“There’s no thanks needed because she’s given me more than Ican ever give her.”
* * * *
I don’t feel half as sick to my stomach as I did going toHadley’s family.
My parents took the news—all of the news—with absolute joy.Mom cried, because that’s what she does. My father was worried, but warmed to herimmediately, and now I think he likes her better, and my uncles and aunts arealready helping pick out baby names.
Hadley reaches over, tapping my shoulder. “Tell them aboutthe time you failed the debate.”
“No.”
“No, tell them how I was right and you were wrong, it’s agreat story.”
I roll my eyes. “And now she’s marrying me.”
The ring shimmers in the light and she smiles. “I am. Eventhough you lost that day.”
“One time. One time I was wrong.”
“There were more than that, but who’s counting?”
Uncle Wyatt chuckles. “Son, you better get used to beingwrong. I haven’t been right in about fifteen years, right, Angel?”
Aunt Angie sighs. “He wasn’t right before that but he had noone to remind him of it.”
Hadley grins. “Cayden was right this morning, I’ll give himthat.”
“Last time ever, kid,” Dad says.
Logan leans back, tossing his arm behind Hadley. “If he everdoes something really dumb, let me know and I’ll tell you exactly how to makehim hurt.”
“And on that note,” I say, getting to my feet. “Come on,sweetheart. I want to show you something.”
Hadley gets up, and I help her with her coat, wrap a scarfaround her, and we head out toward the barn. Dad has about ten horses that arejust for family. He and Mom ride every morning, and I want to take her to oneof my favorite spots. However, there’s not a chance in hell I am going to puther on a horse.
So, I asked Uncle Wyatt to do me a solid.
“Your farm is amazing,” Hadley says as we go through thestable. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
“Dad rebuilt a lot after Granddad died. He wanted his legacyto really live on.”
“He’s done a remarkable job. Everything is beautiful, butstill a horse farm, if you know what I mean?”
I laugh. “That’s Mom’s doing. She wanted everything to stilllook affordable. We sell not only racehorses, but to everyday farmers as well.Dad never wanted us to forget our roots, which is deep in Tennessee withfarming. My mom’s parents were one of the Hennington’s first customers.”
Sometimes it’s easy to forget where you come from. While Ihave my other father’s family, they’ve never really been like theHenningtonsto me. They barely speak to Logan or I, theonly time is to let us know how much we remind them of my dad. I can understandit, but when we moved here, we becameMiMiand Grandad’sblood, without sharing a drop of it.
Hadley wraps her hands around my arm and sighs. “I love allthe history here. We both have that in common.”
“It’s probably why I didn’t run out of your parents’ housescreaming.”
“Daddy is intense, but you won him over.”
She looks up at me and my chest tightens.
“What?” she asks as she studies my face.
“I didn’t know I could love someone this much.”
