“You were amazing in there, Holly,” I can’t help but tell her. “I’m so proud of you. You showed them what true elegance and culture is. You stood up for yourself and were the better woman. I’ve never been more proud to call you my wife.”
Holly sniffs and blinks up at me, mascara smudged around her beautiful-as-ever eyes. “Do you still want to be my husband after seeing who your in-laws are?”
I shake my head and kiss her forehead. “I didn’t see my in-laws in there. I saw a couple who has no relationship with a child they birthed. My real in-laws are Momma T and Stanley.”
Holly’s lips twitch, a brief smile on her face. “They do feel more like parents than my own do.”
I brush a hair that’s fallen out of her chignon behind her ear. “It’s settled. They’re my in-laws.”
She smiles and squeezes my waist, resting her head on my chest again.
I draw lazy circles on her back as I hold her close. “Holly, you did an amazing job of standing up for yourself and speaking your mind. I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to make sure you don’t have to see those people ever again. I will follow you anywhere and spend every day treasuring you and who you are.”
Holly lifts her head, her ocean eyes filled with love. I lean down, my lipsbrushing hers for a moment. I pull away and admire her soft smile. Her eyelashes flutter open. “Take me home, Mateo.”
I kiss her forehead. “I will.”
She shakes her head, another curl of hair falling from her up-do. “No. Not my house. Take me home to Bolt.”
My eyes widen. Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
“You want to go to Bolt?”
She nods and bounces on her toes. “Yes. Let’s go back to my house, pack up everything, and drive to Bolt.”
I laugh, entertained by her enthusiasm but also questioning this sudden decision. “Um, I don’t think everything will fit in my truck and your car.”
She smirks. “Good thing I can pay for movers.”
I rub the back of my neck. “Holly, are you sure about this? I know you said you quit while we were inside, but are you sure? You know you’re really good at your job, right?”
The valet drives up in our car before she can answer.
Holly smiles up at me. “Hold that thought. Let’s chat more at the house,” Holly says as she slips into the passenger seat.
“We will be finishing this conversation in a few minutes, right?” I ask as I get in the driver’s side and pull away from the curb.
Holly reaches out for my hand and squeezes it. “Yes, we will definitely be finishing this conversation.”
I lift her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “As you wish.”
Chapter 43
I Want Family
Holly
We’re silent on the drive home. My mind races over the words I’m dying to say to Mateo. His thumb has not stopped running over my knuckles since he started driving and the comfort from holding his calloused, imperfect hand sustains my bravery.
The inner calm and peace as I spoke to my parents and Rodney came from God. There is no other explanation for how I kept my cool and said what I needed to without having a panic attack. Some of the peace lingers even after suddenly quitting my job and telling Mateo we should move to Bolt.
But there is still a good fifty percent of me that is downright freaking out.
I am not impulsive. I’m a planner.
My husband’s personality is rubbing off on me.
We pull into the garage and Mateo puts the car in park but doesn’t move.
