CHAPTER 16
Ainsleigh
Y esterday, Gentry and I took Dylan and Aspen to the airport. I hated saying goodbye to them even if it was only for a week. Having them here for the past couple of weeks made it feel more like home. I’d gotten used to seeing them every day and I was thankful for their decision to move here permanently, especially since we were going to be parents again. A girl would need her best friends now more than ever.
After Gentry and I ate breakfast with my parents, we headed out to the barn to visit with Sparkle before we started for the day. He told me first thing this morning, he’d take care of the stalls since he didn’t want me to exert myself. He’d already gone into protective mode, and I loved it. I was sure once I got further along, it’d annoy me, but for now, I’d enjoy him feeling like he was protecting us.
“Don’t overdo it today,” Gentry warned me as he placed a chaste kiss on my lips while he held the reins to the horse standing beside him.
“I’m not. I’m heading over to the office to talk to my dad about taking over for Loretta when she leaves. I did minor in accounting while I was in college and figured I could put it to good use.”
“Good. I’ll see you later, beautiful.”
Instead of getting on Sparkle like I wanted to, I got on the four-wheeler and headed over to the property beside my parents where the office building was located. When I was pregnant before, being on a horse made me dizzy, and I didn’t want to take any chances with this pregnancy.
A short ride later, I stopped in front of the building and hopped off the four-wheeler. I waved at my brothers who were getting ready to take some guests out on a tour as I walked inside the building.
The cool air hit me in the face the second I walked inside. It felt heavenly.
“Good morning, Ainsleigh. What can I do for you today?” Loretta asked as she greeted me. It was hard to believe in two short weeks she would be retiring. I’d known her since I was born.
“Good morning, Loretta. I was hoping to find my dad before he left for the day. Is he around?”
“He sure is. He’s in his office. I just wanted to say congratulations again on getting your degree. It was a sad time while you were away, but we’re happy you’re home now where you belong.”
“Thank you. It was hard to be away, but I’m glad to be home as well. I’ll come see you before I leave for the day,” I told her as I smiled and headed off to have a chat with my dear old dad. Hopefully he went for what I was proposing. I knew he wasn’t having any luck finding someone he deemed suitable. I thought it was because he didn’t like change and he didn’t want to entrust anyone with the daily tasks of running this place when Loretta had done such a great job over the years. I hoped I could get him to see things my way.
“Good morning, Daddy,” I said with a knock on the doorframe of his office.
“Good morning, sweetheart. What did I do to deserve this visit?” He sat down his pen and motioned for me to enter as he took his reading glasses off of his face.
“Can’t a girl come and see her daddy once in a while?” I said with a smirk as I took a seat in one of the leather chairs I remembered sitting in as a child while watching him work.
“Of course, she can. But usually these visits turn into you needing something. So spill the beans.”
He knew me too well.
“You know my minor in college was accounting. And Ms. Loretta is leaving.”
I paused to gain the courage to mention my plan.
“Yes, I know both of those things. What’s the point of this, Ainsleigh?”
“Well, I just thought since you haven’t found a replacement yet, that I could take over her position. I know the ins and outs of the business, and you know you can trust me to do a good job with everything. It’s a win for both of us.”
Now it was out there. He could either go for it one hundred percent or shoot me down.
“What’s this about? I thought you wanted to be more involved with the tours and being out in the open day in and day out. You’d be happy in here all day long answering phones and taking payments and everything else that goes with the job?”
“I’ve thought about it and I think I would. I can make sure people want to come here even more than they did when they searched the site for somewhere to go. And you won’t really have to teach me much because I’ve seen how everything works.”
My leg started bouncing without me even thinking about doing it. That was how I reacted when I was nervous. My energy and anxiety had to go somewhere, and that was my body’s way of making sure I got it out.
“There’s nothing you’re not telling me?”
I should tell him right here and now, but I couldn’t. I had to make sure the look he gave me at finding out of the loss of Arabella wasn’t one he gave me again. I wanted him happy when I told him the news. Not sad or fearful. So I remained silent and shook my head.
“Not at all. Well, there’s one thing. How would you feel about me and Gentry moving into the house? I think it’s time that it didn’t sit vacant.”
I could steer this conversation in another direction and have him focused on that instead of what else I could potentially be hiding from him.
“Are you sure that you are both ready for that? You’ve only been home a short while.”
“I am. Oh, and I got some great news yesterday. Aspen and Dylan are moving here. They loved it so much they decided to stay. We’re all going to be living together.”
