I close my eyes, release a deep breath, and step through the door.
When I see him lying there, I fall apart.
Everything inside me splinters, and my chest aches.
My father opens his eyes and attempts to smile. “Son.” His voice is raspy and weak.
This isn’t the same man I saw yesterday. It’s hard to believe how pale and fragile he looks. “Dad.”
He takes a haggard breath and raises his hand. I move over to the bed and take his hand in mine. “You left?” he asks.
I’ve never been one to lie to my father. “I heard something I didn’t want to know.” I give him half the answer.
Dad nods and covers my hand with his other. His eyes fill with tears, and his lip quivers. “I figured it out this mornin’.” He coughs and then clears his throat. “You overheard what was said in my room about you not being my son.”
He’s always seen too much.
“I did.”
“I need you to know somethin’,” he says quickly. “You are my son. You’ve always been my son. I’ve never loved you any differently.”
Tears fill my vision as they stream down his face. “Pop.”
“No. I need to say it. I’ve thought about this moment your whole life, and I need to get it out.”
I don’t interrupt him again. The strongest man I know falls apart as he tells me answers to the questions I’ve grappled with the last day. “Your biological father got your mama pregnant when she was sixteen. I knew him, always thought he was bad news, but she loved him for whatever reason. He was mean, and I told her to leave him several times. She was young and thought she could love him through it, but when he found out she was pregnant, he lost it. He accused her of cheatin’ on him and then beat her. He left her bleedin’ in an alley, and I was the one who found her. I lifted her in my arms and rushed to get her help. I stayed with her in the hospital when they weren’t sure if you or her were gonna make it.”
Pop stops talking for a minute as he recalls some far off memory. I can’t imagine what he saw. My mother is the kindest person, and for any man to put his hands on her makes me want to scream and murder someone. Then to find out it was my own father, I can’t put into words the hatred I’m feeling.
“I’d always had feelings for her. I think I fell in love with her almost instantly. She would pass me in the hallway and smile, and it would make my heart stop. She was so strong and sure that you’d make it through, though. After about a month, I knew I couldn’t live without her. I asked her to marry me, because I knew if I didn’t, she might realize I wasn’t worth the trouble. I told her we’d raise you and build a family. We worried he’d come back, but I swore I’d protect her. I would never let him touch her or you. We got married right away, with her bein’ pregnant, it was what would be done immediately anyway. And we started preparin’ for our baby. I knew you’d be my child in every way that mattered. The day you were born, I signed the birth certificate, we were already married, so no one questioned it, and then you were mine, Trent. From that day forward, you were my son, and I was your father.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. In the beginning, it was fear that if he found out you’d survived, he’d try to take you, but we’ve never seen him since. After a while, it was selfish on some level. I needed you to always be my son in every way. I never wanted you to look for him. I never wanted you to ask about him. More than that, I was afraid if you knew, I’d lose you, son.”
I shake my head as my own tears make it hard to see. “You never would’ve.”
“Look at what happened when you heard,” he reminds me. “You took off.”
“I took off because you lied to me,” I explain. “It was like someone told me the sky wasn’t blue. I never questioned you being my father.”
“You’re my son, Trent. You’re my first son no matter what a blood test says. I need you to always know that. I need you to know I never loved you any differently. Not one minute.”
I can’t hold back. I tried as much as I could, but this is quite possibly my last conversation with my father. And it’s him trying to comfort me. My emotions overwhelm me, and I let out a strangled sob. “You can’t die now. Not today. Not ever.”
My head falls, and his hand moves to the top of my head. “You’re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. One day you’ll see it. You’ve been a fighter since before you were born. Nothin’ came easy for you, but you have to open your eyes and let yourself be happy. Marry that girl, start a family, and live your life. It goes fast.” I look at him, and he smiles with tear-filled eyes. “You have been my greatest gift. I didn’t create you, but I got to keep you.”
Chapter 22
Grace
T he last four days have been devastating. We stay at the hospital all day and most of the night. The doctor attempted another blood transfusion, but Rhett hasn’t gotten any better. It’s the pneumonia that will take his life.
He’s on heavy antibiotics to attempt getting it under control, but they explained at this point, there’s almost no chance it’ll work. The oncologist explained we should prepare, because it will happen very quickly.
Trent spoke with his brothers after he talked with his dad. They forgave him for disappearing, and tried their best to understand. They joked about knowing there was always something off with him.
Idiots.
I don’t know that any of us can understand the turmoil he’s struggling with. I can empathize with him, but I don’t know what he truly feels.
We were at the hospital until around midnight last night. He spent his time by his father’s side and tried to focus on every minute they all have with him.
It’s hard knowing someone you love is going to die.
It’s hard watching people around you struggle and not be able to help.
There’s a helplessness that can eat at your soul before the grief has even started.
Neither of us slept much last night, and I try to leave him to his thoughts. I enjoy being in his arms, feeling him close. He’s been a pillar of strength since he’s had more time with his father.
“Did you and your dad work things out?” I ask. I didn’t want to ask him what was said, but the concern is too much to hold back anymore.
