40. Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty
Grayson
Holding onto Laynie’s hand feels like I’m stuck in a metal vice.
She’s clinging to me so tightly, I’m afraid my bones might fracture, but I don’t say anything.
She’s been anxious since her talk with Violet yesterday afternoon, and when I told her I knew nothing more about the dinner tonight, it did nothing to alleviate her worries.
Pulling up to Honey Haven Ranch, my ute rocks a little from the gravel and small potholes in the dirt.
Laynie holds her stomach with her other hand, eyes peering out the side window at the farmhouse as we approach.
Pulling up beside my brother’s cars, I switch off the engine and lean back in my seat, staring out at the view beyond.
It’s nearing dark, with the moon emitting a soft glow among the rich burnt sunset.
Stars shine above, scattered like diamonds.
A light breeze passes through, moving the trees and fields.
“Are you okay?” Her gaze meets mine, warm yet wary, and I lean over, kissing her lips gently like a feather.
Holding her jaw in my hand, my face hovers before hers, eyes locked as I tell her. “It’ll be fine. There’s no need to be worried, all right?”
I slip out of the driver’s seat and walk around to give her a hand. Dropping to the ground, her fingers tangle through mine as I walk her towards the front door. Voices carry from inside, and as soon as I open the door, everyone’s attention turns to us.
“You’re here!” Macie squeals, diving to hug Laynie.
Reid pats me on the back as Mum floats over, giving me a squeeze. From the grin plastered on her face, I know she has something planned. It makes me nervous not knowing what it could be. And that’s saying something, because I’m not normally the anxious type. That’s reserved for Laynie.
“Dinner will be ready in half an hour,” she tells me.
Nodding, I turned to greet everyone else, including Violet and Levi who drove separately.
Aspen taps my leg, and I pick her up. She’s dressed in her flannel pyjamas and hair in braids. She gives a small giggle. “Uncle Gray, I made a puzzle.”
“Did you?” I give a small gasp. “I think you’ll need to show me.”
“In a minute,” Holden interrupts, holding something in his hand that’s shiny, but I can’t see what. He tips his head towards the back door. “You and Laynie should come outside for a bit.”
I frown. Laynie moves with me, and Macie takes Aspen from my arms as we walk outside, leaving our parents to catch up in the warm living room. Following my brothers down the back porch and towards the paddocks, I chew on my lip, grasping Laynie’s hand tighter.
We come to a stop.
“Okay, so we’ve been thinking about this for the last week or so,” Reid starts. Holden gives a small nod as Cole grins. “We know Laynie wants to live here, so we discussed your whole living situation.”
My head tilts. “You talked about it without either of us?”
“It was out of love,” Macie insists, blushing a little.
“What about our living situation?” Laynie asks warily, and I can tell her brain just kicked into her overthinking gear.
Holden gives us a rare smile before walking closer and grabbing my hand, pressing something into my palm. I frown when I see it’s a set of keys. “What’s this?”
Holden looks at Reid before explaining briefly, “The house is yours. The one we finished this afternoon.”
I must look insanely confused, because all of them chuckle. Laynie looks lost for words.
“What do you mean it’s mine?” I question.
“I’m giving it to you. Both of you.”
I shake my head. “Holden, come on. You built it for you and Aspen to live in, not me and Laynie.”
“Technically we all built it,” he grumbles. Cole flicks his brows. “Plus, Aspen and I can stay in the main house for a bit longer. You and Laynie need your own space, far, far away from the rest of us.”
“Are we that annoying?” Laynie jests.
I sniff a laugh.
“No, but babies are loud and are up at all hours. I would know,” Holden adds.
Pressing the metal into my palm enough for it to bite at my skin, I pull Holden into a hug. He reluctantly embraces me back for a beat before pushing me off.
“Thanks, man.”
“Yeah, well, I hope you like it. If you don’t, don’t tell me. I’ll happily take it back if you complain.”
I smile. “I would never complain.”
My brothers and Macie roll their eyes.
“This means we can get started on one for Holden and Aspen,” Reid suggests, giving me a look to say you in?
