I pull into the courthouse parking lot just as Lisa's sedan comes around the corner. She's driving carefully, precisely, the way she always has. The way that used to drive me crazy whenwe were teenagers and I wanted to get wherever we were going as fast as possible.
She parks next to my truck, and I can see Tommy's car seat in the back. The baby is awake, making those soft sounds that babies make when they're content. Lisa gets out first, smoothing down her dress, and then opens the back door to unbuckle Tommy.
She's changed clothes since this morning. The wrinkled blue dress is gone, replaced by something green that brings out her eyes and makes her look like she's actually going to something important instead of running on autopilot. Her hair is pulled back in a neat bun, and she's wearing lipstick.
She's beautiful. She's always been beautiful, but right now, holding that baby against her hip while she locks her car, she's devastating.
I'm out of my truck and walking toward them before I consciously decide to move.
"Sorry I'm late," I say, reaching them just as Lisa settles Tommy more securely against her side. "Tourist situation."
"It's fine. We just got here too." She looks up at me, and there's nervousness in her green eyes that wasn't there this morning. "Sawyer, are you sure about this? Because we can still back out. I can figure out something else, find another way to..."
"Lisa." I reach out, touch her arm gently. "We're doing this."
She nods, takes a deep breath. "Okay. Yes. We're doing this."
Tommy chooses that moment to look at me with those serious dark eyes that remind me of Emma. He's got Lisa's stubborn chin, though, and something about the way he studies my face makes me think he's already trying to figure out if I'm trustworthy.
"Hey there, buddy." I keep my voice low, the way I've learned to do around babies. "You remember me?"
I've seen Tommy exactly three times since Emma passed. Once when Lisa brought him to the diner, and I happened to be there getting coffee. Once when I ran into them at the grocery store. And once when I helped Lisa change a flat tire outside the pharmacy, Tommy slept through the whole thing in his car seat.
But something about today feels different. More significant. Like I'm meeting him for real this time, as the man who's about to become his stepfather.
Even if it's temporary.
Tommy reaches out with one chubby hand, grabbing for my badge. I lean closer, let him touch the shiny metal, and he makes a pleased sound that goes straight to my chest.
"He likes you," Lisa says softly.
"Good thing, since we're about to become family."
The words come out before I can stop them, and Lisa's eyes widen slightly. But before either of us can analyze what I just said, the courthouse doors open and Hilda Barnes comes walking out.
Hilda Barnes, who owns the general store and knows every piece of gossip in Grizzly Ridge within thirty minutes of it happening. Hilda Barnes, who helped raise half the kids in this town and considers herself everyone's unofficial grandmother.
Hilda Barnes, who is staring at me, Lisa, and Tommy like she's just witnessed the second coming.
"Well, I'll be damned," she says, stopping right in front of us. "Sawyer McKenna, what exactly are you doing at the courthouse on a Friday morning with Lisa Graham and that sweet baby?"
Lisa looks at me, panic flickering across her face. We talked about this. About how people would ask questions, about what we'd tell them. But talking about it and actually facing down Hilda Barnes's shrewd eyes are two very different things.
"Morning, Hilda." I keep my voice calm, even. "Lisa and I are getting a marriage license."
Hilda's eyebrows shoot up toward her silver hairline. "A marriage license? You two? Well, it's about damn time."
"About time?" Lisa's voice comes out slightly strangled.
"Honey, everyone in this town has been waiting for Sawyer to get his head out of his ass and ask you out properly since you came back from college. Though I have to say, you sure didn't waste any time once you finally figured it out." Hilda's eyes drop to Tommy, then back to our faces. "When's the wedding?"
Lisa tenses beside me. We haven't actually talked about when we're getting married, just that we need to do it soon. But looking at Hilda's expectant face, I realize we're about to set the town rumor mill in motion, whether we're ready or not.
"Soon," I say. "Very soon. We don't want to wait."
"Good for you. Life's too short to waste time on long engagements." Hilda reaches out to touch Tommy's hand, and he grins at her with the devastating charm that all babies seem to possess. "And this little angel gets a daddy. Emma would be so happy, God rest her soul."
The words hit Lisa hard. I can see it in the way her shoulders tighten, the way her grip on Tommy shifts slightly. But she manages a smile, nodding at Hilda as if she agrees.