“Yeah, I understand him and why they kept it quiet. After knowing how my biological father abused my mother, I can see the want to protect me. I would’ve gone lookin’ for him.”
He tells me a little about how his mother was beaten. The fact that Trent could’ve died at the hand of his own father. A world without him would’ve been a very bleak place. Trent watches me as tears stream. His mother never deserved that kind of treatment. My thoughts turn to my sister, and I wonder if Scarlett felt the same way. Their stories mirror each other so much. Loving a man who uses his fists.
When Scarlett came home the first time William beat her, Trent was the first one standing in line to keep her safe. He stayed outside our home for two days waiting for Bill to show up. The anger he felt for any man putting his hands on a woman was palpable. Rhett taught him that. He showed him right from wrong and he’s the man he is now because of who raised him.
“Don’t cry, baby.” His thumb wipes under my eye. “It all worked out. I’m here, my mother found Pop, and we’re okay.”
I nod and try to stop crying. “And your brothers?”
This was the one thing I wondered most about. Wyatt and Zach wouldn’t handle this secret any better.
Trent’s eyes meet mine as I rest my chin on his chest. “Wyatt was livid. It took a lot to get him to stop yellin’. Zach was quiet and angry that my parents have been lyin’ to us. Mom sat there crying and asked them to understand, but it was Dad who finally told them it wasn’t their business about how they raised their family. He then asked them if it changed anything.”
“And?”
I can imagine Rhett’s deep voice and the way a silence would fall around the room. Wyatt would
bristle at being told what to do, Zach would brush it off, and Trent would sit, waiting for his brothers to answer. This was probably one of the things that worried him most. His brothers feeling differently about him. I know in my heart it wouldn’t, but I also know Trent and the feeling of being thrown away haunting him.
He laughs. “They looked at Dad and snorted, saying the only people they were thinkin’ of kicking out of the family were him and Mom.”
I smile and lay my head on his chest. Listening to his heartbeat with my eyes closed. I’m content in this moment. Trent runs his fingers through my hair as I rest. This feels incredible. Having no secrets or no worries about our future. It’s something I’ve yearned for. I start to drift, from being both comfortable and sated.
“Marry me?” Trent blurts out as I’m on the brink of falling asleep.
That woke me the hell up.
I freeze. “What?” I ask, thinking maybe I heard him wrong.
“Marry me,” Trent repeats.
Okay, so maybe I didn’t hear him wrong. I don’t say a word as I try to find my lungs. He can’t be serious. It’s been twenty years of waiting for those words, surely he wouldn’t say it on a whim.
“Trent.” I shift and look at him as my heart races. “You’re going through a lot right now. I’m not sure that this is really what you want.”
“I love you. I want you to be my wife.”
“Okay, but . . .”
He rolls over, reaches into the drawer on his nightstand, and removes a box. I start to tremble when he puts it in front of me. “I’ve had this ring since the day before Zach’s wedding. I bought it, knowing one day you’d be wearin’ it.” My hand flies to my mouth as I look at the black box with gold writing. “This isn’t some spur-of-the-moment thing. This is me not wanting to waste a single minute. This is me wanting you to be mine. This is me finally listenin’ to my heart and needin’ to do right by you. I want to marry you. Right now. I want to be your husband. So, I’m asking you Grace Rooney, will you marry me?”
He opens the box and there sits a beautiful pear-shaped diamond solitaire flanked by four diamonds on each side. It’s beautiful. “You’re sure?” I ask because I want him to be. “If you’re not, we can lie back down and forget this ever happened.”
He lifts the ring out of the box and glides it onto my finger. “Do you remember what you were eating the first time I kissed you?” he asks as my eyes fill with tears.
“No.” I shake my head.
“A pear.”
“How could you possibly remember that?” I ask as I stare at my hand with a pear-shaped diamond sitting on it.
“Because every now and then, when I kiss you, I can taste it all over again.” He lifts my chin and holds me captive. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You’re my heart and soul. I never want to spend a day without you. I’m gonna ask you again . . . marry me?”
I don’t have to think about anything. I’ve loved him forever. I’ll only ever love him until the day I die. We’ve had ups and downs and wins and losses, but we’ve had them together. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for me.
I throw my arms around him with tears falling freely. “Yes! Yes! Yes! I want nothing more than to be your wife!”
He laughs, and we fall back. I kiss him, hoping he can taste the pear again.
“All right.” He holds my face back to stop me from kissing him. “I need to ask you one more thing.”
“Ask me anything.” I can’t stop the smile.
“Marry me today, Grace. I know it’s not the wedding you probably imagined, but I want my father to be there.”
I sit back and put my hand on his chest. “Honey, are you sure? I’m not saying no, I just don’t want you to wake up a week from now and wish we’d waited.”
“I think we’ve waited long enough. My father would want to see this. He loves you, and I will never regret marrying you. Not now, not ever.”
It’s all happening so fast, but then again, it’s really not. I know he wants his father there, and I don’t want to deny him that. We love each other, we’ve been doing good, so why not?
“Okay,” I say. “Okay, if you want to get married today, let’s do it.”
