“Oh, come here, little man,” Mitchell said as Merit ran over to her baby brother to make sure everything was okay.
While everyone was waiting to congratulate Cord and Maebh, the twins got busy with their previous plan for the Christmas tree.
“Um, Uncle Tripp, Aunt Harley?” Chloe said, loud enough to get everyone’s attention. “Max and Rose are fixin’ to pull the tree down.”
The only thing I saw after that was Max’s smile when the tree started to topple, and Tripp dove to stop it.
Smiling, I took it all in. Another beautiful, crazy, amazing day in the Parker family.
A Note from Kelly
Before I give y’all the epilogue and we close the book on this amazing Parker family I have grown to love so much, I want to tell you about something that touched my heart deeply as I wrote this book.
The NICU Journey Beads program is a real program that was brought to life by an amazing woman. Her name is Jodi Dolezel, a NICU nurse, who said she came up with the idea of the beads as a way to help the parents of preemies celebrate the progress of their babies in the NICU. She also saw it as a way to bring the nurses and parents a bit closer.
I was lucky enough to speak with her on the phone and I have to say she is someone I highly admire. As are all of the nurses and doctors who work in NICUs across the world. I’ll be the first to say this wasn’t an easy subject to research. I sat at my desk many times and cried as I tried to read through blurry tears. Then I stumbled upon a video of the Today Show that talked about the NICU Journey Bead program. I immediately emailed Jodi and asked her if I could include this in my book, and she said yes! What a better way to bring light to a beautiful thing.
If you would like to know more about the NICU Journey Bead program, or if you would like to donate to help families of these precious babies get their beads, please visit the links below.
Peek A Boo ICU website –
http://www.peekabooicu.com
NICU Journey Beads Program –
https://peekabooicu.org/content/7-nicu-journey-bead-program
Peek A Book ICU Facebook Page –
https://www.facebook.com/peekabooicuRN
To donate to the NICU Journey Beads Program –
https://www.youcaring.com/nicu-families-652202
18 years old
My parents and Gage were the first to pull me in for a family hug. I’d done it.
Graduated with high honors from Oak Springs High School.
Oak Springs hadn’t changed much since I moved here as a young girl with my father. It was still a small town, maybe a bit bigger than it used to be, but everyone still knew everyone. The only real difference was that they had built another building for the high school, and it was now completely separated from the elementary and middle school. A change most loved, but the older folks hated. It meant growth. I loved it, though. There was nothing like growing up in a small town.
The thought of going off to Texas A&M for college was daunting. I was excited, but everything was changing. For the good, of course, but it still meant I was leaving my family…and Rip.
My eyes caught a glimpse of him over my mother’s shoulder. Rip Myers. My best friend and secret crush since kindergarten. He waved to me while my parents crushed the breath out of my body.
“Y’all, I can’t breathe!” I gasped. Gage was the first to let go. My little brother wasn’t really so little. Although he was six years younger than me, he was tall and beginning to fill out with muscles. Not only from his love of football, but from working on the ranch.
“I’m next!” Gage announced, doing a fist pump.
“And Merit and Liberty! But not for a few more years little brother,” I added.
With an eye roll, Gage sighed then gave me a wink. “Minor details.”
I glanced around. “Where is everyone?”
It was unlike the Parker clan not to be out in full force. I certainly heard everyone when my name was being called to walk across the stage. I was pretty sure my Uncle Cord and Uncle Trevor had been trying to see who could yell the loudest.
With a smile that said he was proud as all get out, my father replied, “They all headed back to the ranch. Granddaddy has the pit going and wanted to make sure everything was good with it. Your Grammy wanted to make sure everything was ready for the party.”
The party of the century my Grammy called it. The first Parker grandchild to graduate high school and go off to college. I swear she’d been planning this for two years.
“Speaking of the party, we should head on back to the ranch,” my mother said, giving me a kiss on the cheek. “You didn’t drive. Do you want us to wait for you?”
