“I don’t know what that means, Beck. What’s the secret ingredient?”
“It’s the magic that makes something work. Grandma Grange told me it’s the love put into things, like her succotash or the fort. When you care about something, it shows in everything you do.”
I’m in sweetness overload and smiling ear to ear. “How did you know I’m his secret ingredient?”
There’s such innocence in the way he shrugs. “He was different when I visited. Happier. Not that he wasn’t, but?—”
“I know what you mean.”
“He had a picture of you guys. When he looked at it, Christine would call it smitten kitten, but I don’t really know what she means when she says it.” His brows pull together in confusion. “She called me a smitten kitten when I showed her a picture of Amy in the yearbook.”
“You’re not getting married, are you?” I playfully tease.
He could shake his head right off his neck if he’s not careful. “No, but I’m glad you and my uncle did.”
“Me, too.” I reach over and wrap my arm around him in a side hug. This kid has a knack for getting right to the meat and potatoes in life, even when the adults can’t. “Thank you for sharing with me.”
Macon walks down the steps, spilling lemonade over the edge of the glasses. “Yeah.” He shrugs again and hops out of the truck. Now that I’ve cooled down, I hop out too, and move to the passenger seat just as Baylor cuts in front of the truck.
When he gets situated in the driver’s seat, I say, “I want to tell everyone we’re married on Friday night.”
His grin kind of says it all, but when he reaches over to hold my hand, he says, “Friday night it is.”
CHAPTER 36
Baylor
I slip my ring on,then flex my fingers. It’s weird how different it feels wearing the metal band than not. I’ve felt the absence of it for the past few weeks. This feels right. Though seeing the rings sparkling on my wife’s hand feels amazing.
She spins in front of me with her arms out, her wedding dress as pretty as the day she got out of that car. “What do you think?”
“As gorgeous as the first time you wore it.”
“I’m glad I have another opportunity to wear it. I think it’s perfect for tonight. From what Christine told me, she’s gone all out. She wants the setting picture perfect,Southern Livingmagazine cover ready.” Coming to me, she says, “I want to enjoy the dinner, but seeing you back dressed to impress in those boots with your buckle and starched cowboy shirt is making me reconsider my plans.”
I walk to the hook on the wall by the door in the bedroom and take my finest cowboy hat. Silverbelly is an odd name for a color but that’s what Stetson called it when I ordered. “Wait until you see me with the hat.”
As soon as I set it on my head, her eyebrows shoot up and those pretty lips of hers part. “Be still my beating heart.” She throws her arms up. “Forget it. We’re staying home.”
Home.
It’s nothing ever formally stated because it was never a place once my mom passed. It was a memory of what used to be my childhood. I didn’t know what I was missing in New York until Lauralee came along. Now I feel it. I feel her in my soul because she’s my home. Wherever she goes, I go.
The apartment is temporary. One day, we’ll have our own homestead and family, and a house that keeps us warm in winter and cool in the summertime. For now, we’ll make strides to build that future together. Tonight, we’ll start with the announcement of our marriage.
Her arms are around me, and her lips brush against mine. But when she tells me she loves me, I feel whole. With a quick lick of my lips after hers leave mine, I ask, “Ready to go, Mrs. Greene?”
She hooks her arm with mine, smiling like she’s the lucky one in this deal we’ve made. She’s fooling herself. Everyone else and I know full well that I’m the one who scored in this relationship. “More than ready.”
“Something tells me they already know,”she says, glancing over at me when I park the truck at the house.
My family and hers are all on the porch steps waving at us. Big smiles, dressed up, and a caterer nearby. “Yeah. I’m getting the same feeling.” I get out and go around to help her down from the truck. Holding her by the waist, I add, “Do you think Beckett told them?”
“No. He wouldn’t.” She lands on her feet, and whispers, “She said it would be nice. So maybe it’s not about us at all.”
“Maybe, but this feels like a setup.”
There’s a skip to her step as she starts toward the house. “You’ve outdone yourself, Chris,” she says. “This is beautiful.”
