“No, you made your point,” Ava left with a tail between her legs. She didn’t regret going to him though. Now he knew the truth. Maybe now they could both move forward with their lives.
A few hours later, Ava woke from her nap when a second body rocked the hammock.
Wes laid next to her, resting his hands across his chest, “If we do this, you can’t pull something like that again. You’re in it, no matter what.”
“No matter what,” she vowed.
“We talk shit out, work past it together.”
“Agreed.”
“No more deciding what’s best for me on your own.”
“Never again.”
“No holding grudges over what happened in the past. Meaning, I can’t get mad at you for breaking up with me, and you can’t get mad over me sleeping with other girls.”
“How many other girls?”
“Three.”
That wasn’t so bad, but it still twisted her insides. “Deal.”
“First, before we kiss on it and seal the deal, I need to know how many guys there were for you.”
“None.”
“None?”
“None.”
“Not even a kiss?”
“Not even a peck. You’re it for me, Wes. Forever.”
“God, I love hearing you say that,” Wes turned his body to the side, resting his head on his hand, cupping her face with the other. “I love you. I never stopped either. I don’t think I could have ever stopped.”
His lips met hers and Ava prayed every day could be this good.
Chapter 58
It’s A Great Day To Be Alive
Thirty-two-year-old Ryder Stone rocked his five-month-old in his arms, smelling the top of her head and her sweet baby scent.
Parker poked his head in the room, “I need you downstairs. I have an announcement to make.”
Ryder reluctantly laid Juniper down in the crib Lily had in Violet and Maggie’s old room for when the grandkids came over.
He came down the stairs to be greeted by his wife, who gave him a kiss, “She asleep?”
“Yeah.”
“How long ago?
“About an hour.”
Maggie laughed, taking his hand as they joined the others.
June had become a good excuse to get away. Whenever she fussed or cried he was the first to soothe her, taking her away to a quieter place.
Ryder loved his family; however, it didn’t change that he needed his space, time away from all the craziness that went with it.
Three-year-old Lincoln Baxter was rolling around on the floor with his grandpa, declaring his victory at pinning the large man down.
Noah easily lifted Lincoln up and over his shoulder, the boy squealing with delight, extending his arms and legs out, “Fwy me!”
“Okay, everyone. Gather around.” Parker was standing in front of the Christmas tree, the largest smile Ryder had ever seen on his face.
“Presents?” Lincoln hoped, trying to get out from Noah.
“Not yet, bud. Soon. I promise. Why don’t you go sit with your Mama.”
He stomped his foot in disappointment, then bounced back the way only a three-year-old could, screeching as he ran, leaping for his mom’s lap.
“Whoa, careful,” Wes grabbed his son before he landed on his mom’s lap that was already overtaken by her massive belly.
Lincoln patted his mother’s belly, “Sorry wittle brother.” He poked the belly, “Uncle Parker said if I did this you might pop.”
Ava laughed, “Remember what I told you about things your uncle tells you?”
He nodded his head proudly, “That it’s a bunch of bologna.”
“Hey,” Parker frowned.
Violet came in from the kitchen, “She’s not wrong. You fill that kid’s head with craziness.”
“I’m offended! I’m a great uncle!”
Parker truly was. They all knew it. The two of them were already building a go-kart together on days Lincoln spent time at the tracks, going back and forth between family members instead of daycare. Parker and Wes were now running the tracks, Wes more on the business side of things.
Ryder tried his best with his nephew. He didn’t really know how to talk to kids. Instead, he read to Lincoln. It helped them bond. He came for sleepovers just so they could read together. They were already onto children’s books with chapters.
Maggie won his love with fresh baked cookies every time she saw him. She didn’t bake them; they always came from the bakery that she and Ava owned and ran together.
Ryder supported his family still doing construction jobs, now as a contractor. The pay was better and he still got to work outdoors. He’d come a long way. He was still claustrophobic (he didn’t think that would ever change), but he didn’t mind people touching him, or at least those he loved, like his family. Strangers were another thing. Maggie always intercepted when someone new tried to shake his hand – one of the many ways his wife had saved him.
Parker cleared his throat, demanding everyone’s attention.
Lily, Violet, and Ryder’s moms stopped talking. Ava quieted her son and husband, who were thumb wrestling. The kid never had an off button (unless Ryder was reading to him).
Parker beamed brighter than the glowing tree behind him, “After years of begging, Violet has finally agreed to be my wife.”
Everyone cheered and clapped.
Parker reached out his hand for Violet to take.
Their arms wrapped around each other so they were facing the room, side by side.
“He’s been asking since our first date. How was I supposed to ever take him seriously?”
He dipped her for a kiss, “I would never kid about such things.”
“Tell us how it happened?” Stevie asked, bouncing with excitement.
“He asked me like he does every morning,” Violet began. “This time, instead of laughing, I said yes. You should have seen the look on his face when he registered what I had said. My ears are still ringing from how loud he whooped.”
“When are you going to give me another grandkid?” Noah came over to embrace them both.
Violet pointed to Wes and Ava, “Probably sometime during their fourth or fifth.”
“No way,” Ava protested, rubbing her belly that was due any day. “I’ll go for one more and that’s it.”
Wes whispered into Lincoln’s ear, loud enough for the room to hear, “Remember what we practiced.”
Lincoln sat up straighter on his dad’s lap, putting on a pout and puppy dog eyes, “Pwease mommy, I want to have wots and wots of brothers and sisters to wove.”
Ava shook her head while rolling her eyes, used to them teaming up against her, “Wes wants five, but he’s not the one who has to carry and birth them.”
Wes affectionately rubbed her belly, “But you’re so sexy when you have our babies inside of you.”
Ava blushed, leaning over as best as she could to give her husband a kiss.
“When can we start planning?” Lily and Stevie pressed at the same time, overjoyed.
“We were kind of thinking we’d just go to the County Clerk’s Office,” Violet informed the room. “You know how busy I am with the non-profit, and I’m not really the whole wedding dress kind of girl.”
“Plus,” Parker added, “I can’t wait much longer.”
Ryder didn’t blame them; he and Maggie had eloped. The family would have been disappointed if they hadn’t already had a huge wedding for Ava and Wes the previous year.
Naomi came out with a bottle of sparkling apple juice and they all toasted the couple before digging into the massive pile of presents under the tree.
Lincoln sat on Ryder’s lap, presenting him with a new book for them to read.
Ryder sometimes had a hard time believing this was his life. He’d never dreamt he could be this happy. He owed it all to the people in this house, his family, and that’s all that truly mattered.
villa, J.M., When To Let Go
When To Let Go Page 35