“They petrify me, but...” I wanted to be that guy holding all the bags while I took my wife and kids on a trip. “There were several years when my dad was pretty kick-ass. I’ve had a good role model all along.”
His eyes filled with tears and he pulled me into him again. “I needed to hear that, and I didn’t even know it.”
My arms were pinned to my sides. When was the last time I’d hugged my dad? So many years we’d missed. I embraced him back, awkward as hell, but I did it.
After a minute he pulled away, blinking back his tears. “You left town and then weeks went by. I thought if that girl can’t keep you in town, this old man won’t bring you back.” Hope lit his eyes. I knew what he’d been afraid of.
The urge to tell him everything was strong.Yeah, Dad. I married Autumn to fool you into selling to me. But there had been more reasons for walking into that posh chapel with her. She’d captivated me from the very beginning. “The important thing is, now I’m back.”
Autumn
The company Christmas party at Copper Summit was both winding down and livening up. Chance, Brinley, and Darin had gone home with Mama an hour ago. They were sleeping over at her place. Same with Elsa. Myles and Wynter had driven her over, then returned a few minutes ago. They were at a table with Jonah and Summer.
Tenor and Teller were standing around another table, chatting with the distillers and our delivery drivers. Each of my brothers had a glass of bourbon and was gesturing with it like Daddy used to do.
Junie had gone back to Nashville to spend the holiday writing songs with some friends. She rarely stayed in town long, and with her growing popularity, she usually snuck in and out of city limits. She claimed she never wanted coming home to be a story. Summer, Wynter, and I thought she didn’t want to run across the high school sweetheart she’d left behind and his adorable daughters.
Tate looked like he was trying to pick up Scarlett, their heads tipped together, both of them smiling and laughing. Tate used to work the crowd when he was the boss, but since he’d taken over the ranch, he’d chat a little, then dote on his wife.
I gulped down my jealousy. Could I use the diarrhea excuse to leave early?
No. No leaving before the party was done. Whenever I heard back from the company I’d hired to do the divorce, I’d be single. I would not wallow in self-pity.
I would not wallow as much.
Maybe one day I would have what Tate, Wynter, and Summer had. Maybe. One day, one year, a long time from now.
I stretched out the fingers of my left hand.Don’t look.
I was behind the bar. In my safe place. I had on a green Christmas sweater with puffy balls for tree ornaments, a thick brown skirt, and knee-high boots. I looked festive.
I wasn’t.
I would eventually have to explain why I wasn’t wearing my wedding ring tonight. My sisters had noticed, but they hadn’t asked. Too many others around. The ring was at home, tucked into a jewelry box and pushed to the far corner of my dresser. Tonight was the night to debut a bare ring finger.
My “try to announce the end of my marriage without looking pathetic” plan was now in full swing. In the break room at work, my coworkers still asked about Gideon. On Monday, I’d tell them the winter weather and our work were keeping us apart. I’d comment that our lives were just too separate—insert heartbroken pout. His work was important to him. My family was in Montana. I’d field the pitying looks like a champ and then cry to Sprinkles at night.
The worst of my plan would be my brothers. They all “happened” to stop in at the bar and ask how I was doing each night I worked. They never asked about Gideon. They didn’t point out that their suspicions might’ve been right, that Gideon had only married me to manipulate the sale. I didn’t mention that yes, he had.
Some things a girl just had to keep to herself.
I’d cry to my cat and my sisters.
But first, I needed the closure of the signed divorce papers. Gideon should’ve gotten the email a few days ago. The marriage would be officially over any day. The company I’d hired promised me a quick divorce. Vegaswas known for quickie weddings. An easy divorce wasn’t as heavily advertised, but they offered that too.
Tenor wandered over. His brown eyes were full of concern. He pushed his glasses up. His longish hair hung over the thick frames. “Gideon couldn’t make it?”
Of my three brothers, I hadn’t thought he’d be the one to broach the subject. Tate and Teller were more direct, but they’d tiptoed around me since Gideon had left town. Tenor had been on the receiving end of my emotions, thanks to the inventory talk, but here he was. Fitting he’d be the first to hear about the end of me and Gideon.
I sipped from the small straw in my Kentucky mule. I hadn’t added enough bourbon to make what I had to say any easier and this was my first and only drink of the night. Anxiety swirled in my stomach, but at least it took the focus off the pain around my heart. The only communication between me and Gideon had been the email with the divorce documents, and it hadn’t been sent directly from me.
It was time. “We actually decided a divorce would be best.”
Tenor cocked his head like he couldn’t believe what I’d said. “Divorce?”
“Yep.” I popped the p and took another long sip. The lime had enough bite to keep me from getting lost in my own foul mood. Hard to be upset when the taste of summer danced on my tongue. “We tried. So there is that.”
“Autumn.”
