Page 106 of With This Ring

A rustling sound came from the other side of the door.

“All I know is that I never meant to hurt you, Layla.” He leaned his forearm on the doorframe. “And I’ve realized that my goal of always taking care of you and Aunt Trudy was to my detriment. I was so focused on being successful and providing for you that I lost sight of those most important to me—you... and Dakota too.”

Hudson squeezed his eyes shut as the truth came to the surface. “But the worst thing I did was trying to sabotage your wedding because I thought I knew what was best for you.” He glanced down at the toes of his shoes. “Only you know what’s best for you, and I’m sorry. The truth is, I was afraid of losing you, and that’s exactly what happened anyway.”

Another sob sounded from the other side of the door, and his heart wrenched.

The door opened with a whoosh, and Layla threw her arms around his neck.

His tight muscles began to unwind as he hugged her.

“You’re such a moron,” she said into his chest. “A really big, dumb moron.”

He chuckled. “Yes, yes, I am, but morons can fix things and change too.”

“You can’t fix it.” She stepped out of his embrace and wiped her puffy red eyes. “Shane has made up his mind about the wedding. Aunt Trudy said she’d start calling the wedding guests to let them know it’s canceled.”

Hudson shook his head. “Don’t give up yet. I’ll talk to Shane and convince him that I’m not going to interfere anymore.”

“It won’t help.” She returned to her room and sank down on the edge of her bed.

“Where’s he working today?”

“I don’t know.” She picked up a purple throw pillow and hugged it to her middle. “He started a new job today, but he didn’t tell me where.”

“Can you call him?”

She held up her phone. “I’ve tried, but he doesn’t answer.”

“I’ll be back,” Hudson said as a plan took shape in his mind.

“Where are you going?” Layla called after him.

“Just trust me.” He hugged his aunt, gave her a peck on the cheek, and then hurried to his SUV.

***

Hudson parked beside Shane’s pickup truck and switched off the ignition. His plan of calling the main number for the landscaping business and imploring the receptionist to share Shane’s location had somehow worked. He was grateful she believed him when he said he needed to discuss a serious family matter with Shane.

His shoes crunched along the rock path that led from the front of the large home to the back, where Shane and another man wereplanting shrubs in the hot late-May sun. Bees buzzed past him, and a couple of frogs croaked in the large pond at the center of the lush green yard.

The man working with Shane said something to him, and when Shane turned around, he cast a baleful look in Hudson’s direction.

I deserve that.

Shane jumped up to his feet and pointed toward the road. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Hold on.” Hudson held his hands up. “Please give me five minutes.”

“No.” Shane turned his back on him and picked up his shovel, his movements jerky and deliberate.

Hudson continued forward, determined to have his apology heard.

Irritation flickered over Shane’s face. “Just leave, man. I’m begging you.”

“Please, Shane,” Hudson began, “listen to me.”

Shane continued to work, his back to Hudson.

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