Page 60 of Reckless and Rooted
I tense. We’ve already discussed the fact that her ex is being a douche about the baby, how his lawyers tried to tell her to get rid of the baby, and now he wants nothing to do with it. I took that as my sign to step up, and frankly, taking that step, telling her I was in with her and her child, was as easy as breathing for me.
“This is not another man’s baby, and I don’t want to hear you say that again,” I demand, holding her belly, the one that was rapidly growing. Her eyes glisten with tears, and I feel bad for putting it so bluntly, but I need her to hear me. “This is your baby, and you’re mine. Which means that this baby growing inside of you is mine too.”
She shakes her head in stunned amazement and runs a manicured finger under her eyes. “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you, Jax. I just truly can’t believe it.”
I lean forward, taking her lips with my own, and say, “Well, believe it.”
The first stop on our day of Thanksgiving activities was lunch at her mom’s house. I tried to invite them over to the ranch for lunch, where a huge group of family and extended families showed up to have dinner in the evening on Thanksgiving, but Felicity’s mom wanted to host her own family dinner since this was the first time Felicity was home in years to enjoy it.
I didn’t fight that hard, knowing that there was going to be a new normal for all of us that we needed to get used to.
I haven’t seen or spoken to Gerald since he spilled the beans, but I know he and his daughter worked through that little hiccup. Felicity was frustrated, but she’s taken on the brunt of the responsibility, knowing that she should have just told me.
Gerald was still sorry, and both of them owning up to their part made it smooth over faster than it could have.
Felicity enters the house, carrying a green bean casserole. There was another identical one that she had at home in the fridge, the one for tonight.
“It’s the only thing I know how to make,” Felicity said sheepishly the night before, reading the recipe off a box of crispy onions. I had just smiled and watched her work, not interfering, and enjoying the very mundane and normal evening at home.
“Mom! We’re here.” Felicity makes her way into the kitchen. The smell of turkey and gravy hits my nose, and my stomach growls in response.
I hang my hat on the coat rack by the door, trying to find those manners my mother instilled in me and make my way through the house, following Felicity while holding the bottle of wine I got for her mother.
“Felicity! Aw, baby, look at you!” Hannah comes forward, a turkey apron wrapped around her as she grabs Felicity’s cheeks. She quickly sets the casserole on the counter and lets her mom fuss over the very visible baby bump.
Her dad enters the kitchen, a wary expression on his face at the sight of me, but when he turns to his daughter, it softens, and he pulls her into a hug. “Happy Thanksgiving, honey.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Dad,” Felicity says before getting to work, helping her mom with the rest of the preparations.
Gerald waves me over, a beer in each hand, and gives me one. I take it and tap it against his. “Happy Thanksgiving, sir.”
“You too,” he says, taking a swallow as we stand near their dining table, all set with Thanksgiving décor. Something I imagine my beautiful girlfriend would also do.
“I wanted to apologize, Jax,” Gerald says, his tone hushed. “Cornering you that day and telling you how I did…” He shakes his salt and pepper hair, seemingly trying to find the right words. “I’m ashamed of what I did.”
I stand there for a moment, thinking about how to reply, before saying, “It’s all right. Actually, you gave us the push we needed.”
He blinks in surprise at my words. “Oh?”
I nod, looking over my shoulder at Felicity, who’s putting rolls in a basket. “Yeah. Felicity telling me about the baby, it’s made us grow closer.”
Gerald doesn’t seem to know what to say to that, but it feels a little good to be able to shock him. “So you’re in this, then? This isn’t just for fun?”
“No, sir,” I reply, leveling him with a gaze. “That girl in there, I’ve loved her since I was just a boy. Now I’m ready to take care of her and our baby.”
Declaring the baby mine shocks Gerald, but before he can say a word, Felicity and her mom come into the room declaring ittime to eat. I help get the table set, moving everything from the kitchen to the dining room and getting Felicity settled into her seat before taking my own.
And when it’s time to say what we’re thankful for, I know exactly what to say.
The newly annual Bottle Grounds Thanksgiving Feast was something that should be commended. The Weaver sisters put out a spread for anyone who needed food to come and enjoy on Thanksgiving Day, and everyone, minus those cooking dinner for the ranch tonight, congregated to take part in serving it.
All of my brothers were here, along with the Trevors, their partners, and the wranglers from the ranch. We all had a role to play, even Felicity.
I tried to get her to stay in the back and help, but she wasn’t afraid of being seen out in the open, belly on display or not.
I knew Dani was bursting at the seams to talk to her about pregnancy, given that she was far enough along now.
I scoop another bit of mashed potato up and place it on the plate of the person in front of me, smiling and wishing them well before turning to the next. Logan is standing next to me, in charge of the corn.
