“Yeah, she looks just like a princess,” Christine says.
“She didn’t tell me she was in the parade,” I mention as the float gets closer.
“A parade couldn’t be put on one year.” She looks up at me, and whispers, “The town had no money for it. So they’re a year behind. The new Peach Queen is crowned by the ten-year anniversary queen. That’s Lauralee this year.”
It’s the moment her eyes find mine in the crowd, the smile that blooms before my very eyes that has my heart thumping in my chest. I wave to her like the others, and when she winks, I know it’s for me. She waves with both hands to Daisy, who bounces in excitement. “Leelee,” she shouts.
Christine steps around the front of me after they pass. Reaching up for Daisy, I lift her and pass her daughter into her arms. “She looked beautiful. Don’t you think, Baylor?”
She always does, but I’m not sure what to say that won’t put her on the scent of something more going on. So I reply, “Yeah. Sure. Beck said you’ll be at the rodeo at one?”
“I want to catch the barrel racing.” My sister was the best when she participated. “Do you want to meet us there?”
“I’ll be there.”
Standing on her tiptoes, she says, “As soon as I find Beckett, we’re going back to the ranch. We came out for the parade, but we’ll need naps before tackling the activities this afternoon. Dad and Tag are wrapping up duties with a few of the ranch hands before everyone takes the rest of the day off. I also need to make sure they’re drinking enough water today. It’s a hot one.”
“Sure is. Hey, thanks for bringing the hat and gear.”
“Anytime.” She laughs. “Can’t have you looking like a city slicker now, can we?”
“Come here,” I say, wrapping her and her growing belly, and Daisy up in my arms to hug them both at once. I kiss both their heads and hold them. Not for long because it’s too hot out here for that, but long enough for her to wrap her free arm around me, too. “I love you, Pris.”
“That’s your one freebie with that name.”
I chuckle. “So feisty.” When I release them, I’m not released in turn.
Instead, she holds me, tucking her head to my chest, and whispers, “I love you, big brother.”
Griffin and I were close in age, and as brothers, we were friends. I never appreciated my sister as much as I should have. The past few years, since my mom’s death, her running the ranch and then marrying my best friend have managed to bring us closer. I appreciate the second chance she gave me to make amends for leaving her to pick up the pieces when I couldn’t. And Griffin barely made it back to the funeral before he took off again. Same goes for our little sister’s wedding.
I don’t hear from him nearly enough, but I’m to blame for not reaching out more, either. I want to be here for my family as much as I can.
When she steps back, she takes a deep breath. I swear those are tears forming in the inner corners of her eyes, but she laughs it off and rolls her eyes. “It’s always good to have you back.” She starts walking backward and away from me down the sidewalk. “Maybe you need to consider staying here for good one day.”
“It’s always on my mind,” I lie. It wasn’t until Tagger moved here, I should say. Over the past month, after spending time with Lauralee, I have also had that thought pop in and out a few times. I can’t give her hope when it’s just not a possibility with my job, and how I’m growing my career. Speaking of . . . “Hey, what do you think about a New York-style pizzeria downtown?”
She laughs. “Beckett and Tagger would eat you out of your profits. But I like the way you’re thinking, Bay.” She turns to go, cupping her hand to the side of her mouth, and calling, “We’re over here, Beckett.” He runs to her side, excitedly showing her all the candy he collected.
Having visions of my own kids running to show me how much candy they scored isn’t something I expected, but I’m not upset by them. I even start smiling to myself as I walk to the apartment to wait for Shortcake since she’ll need to change before leaving again.
When I enter the place, I hang the key on the hook and drop my hat on the counter. Sitting on the couch, I don’t need any entertainment. My mind is in overdrive thinking about what Christine said. Is Peachtree Pass somewhere I’d want to settle?
When Tagger and I left for college on a football scholarship, neither of us had any intention of returning to this small town. We wanted the opposite. Excitement. Energy. An office job over working outside. Working a ranch, a farm, and even the orchard is never-ending labor. It’s everything we were escaping.
We were never looking back. Until he did. Becoming a dad changed his mind, his views on life, and how he wanted to raise his kid. I’m sure my sister complicated things, like she always does, but the story goes he fell in love the moment they saw each other again.
I’m not a dad, but the rest of the story seems to be aligning with mine and Lauralee’s. Coincidence or fate? Are we both doomed or graced with the chance to move back and have another start in this life that could lead to happiness?
The door opens, causing me to stand. When she walks in, she smiles as soon as she sees me. “Hey there, stud.”
“Hi.” I wipe my hands down the sides of my jeans. Suddenly, I’m having thoughts of being greeted by that smile when I come home in the evenings. I shake my head to clear what’s not real and appreciate what’s right in front of me. “I think I’m the luckiest guy in Greene County.” I slide my hands around her waist and kiss her neck.
“Oh yeah?” I’m not used to laying my emotions out on a platter to be examined, but I will for her so she knows I’m trying. If anyone else had asked, I wouldn’t be making the effort.
Lauralee is different.
I haven’t been able to pinpoint why I’ve felt so comfortable and at ease sharing a side of myself that I usually don’t. Now I know. It’s not just because we’re having sex, though that’s fucking fantastic. She holds me accountable for what I’m saying. No bullshit lines will work on her. She wants the truth, and she returns the favor. I have no doubt the same would go for my actions.
