Page 43 of Claiming My Grumpy Ex

“We’re really doing this, aren’t we?” he said softly.

“Yes,” I said, my voice steady with certainty. “We are.”

His smile turned playful as he grabbed my hand. “Come on. Let’s tell my folks. They’re going to be over the moon. And we can also tell them about Grandpa’s unexpected gift to you.”

I laughed as he tugged me back toward the house, his joy infectious. Then I thought about my parents… they may have a different outlook on this than the Harrisons.

I hesitated, tugging lightly on his hand to slow him down. “Cory, before we tell your parents, there’s something I need you to know. My dad—he’s not going to take this as well as your momand dad might. He’s… still hurt by the way things ended before, and he’s convinced you didn’t care enough to stay in touch after you left for the Marines. He thinks you abandoned me.”

Cory’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a shadow of regret. He stopped walking, turning to face me. “I get it, Elena. And I don’t blame him. I owe your dad an apology—and maybe more than that. But I’m not going anywhere this time. I’ll prove to him I’m here for you, for Jake, for… us.”

His sincerity softened the knot in my chest, and I nodded. “I know you will. I just… I want you to be prepared.”

He reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. “We’ll handle it together, okay?”

“Okay,” I said, offering a small smile. “But after we tell your parents, I need to head home. I don’t want Jake left wondering where I am.”

“I understand,” Cory said, his tone gentle. “But promise me one thing—don’t tell Jake about the baby until we can do it together.”

Twenty-One

Cory

“I still can’t believe it.”

Mom’s face lit up as she placed a stack of pancakes in the middle of the table. “A new grandbaby, Cory. And to think we waited so long for you to settle down! I only wish we had been in Jake’s life sooner.”

“I wouldn’t call it settling,” Dad chimed in with a wry smile. “Seems to me the boy’s diving into the deep end—ready-made family and all.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “Jake’s a good kid, Dad. And Elena…” I hesitated, trying to find the right words. “She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I just didn’t know it back then.”

The smell of bacon and coffee filled the kitchen, the familiar scent wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. I sat at the breakfast table, watching my mom fuss over the stove while my dad sipped his coffee, flipping lazily through the local paper. They’d been talking about the baby nonstop since I told them yesterday, and their excitement hadn’t dimmed one bit.

Mom sat down, her eyes brimming with happiness. “Well, I think it’s wonderful. And this baby—I can’t wait to spoil him or her rotten.”

Dad nodded in agreement as he looked up from his newspaper. I took a bite of my pancake, letting their enthusiasm wash over me. It felt good to be here, to be surrounded by their love and support, but I knew I needed to steer the conversation toward something else.

“So,” I started, carefully testing the waters, “since we’re talking about changes… have you given any more thought to retiring, Dad?”

He lowered the paper slowly, his brows knitting together. “Retiring? From what?”

I gestured vaguely toward the street. “The hardware store. Business has been slowing down for years now, especially since the big chain stores moved in. You’ve said yourself it’s more of a hobby these days.”

Dad set his coffee cup down with a soft clink. “A hobby I happen to enjoy. Keeps me busy.”

“Sure,” I said, keeping my tone light, “but what if there was something else you could do with the space—something that’d help you and Mom enjoy retirement while still keeping the building in the family?”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Go on.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “I don’t want to live or work in Dallas any longer. And I’ve been thinking about using the building for The Horizon Foundation. We need a local headquarters, and the store would be perfect. I could pay you both a generous rent, enough to give you some extra breathing room. You wouldn’t have to worry about keeping inventory, dealing with customers, or anything else.”

Mom glanced at Dad with a thoughtful expression. “That could work, don’t you think? You’ve been talking about cutting back for a while now.”

He scratched his chin, his gaze fixed on me. “And what about you? You planning to stick around Beaver Creek for this big operation?”

I hesitated, knowing the answer wasn’t so simple. “That’s the plan,” I admitted. “I want to move Elena, Jake, and the baby here. But it’s not just up to me. Elena has worked hard to build a thriving business in Cedar Cove. As far Elena’s family goes… well, let’s just say I’ve got some fences to mend there first.”

Dad’s expression softened, and Mom reached across the table to pat my hand. “You’re doing the right thing, Cory. But if you’re serious about this, maybe you should call the Mitchells first. Give them a little heads-up before you show up on their doorstep.”

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