Unfortunately, the speed of gossip worked to Rett’s detriment. She’d forgotten to tell her parents of what she had done—that she married Calum with the entire town none the wiser—she hadn’t even thought to tell them. But she remembered and wished she had as she stared at her father sitting on the porch. His hands clasped together in front of him, he raised a brow at her and stayed silent. She opened her mouth to say something,anything. He beat her to it.
“Do you know how embarrassing it is to find out you have a son-in-law from someone you’re giving mail to?”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I just…”
“You gotta tell us these things, Loretta,” he said; his voice remained steady, low, but she heard the disappointment in it. “When did you two even get engaged?”
Rett squirmed uncomfortably and clenched her hand around the strap of her backpack. “Last Friday.”
“You—Are you serious, Retta?”
“Yeah. It’s okay, though. I’m pretty sure he’s the one.”
“You ain’t known him but six months!”
“Seven, actually.”
His glare sent her shrinking back, and Matthew sighed at the sight. Rising to his feet, he gestured for his daughter to go inside. Rett followed reluctantly. She knew there would be more discussion over her last-minute decision. She only hoped Georgie and Charles were more lenient than her parents would be.
twelve
Calum
GEORGIE STARED AT THE plain band on Calum’s finger for a long moment. His stomach roiled and heart thundered as he waited for her reaction. He thought he knew his aunt well enough. He was reminded at that moment that he really didn’t know her at all, despite living in the same house for the last seven months.
She was kind and generous to a fault—after all, she’d taken in a troublesome kid she hadn’t seen in eleven years. Her temper was slow to spark, and she liked to laugh. She preferred to keep busy. “Idle hands are the Devil’s playthings,” she’d said multiple times as if her entire life revolved around the quote.
But the expression on her face gave Calum no clue as to how she felt about his sudden marriage.
Finally, she sighed as she met his gaze. “You better call your mama, kiddo, ’cause she sure as heck ain’t hearin’ this from me.”
“You aren’t mad?”
It was a stupid question. What adult would be thrilled with their charge getting married only months after turning eighteen? But it was the only thing he could say. If his aunt was angry, would that mean he made the wrong choice?
But of course he hadn’t made the wrong choice. He knew he hadn’t. He marriedRett. Sweet, loving, beautiful Loretta Cox who’d shown him there was more to Oak Creek than met the eye. She had given him hope in something greater than the life he’d left behind. She loved him. Him, of all people. Marrying her could never have been the wrong choice.
“I’m not mad,” Georgie answered after a long moment. “Rett’s been good for you. You’re a bit young, sure, but… Calum, you’re an adult. Whether or not I like your decisions, I can’t stop you. I only hope you didn’t rush into this.”
Calum didn’t know if he’d rushed into it. All he knew was Rett said they should get married, and it felt right. It felt like the only course of action. He couldn’t even remember why he’d argued against it. He wanted to spend his life with her, no matter how young they were. How could he possibly have said ‘no’ when her gray eyes shined so brightly? When all he wanted to do was kiss her through his shock and vow to deserve her every day?
“We didn’t,” he finally said.
Georgie’s brows drew together before a smile pulled at her lips. “Good. Now go call your mama.”
His mother wasn’t as approving of the situation: She spent ten minutes scolding him for getting married so young, warning him it wouldn’t work out. Reminding him he was leaving at the end of the year. In two months, she said in a voice brooking no arguments, Calum would be on a plane back to Las Vegas.
“Mom… I’m staying in Oak Creek.”
“What?”
Calum twisted the cord around his finger, pressing the receiver to his ear. He pointedly turned away at the sight of Tiffany in the hallway watching him. It didn’t matter—she would overhear anything he said, and gossip would flow like wine around town within seconds. Sighing, he closed his eyes.
“I want—I want to stay here.”
“I thought we talked about this, sweetheart. You said you’d come home.”
“I can’t leave now, Mom,” he pleaded for her to understand. To accept his decision. He had a wife now, and he could never leave Rett’s side. “I’ll come visit, I promise, but I’m going to continue living here.”
