Lark Gatlin. The girl who was absolutely off-limits. The one who I never thought I could feel anything other than apathy for, owns my heart and soul.
She has to come back.
I need her.
More than I’ve ever needed anyone.
I’m sitting in the waiting room with Lark’s parents. After I came out, her brothers went in, claiming they needed to check over everything. As if I would do anything to harm her.
Assholes. Both of them.
Her father has been quiet, just looking at me, shaking his head, and then staring at his wife.
I swear I can hear the questions rattling around in his head.
After another few minutes, he speaks. “Is someone going to tell me what’s going on here?”
Her mother replies. “About what?”
His gaze moves to me and then back to her. “What do you think, Millie?”
“I’m in love with your daughter, Mr. Gatlin.”
He grunts. “Right.”
“Lark and I started seeing each other in secret, and she’s…well, she’s amazing, and it didn’t take long for me to see how wonderful she is.”
“And what about the things happening to our farm?” he asks.
“It isn’t me, but…the video did show me in the barn because we’d been together, and I was making sure Lark got back safe. She was tired that night and upset about some stuff. I didn’t want anything to happen to her as she went back home. When the video came to light, to protect her from any issues that would come from our relationship, I took the fall. However, I’m not doing anything to harm your family, sir. I can at least promise you that.”
This time he laughs once, but there’s no humor. “No harm to my family? What do you think dating her was going to do? Bring us all together?”
Her mother reaches across his lap and takes his hand. “Hush now, George. I saw the recording, and everything he says is true.”
Both of us stare at her, but Mr. Gatlin speaks first. “You saw the recording? And you…kept it to yourself?”
“Yes, because Lark was trying to fix things on her own, and you boys all have issues with rationality and the Stone family.”
He huffs. “I wonder why.”
She shakes her head with a smile. “Anyway, they fell in love, no different than you and I did.”
His eyes widen. “No different? Are you hearing yourself? He’s a Stone, Millie. A Stone.”
“And she loves him. I don’t care if he’s the Devil himself if he makes my little girl happy. Lark loves him, and I know our daughter—she couldn’t love someone if they weren’t worthy. Besides, he came from Ginny Hart, and that woman was lovely in every way. Let’s just say he has more of his momma in him than his daddy.”
In this moment, I see just how wonderful her mother is. She reminds me of my own mother. She’d be saying the same things, shutting down the hate that has festered between our families for far too long. Virginia—or Ginny, as everyone called her—Stone was the kindest woman I’d ever known. She would always roll her eyes whenever my father would rant about the Gatlins.
Mom was from a few towns over. She didn’t understand the family rivalry and thought it was ridiculous.
Mr. Gatlin huffs and looks to me. “If you love her, why didn’t you come to me like a man and tell me?”
Fair question, and hopefully he will accept my answer. “Because I didn’t want to complicate her life. I loved her toomuch to cause her pain. The idea of her family taking anything out on her because of me was too much. I wanted to protect her from it. I was willing to walk away if it meant she didn’t hurt any of you.”
He shifts his jaw side to side and looks away. “I see.”
Mrs. Gatlin’s eyes shine with approval. “Did you know I used to have coffee with your momma every week?”
