by SJ McCoy
He swiped his hand over his face, wiping at the tears that were flowing freely now. In the end, all the instructions she’d given him had boiled down to one thing: He had to do everything he could to make sure he and Gina were happy.
He’d begged her not to leave him, told her he couldn’t ever be happy without her. She’d told him that he could and that he would—as long as he didn’t make her the reason he wasn’t. She’d gotten stern with him and told him that he mustn’t use her as an excuse not to grab onto happiness if it came along. And if he dared let a chance for happiness pass him by, she’d be right there waiting at the pearly gates when his time came and she’d kick his ass for him. That memory brought a smile through the tears. He’d swear her eyes came alive in the photo as he smiled down at her. She smiled back, giving him her blessing.
“Thanks, love.”
He put the photo back in its place and set out for the lodge a second time. This time he was going to ask Anna to go to Gina’s wedding with him.
Chapter Twenty-One
Beau opened his eyes and smiled. The sun was filtering its way through the blinds; he’d slept later than he expected to. To his relief, Corinne slept on beside him. She’d been crazy busy the last couple of weeks between getting everything ready for the wedding and having to deal with all the extra people staying at the guest ranch. She’d kept on working right up until yesterday, even though Shane had told her to take off at the beginning of the week. She had a sense of duty like no one he’d ever known. She would have worked today, too, if he hadn’t insisted. They were getting married tomorrow!
Part of him knew that she wanted to keep working because the other girls were spending time with their family and guests who’d arrived. He felt a little guilty about that. Carly and James had arrived last night. The house they’d had built was almost finished and they’d decided to stay there. They’d wanted to surprise her by saying they couldn’t make it until Saturday morning, but he knew she was disappointed that she wouldn’t get more time with them. He was hoping that the fact they were here—and the papers they’d brought with them—would be enough to make up for her disappointment. He was hoping it would make today a very special day for her and Ruby and him as a family. Maybe he really was going soft in his old age, like Wanda kept telling him, but he wanted their little family to have a two-day anniversary every year. They’d celebrate what they did today, and what they’d do tomorrow.
Corinne smiled at him sleepily. “You look very serious. I hope you’re not getting cold feet?”
He put his arm around her and drew her closer to him. “Not a chance. I’m just plotting and scheming.”
Her smile disappeared. “Not Guy again? Can’t we forget that until after the wedding?”
“No! Not Guy at all. As far as I’m concerned now, the police will take care of him. I’d rather they did it today, or even yesterday. But I can’t control it, and they’ve got it in hand.” He smiled and brushed her hair away from her face. “I was plotting and scheming good things.”
“What kind of good things?”
“Good things for our family.”
“Like what?”
He shook his head. “I have a surprise for you and Ruby today. So, what do you say, I go fix us some breakfast? I’m sure little Miss Sleepy Head will be up as soon as she hears us. Then we can eat and head out.”
“Where are we going?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you, would it?”
“Okay, I’ll get a shower and get ready.” She went to get out of bed, but he pulled her back down for a kiss.
“Wear something nice.”
She gave him a puzzled look. “Don’t I usually?”
He laughed. “I didn’t mean that. I was just thinking about Ruby. You know how when she knows she’s going to do something special she picks out a nice dress? How she remembers things by what she was wearing?” He shrugged, feeling dumb all of a sudden. “I don’t know, I want today to be special, I thought you might like to remember what you were wearing, too. Sorry. I’m thinking like a five year old, huh?”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight. “Don’t you dare apologize. I love it! It’s so sweet of you. And besides, even if it is a five year old’s idea, she’s a very smart five year old.”
“She is.”
An hour later, Beau was glad he’d told her to wear something nice. She looked absolutely stunning in a flowery sundress. Ruby was cute as a button too in a purple dress with pink polka dots. He helped her up into his truck and fastened her in.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “But I want to know!”
“Well, you’ll just have to wait. You like surprises, don’t you?”
She nodded.
“And it won’t be a surprise if I tell you. It’d spoil it. So you practice being patient again and you’ll find out soon enough.”
“How soon?”
“About fifteen minutes.”
“Okay.”
Corinne smiled at him as she climbed in. “I want to know, too.”
“And you will, just hang on a little bit longer.”
She kept glancing over at him as he drove. When he turned off East River Road, she raised her eyebrows. “Have I guessed where we’re going?”
He nodded. There was no point denying it, they were almost there.
“Where?” demanded Ruby from the back seat.
“Why?” asked Corinne. She looked deflated.
“Can you both wait just two more minutes and you’ll see?”
Corinne nodded, but didn’t look too happy. Ruby huffed loudly.
Beau smiled to himself as he pulled into the driveway. Carly and James were out on the front porch waiting.
Corinne’s face lit up when she saw them. “Oh, Beau! They’re here!”
“Who’s…Oh! Auntie Carly and Uncle James!” squealed Ruby. “I thought I didn’t get to see them till tomorrow.”
“We managed to get them here early.”
