Thank You For Loving Me

by Lori Ryan

  He clutched her body close to his, smiling as she melted into him with a low sigh. He would take things slow with Devlin, break down the barriers that surrounded her heart. His game plan was easy, he’d fight for her the same way he fought for recovery every day…one step at a time.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Devlin walked down the hall and heard the hushed voices inside Valerie’s room.

  “It’s mine, Aunt Valerie,” Lily said.

  Devlin walked further into the room, panic flooding her entire body when she saw what Valerie held in her hand.

  The pregnancy test.

  Fuck.

  Devlin rushed in, nearly tripping over her feet as she studied the room. Valerie on one side, Maggie and Lily on the other.

  Maggie’s eyes were wide, her lips pressed in a tight line.

  “It’s mine,” Lily said before Devlin could form a coherent word.

  “What?” Valerie said, turning to stare at Lily in shock.

  How the hell had Valerie found the test?

  “It’s mine,” Lily repeated, standing up straight like she had nothing to hide.

  “But, but, how? W-who, Lily?” Valerie stammered.

  Lily stared Valerie down as if Valerie was the one in the wrong for invading her privacy.

  Valerie held up the pregnancy test in her hand, almost embarrassed to have said anything. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

  A long moment of awkward silence filled the room. Devlin had no idea what the hell to do.

  Valerie finally spoke, staring at Lily. “Does your mother know?

  Devlin stood in stunned in silence. She hadn’t thought this question through.

  Maggie’s eyes grew even wider, her brows lifted almost to her hairline as she gestured with her head toward Valerie, trying to communicate some secret message to Devlin.

  “Where did you find that?” Lily asked, not answering Valerie’s question. She moved toward Valerie and took the stick from her hand.

  God, this chick was good. Even Devlin was afraid to question Lily’s story, and she knew Lily was lying through her teeth. She had no idea how fierce Lily Sumner could be.

  “I found it in the trash,” Valerie answered. “I was cleaning the house, getting ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight and there it was.”

  Devlin turned to Maggie in horror. “I shoved it to the bottom of the trash can.”

  “Why didn’t you take it with you?” Maggie whispered.

  “It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done,” Lily said, raising her chin.

  Valerie reached a hand out to Lily. “Oh honey, you need to tell your mom.”

  “Oh, give me that.” Devlin yanked the test from Lily. The lie had gone far enough. “It’s not hers, Valerie, it’s mine.”

  Valerie’s head snapped up. “What?” She glanced from Devlin to Maggie, a small measure of disappointment in her expression.

  “It’s mine,” Devlin repeated.

  “But…” Valerie stammered, “I thought that… Maggie?”

  Maggie nodded. “It’s Devlin’s,” she said quietly.

  “I’m, I’m so sorry, Devlin,” Valerie said with genuine remorse. “But, may I ask, why did you take it here?”

  And that’s when the real shit hit the fan. She couldn’t explain that the baby was Max’s and she’d taken the test here because she was too scared to do it on her own. She hadn’t even told Max yet.

  “It’s a long story, Valerie,” Devlin finally answered.

  “Does the father know?” she asked.

  Devlin looked down at the floor and shook her head.

  “Do you know who the father is?”

  What the fuck? Her head snapped up and she glared at the woman.

  “Valerie!” Maggie scolded.

  “Aunt Valerie,” Lily added.

  “Oh, my goodness,” Valerie’s hand covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Devlin. That came out wrong.”

  It didn’t come out wrong. Valerie’s question hit Devlin like a slap to the face. She’d slept with more than her fair share of men, but never more than one at a time.

  She slipped the test stick into her pocket and walked toward the door. “Yes, I know who the father is, Valerie. I’m not that kind of girl. I don’t need a paternity test to know who the father of my baby is.”

  “Devlin,” Valerie reached for her. “I’m so sorry, I never meant—”

  Devlin pulled out of her grasp. This was not where she belonged. Not with this family. Not in this town. Devlin Darby was a loner, a drifter, a free spirit. She’d stay for Maggie, be a part of her wedding but then she’d go home—wherever that was.

  “If you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll head back to your place, Maggie,” Devlin said in an unusually quiet voice. “I have a headache and I don’t feel well.”

  “I’ll drive you,” Lily said.

  Devlin bit her cheek to keep the tears at bay. She would not break down here. She was stronger than this, stronger than the insinuations. Her resolve to keep the baby was fading, though. What kind of mother would she be? Not a good one, she thought, especially if the grandmother of said baby truly believed Devlin was a tramp.

  The word adoption had been whispering through her mind over the past week, but she’d never actually let it surface. Maybe it was time she thought about it. Maybe she and Max could find a couple who would give this baby the kind of loving, stable home it deserved.

  “Devlin, wait.” Maggie caught her wrist. “I’ll come with you.”

  She glanced back at her friend, her best friend. Maggie would make a wonderful mother some day. She was surrounded by people who loved her, who wanted only good things for her. Maggie was exactly where she should be.

