Page 118 of Waiting for Acceptance
“Sorry to interrupt—” Someone comes walking through the back door, stopping when we all turn at the table to face him.
“Lochlan, we didn’t know you were still here. You should have come in for supper,” Gran scolds him in the most loving way.
“I uh—” His dark eyes stay on me, and I suddenly wonder if I have food on my face.
“Stop looking at her like that, Lochlan. She’s mine.” Lochlan shakes his head and laughs nervously.
“Sorry. No, I just… You’ve never brought a girl home, so I was just surprised.”
“As were we all,” Gran agrees with a smile on her face.
“Was something wrong, Boy?” Pops asks, shifting the conversation back to why he came inside to begin with.
“Oh, right. Mabel is about to have the calf. You said to let you know before she did but if Vincent is here…” I look at Fitz in surprise when he tosses his napkin on the table.
“Are you…are you going to help a cow have a baby?” My eyes pop and he laughs.
“Don’t wait up.” He winks at me, then he and Pops rush out the backdoor with Lochlan. My mouth is hanging open when I turn back to face Gran.
“You want to go too, don’t you?” Gran observes as I look back out the door.
“Yeah, I kind of do,” I admit shyly.
“Well, if I know Mabel, she’ll still be a bit before that calf is coming. Why don’t you and I get things cleaned up in here together and put on a pot of coffee. I hear we don’t get you for much longer.” We begin moving around the kitchen table, clearing plates, and washing dishes as she puts the small amount of leftovers in the fridge.
“That’s what I hear, too. He just told me today we have to get into the city for his mother’s birthday tomorrow.”
“Mmm. Have you met them yet?” Gran asks, still moving effortlessly around the small space.
“Briefly. I’ve only spoken to his father a couple of times, not enough to really get to know them.” I finish drying our dinner plates and hand them to her. “Do you mind my asking, which one of them is yours?” A sadness fills her eyes as she pauses her movements briefly.
“Lena.”
“Oh.” Is all I can manage to say.
Then she shakes it off and continues her task. “As much as I hate to say it, I know they’re hard people to get along with. Lena wanted nothing more than to get away from the ranch from the moment she was sixteen years old. Always said she wantedmoreout of life. When what she really wanted, but wouldn’t say, was to marry rich and not have to lift a finger like we made her do around here. It broke my heart the day she left, but she got what she wanted.” She lets out a sigh, then turns to face me, placing her hand on mine. “Do me a favor, if you don’t mind.”
“Anything.”
“Don’t judge Vincent any differently when youreallyget to know them.”
I smile at her reassuringly. “You don’t have to worry about that, Gran. If we judged each other based on the way our parents behaved, he would have left on two wheels after meeting mine.”
Her face turns solemn and she pats my hands. “I’m sorry to hear that, sweetheart.”
“It’s okay. I realized that night that there are people in my life who will accept me exactly as I am, and it was refreshing to know I have the choice to no longer surround myself with the people who won’t. Even if those people are the ones who raised me.”
“Well, I know we’re a bit more than a drive from Nashville, but you will always be welcomeandaccepted here at the ranch.” She gives me a wink with the sweetest smile on her face.
“Thanks, Gran.” My eyes begin to water, and she pulls me in for a hug.
“After all, any girl Vincent finds important enough to bring home is one I expect to see again.” She gives me a shake and I laugh, feeling more loved than I probably ever have before. Gran offers to get our coffee poured while I run to the restroom, and when I pull my phone out to set it on the counter, I see my message notifications and decide to open them before I end up forgetting.
Ruby
Tell us about the ranch!
Tay
