as she leans back in her chair, her arms folded over her pregnant belly.
“If this one over here is leading you to drink, you just need to tell me. I’m pretty sure I could scare him back into a straight line.” Mabel shakes her spatula in Mav’s direction, and I see him shiver from fear.
“No, he’s been quite the gentleman. Probably deserves a prize for dealing with my hormonal ass. I even get on my own nerves some days.”
“You're not that bad, baby,” Mav says, running his hand over the back of her head. “I’ve only feared for my life like three times.”
“Sounds like she’s taking it easy on you, son,” Jack chimes in, and I swear I see a smile behind that graying mustache.
“I told him it could be worse. He didn’t believe me,” Ava jokes.
I can’t help but laugh at the interaction.
Ava wasn’t here last time I was, and I haven’t got to spend a whole lot of time with her, but I am quickly regretting that.
She’s hilarious, and I love her. She’s the perfect match for Mav.
Everything I loved about this family is exactly the same except for it’s growing.
I take a minute to soak in the feeling of gratitude.
How lucky am I to get to be a part of something like this?
It doesn’t take long for Mable to finish up dinner and for us all to head to the table. Weston pulls out the chair beside him, and I scoot in.
“So, how’s work on the cabins going?” Mav asks.
Weston looks to me and lets me answer, “I feel like it’s going really well. The construction crews are moving really quickly.” I have to admit the construction crew Weston found was even better than the one I found. They work faster, and their boss isn’t a raging asshole.
“You know what I was thinking, we really might look into hiring someone full-time for property management, not just for the cabins, but maybe to run our books with us expanding and growing, and everyone’s lives getting busier, it might be a good idea,” Rhett says.
He’s always the logical one. That has been my concern this whole time, too.
“Do you know who that would be perfect for that job for?” Aspen asks, looking directly at me.
Everyone at the table says my name unanimously.
“Oh, that would be a wonderful idea,” Mabel says with way too much excitement in her eyes.
Aspen starts to laugh, and Weston is immediately suspicious. “What’re you laughing at?”
She takes a sip of her wine before selling herself out. “Just watching my plan perfectly into place. It’s such a beautiful thing to see.” She pinches her face in a smile and brings her shoulders up.
“What do you mean?” Mabel asks cautiously.
Aspen quirks up one brow, still holding her wine glass. “You don’t seriously think I found some random ass company in New York to do this job, do you?”
“Well, I thought it was a little weird, but I know better than to criticize your choices,” Weston says.
“I knew where she worked, so I reached out to her company and hired her, knowing that if I got you two together, there’s no way in hell you’d be able to stay apart.”
“Aspen Marie Taylor!“ Mabel says.
“There is no way in hell I’m about to apologize when it worked out this well. Weston's finally happy, Willow’s finally home, and the ranch is running smoothly from the way I’m looking at it. You all owe me a thank you,” she says, taking a sip of her drink.
Okay, so maybe this family is a little bit dysfunctional, but I like it.
All my fears about things being different are gone.
She wanted me back so bad. She was willing to manipulate not only me and her brother, but my career so I could be here.
Sure, I could be mad, but I’m not. A family that wants me that badly can have me.