Swinging my gaze back to Rip, I nodded. “Let me talk to Rip really quick… I’ll meet y’all back at the ranch?”
My father turned to Rip. He smiled and asked, “Is Rip coming to the party?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll ask.”
“Don't be long, Chloe!” My mother called out as I made my way over to Rip and his family. Aunt Waylynn was standing in the crowd along with Uncle Jonathon, Rip’s older brother. Liberty caught sight of me before Rip did and made a beeline right to me. She slammed her body into mine as we both laughed.
“You’re free! I’m so jealous!” she quietly said.
Laughing, I stepped back from her. “Only a few more years, Liberty.”
“Ugh, it can’t come soon enough. The thought of being here without you makes me physically ill.”
“You have Merit, Rose, Aurora, and Katlyn! What are you talking about?”
“I know, but you’re the one who sneaks out with me to go swimming in the river.”
“Please, Katlyn sneaks out all the time to the barn to ride that horse of hers. She’d be totally game to meet you for a night swim.”
We giggled. “If Uncle Cord and Aunt Maebh find out about her nightly rides, she is in so much trouble.”
Hudson walked up to me and engulfed me in a hug. “Congrats, cousin! How’s it feel to be officially free of Oak Springs?”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t feel as great as y’all think it will. Enjoy this time and enjoy high school. It goes by quick.”
Hudson smiled. “We’re going to miss you, but you’ll be back for breaks and during the summer.”
“Yes, of course I’ll be back. I’m only a few hours away.”
Dread moved over me. I hated the idea of leaving my family. Of leaving Rip. I focused back on him and saw him smile as my aunt and uncle made their way over to me. Aunt Waylynn hugged me.
“Chloe, I just can’t believe it. It feels like it was just yesterday you were sneaking dogs home and trying to take over Aunt Harley’s vet practice.”
I laughed. “I think Rose is the one Aunt Harley needs to worry about. That girl is hell bent on becoming a vet and taking the fast track.”
Aunt Waylynn rolled her eyes. “Sounds like a Parker woman. Listen, we need to get back to the ranch, or your grandmother will have a fit. Chloe, don’t fiddle around too long.”
“I won’t. Mom and dad are waiting for me.”
“I’ll give her ride,” Rip said, walking up and kissing me on the cheek.
My insides warmed like they always did when my best friend stood next to me. “You’re coming over now?” I asked, glancing past him to his family.
“Yeah, we’re not having a graduation party until Evie can get back to town. Probably next week. Your granddaddy invited us all over.”
I smiled. Evie was Rip’s oldest sister. She was married and living in Austin.
“Awesome! Let me text my mom and let her know I’m riding home with you.”
After sending my mother a quick text, I said goodbye to my cousins and followed Rip through the small crowd that was still gathered outside of the high school.
Our ride back to the ranch was filled with talk, a lot of laughter, and a few promises that we would text or call each other every day. When we made it to Frio River Ranch, I smiled.
Home.
This place would always be home. I already knew the moment I graduated college I’d be making my way back to Oak Springs. Rip said the same thing. He was planning on working with Jonathon at his construction company, but as an engineer. He hoped to help him design the buildings for some of the bigger projects Uncle Jonathon did in Austin and San Antonio.
Rip pulled up and parked behind the plethora of trucks and cars.
“My gosh, did they invite all of Oak Springs to this party?” I asked while pushing open the truck door and sliding out. Rip was right there, waiting to help me out of the truck. That was one thing about living in a small Texas town, southern boys still had manners. Well, most of them did anyway.
As we climbed the steps to the ranch house, I turned to Rip. The excitement of today rushed back to me in one quick moment.
“We did it! Can you believe we did it?”
He laughed. “Nope. Feels like it took forever to get to this moment.”
We faced each other. Our eyes met, and for once I wanted to tell him how I felt. Rip had made it clear early on that he only felt friendship between us. He never made any attempt to take our friendship beyond that, so neither did I.
