Chapter 29 #2
“What can we do?” I asked him.
He cackled semihysterically. “Hell if I know. What should I do? Should I drive to Nashville to see the baby?”
“I think I’d want to be close by while things shake out with children’s services. Assuming you want this kid if it’s yours,” Seth said.
Kemp made a who-the-fuck-knows look. “I mean, I’m having a little trouble wrapping my head around any of it. I keep going back to, is this a big, giant joke someone’s playing on me?”
“I doubt it,” Anna said. “You wanna go back to your daddy?” she cooed to Beckham, then held him out to Seth, who pulled the baby into his chest. To Kemp, she said, “Let’s go call the friend back and tell her we’re coming in. I’ll drive you.”
“What do I tell my sister?” Kemp asked. “I’m supposed to be shopping with her.”
“Tell her you have to help me with something,” Anna said. “I wouldn’t mention the baby until you know more.”
“Think about a lawyer,” Seth said. “Who knows what you’re looking at, but you might want one.”
Kemp nodded distractedly, and he and Anna left us to look for his sister. I looked at Seth in disbelief.
“Crazy times,” I said.
He shook his head. “I can’t imagine. That makes my life look boring and sedate.”
“In a good way,” I added.
Everly came up to us then, holding out her hands for her son, whose attention was on her. “Come here, jellybean. What’s going on?” she asked us. “You guys look serious.” She traded her shopping basket for the baby.
“I’ll tell you later,” Seth said. “Pretty sure it’s not for public consumption. Are you ready to check out with this stuff?”
“Sure. I wasn’t sure if you’d found anything.”
“I’ve been staying out of the way,” her husband said. “I’ll go get in line.”
“Thanks, hon. How’s it going, Luke?” she asked.
“I can’t complain,” I said. “How about you? Are you working on new music?”
“Always. I just recorded a duet with Bryan Covington about a week ago. We had fun collaborating.”
“Cool,” I said. “You’ll announce on the Tattler when it’s available?”
“Of course.” She pressed a kiss to Beckham’s head.
A thought popped up in my mind. A memory. “You did a duet with Ella McCabe a couple of years back, didn’t you?”
“I did,” Everly said. “‘Stone Cold.’”
“I know it well. Are you still in contact with her?”
“Frequently. We hit it off, and we’ve been friends ever since.”
I glanced at Magnolia, then made up my mind. “She recently got engaged, right?”
“Yes, to Jonathon Metzger. I met him a few months ago, and they’re perfect together.”
“Do you have any sway over Ella?” I asked.
“About her fiancé?”
I shook my head. “About her wedding planner.” I stepped closer and lowered my voice.
“She apparently had an appointment with Magnolia to discuss hiring her, but then Felix James went to Ella’s father and told a bunch of lies to lose her the potential business.
He apparently convinced Ella to find a different planner. ”
Everly narrowed her eyes. “I recently read that whole crazy thing about Felix losing his job.”
That and the truth about Magnolia’s paternity had recently been leaked on the Tattler. Magnolia had been relieved her broken ties to him had become public knowledge. She’d declared she was finally free of him, but then the fucker had done this.
Nodding, I said, “He is pissed and vengeful, so he’s trying to ruin Magnolia’s business. She hasn’t done anything to him. She’s just trying to make her own way.”
“I like Magnolia. She was the planner for Harper and Max, right?”
“That was officially her first wedding.”
“It was gorgeous,” Everly said. “Very personalized to the couple.”
“Magnolia’s the planner for Presley and West’s Christmas Eve wedding, among others. That one’s at my barn. Anyway…she’s put up with Felix’s BS her whole life. She thought she was finally free of him.”
“It’s not easy to break out from powerful parents.”
Everly would know. I remembered hearing about her breaking away from her dad’s big-label production for her music and going indie.
“You seem to be thriving now,” I told her.
“A lot of people don’t understand, but I’m so happy with the changes I made. But back to Magnolia. I’d be happy to recommend her to Ella. I don’t know anything about her dad or how controlling he is, but I can put in a good word.”
“That’s all I can ask for. I appreciate it. Not only does Magnolia deserve the chance, but Ella will get the best service and attention from Magnolia. She’s working to prove herself and build up her business. Nobody will work harder than Mags.”
Everly smiled as she studied me, making me a little nervous. I didn’t know her all that well, which made it a stretch for me to ask any favor of her, but if it would help Magnolia…
“I’ll ping Ella this evening before it gets too late. No promises it will change anything, but she should know Magnolia’s a great planner.”
“Thanks, Everly.”
She squeezed my arm. “She’s a lucky girl to have a good guy like you in love with her, supporting her goals,” she said, taking out her phone and holding it up, as if she was going to contact Ella now.
I was unsure what to say to that, so I merely nodded as Seth came back to her, and we went our separate ways.
Was I in love with Magnolia?
I let the words roll around in my head for a few seconds, waiting for some kind of alarm bell to sound. None did.
I wasn’t afraid to fall in love. I just never had before. I’d thought I loved Addie’s mom, but I questioned that now.
Standing out of the way of all the shoppers, I watched Magnolia as she listened to something her mother said.
Magnolia’s expression went from shocked to glowing, and then the two women hugged.
Magnolia’s eyes fluttered shut, and I saw so much emotion beneath the surface. A thread of caution. Relief. Hope.
I wanted nothing more than for the woman to finally do right by Magnolia. So far she’d heeded my warning not to hurt her daughter. I’d do anything to ensure Magnolia didn’t get hurt, by her mother or anyone else.
The truth crept in and enveloped me like a comforting hug.
If this wasn’t love, then what was? I wanted Magnolia’s success.
I wanted to be by her side for every joyful moment, but I’d also fight every battle I could for her.
If her mother—or anyone—hurt her again, they’d answer to me, and I’d be there to support Magnolia in whatever way she needed.
Hell, I’d imagined having babies with her tonight. You didn’t think long-term family without being in love.
I realized I was grinning as I nodded to myself, still watching the strawberry-blond bombshell across the room. The bombshell I absolutely could imagine living happily beside for the rest of my years.
Everly was right. I was utterly, completely in love with Magnolia James. Now I just had to figure out how and when to let her know.