He took a seat on the other side of the desk, signing the paperwork and order forms I handed him. “I think we are on track to make a few thousand more this month than last.” I continued to crunch thenumbers.
“You know, I have noticed how great you have taken over this job. Holt and I are reallyproud.”
“Thanks.” It was so freaking hard to take my president seriously with bright ass blue lips, but I took the compliment toheart.
“Raine has really done well too after everything thathappened.”
“She’s one tough chick, that’s fordamnsure.”
Abel sighed. “I just wish she didn’t havetobe.”
I agreed, but it was what it was. The life had chosen us and deep down we all loved it. “What doesn’t kill you makes youstronger.”
“Amen to that brother.” Abel got up and started to head out of the office. “You’ve been in here for hours, kid. Let’s grababeer.”
I couldn’t argue with that; a beer sounded mighty nicerightthen.
“Sounds good. There’s actually something I’ve been meaning to ask you before we head outthere.”
Abel shook his head. “Beer first. It’s just been one ofthosedays.”
My heart started to race a little. I didn’t want to blow the surprise for Raine. “Yeah,okay.”
I followed Abel to the bar where Crickett and Raine were stocking up the beer for the night shift that was about tostartsoon.
“Hey guys.” Crickett didn’t even need to ask, she just put two brown bottles down in frontofus.
“Thanks.” I looked over at Raine. “Hey,babe?”
She glanced up after throwing ice over thebottles. “Yeah?”
“There’s a few cases of fruit that came in this morning, I haven’t been able to check them out yet. Will you go and do it? I need to talk to your folks for a second about thebooks.”
She nodded and headed for the back without question. That was one nice thing about the women in our lives: they never questioned us, just trusted and loved usunconditionally.
I sighed, trying to find thewords.
Crickett leaned on the bar. “Everythingokay?”
I nodded, peeling off the label from my Bud bottle. “Yeah, I just don’t know how toputthis.”
Abel patted me on the shoulder. “Just remember when life gets you down, it’s only one down and the rest are up.” He drank the bottle of his beer and slammed the dead soldier onto the bar top. “Now what is it you wanted to askme,son?”
I swallowed hard.Here goes nothing.“I want to ask for your permission to ask Raine tomarryme.”
I heard a shriek come from behind me and Abel started to laugh. “Well, I guess that’s myanswer.”
Raine’s arms flew around my neck and she started kissing me over and over while saying, “Yes! Yes! Yes! Of course I willmarryyou.”
The smile that spread across my face must have been bigger than Texas. I glanced over at Abel and then to Crickett. “I wanted this to be asurprise.”
Crickett came from behind the bar and hugged Raine and I together. “Welcome to the family,Ryder.”
Abel stood up and wrapped his arms around his little girl. “Of course you have myblessing,son.”
Son.It stained the air and soakedintome.
That word had a different tone to it and sunk into my bones. I finally was right where I was supposed to be, with a family and the woman of my dreams. I had never expected my life to turn out that way, but there I was, knee deep in a life I loved because it hadchosenme.
theend.
