Page 30 of Winter's Kiss

“Natasha.” My father spoke, my watery, shocked gaze returned to Andrew and the crooked grin across his face. Laurel with a sudden laugh.

“I’ve got to say this is fucked up.” All eyes instantly shifted to her, as mine lowered to the wooden ground.

“I see we have not matured or learned respect in our time from home.” My mother snarled.

“Respect? Do you want to talk about respect? How about bringing Tasha’s ex to her flipping wedding? Real respectful.” I gripped harder at my sister’s hand; thankful she dared to speak when I didn’t.

What was Rowland going to say? How would he react to Andrew being there?

“I’d like to think this is more a visit to bring her home where she belongs.” My father spoke, and my stare snapped back to him. I went to speak the words on the tip of my tongue when suddenly I heard him behind me.

“She is home.” My sister and I turned to find Rowland standing just outside the door, his parents behind him. Instantly I felt safer, calmer, with his presence.

“You must be Mr. Quinn.” My mother stated. Rowland with a nod, a straight expression while he moved beside me.

“My father is Mr. Quinn. My name is Rowland, you could call me son if you’d like. Son of a bitch would be acceptable as well.” My lips curved to a grin with his cockiness, the unwavering strength he showed in front of them.

“I don’t think that’s appropriate talk to…” Rowland shook his head as he started to speak over my mother.

“I don’t think you’re in any place to tell me what’s appropriate or not on my family’s land, which does include your daughter. Let’s get one thing straight before we waste any more time. I love this woman. I will make her my wife, if that’s what she wants.”

“Worked out well for the last one.” Andrew scoffed. I started to take a step in his direction, ready to slap his face off, when Rowland grabbed my hand and held me by his side. Rowland with a glance in his direction followed by a quick chuckle.

“Andrew, right?” Rowland’s towering frame took a step forward and stopped just before my ex. “Out of your history with Natasha, and respect for her, I’ll let that comment slide once. If you say anything like that again, I’ll bury you in my backyard.” My lips curled into a smile with Rowland. How calm and yet stern his tone, his words were.

“I think if we all calm down and go inside, we can see this is a joyful time.” Leave it to Anna to try and make a tense-filled moment calmer.

“I think we should just return home.” My father spoke with a snarl behind his words. He looked at Rowland as though he was a snake, someone who had stolen his daughter and turned her against them.

“If you aren’t here to be happy for your daughter, then maybe you should,” Rowland replied. My father’s expression shifted to shock. Never had someone stood up to him before. “But before you go, ask yourself. If you loved her, wouldn’t you want the best for her?”

“And you’re the best for her?” Andrew asked.

“Yes.” I quickly snapped; all eyes shifted onto me. “He is what makes me happy. Happier than I could have ever been with anyone else.” My gaze shifted to Andrew briefly. “I love him. I love you too, both of you, but you can either support my choice to be with Rowland or you can not be part of our life. Which someday could have a grandchild in it.”

“What if…” My mother started to speak, and I knew what words would come from her lips.

She wanted everything to have a guarantee and all my life she’s ensured that to be. I’d never had to worry about the what-ifs, but I’d also never been able to fully live but under their control.

“What if this is what path my life was supposed to be on all along?” My mother smiled at my question, a short nod as her gaze shifted to my father. He walked up to Rowland and stood in front of him, both men eye to eye.

“Will you always protect my daughter with such passion?” Rowland remained still for a minute; my heart pounded as I knew that was the one thing he blamed himself for when it came to Paige. He didn’t protect her when she needed it the most and, in turn, lost her forever. He nodded his head.

“With my life.” My father glanced at me, a smile pulled along my lips before he returned his sights to Rowland and extended his hand.

“Then welcome to the family, son.” Laurel wrapped her arms around my shoulders and brought my frame against hers. Theo and Anna smiled as they held one another, Rowland, with a brief pause before he took my father’s hand in his own. This was the beginning, I thought. A true beginning of the rest of my life.

Eighteen

Two days had passed, and the time for the wedding, my wedding arrived. Was this happening? The question played through my mind as though an out-of-control train. I stood in front of the mirror of the bedroom I had called mine when I first arrived, my arms at my side as I stared at my reflection. Was this happening? I asked myself again.

So much had occured in such a brief time. It felt as though yesterday I had been in California living the life my family had set for me. In danger of marrying a man who I didn’t love, perhaps had never loved. I walked through my life with such a numbness that I had been unaware of the cloud, the bubble in which I lived. Nothing was mine, from where I lived to what I did for a living. Could I say I lived my own life?

When I chose to leave, to travel and visit my sister, it had been the biggest and only decision I had made on my own. The first time I stepped out of the plan my parents had for me. I felt scared and yet I wanted nothing more. I relished in the idea of making a bad choice, of feeling that feeling of happiness. Of having a say in what way my life went, if even for only that trip.

I knew when I set out that I would return home, I would go back to Andrew. Those were the safe options, and I had never prepared myself for pain, for genuine risk. I wasn’t as brave as my sister or strong as she was. At least that is what I thought until that snowy night I met him. When I became stranded on the side of the road, scared I would freeze to death before I had a chance to live my own life.

I never thought I would fall in love with the tall stranger. That I would feel the way I did about him so quickly. At first, I brushed off what I felt as simple lust. Rowland was a man that nobody could get tired of looking at. Perhaps it was even the excitement of something and someone new. I didn’t know, truly, until that first kiss. It was then I felt my world shake at its core.

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