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“I already told you, Lennon. I will be here for our little girl in any capacity she needs me. I fucking promise you that.”

“Thank you.”

“My pleasure, baby.” He lets out a yawn. “All right. I need some sleep. We have to go out to the winery around three in the morning tomorrow to get a head start since we’re behind after today.”

“Oh. Okay. Well, good night then.”

“Good night, Lennon. I’ll be home soon.”

“I know. I can’t wait.”

Once we end the call, I head to the back of the house to shower and get ready for bed, but a nagging weight sits in my chest. After my conversation with Easton, I know I won’t be able to sleep until I handle one more thing.

“Lennon?” Elodie answers on the first ring, this time in a much quieter space than before. “Everything okay?”

“Yes, but you know how you said you would help me if I needed you?”

“Of course.”

“Well, there is something that you can do for me after all.”

“Anything, Lennon.”

I take a deep breath and say, “Give me Elliot Thorne’s phone number, please. I’m going to need his legal services and I want to be prepared.”

Chapter 27

Easton

Some Things—Or People—You Just Can’t Control

Bright stage lights blind me as the crowd streams into the small arena around us. Lennon walks beside me, her hand in mine, as we head toward our seats in front of the stage.

At a show like this, it pays to know the woman who’ll be singing onstage in a few minutes.

“This is insane,” Lennon shouts loud enough that I can hear her over the murmuring around us.

“It really is. Makes me wonder if I should quit being a lineman and try country music on for size. I mean, the rush has to feel close to the same, right?”

Lennon eyes me curiously. “Uh, can you even sing, Easton?”

“Not even a little.”

Her laughter sparks my own. “Then I’m going to suggest you stick to telephone poles.”

“Probably a good idea.”

It’s Saturday night, and as promised, Lennon and I left for Nashville this morning after I got home from Blossom Peak, later than planned, last night. Thankfully, the Hart Winery job is complete, so I shouldn’t have to leave her again until well after the baby is born.

However, while I was away, I kept thinking about whether it might be time to find a new company to work for.

I’m tired of going wherever the boss sends me whenever he says. Jake and I started looking into launching our own telecom company late Thursday night, but I still have reservations.

The last thing I want to do is stress Lennon out about it until I’ve made up my mind. Besides, I can’t really leave the job until after the baby is born anyway, unless I’m ready to pay for health care outright on my own. It isn’t a horrible option, but one that requires more planning.

Lennon points across a row of seats. “There we are. Front and center.”

She scoots through the row toward our spot as I follow her. “Tell Elodie I’m gonna buy her the biggest bag of popcorn I can find.”