Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
Mia
“ B uddy, let go of your truck so we can get you in this thing. Help your mama out.”
Sawyer hands me his truck and puts his arm through the strap of his car seat. I snap him in and return his truck. “Thank you.”
My phone pings just as my butt hits the driver's seat. My chest tightens, hoping it’s Daisy. As happy as I always am when his name appears on my phone, I sag in my seat when Angus’s name pops up and not his sister’s. It’s been two days since I pleaded my case during the park meeting.
Angus
Meet me at Knox’s place. I’ll grill and we’ll take the boat out after dinner. Sound good?
Oh, this man and his heart. He has been doing his very best to keep me distracted while I wait for Daisy to come around , as everyone likes to tell me she will. I would rather lock myself up at home and pout and worry, but Angus isn’t having any of that. He’s making sure I don’t have time to dwell in my misery.
MIA
Sure, I’ll run home and change.
Angus
No need. I grabbed your favorite sweats, your sexy slides, and a change of clothes for Tater. Just get that booty of yours over here.
Tater appears to be sticking. I’m not sure when it happened, but this is his new nickname for Sawyer. He and his Gus Gus are two peas in a pod.
Angus has immersed himself in our daily lives. He’s changed his hours at the bar, leaving the weekday evenings to his staff. If the bar is slow on Fridays and Saturdays, he comes home as early as possible. He helps get Sawyer ready in the morning and helps with our nighttime routine. He’s had genius ideas for potty training, and they could play for hours if I let them. But he also respects my rules and doesn’t cave and break them, even when I know he wants to.
Then, after Sawyer’s in bed, he’s all mine. We talk and we laugh, and we make love.
To think myself and pretty much everyone in Goose Hollow doubted Angus McKinnon ever wanted a life like the one he’s currently living is almost funny now. He was born to be a loving partner and father-figure. To those of us in his life, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise. Now and then, I wonder if he’ll tire of the monotony that comes with taking on a ready-made family. But in my heart, I know him, and I know he’s in this for the long haul. He’s thoughtful and kind, but Angus doesn’t do anything Angus doesn’t want to do.
MIA
Thank you. We’ll head that way right now.
Angus
Love you, Goof.
My heart skips a beat, like it does every time he tells me he loves me. I’m like a walking smiley face with heart eyes emoji, thanks to the love of this man.
MIA
Love you.
I double check my phone for any missed calls or texts from Daisy before starting the engine, but there’s nothing.
She’ll come around.
She’ll come around.
Everyone is sure of it.
But what if she doesn’t?
Putting the car in drive, I point us toward the lake. The lake I haven’t been to since my parents sold our family home and moved away. It should feel odd to be going to Knox's place, but friends and family make more use of his lake house than he does.
I think he had it built, so when he came home to visit, he had a place to hide. So he wouldn’t have to stay with anyone. He’s always been a loner. He loves his family, but he’s always needed his space. Always wanted more than what Goose Hollow could give him. It’s a shame, because his family misses him.
The McKinnon siblings are close, but Knox keeps himself just on the periphery of their tight-knit circle. Although, I have no idea what the four of them get up to on their annual birthday week trips. Being that they were all born in August, every year the four of them go on vacation together. They escape somewhere the paparazzi can’t find them and spend a week together. It’s just them, no other family members. No friends.
The only exception they ever made was last year, when all the chaos happened with Charlie’s stalker on day one of their trip. There was no way Callen could leave her behind. And since the two of them share a birthday, she finished the rest of the trip with the siblings.
What happens this summer? Will Knox still take part? I knew when I revealed the truth, it could damage relationships. I expected Daisy’s reaction. After keeping it to myself this long, it was one of the many repercussions I feared. But I had no intention of coming between brothers. Things have been strained since Knox found out about Sawyer. He replies to Angus when he reaches out to ask how he’s doing, but he insists that he’s fine and too busy to talk. Gus worries about him, but I don’t know what to think. He’s shown no interest in getting to know his son, other than to teach him to ride a horse. He’s asked no questions about him or his life for the last two and a half years.
Knox has only reached out twice. Once, shortly after our video call, to tell me he wouldn’t seek custody, but he would start a trust for Sawyer if I refuse to accept child support. When he said he wanted to teach Sawyer to ride, hope for some kind of relationship between the two took root. It’s not a lot, but it’s something. But the only other time I’ve heard from him was a text to get my email address and Sawyer’s social security number so he could get documents drawn up for the trust and so his people had my contact info.
When my tires hit the dirt road leading to Knox’s house, my mind snaps to attention. The road isn’t too rough, but it’s still best to have my wits about me in case a rock jumps out of nowhere and attacks the vehicle.
A few minutes later, I’m pulling a sleeping Sawyer out of his car seat. This happens every time we hit the road to the lake house. Where my body moans and groans from the movement, it soothes him to sleep. But as soon as he hears Angus yell, “I’m in the kitchen!” he wakes right up.