I let out a quick breath and said, “Let’s go party the Parker way!”
“Hell yeah, the only way to party!”
We made our way through the house and to the backyard. Tents were set up, much like how Grammy does it for spring fling dinner she throws each year.
My eyes scanned the crowd. My granddaddy was dancing with Grammy, and I felt my heart beat faster in my chest. I’d never seen two people so in love. Well, I had, but they were like the monarchy of the Parker family and the example of what true love really was and should be.
Then I saw my parents, looking directly into one another’s eyes as they danced. So completely in love. It gave me hope that someday I’d find a love like theirs.
“Looks like they started without ya!” Rip chuckled.
“Yeah, looks like it.”
Rip and I stood there and watched the scene play out. Each of my aunts and uncles were soon in each other’s arms, cutting up the dance floor like it was nothing. They were all such amazing examples of what love was, following in the same footsteps as my grandparents—well, at least in their own way. They’d been there for each other through all of the good and the bad. I was blessed to have been raised in such an amazing family.
Rip pointed off to the left and I gasped at what I saw. “Oh my gosh! Aunt Vi is here with Uncle Aedin!”
“Wow, they came back from Ireland just for your graduation!” Rip said, making his way toward the crowd. He loved talking to Aedin. Rip’s dream was to go to Ireland and learn everything he could about Aedin’s business of making whiskey. Once Aunt Vi and Uncle Aedin married, they spent most of their time in Ireland. It was a treat for us all when they came to visit. Of course, poor Uncle Cord still had a heck of a time understanding his father-in-law and I’m sure that would never change.
I stood back and took everyone in.
My family was big, loud, and crazy at times, but I loved each and every one of them. I was going to miss them all.
As I went to step off the back porch to join the party, I saw a flash to my left. Turning, I stopped and stared at the disaster heading straight toward the tents.
“Oh, no,” I whispered. “Patches!”
Patches, the goat I’d gotten from my granddaddy when we first moved to Oak Springs, was running at full speed. And behind him were three of his kids. All ready to crash the party.
“Daddy!” I yelled out and pointed. “He got out!”
Those were the magical words that everyone knew. Three simple words that spoke volumes. Everyone started for the food table. Even though Patches was up there in age, he was still a goat on a mission.
I covered my mouth with my hands and started to laugh as my childhood best friend and favorite goat in the entire world jumped onto the food table, the other three goats following their lead.
Gage and Merit both started yelling out, “Run, Patches! Run!” They had always been Patches’ cheerleading team when he got into trouble.
After getting his fair share of food, Patches spotted his arch nemesis, Aunt Waylynn, and took off back toward the barn, his three kids following after him. Aunt Waylynn was hot on their heels.
“Patches! I swear to God, I’m going to kill you this time! I mean it!” Aunt Waylynn screamed out.
Rip walked up to me, laughing while tears streamed down his face as he draped his arm over my shoulders.
“Damn, Chloe. No one can throw a party like your family!”
Smiling, I agreed. “If that isn’t the truth.”
Rip wiped at his tears. “Wonder what party he’ll crash next?”
I shrugged as I looked up at him with so much unspoken emotion in my eyes. “I can’t wait to find out.”
Thank you to Kristin, Tanya, and Laura for being the first eyes on this manuscript!
Thank you to Kayla Miller for answering my questions about twin pregnancy.
Thank you to Julie for the amazing formatting…as usual!
Thank you to my editors, Elaine York, Cori McCarthy, and Amy Rose Capetta. Y’all are the best!
A HUGE thank you to all the readers who have invested their time in the Parker Family! It was such a fun series to write and I fell so in love with this family. I hope you all know how much I appreciate each and every one of y’all!
Thank you to Darrin and Lauren for sharing me with the Parkers! I love you both to the moon and back!
The playlist for Reckless Love can be found on my website – https://www.kellyelliottauthor.com/playlists
Reckless Love Page 29