We both stared at the water.“You okay with that possibility?Of Jasmine and me?”I asked.“I mean, your mom?—”
“Is dead,” Nash said.His face was stormy, just like always whenever someone brought up Carolina Syad Porter.But he remained relaxed.“And you two were together a long, long time ago.”
“Not that long,” I grumbled.
“Long ago.As inancienthistory,” Nash teased.
“Stop calling me old.”
“I didn’t.You did.”
Nash’s smile slid off his lips, and he pressed them together, his expression turning earnest.My heart pounded because I knew this look meant Nash had ruminated on the subject and he was voicing his deepest concerns.
“Mama Grace isawesome.I like the idea of the two of you together because the both of you have been my parents…at least since Lev died, so, in a way, it’s like coming home.Granted, you have to win over the Grace kids, but I’m all for one big, blended family.”
Nash rarely mentioned his older brother, but that had been the catalyst for so much change in his life—what brought me into it.I hoped Cam, Jasmine, and I had helped guide him.Even with all our love, Nash had made some spectacularly poor decisions.But he was here now, happy and healthy.
We all created our own path.
Looking back into a time I couldn’t change wasn’t the answer.I knew that, but Jasmine helped clarify my priorities, myfuture…just as Aya did for Nash.
Levi grunted as he filled his diaper.He opened his eyes and frowned, unhappy with the state of his pants and to find out that he had fallen asleep.He fussed, which would soon turn into full-blown cries.
Nash reached for him, then stood up, stretching a bit as he murmured to his son.Levi, however, was not interested in being soothed.
“All right, I hear you, sweet baby.”Nash jiggled him a little.“A clean diaper and mommy.I like spending time with her, too.”
I chuckled, loving how the words slipped out of Nash’s mouth.My boy was content, and he was so in love with his family.I rose more slowly thanks to my stiffer joints.I dusted the seat of my jeans as Nash headed back toward the house.
He stopped to call back over his shoulder, “For what it’s worth, once you were sure you were my father, you’ve been a good one.”
My throat worked as I choked up on Nash’s comment.I opened my mouth but had to shut it.Much to my surprise, tears filled my eyes.I blinked hard I stared out at the water longer, soaking up Nash’s words.
He waited even though Levi’s whimpers increased.I cleared my throat and smiled at him.Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes but I didn’t care.
“That means more to me than I can ever tell you.”I cleared my throat as I huffed.
Nash shot me that cocky smile that I hated but made all the women who met him swoon—even, especially Aya.
“You’re welcome, Pops.We’ll see you soon, yeah?”
“You will.And Nash?”
He turned from where he’d been walking up the gentle slope.““Thank you,” I said, my voice gruff.“For letting me in.You didn’t have to.I know that.”
Nash laughed, and it was a light, carefree sound.“I’m glad I did.I’m glad you’re here.But if you don’t let me get this kid’s diaper changed, I may change my mind.”
I chuckled as I followed him back to the house.Thanks to my talk with my son, my connection to Levi and Jasmine, I actually believed that I deserved love and happiness, too.
Chapter13
Jasmine
Isettled against the railing, lifting my booted heel to the bottom rung as Jenna swung into Kassie’s saddle.The sun peaked over the horizon, and I inhaled the cool morning air.The horse stood placidly, tail twitching, as dirt drifted up around us.
“We’ll be back in an hour, maybe two,” Cam said as he brought his horse up next to Jenna’s.
“Take your time,” I said.“Cash and I are going to be just fine.”