“Not right away. We need to build my track first,” counters Cole.
That makes Holden chuckle.
“Yeah, Cole, we were never going to do that,” says Reid.
Cole’s face drops.
I pull Laynie towards me, my chest filling with butterflies again. “Are you okay with this?”
Looking up through her thick golden lashes, Laynie smiles, and I know that’s a yes from her.
“Can we see it?”
“Sure.”
We polished off the last coat of paint yesterday afternoon, with some final touches added today like doorknobs, light fixtures, and appliances.
We decided on a light grey and white finish outside, and internally the place is full of pine, cream, and silver tones.
It’s subtle, which I know Laynie would appreciate after living in a blue popsicle house her whole life.
As soon as she sees it, Laynie’s giddiness amplifies. I squeeze her tighter. Macie takes my spot, the two of them looking it over as my brothers and I wait outside.
“So, you think you’ll be living here?”
I shrug. “It seems like the best idea. I don’t think we’d feel entirely comfortable living in Laynie’s house.”
“Because it looks like a kid vomited after eating too many skittles?” Cole says.
My eyes roll, even though he’s right. That’s exactly what it looks like. “More because we didn’t really have any space. At least here, we’d have some room.” I turn my attention to Holden. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
He nods once. “It’s yours.”
“Plus, the ranch is the best place for kids to grow. Take Aspen for example, surrounded by family, nature and animals,” Reid points out.
“Agreed,” I admit softly, watching Laynie and Macie through the living room windows. Her face is glowing with so much happiness, it makes my heart swell. “I think this will be the best place for us. You’re not getting rid of me anymore.”
Holden chuckles.
Reid counters, “Never wanted to get rid of you, man. But at least now we don’t have to see your bomb of a bedroom.”
“Yeah, good luck Laynie dealing with that.”
I feel a hand on my shoulder, and Reid murmurs, “She must love you a lot to put up with that.”
All I can do is snicker and disappear inside, finding Laynie and Macie in the kitchen. As soon as they see me, Macie dismisses herself to give us a moment together.
Linking my fingers through Laynie’s, she leans against the polished timber bench as I stand an inch away, grinning down at her. “So, what do you think?”
“I think…” she starts, breaking eye contact to take in the modern country vibe of the house before smiling once again, looking more relaxed than she’s been in months, “this is what we need. Our own space, and I have secretly always wanted to live on the property.”
“Oh, you have, have you?” I ask, a glint shimmering in my eye that she giggles at.
“Yeah, mainly because of the setting and peacefulness, but you being here added to the dream.”
That makes the organ in my chest pump harder. “The dream?”
She swallows and peers down at her stomach hidden beneath her clothes. “I mean, the dream has sort of been derailed a little.”
My head shakes as I hold onto her tighter. “I would say more detoured.”
“A big detour,” mumbles Laynie with a smile.
“I don’t mind a detour,” I admit quietly, “because you always get back on track afterwards.”
Laynie grins, smile lines deepening.
Her phone chimes. Frowning, she grabs it off the bench.
“What is it?” I ask.
The expression on her face isn’t concerning per say, but it makes my smile falter.
“Umm, it’s from Fiona.” She pauses, reading through the email before passing me the phone. I hum as I read. Laynie’s foot taps on the floor anxiously.
“You’re booked in for a C-section,” is all I can get out, reading through the information once more.
She nods hurriedly. “It’ll be at thirty-eight weeks.”
I check the date again and my throat works before switching off the phone. “It’ll be okay. They know what they’re doing, and what is right for our baby.”
The tops of her cheeks pink, and Laynie tries hiding a smile. “I like it when you say ours.”
“Me too.” My insides squeeze as I pull her into an embrace. “I promise you that we’ll get through this, no matter what happens, okay?”
I feel her nod against my neck as I breathe her in. Strawberries, flour and something buttery. I still can’t believe I get to hold Laynie in my arms like this and call her mine. She is mine. Always has been and always will be.
And our baby will always have my heart. My heart beats for both of them.