Page 59 of Say You Won't Let Go
I don’t believe him for a second. If anything, I’ve been giving her whatever she wants to keep her calm. Adopting Mia was scary as hell. She’s this beautiful baby that needed us, but we were terrified to love her and lose her.
“Wade!” Emily screams and rushes toward him.
“Shit,” he grumbles.
“Come meet your goddaughter.” Emily winks at me and then she’s dragging him away.
We thought it was only natural that Wade be somewhat of a protector of Mia. He’s the reason we’re together. I owe him everything.
Zach walks over after extracting himself from a conversation with my father. “Thanks for saving me,” he jokes.
Since retirement, my father is a world of fun. He’s getting older, and I’m pretty sure Mama drives him crazy. His whole life was spent working on the farm, and now he gets to listen to her stories all day. He practically begs to come hide at my house.
“He’s just tryin’ to keep Mama and her friends from talkin’ to him.”
“The older they get, the worse they are,” Trent notes.
Our mothers are all best friends and the world’s biggest meddlers. Sometimes they use their powers for good, other times...not. They also like to take credit for anything they can. If you ask them, they’re the reason we’re all married. Not that we played a part in it—it was all them.
“Look at this.” Presley smiles. “The Hennington and Townsend troublemakers all together.”
My sister should talk. “Because your group was so innocent?”
She rolls her eyes. “We were following your lead.”
Zach laughs. “Right. I love you, but you’re crazy.” He wraps his arms around her, resting his head on her shoulder. She visibly relaxes just being around Zach. It makes me happy seeing her so content.
“Cayden and Logan here?” I ask. I haven’t seen my nephews. Then again, they’re at the age where they’re chasing the girls.
“They will be. They both have baseball and then Logan needs to walk his girlfriend home,” Presley explains. “Another thing for me to worry about...”
“What?” Wyatt asks.
“Them havin’ sex.” She shudders.
To me, the boys are still eleven-year-olds coming to the farm for the first time, but they’re the same age as the girl who just gave us Mia. Scary to think this baby could’ve come from my nephews. Time moves so fast, and if you blink, life can pass you by.
“You were their age,” Trent reminds her.
“Shut up. I was a good girl.”
He shrugs as Zach bursts out laughing. “Baby, you wereverygood.”
“Gross, man. That’s my sister.”
The party continues for a while until all our parents head out. We head back to the deck where the kids are running around, chasing chickens, and I’m reminded life is good.
For a long time, I wasn’t sure I’d marry, have kids, or be anything more than a rancher, and here I stand with everything and more.
I glance at Emily with Mia in her arms. A love so intense that it takes my breath away washes over me.
My feet move toward them, and I kiss them both. “What was that for?” Emily asks with a soft smile.
“I’m just happy,” I tell her.
Her eyes brighten. “Yeah? Why is that?”
There is no shortage of reasons, but I choose the ones that I know will make her smile.