“Gus Gus,” Sawyer says under his breath as he squirms to get out of my arms.
“Incoming!” I yell, releasing my boy who takes off running to see his bestie.
“Tater! How was your day?” I hear as I round the corner to the kitchen to find Sawyer already in his arms. When he sees me, Gus’s face lights up. “Hey, baby.”
“Hey, baby,” I reply, placing a kiss on his lips. Sweetly, Sawyer leans in and places a kiss on my cheek and I giggle. “Thank you, buddy.”
“Go change. I’ve got him.”
“You sure? I can wait until you’re done.”
“All the prep work is finished. I’ll start grilling when you’re back. I’ll take him outside to run around.” His lips press against the top of my head. “Take your time.”
“Cool, be right back.”
A few months ago, I would have pushed back, feeling guilty. But now I know he wants to hang out with Sawyer as much as my little boy wants to hang out with Angus, so I let him help. It’s something I’m slowly getting used to. It’s nice.
Sure enough, my favorite sweatshirt and sweatpants are in a duffle bag. The sweatshirt is a grey sweatshirt with The House logo on the front. On the back there’s a fireman holding a hose that’s shooting beer into a pint glass and the words, “I got hosed at The House.” It’s my go to comfort item. He also packed my brush and favorite hand lotion, because after wearing gloves and washing my hands a hundred times a day at work, my skin takes a beating. He’s thought of everything.
After I’m changed, my skin is moisturized and smells like vanilla, I slip into my pillow slides. Angus thinks they’re hideous, but I love them. I shuffle out back, but as soon as I open the sliding back door, I’m frozen to the spot. Sawyer is perched on the top of the picnic table and Daisy is sitting on the bench in front of him.
She’s here.
“Hey, babe. We’ve got company,” Angus says from my left where he’s prepping the grill.
Stepping outside, I close the door behind me and cautiously make my way toward my son and his aunt. Rounding the table so I can see her face, I manage a, “Hi.”
“Hey,” is all she says.
“Mind if I sit?”
She shakes her head, and I plant myself beside her.
My instinct is to apologize again, but I’m not going to, because I was doing what was best for me and my son and for that I’m not sorry. Instead, I wait and let her take the lead.
Daisy pats the tabletop. “It’s really a magnificent table, isn’t it?”
I smile at the thought of what this table means to Charlie, Callen, and Daisy. “The table that started it all.”
She chuckles but doesn’t elaborate.
Close to a year ago, Charlie ended up in McKinnon’s Hardware store to buy the supplies she needed to make this table. There she ran into Callen, who she hadn’t seen in over two years. This table was also what prompted Daisy to ask her to build more for a wedding and from there, they went into business together. It holds a special place in all our hearts.
Sawyer turns so he can see me. “Mama, Aunt Dais here.”
She’s always been Aunt Daisy to him, even before she knew the truth. “She is.”
He turns back to face her as he pushes his truck across the table.
“Mia, I’m sorry. I may have overreacted. To be honest, I’m not sure. Part of me is still hurt that you didn't trust me, while another part of me understands you were protecting our boy here.”
“It's not that I didn’t trust you. I knew if you knew, you would insist I tell Knox and that wasn’t in the best interest of my son.”
“So, why now?”
“Because I am in love with Angus and there was no way I could be with him if he didn’t know. If Angus hadn’t returned my feelings, I may have never said a word.” I see a flash of anger in her eyes. “I’m sorry, it’s the truth. My child’s emotional well-being and distance from paparazzi and internet vultures is too important.”
“As it should be.” She ruffles his hair. “I heard everything you said at the park. It just took me a minute.”
“I get it, too. First Angus and then Knox. It’s a lot.”
“There isn’t anything about Cal I need to know, is there?” She winks.
Burying my face in my hands, I peek up at her. “Well...”
Her eyes bulge and behind her, Angus whips around, a horrified expression mirroring his sister’s.
“Haha! You should see your faces. No! C’mon, you deserved a scare just for asking.”
Pointing a spatula in my direction, Angus yells from the BBQ, “Not funny, Goof.”
“He’s right. That was mean.”
“If I can't find humor in some of this, I’ll go crazy.”
“Your mama thinks she’s funny.” She tickles Sawyer, and he giggles with pure abandon.
His laugher is far and away the sweetest sound there is. It’s impossible not to smile when you hear it.
“Hey, Daisy?” Her eyes look up at me. “You have a nephew.”
Her smile is bright. “So, I do.” Lowering her voice so her eavesdropping brother doesn’t hear, she whispers, “And if things go the way I think they’re going, I may have another sister soon.”
She gets up from the table, bringing Sawyer with her. I join them, wrapping them up in a hug. “I love you both so much, Mia.”
“I love you too, Dais.”
She pulls back to look at me. “No more secrets? Unless it’s for the safety of your child, of course.”
“No more secrets.”
“Good.” Raising her voice to be sure Angus hears her next question, she asks, “So, is Angus as gross to live with as he was as a teenager?”
She finally came around.