Page 98 of Marry Me, Maybe?
“So Hudson knew all this time he wasn’t married?”
“He still doesn’t know.”
“Lord, Matty, this is some mess. Now it all makes sense. You’ve had to process a lot with me and Ozzie, and now this.”
“I have to tell him. I’m taking him and Ivy for dinner tonight.”
“So you’ve decided to become a stepdad to his little girl? It’s not easy raising a kid, son.”
“She’s a sweetheart, Dad. You should see the way she follows me around and the way she calls me Ma.” I chuckled, Ivy’s smiling face printed on my mind. “She already feels like mine.”
“Well, son.” He slapped my shoulder. “Seems like you’ve already made up your mind and know exactly what you want to do.”
“But what if it all falls apart again?”
“And what if it doesn’t?”
“Now you’re just being annoying.”
He bopped the back of my head and grunted as he got to his feet. He offered me a hand, and I took it, climbing to mine, but he didn’t let go. “Matty, you know I’m proud of you, right?”
Oh fuck, now he had my eyes welling up again.
“I’m proud of the way you own and work this land right beside me, but that’s not what makes me most proud. It’s the way you treat the people who work alongside you with kindness.”
“I wasn’t so kind, Dad. I gave Hudson and Ozzie hell.”
He chuckled. “Yes, you did, but you had reasons. What I’m trying to say is that you’ll be a damn good father to that little girl and the best partner a man could ever ask for.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.” He gave my hand a squeeze, then let go. “As a matter of fact, why not bring Ivy here to the ranch? Ozzie and I would be happy to watch her so you can do what you need to do tonight to tell Hudson the truth.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course. Ozzie loves Ivy.”
“Ah, well, tell him not to get too attached. Let’s head back. I promised to bring her to take a look at the horses. I’ll see if Hudson is okay with her spending the night. He might not because of Ivy’s sleep terrors.”
“No need to worry. You had those when you were a child.”
I scratched the back of my head, startled. “I did?”
“Yeah. She’ll grow out of it the way you did.”
The heavy moment hung between us as we made our way to our horses. I patted Junebug’s flank, giving her a small, reassuring rub. My mind was still reeling from everything I’d shared, but the familiarity of the horses, the quiet presence of my father beside me, helped settle the storm inside me.
“Thanks for listening, Dad,” I said, my voice a little rough. “I really needed that.”
Dad gripped the reins of his horse, looking over at me with those steady eyes of his. “That’s what I’m here for, Matty. Doesn’t matter how old you get, I’ll always be here for you.”
I swallowed, a lump clogging up my throat again, but I managed a weak smile. “I want to get started on building a house. Will you help me?”
Dad’s face softened, a slow smile tugging at his lips. “I’d be honored to help you build a home.”
Not just a house.
A home.