“I’m glad to see you so happy and with a smile on your face. You know your mother and I worry. Speaking of her, you’re going to be the one to tell her that good news. I’m not doing your dirty work for you,” he said as he stood and came around the desk, pulling me up so that I was standing, and gave me a big hug. The smell of Old Spice filled my lungs and made me feel safe as I returned the hug.
“I’m truly happy, Daddy. You don’t need to worry. You should, however, be worried about those sons of yours. One day they’re going to bring something unwanted home,” I joked as we pulled back to look at each other.
“I’ll never stop worrying about any of you. Just because you’re grown doesn’t mean a parent ever stops worrying about their children. And yes, I fear that will become a reality one of these days with as much as they get around. But don’t go telling your mother. She still thinks they do no wrong,” he replied with a wink as he sat down.
“I’ll let Loretta know to start your training tomorrow. I know you’ll be a great asset here in the office. But if you ever want a day to go out on tours or feel too stuffy, let me know and I’m sure I can get one of your brothers to cover for you for a day.”
“Thank you, Daddy. You won’t regret this. I promise,” I said as I skipped out of his office. I felt like a kid in a candy store at the moment. I couldn’t wait to tell Gentry the good news. Finally, I felt like everything was falling into place.
I stayed at the office and visited with Loretta for a while, listening to her stories and how she couldn’t wait to go see her grandkids once the next two weeks passed. Her face lit up as she talked about them. I’d surely miss her when she was gone.
Before I realized it, lunchtime arrived. My brothers barreled into the office breaking mine and Loretta’s conversation up.
“You three are going to track mud all in my office. You know better,” she said as she stood from her chair.
“Yes, ma’am. We won’t move past the doorway. We just wanted to come let our loving sister know that Gentry was looking for her. And to give her shit for missing today’s tour,” Brooks spoke. The tone in his voice suggested he was actually scared of getting on Loretta’s bad side.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Loretta,” I told her as I stood. She smiled and gave me a questioning look. I’d let my dad tell her the good news.
“It took all three of you to come to get me,” I razzed them as I walked in between them and through the door they’d left open.
“We had to make sure the job got done,” Holden said as all they walked me out to where the four-wheeler was parked.
“Sure you did. I’ll see you three later. I’ve gotta go find my man,” I replied as I got onto the four-wheeler.
Before I started it, Leo spoke.
“Why’d you miss the tour? That wasn’t like you.”
“I’ll tell you guys at dinner.” I had to leave them hanging. It was only fair since they always messed with me when I was younger.
I pulled away leaving them with shocked expressions on their faces. Served their asses right.
I found Gentry taking the wheel barrel out of the barn when I arrived. I pulled up and parked in my usual spot before I rushed to greet him.
“I take it the meeting went well?” he laughed as he caught me in his arms and spun me around with a laugh.
“It did. I’ll start my training tomorrow with Loretta. Everything seems to be falling into place.” I actually said that and meant every word.
“You just have one more thing to do.”
“What’s that?” I asked as I pulled back, leaving my arms wrapped around his neck and giving him a questioning look.
“Make the doctor’s appointment.”
I knew I needed to. I just didn’t know if I could. I couldn’t handle another heartbreaking loss.
“On a brighter note, I told my dad all about us living together at the house and about Dylan and Aspen’s shocking news,” I said as I tried to divert the conversation.
“Ainsleigh,” he warned.
“I know I need to. And I will. I just needed some good news in my life.”
“And you’ll get even more good news at the appointment. Call the doctor today.”
“You’ll go with me?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Now, about that conversation with your dad. How did he take that news?”
I went on to tell him that my dad only wanted to make sure we weren’t rushing anything, and I had to be the one to tell my mom.
“We’ll tell her together. You don’t have to do it alone.”
“Thank you. I know you’ll be happy to not be sleeping above the barn anymore.”
“I never minded it. I felt closer to you while I was there. It made the lonely nights bearable. Now that I have you home, I don’t need to feel close to you. I’ve got the real thing to keep me company and warm at night,” he replied as he kissed the tip of my nose.
“When do you want to move in?” I asked.
“As soon as possible,” he stated while his eyebrows rose and fell.
“I wonder why,” I said as I let my arms fall and playfully smacked him on the shoulder.
I’m glad we were back to our playful banter. Maybe he’d forget all about my need to make the appointment and focus solely on us moving into the house.