“Yeah, why?”
“Because I have a secret I’ve saved to tell you on our first anniversary.”
“I may have already seen the new black cowboy hat hidden in the closet.”
“Sully!” she gasped. “You’re so ornery. You peeked?”
“I didn’t mean to,” he said and splayed a hand over his heart. “I was getting something out of the hall closet when a box fell off the shelf and the lid opened.” With a chuckle, he said, “But for what it’s worth, it fits perfectly.”
“Sully.” Charley laughed. “You’re forgiven. I may have accidentally seen a bracelet box from the jewelry store where we bought our rings.”
“Charley, you bad girl!” Sully said, sweeping the sides of his jacket back and placing his hands on his hips.
“I’m sorry! I was looking for a pen in the kitchen and the jewelry box was in that drawer. I promise I didn’t peek.”
Sully cocked a brow and then chuckled. “You came into the kitchen right after I got home from the jewelry store, and I slipped the box into a drawer. I forgot about it until an hour or so later.” He pulled the box from his jacket pocket and offered it to her. “Wanna peek now?”
“You know I do.” Charley took the box and carefully opened it to see a diamond and ruby bracelet sparkling on red velvet. “Oh, Sully, it’s beautiful,” she said, smiling up at him. “I love it.” She took the bracelet out of the box, and he fastened it around her wrist. “Thank you.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day and anniversary, wife. Now tell me your secret.”
“I’m pregnant, husband.”
“Charley.” Sully whispered. Ever so tenderly, he placed his left hand on Charley’s flat stomach. “You’re right. That makes me even happier than ever.”
“Me too,” she said, her left hand flattening over his. “I feel so lucky to be married to my best friend and my protector. I love you with my whole heart, and I will take care of you for the rest of my life,” she whispered and swallowed the lump in her throat as he pulled her into his arms again. “Happy Valentine’s Day and first anniversary, Mr. Custis.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Custis. I love you, and I will take care of both of you for the rest of my life.” Holding her and their unborn child to his heart, he asked, “When is our baby due?”
“I haven’t been to the doctor yet,” Charley said, looking up at him. “But by my calculations, September seventeenth.”
No sooner had Sully kissed her than they heard a vehicle arriving. With an ear-to-ear smile, he grabbed Charley’s hand, and they made their way out of the dining room. Owen and Henri caught up with them in the foyer as a knock sounded on the front. The caterers bustled into the house and were steered toward the dining room and kitchen as appropriate.
Stainless serving trays lit with candles kept filet mignons, sauteed vegetables, and loaded baked potatoes warm. Another tray offered chicken parmesan and noodles covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella. For any of the children who wanted a less grown-up meal, there were trays filled with macaroni and cheese, burgers, hotdogs, and fries.
More vehicles arrived as the caterers departed. Right on cue, members of the Custis crew, along with Coopers and Brevards, arrived for the Valentine’s Day anniversary party with salads and desserts. Coats and wraps were collected, and hugs distributed. The den was lively as Owen tended bar. The kitchen was bustling as last-minute items were taken to the dining room.
Sitting at the head of the long table, with Charley on his right and his father at the other end of the table, Sully smiled at her. How close had she come to losing this one-of-a-kind man? Too perilously close. She pushed that thought out of her mind and smiled back, loving him so much she felt her heart might burst.
“Sully!” Owen called from the opposite end of the room. “You’ve been grinning all through dinner. Want to let the rest of us in on your secret?”
Sully looked at Charley who nodded. “It’s our secret,” he said and picked up his wineglass. As Charley picked up a glass of sparkling water, he said, “You tell ’em.”
“Come September, Sully and I are going to add to the Triple C Ranches and Cooper-Custis clan.”
Whoops and hollers, clinking glasses, and clapping erupted around the room as people left their seats and came to congratulate them.
Charley glanced around the room filled with Chase, Jade, Colton, and Courtney Cooper, all smiles and offering congratulations. Derek and Chloe Brevard with Cooper, Austin, and Abilene were grinning and toasting the good news. Cash, probably the Cooper to whom Sully was closest, gave him a bear hug as Tracy embraced Charley. Their children, Carly and Dalton Cooper, would be nearest in age to the new baby. How blessed she was to have had the opportunity to add the Cooper, Brevard, and Custis clans to her life.
The Custis crew also congratulated them, mingling with the Coopers and Brevards as they celebrated the baby that would tie their families together. Then Sully and Charley made their way to Coop, the beloved patriarch of the Coopers who had cheered as loudly as anyone, and to Tammy as she sat beside him, wiping a tear of joy from her eye.
Amid the celebration, Sully tugged Charley aside and said, “Charley Cooper Custis, you’re the one who brought our families together.”
“You were all friends years before I came along,” Charley said modestly.
“We were friends. But my dad and I were two bachelors living alone on separate ranches,” Sully pointed out. “Because of you, I’m no longer alone. Because of your shop, Dad reconnected with Henri. Because you hired Mindy, Randy met Mindy’s best friend at Pretty Petals. Now, he’s engaged and happier than I’ve ever seen him. The people in this house tonight are here because of you.”
“And Wyatt?” Charley smiled as the big black Labrador padded up to them.
“And Wyatt.” Sully chuckled.
“It’s you, Sully. Wyatt, the baby, and I are here because of you.”
“Yeehaw, city slicker.”
“Yeehaw, country boy.”