Corinne turned her smile on him. “Thank you!”
“Why?” asked Ruby.
Beau shook his head with a rueful smile. “Because there’s something I want to do today, and I need them here for it.”
Corinne gave him a puzzled look.
“What do you want to do?” asked Ruby.
He brought the truck to a halt in front of the house and Carly and James came hurrying down the steps to greet them. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he told Ruby as he unfastened her from her seat and set her down. She ran squealing toward her aunt and uncle.
Corinne came around the truck to stand beside him, knowing she wouldn’t get near her sister until her daughter was done with her enthusiastic reunion.
“What’s going on, mister?” she asked in a low voice.
He smiled. “Like I just told our daughter, you’ll find out soon enough.”
The way she smiled reassured him that this was the right thing to do. They’d talked about it enough in the past. He knew it was what she wanted, she just didn’t think it was possible. All he’d done was find the way to make it happen.
He watched her hug her sister; he couldn’t imagine how it must feel for the two of them to only have each other. It made him appreciate his own brothers and their tight-knit family all the more. He shook hands with James when Ruby finally let go of her stranglehold on his knees.
“Thanks,” and he didn’t just mean thanks for coming. He knew James had done a lot of the legwork to make this day possible.
“It’s my pleasure,” said James with a genuine smile.
Beau didn’t know him too well, but he had spent some time with the two of them when he was helping them house hunt. James was a good man. He and Carly had gotten married young and he’d been like a big brother to Corinne from what Beau understood.
Corinne was watching them. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?”
“Just be pati
ent,” said Carly with a grin. “All I’m going to say is that it’s something worth waiting for. Let him do it in his own time, and you’ll be glad you did. Now come on in.”
Beau grinned at her and followed them all inside.
Ruby ran to the patio doors at the back of the living room. “Ooh, you got the swing. And it has flowers on it. Look, Mommy! Look at the pretty flowers.”
Beau hung back as Corinne went to join her. He exchanged a look with Carly and James. James tapped an envelope sitting on the countertop and Carly nodded vigorously and pointed to her camera. He was glad she’d insisted she wanted photos, it wouldn’t have occurred to him. It seemed everything was set. He didn’t see any point in waiting any longer. He checked his pocket and nodded to himself. “Let’s go out and see it shall we?”
Corinne turned to look at him, but didn’t get a chance to question him before Carly was opening the doors and leading them outside.
Ruby ran out and climbed up into the swing that was framed by a wooden pergola. Carly had done a great job twining pretty white flowers though all the latticework and around the frame. James came out and handed her the camera. She took a few shots of Ruby who hammed it up for the camera as she always did.
Corinne came to stand beside him and curled her arm around his waist. “Want to tell me what you’re up to?”
“I’d rather show you.”
He took her hand and led her over to the swing. Carly backed away and Ruby smiled at them.
“Sit with me, Mommy?”
Corinne sat beside her and Beau knelt down before them.
Ruby gave him a puzzled look. “You look mad. Are you mad?”
Beau laughed. “I’m not mad, pumpkin. I’m very, very happy. I’m just concentrating to make sure I say the words right.”
“What words?”
They were both staring at him expectantly.
“I have something to ask you.”
“What?”
He fumbled in his pocket but decided to wait on that, he didn’t want to distract her before she understood what he was saying.
“If you want me to be your daddy.”
Her face broke into a huge grin. “Yes! I want you to be my daddy, my real daddy.”
Corinne frowned. Beau knew what she was thinking. He wasn’t her real daddy.
He smiled at them both. “Well, if you both want me to, I’d like to be your official daddy.”
Ruby beamed at him. “I want you to! Does that mean I can call you Daddy all the time?”
He looked at Corinne. “If it’s okay with your mommy.”
Tears shone in Corinne’s eyes as she nodded. Beau held up the papers that were for her benefit. “These papers say I can be your official daddy.”
“He signed them?” asked Corinne.
Beau nodded. That was something the two of them could talk about later. “There’s nothing stopping us if it’s what you both want.”
“We want!”” squealed Ruby.
Beau grinned. “I want, too. I want us to all belong together like you said, Ruby. I want you to be mine, just like your mom’s going to be mine when she marries me tomorrow.”
Ruby nodded. “And you’ll be all ours too.”
“Yep.” He reached for the box in his pocket, wanting to see her little face when she opened it. He hesitated when he saw her face. Her brows had knit together.
“What is it, pumpkin?”
“Will I be Ruby Remington?”
He had to swallow the lump in his throat. “You will be Ruby Remington,” he glanced at Corinne. “If that’s what you both want.” It occurred to him that he and Corinne had never discussed whether she would take his name or keep her own when they got married. He was relieved to see her smiling broadly.
“It’s what we both want, isn’t it, Ruby?”
Ruby grinned and threw her arm around Beau’s neck and held the other out to her mom. “Ruby Remington and Corinne Remington and Beau Remington. One happy family,” she said as she planted kisses on their cheeks.