  “I’m okay, Mags,” she said, gently pulling from Maggie’s grasp. “You stay, enjoy your party. It’s your special time. I’ll see you when you get home.” Devlin glanced over Maggie’s shoulder and saw Valerie standing still, her arms wrapped around her waist, remorse clear on her face.

  “I’m so sorry, Devlin,” she whispered. Tears shimmered in her eyes.

  “Don’t be,” Devlin said calmly. “I might have asked the same question. I’d just ask that you not tell anyone, please. Until I can tell the father.”

  Valerie nodded. “Of course.”

  Devlin walked down the hall and straight to the front door.

  Lily raced to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She tugged open the door and ushered her out.

  Devlin chanced one last look over her shoulder. Behind her the Sumner family filled the huge house, laughter ringing through the air. Though her baby might one day be a member of this clan, Devlin knew in her heart she never would be. It was better to leave now.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Max stood beside the barn, looking out over the crowd gathered for Ben and Maggie’s wedding. It was so beautiful outside, Lily had convinced them to move the ceremony outdoors.

  Max had tried to find Devlin all day but had been yanked away every time by Lily or Aunt Sally to finish up one more task before the wedding. Now he was anxious and nervous, and knew he’d stay that way until they finally talked.

  “Okay, dude, I gotta go,” Grant said, rushing toward him.

  “Where are you going?”

  “You didn’t hear?”

  Max shook his head. “Hear what?”

  “I’m playing the wedding march with Kayleigh.”

  “The wedding march?” Max stared at his brother like he was a lunatic. “Are you shitting me? What instrument do you play?”

  Grant dusted off his jacket as if he was the shit. “Several, if you must know.”

  “Bullshit!”

  “Maxwell,” his mother fumed, coming up behind him and slapping his head. “Language.”

  “Ouch,” he said, rubbing his head.

  God, it was creepy how quiet she could be when she wanted to.

  Ben and Emmett stepped up beside her. “Don’t fuck with Ma,” Emmett said, t
hen jumped out of her reach as she swatted at him, too.

  Max turned when he heard Jake and Aaron laughing behind him.

  “Grant, Kayleigh has the instruments and music set up front,” their mother said. “I think she’s waiting for you.”

  “Are you seriously playing?” Max asked.

  “Yep,” Grant said, turning to leave.

  “Wait,” his mother called after him. Grant turned and they all looked at their mother.

  Valerie Sumner was a striking woman, even in her mid-fifties. Tears welled in her eyes and he knew where her thoughts were going.

  She reached out to touch each of them. “I, I just…I just want to say.”

  Ben wrapped his arm around their mother, tugging her close. “We know, Ma.”

  “I’m just, so grateful to all of you. You’ve helped me and Maggie, and I just…”

  Jake stepped closer and wrapped an arm around her other side. “We miss him too, Ma. It’s okay.”

  She nodded, her eyes darting around the circle of her family.

  Max’s own eyes stung with emotion.

  “I love you boys so much. And now, now I get another daughter.” She laughed through the emotions and the boys joined in.

  Grant straightened.

  Their mother had always welcomed Grant’s wife, Sophie, into their family but Grant and Sophie were both so busy with their own separate careers that they didn’t see Sophie the way they did Maggie. She wasn’t part of their everyday lives. Still, Max would bet the comment hurt Grant on some level.

  His mom gently wiped under her eyes. “Mia will kill me if I ruin my make-up.” She laughed nervously. “It took her almost two hours to make me look like this and I promised not to ruin it with tears.”

  Max studied his mother. She was wearing more makeup than usual, but her natural beauty still shone through. Her medium length hair was wrapped in some kind of intricate bun. Max marveled at the work, which truly did appear to have taken some time. She wore a sleeveless, pale yellow dress that hung to the floor in layers of soft, billowy material. She was beautiful, whether in wedding attire or jeans and a T-shirt.

  His mother let out a huge sigh and turned to Ben. “Well, okay, are you ready?”

  Ben nodded.

  “Places everyone.” She clapped once.

  Emmett moved around the now filled chairs and stood at the front of the altar while Grant went the other way toward Kayleigh, sitting off to the side, two music stands in front of her.

  “Let’s go,” Jake nudged his shoulder and he, Max and Aaron walked down the aisle and into the front row. He noticed a flower arrangement topped with a bell sitting on top of the chair next to his mother’s. Max smiled, realizing Lily and her sister Daisy had made a special arrangement to represent his father. Maggie would be pleased.

  The boys all sat and the music began. To his surprise and astonishment, Max listened as Grant played the ukulele. It wasn’t an instrument he would have thought of as beautiful, but somehow, it was.

  Grant strummed the polished instrument, the refrain of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” ringing through the small field. After a few beats, Kayleigh joined him with her violin and the combination was magical. Magical. Max laughed at himself. How many times had he thought that word today?

  He glanced out over the mountain that sat in front of them, giving thanks to his father for creating this space for them. It had been hard in the beginning, stressing and wondering how they would pay off the massive loan, but they were doing it. He knew his father would be proud.

  “Here she comes, dude,” Jake whispered.

  Max turned just as the barn door opened and watched in awe as Devlin appeared, her long dark hair now pinned on top of her head, wayward strands blowing in the gentle breeze. She wore a halo of white daisies, and her yellow dress sparkled in the setting sun. Truly, he had never seen anyone so beautiful in all his life.

