Page 63 of One Summer Day (Prosperity Ranch 1)

Macie’s hands trembled as she set clothing into her suitcase. Ruby was curled up on the bed, having cried herself to sleep. She was still sick, poor thing, and Macie felt bad she was having to take such drastic action right now. But the best thing to do was find another place to stay until she figured everything out. Yeah, she and Knox would have to work out things with Ruby if he insisted on living near wherever she was. But that didn’t need to involve the entire Prosper family.

Not Rex, who’d looked disappointed; not Heidi, who looked betrayed and shocked; and not Holt, who looked like he was going to track down his brother and continue their fight.

Someone tapped on the bedroom door.

Macie wiped at the tears on her cheeks, then went to answer it. Holt stood there, one hand braced against the door frame. Her heart hitched just looking at him. They’d been living in a fantasy world the past few weeks, and it had all come crashing down today.

His parents had found out about them in the worst possible way, and the brothers had gotten into a physical fight over her. This couldn’t be her life. She couldn’t allow this angst to continue.

Nothing but complications and trouble had risen out of her relationship with Knox. Macie wished she could just take Ruby and start over someplace new. Even as she thought it, she knew she couldn’t deprive Ruby of her grandparents.

“Hey,” Holt said in a soft voice. “My parents want to talk.”

Macie looked away. “I already said I’m sorry, and I think it’s best that I leave for now.” She started to shut the door, but Holt put his hand out to stop it from closing.

“Macie,” he said. “My mother was surprised, that’s all. She had no idea. Whereas my dad already suspected.”

Macie blinked. “He did?”

Holt released the door and reached for her hand. “Please, darlin’. None of us want you to leave.”

Tears flooded her eyes. “That’s sweet, but I can’t stay.”

“Okay.” Holt brushed his thumb over her fingers. “But at least come talk to them. There’s been a lot of confusion, and we need to all get on the same page. Especially for Ruby’s sake.”

His searching blue gaze told Macie that it wasn’t just for Ruby’s sake. It was for whatever might be left of her relationship with him. This was something Macie couldn’t let her mind go to yet. Because she was pretty sure things between them had ended the moment Holt had punched Knox.

“All right,” she whispered. “Give me a minute, then I’ll come out.”

Holt squeezed her hand, then let go and stepped back. She shut the door with a quiet click. Turning, she leaned against the door and closed her eyes. She breathed in, then out. At the very least, she owed an explanation to her former in-laws. Heidi had been thinking a good marriage counselor would be the answer to Macie and Knox’s reconciliation, and now . . .

Macie wiped at her cheeks and smoothed back her hair, then she left the room. She heard a low murmur of voices coming from the kitchen. When she entered, everyone stopped talking. Holt stood and pulled out a chair for her. Then he sat on the opposite side of the table. Macie took the chair, glancing between Rex and Holt, and then finally looking at Heidi. Which proved a hard thing to do.

The woman’s crestfallen expression and red-rimmed eyes only made Macie feel worse.

“Thanks for coming, darlin’,” Holt said. Just like that, he’d called her darlin’ in front of his parents, as if he had no qualms about it.

Macie wasn’t sure what to think.

Surprisingly, Rex spoke next. “I’m really sorry you’ve been caught between my two sons this way, Macie.” He steepled his fingers and sighed. “I had hoped that Knox had been a better husband to you, and that your divorce was because of irreconcilable differences. You might not think I should be doing the apologizing for my son, but I’m apologizing anyway. Holt filled us in a little more than what came out of Knox’s glossed-over confession, and I’m ashamed that a son of mine would do such things.”

Heidi covered her mouth and closed her eyes. Rex reached across the table and grasped her hand. “I know Heidi feels the same way, but a mother’s love runs very deep.”

Macie blinked at the new tears forming. “Of course, I understand. I’m sorry as well for not letting you know the true nature of my marriage. I didn’t want to hurt anyone more than they’d already been hurt. I thought that it could stay in the past, and I could move forward from it. But my past mistakes have a way of sticking, I guess.”

“No one is blaming you for anything,” Holt said.

Her gaze connected with his. His blue eyes held hers—his gaze steady, resolute, warm. She looked down at her clasped hands as tears dripped onto them. “I can’t be here,” she whispered. “I feel like I’ve torn your entire family apart.”

Rex shook his head. “Knox did that all himself. We’ve given him multiple chances to change, and although I had some hope today, it’s clear that his motivations are still not pure.”

“He came here to apologize,” Heidi said in a strained voice, pulling her hand away from her husband’s.

“And look what a mess he made of it,” Rex shot back. “Accusing Holt and Macie of—”

“Dad,” Holt cut in. “Knox knows of my feelings for Macie. He knew of them before he came back.”

Macie stared at Holt.

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