Keeping my left hand hidden in my lap, I set the ring box on the table. “They’re here in case you need to be escorted off the ranch. And she’s crocheting. Not knitting. I’m not sure about the execution part.”
He gives a nervous chuckle. “I came to talk, Bluebonnet. I miss you. And I’ve been givingusa lot of thought.” He sits down across from me. “Hear me out.”
Nudging the box toward him, I stay quiet. He can talk until he turns purple. It won’t change my mind.
“The baby doesn’t have to be a problem. We can hire a nanny. There are plenty of excellent boarding schools. A child doesn’t have to be a disruption to our life. And we’ll get you a personal trainer so you can lose all the baby weight quickly.” His gaze slides down the front of me. “Honestly, you look great. I figured you’d be fatter by now.” He lays an open hand on the table. “I want you back. We can make this work.”
The door flies open, and Parker stomps in. “I lied. I don’t think you should talk to him. I mean, I’m not going to stop you if that’s what you want to do, but I have something I need to say.”
Dumplin’s here. I want to hope he’s here to tell me he loves me, but if I let myself hope, the disappointment will be too much to bear.
My lungs feel like they’re being starved of air, and I barely have enough breath to choke out, “You do?”
“Yeah.” He takes off his ball cap and threads his fingers through his hair. “I love you, Bonny Blue. I’ve been crazy about you for fifteen years. You were the first to sign my casts becauseyourswas the only name I cared about having on there. And I wanted it to be in a prime spot.” He walks up to the table and stops beside John. “I named my horse after you. I would’ve called her Blue, but Beau’s horse was named Blue, and having two horses with the same name would be downright confusing, so I put them in stalls next to each other—Blue and Bonnet.”
“I thought it was because of the white on her head.”
“Nope. And all those things I said about convincing people that I’ve been in love with you for years? No one needed convincing. They all knew because it’s all true.” Parker rests his hands on the table and leans closer. “My feelings for you are the worst-kept secret in the county.”
John fixates on the visible wedding band, and his focus darts between Parker and me. “I feel like I’m missing something.”
Parker acts like John’s not even there. “When I stood under that big old oak and promised to love you forever, I meant every word. Love, honor, cherish—all of it. And I don’t care if we don’t have kids or if we have a dozen. Okay, maybe not a dozen because that’s a lot. But I’m trying to tell you that I love you.Youare who I want. I love being married to you, fighting off squirrels for you, and going on late-night drives. Having you snuggled beside me as I drift off to sleep is better than any dream. What I feel for you is more than a silly crush. And I’m not sure the right words have been invented to convey how much I love you.” He stands up and shoves his hands in his pockets. “That’s what I needed to say.”
“You love me?” He’s been so convincing the little voice in my head saying that I don’t deserve him is uncharacteristically silent. But I need to hear him affirm it.
“I do.” That wonderful Parker smile spreads across his face as he opens his arms. “I know you don’t need me, but is there any chance you want me? Will you stay married to me, Bonny Blue?”
I’ve never felt so loved in all my life. And I don’t even care that Ava and the ranch hands are gathered in the doorway, watching. All those nights of resting my head on his chest, hearing his heart beat, and wishing somehow all those promises we made to each other at the wedding were true, and the whole time, they were.
I sat here to put distance between me and John, but now I’m too far from the man I love, so I climb over the table.
“Whoa. Hello! I’m sitting right here.” John still thinks he’s the star of this show. He springs to his feet and rounds on Parker. “Listen, you may think you’ve found yourhappily-ever-after, but that kid is mine.” He inches closer, but Parker doesn’t flinch. John sneers. “I’m going to do everything I can to make life difficult for you.” After a glance at the door, he steps back.
I guess he doesn’t want to take on a bunch of coffee-fueled cowboys. My friends, who feel very much like family.
Stepping in between John and Parker, I lean back against my husband and take a second to calm down so I don’t do something that will land me in jail. “I miscarried. I’m not pregnant anymore.”
John gapes, clearly stunned by my news. This is the silver lining. I no longer have any ties to John.
Parker turns me around and presses a kiss to my forehead. “I can’t make your pain go away. And I know it hurts because I feel it too. But we can be sad together.”
I slide my arms around his waist and bury my head in his chest. “And we can be happy together. You don’t know what it meant to be able to fall asleep listening to your heart beating. I can’t imagine going through this whole thing without you.” Tilting my head back, I look him in the eye and say what I should’ve said weeks ago. “What I’m trying to say is that I love you, Dumplin’. And I want you. Forever.”
Cheers erupt from our audience. Well, John’s not cheering.
Dag laughs. “I can’t believe you waited this long to tell her how you feel, dude.”
Parker whips around and looks at him. “Are you serious?”
“Duh. It seemed pretty obvious.” Dag motions to Kent, looking for backup, but he only shrugs.
I slide my hands up Dumplin’s chest and around his neck. “Until marrying you, I had no idea what real love was.”
The twinkle in his eye sets my insides on fire. “Is that so?”
John snatches the box off the table and huffs as he marches toward the door. “Don’t bother calling me.”
Anderson shifts, leaving barely enough room for John to slip out. “I’m thinking that won’t be an issue. It seems pretty clear that she doesn’t wantyou.” He tips his hat. “Have a nice day.”