  His eyes were glued to Devlin as she moved down the aisle, her eyes trained anywhere but on his. Just as she passed their row, her head turned slightly, and their eyes met. He saw so much sorrow, his heart ached. He didn’t know what was going on with Devlin, what she wasn’t telling him, but he sure as shit was going to find out. Tonight. Wedding be damned.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Devlin had almost reached the front of the altar when she felt his eyes on her. She knew she wasn’t showing yet, but she pulled her small bouquet of daisies and chrysanthemums over her stomach anyway. She felt exposed, like her secret was on display for all the world to see.

  She tried to keep from looking at Max, but her eyes seemed to have a mind of their own. They cut to the right, not surprised to find Max staring at her intently, his eyes burning with questions. And if she weren’t mistaken, desire too. Something low in her belly fluttered and it wasn’t the baby. She’d already begun reading baby blogs and knew she wouldn’t actually feel the baby for a few more months.

  Devlin broke their gaze and stepped onto the platform, turning to face the guests. The barn door was closed to hide Maggie from sight. Lily said her entrance had to be “grand.” Maggie didn’t like all the attention, but she’d looked so beautiful today, so happy, that Devlin knew all eyes would be on her best friend whether she wanted it that way or not.

  The guests all stood and turned toward the barn, anticipating the bride’s arrival. Devlin took the moment to sneak a glance at Max. Her breath caught when she found his eyes glued to her instead of the back of the barn like the other guests.

  Shit. He knew. He had to. That look in his eyes said he was determined. Maybe his mother had told him about the pregnancy test she’d found.

  The sound of a collective “Ah” broke through Devlin’s thoughts and her attention was drawn back to the barn. The doors were open and in the middle stood Maggie, eyes shining, a wide grin spread across her beautiful face. She was glowing, happy and in love.

  Devlin’s eyes burned with unshed tears and she remembered Mia’s stern warning earlier. She swallowed back her emotions and watched as Maggie and her father made their way down the aisle. As she approached, Devlin glanced over at Ben. His gaze was locked on Maggie, eyes transfixed, as if nothing in that moment existed but her.

  Until that moment, Devlin hadn’t known that kind of adoration existed outside of books and movies.

  Fairytales.

  Maggie stopped just before the platform and Ben stepped down, shaking her father’s hand and taking Maggie’s, placing it under his arm. He whispered something in her ear that made her smile grow even wider then helped her onto the platform. They moved in unison until they stood before the preacher.

  Devlin listened intently as Ben and Maggie shared their vows. They spoke of commitment, not the traditional words to love, honor, and obey. They promised to support one another, forgive and inspire one another, and never go to bed angry because tomorrow was never guaranteed for anyone. The added line hinted of Ben’s father’s death and everyone’s eyes welled with tears at his memory.

  Before Devlin even realized it, Grant and Kayleigh were playing another song and Emmett was holding out his arm to escort her up the aisle. The ceremony was over before it had even started. This time Devlin didn’t dare chance a look at Max. She was too overcome with emotion from the ceremony. If she saw even one glimmer of hope for something more in his eyes, she’d lose it.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Devlin was avoiding him. That much Max knew. He just didn’t know why.

  Sure, they were all being pulled in different directions. The photographer needed them to pose for ‘one more picture,’ which turned into twenty. His mother wanted furniture moved around, for the hundredth time. And Aunt Sally had him running back and forth to the caterers. Thanks to the chaos, every time he’d set eyes on Devlin, she’d slipped out of sight before he could catch her.

  “Hey,” Maggie said.

  Max glanced up at his new sister-in-law. She was beautiful, glowing even, if that was possible.

  “Is this seat taken?” she
asked with a smile, gesturing to the chair beside him.

  “Nope, saving it for you gorgeous.” He made a show of looking around. “They let you escape?”

  “Only for a minute.” Maggie laughed. “I saw you watching Devlin.”

  “Oh yeah?” He could pretend nonchalance with the best of them.

  “She likes you.”

  Max shrugged. “I like her, too.” Didn’t mean it was going to change anything.

  Maggie kept her eyes locked on him.

  “What?”

  She remained silent, clasping her hands together as she stared up at him with those doe eyes.

  “God, now that you’re family, are you trying to play matchmaker like my mother?”

  She shook her head, her expression one of genuine concern for him. Ben had done well. Not only was Maggie beautiful, she had a heart overflowing with love.

  “She’s my best friend, Max.” Maggie said.

  “I know. And now what, are you going to say if I hurt her you’ll put my balls in a vise?”

  She laughed. “No, not that.”

  “Good, because she’s leaving tomorrow and that’s that. No way I’ll be able to hurt her.”

  “Tomorrow?” Maggie sounded surprised.

  “That’s what Lily told me earlier.” Which pissed him off even more. Devlin didn’t even have the decency to tell him to his face. She was running away.

  “That little shit,” Maggie growled under her breath.

  Max stiffened. “What?”

  “She’s afraid, Max. She’s running away.”