Beau looked up at the sound of Carly’s camera clicking away. He knew he’d treasure those photos for the rest of his life.
He dug in his pocket and gave Ruby the little box.
“Ooh! Can I open it?”
He nodded.
She squealed when she opened it! “Look, Mommy! It’s just like yours!”
She pulled out the gold chain and held it up. The sun caught the ring which hung from it, and glinted off the diamond. He’d wanted to give her the same ring as he’d given Corinne, but after talking it over with his mom and Wanda, he’d decided to put the ring on a necklace she could wear around her neck instead. The ring would fit her when she was older, and it could always be adjusted if it didn’t.
He smiled as she fiddled with the clasp.
“Here,” he took it from her and fastened it around her neck.
She beamed up at him as she held onto the ring and moved it back and forth along the chain. “Thank you, Daddy.”
He had to close his eyes and swallow hard before he could answer. “Thank you, pumpkin. Tomorrow is our wedding day, but I wanted today to be special, too. Today is our becoming a family day.”
Corinne took hold of his hand and squeezed tight. She didn’t need to say anything. Her eyes said it all.
~ ~ ~
Eddie and Marcus had gone down to Chico’s little souvenir store. They were getting tired of being cooped up here. April was too. She went to the window and looked out. She spotted a beautiful blonde woman walk across the parking lot. She was pretty sure that it was Cassidy Lane—the one who was going to marry Shane Remington tomorrow. She’d seen her around with Gina a few times when she’d still been living up here. That seemed like a different lifetime now—like someone else’s life. In a way, that was true. The April who had lived here was a very different person than the April she was now. She smiled. She liked the April she was growing into.
Her cell phone buzzed interrupting her thoughts. It was him. She knew it.
“Hello?”
“Bitch.”
She sighed. “Do you have anything constructive to say?”
“I’m only into destructive these days, hadn’t you heard?”
“Actually, I had. But I’m not going to let you get away with it anymore.”
“Who do you think you are? Miss High and Fucking Mighty now you’ve got your claws into some rich dumb-fuck Californian?”
April took a deep breath. Part of her wanted to cower away from the venom in his voice; part of her wanted to yell and scream at him. She wouldn’t give in to either of those desires. He’d robbed her of her dignity for too many years. She intended to handle her final dealings with all the dignity she could muster.
“It’s none of your business who I am anymore, Guy. I just want you to sign the papers, get the divorce underway, and you’ll never hear from me again.”
His laugh was harsh. “Don’t you wish it was going to be that easy? I was just calling to let you know that it’s not.”
She thought he’d hung up, but she waited.
“You think you can take the ranch away from me?”
“No one is taking it away, Guy. You blew it, you lost it all by yourself. You would have lost the place anyway. All I’m doing is making sure that Marcus doesn’t lose it, too.”
“I’ll burn the place down before you ever get your hands on it.”
April sucked in a deep breath. “I understand you like burning places down these days. You won’t get chance to destroy anything else, though.”
The way he laughed sent shivers down her spine and chilled her bones. “Luke isn’t going to catch up with me. I’m not going to prison.”
“Oh, but you are.”
“No. You don’t get it, do you, you dumb bitch? I’m not giving up my freedom any more than I’m giving up my ranch.”
April’s heart pounded in her chest. Was he saying…? He said he’d burn the ranch down. Did he mean he’d burn himself inside it? He certainly so
unded crazy enough. “What do you mean?”
“I think you know damned well what I mean. But I’m going to take you and the Remingtons down before I go.”
“Leave them alone!” She couldn’t let him lash out at them. Especially not now, they were all getting married tomorrow.
“Goodbye, April.” His laugh sounded even crazier as he hung up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cassidy looked up when the door opened. Shane looked exhausted. “Hey, honey, I’m home.”
She held her arms out to him. “Well, not home.” She was sick of staying here at the guest ranch and had made him promise that tomorrow night they could go back to the house. She loved that place. In her mind it had become their place since Shane had moved in with her. She knew he saw it that way, too.
He gave her a tired smile. “I know. I’m sorry, princess. We’re almost home, though. One more night here and tomorrow we go home as husband and wife.”
He sat down on the bed beside her. “Don’t be sorry. You know I’d be happy anywhere as long as you’re there. I’d go live in that tent with you up in the wilderness if that’s what you wanted.”
He grinned. “How about for a honeymoon then?”
She slapped his arm. “Asshole.”
He gave her the sad eyes and her heart melted.
“Are you serious?” She’d thought he’d been teasing.
He shrugged. “Nah. It was just a crazy whim.”
“You know I love those, what were you thinking?”
He shrugged again. “It’s dumb. It was just that I was thinking about it all, about tomorrow, about the fact that you’re really going to be my wife. This is the beginning of our life together. You came into my life and made it everything I could have dreamed of and more. You’ve become the biggest part of my life, you’re becoming a part of my family. I just had this crazy idea that if we went and camped out, it would be like you becoming a part of this place, too.” He hung his head. “I know it’s dumb.”