Trent grabs me in his arms and rolls me over. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
We both laugh and he rolls off me. “Go call your family. I’ll call mine.”
I glance back at my hand and bite my lip. I’m engaged. I’m actually engaged to my boyfriend of . . . forever . . . and we live together. We’re going to be married—today.
Holy shit.
I grab my phone and call my mother. “Can you meet us at the hospital in about an hour?”
“Is Rhett okay? I just talked to Macie.” Mama sounds worried.
“Mama, Trent proposed, and he wants to get married today.”
“Today?”
“Yeah, so Rhett can be there and see it.”
“Oh, honey! He’s a good man,” she says and then yells for my father. “Jim! Trent finally proposed to Grace!” I hear him yell something back, but I can’t understand it. “No! She’s gettin’ married today at the hospital.”
“Mama,” I try to stop her.
“No! The hospital! So that Rhett can see it.” She keeps going as if I’m not on the phone.
“Mama!”
Once again, she carries on. “In an hour, so you need to get off your behind and get dressed!”
“Mother!” I yell louder.
“Well, I don’t know about that, James, I found out about it myself not two minutes ago.” She huffs before coming back on the line. “Grace, your daddy wants to know if he has to wear his good pants or if you mind him wearin’ his jeans.”
I shake my head and stare at my ring. “He can wear whatever he wants.”
“Well, don’t tell him that, Grace. He’ll wear his good pants. It is your weddin’ after all.”
“I need to call a few people, I love you, and I’ll see you at the chur—I mean hospital.”
I call Emily, and she starts screaming. She’s on her way to Bell Buckle as luck would have it. She heard from Presley and was coming to be here for support. I don’t know if she’ll get there in time, but I hope she does.
I’m in front of my closet just staring. I don’t have a wedding dress, and there’s no way I’d wear one to the hospital, but I would like something white. I feel Trent’s arms wrap around me from behind and his head rests on my shoulder. “You almost ready?”
“I don’t know what to wear,” I admit.
He leans back, and I turn to face him. “Anything you wear will be perfect. I hate that I’m takin’ your white dress and big wedding from you.”
“No, no, it’s not that.” I stop him before he misunderstands. “I don’t need all that. Family and friends are what matter to me. I only care about the who, not the where. Plus, we can have a big ole party later on, right?”
“We can do anything you want.”
“I’ve always wanted a barn wedding.” I smile.
The barn at my parents’ house is rustic and beautiful. It’s dark grayish wood and tall ceiling is where I would have my pretend wedding all the time. I pictured Trent standing at the end when the barn doors opened. I can close my eyes and see the lanterns lining the path to him. We wouldn’t be dressed up crazy and the ceremony would be small with just the people who truly matter in our lives.
I’m a simple girl. I spent half my life in pageants and wearing big dresses because Mama thought it would make me a lady. I think she liked playing Barbie and I was a real life version for her—minus the blonde hair.
My friends all wanted the big gowns and fancy parties, but I only cared about the right guy at the end of the aisle waiting for me.
“We can have that. I’ll give you whatever wedding you want.”
I rest my hands on his chest and grin up at him. “Oh! What about rings and a marriage license?”
I didn’t even think about those thing
s until just now.
Trent tucks my hair behind my ear and brushes my cheek. “I already called Judge Wheatley. He said we should come by the courthouse after the ceremony and he’ll officially marry us there. As for the rings . . .” He touches my face before admitting, “I don’t have them, but we can pick out anything you like tomorrow.”
“You thought of it all.” I lean in and press my lips to his. “And in a few hours, you’re going to be my husband.”
“You’re never getting rid of me now.”
I snort. “If I haven’t done it yet . . .”
“You tried, sweetheart.”
“And I’m glad I failed.”
He kisses my nose. “I am, too.”
“I need to get to the hospital.”
“Wait!” I say grabbing his hand as he lets me go. “What about a cake or food?”
“Don’t you worry about that.” He tugs me back against him. “I’ve got all this taken care of. You worry about getting yourself dressed so we can go. Everyone is headin’ there now.”
He kisses me again and then heads off to the other room. Married. I’m getting married today.
A knock on the door causes me to jump. It opens a little and Presley peeks her head in. “Hi, honey.”
“Pres!”
“Can I come in?”
“Yes! Please!”
She enters the room, and I tighten my robe around me. “Let me see the ring!” She rushes over and takes my hand. “Oh, he did better than I thought! When Zach told me a few months ago, I was a little skeptical.”
“You knew?”
She shrugs. “I knew he bought a ring. He told Zach about it.”
“But—” I pause for a second. “If you knew that Trent had a ring before the wedding, why would you tell me to date Cooper?”
Presley sits on the bed and pulls me next to her. “Because I hoped it would set things back the way they should go. Maybe it makes me a shitty sister, but I know you belong with Trent and I know my brother, he needed to see that, too. Zach warned me not to meddle.” She waves a hand dismissively and smiles. “I guess the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree. God, I hope I’m not as bad as my mother. Can you imagine? We’re the next generation of old busy bodies.”
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