It had been two hours since we walked into the house with Corina wearing the shirt. Her mother rushed over to her and wrapped her in arms. They talked for a few minutes in a corner and when I saw Lori start crying, I knew she had either noticed the shirt or Corina had told her. I couldn’t pull my eyes off them. I’d never seen Corina so happy, and Lori was clearly over the moon.
Chloe instantly loved Lori and dragged her to the sofa to read a book together. I loved how Corina’s mother seemed to fit right in with my family. It was a sign, for sure.
“Not one person has said a word about the shirt! My mom didn’t even notice! I had to tell her,” Corina whispered as we stood in the line to grab food. My parents had always done Thanksgiving like a buffet. The food was lined up, you got what you wanted, and everyone squeezed in around the dining room table. This year we had more people in the family and some had to sit in the kitchen.
“I know!” I said. “Mom saw it but hasn’t mentioned anything, and I think Aunt Vi knows. She just wants Dad to figure it out on his own.”
“The feet look like baby feet, so what the heck? I can’t believe not even Chloe has said anything.”
We laughed.
After everyone got their food, we made our way into the dining room. I had Corina sit next to Dad. The room was filled with conversations and laughter. Glancing around, I took it all in. My father, Steed, and Tripp were talking about politics and the city council. Amelia, Paxton, and Waylynn were talking about hanging lights in trees and getting enough chairs for everyone. Chloe was sitting next to Paxton, adding her two cents to the party planning. She had no clue what they were even talking about or what the party was for, but she insisted Patches had to be a part of it.
My mother was oblivious to their conversation, even though they were not in the least bit trying to be quiet. Mom, Lori, and Aunt Vi were talking about a tea party Aunt Vi was going to throw at the house she was renting from Wade and Amelia. She wanted to introduce Lori to some of Mom and Aunt Vi’s friends. A sort of welcome to Oak Springs, since Lori had announced she would be moving to Texas soon. Of course, she didn’t tell everyone the reason why she had made the decision.
Cord, Wade, and Trevor were all in the kitchen. I could hear them laughing and talking about heading to a rodeo in Uvalde in a few weeks. Cord was also trying to talk Wade into singing at his place this coming weekend.
I cleared my throat and turned to my father. “So Dad, I had an idea I wanted to run by you this week.”
My father turned his attention to me. “Really? I’ll be interested to hear it. And how do you like working full-time on the ranch now?”
“I love it.”
“Do you miss your other job, son?”
“I really don’t, Dad. I thought I might, but everything is working out like it should.”
“Does anyone want any more tea?” Corina asked.
“I’ll take some, but I can get it,” Tripp said as he went to stand up.
Corina held up her hands to stop Tripp. “I need to stretch my legs. I don’t mind getting it.”
Corina made her way over to the buffet table. I was trying like hell not to smile because I knew exactly what she was doing.
She walked back over and stood right next to Dad as she reached for his glass and filled it up. Tripp looked down at her shirt and his fork froze. He quickly looked at me, and I nodded. He shook his head slowly and let out a slight chuckle.
“I can’t believe it,” he said with a smile.
My father looked at Tripp, confused, before turning his attention to Corina.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” His eyes fell to the writing and baby feet. He stared at the shirt as Corina walked to the other side of him and poured Tripp a drink. My brother winked at her before she walked off.
My dad stood and followed Corina to the buffet table. Everyone stopped talking and watched him. I’m sure they were wondering what he was doing. Amelia jumped up and grabbed Wade, Trevor, and Cord from the kitchen and brought them into the dining room.
“Corina, sweetheart. Will you turn around?” my father asked her.
She slowly did. My eyes burned with tears as I watched her blink to hold back her own.
My father looked down at the shirt. It was almost like time stood still as he let the pieces fall together in his head. “Oh, baby girl, tell me this isn’t a joke.”
Her tears broke free. “It’s not a joke,” she said as her voice cracked.
“Why are Granddaddy and Aunt Corina crying?” Chloe asked.
I heard Paxton whisper something, and Chloe gasped.
Standing, I made my way over to them and stood next to Corina. I wrapped my arm around her waist and placed my other hand over her stomach. “We’re having a baby. We just found out the other day.”
Cheers erupted as my father wrapped Corina and me in his arms. “You’ve just made me the happiest man alive,” he said. After a few moments of holding us, he turned to face everyone.
“Another grandbaby!” he called out.
Chloe stood on her chair, placed her hands together and looked up in prayer. “Please let it be a girl, God!”
Another round of laughter hit the room as Steed picked up his daughter and hugged her. Everyone made their way over to us. Hugs, kisses, handshakes, and congratulations were given.
Amelia hit the side of her wine glass to get everyone’s attention. “There is more news! Because no one in this family likes to keep with tradition, we have another little announcement from Mitchell and Corina. Hold onto your socks, y’all…this is gonna be good.”
All eyes were back on us now. I cleared my throat as I pulled Corina closer.
“Corina and I are getting married tomorrow at sunset at the lookout by the cabin.”
“That’s what you girls were talking about!” my mother said pointing to them. “My goodness, this is exciting! Another wedding!”
Chloe fist-pumped and started running around the room. “Lincoln and Patches can be the flower goats!”
All eyes fell on Chloe, then me and Corina.
With a chuckle, Corina threw up her hands. “Why not! Sounds like a plan to me!”
The rest of dinner, everyone talked about the baby and how in the world they had missed the shirt for so long. Then it was time for wedding talk and my mother, Lori, and Aunt Vi started figuring out food and a tent for the reception. My father barked orders for what time we needed to be up at the lookout to start decorations. It was chaos.
I faced Corina and shook my head. “Are you ready for all of this insanity?”
Placing her hand in mine, she replied, “I’ve never been more ready.”
“You don’t want to run off tonight to Vegas and get married to avoid all this craziness?”
Corina looked past me at the people we loved. She shook her head and laughed. “I love the crazy. I love the chaos.” Her eyes met mine. “I love you.”
I stared into those beautiful blue eyes of hers. Never in my wildest dreams would I have dared to believe I could be this happy. And so very much in love.
Amelia had me, Wade, and Steed putting lights up in all the trees. Waylynn had gotten lanterns, and Trevor was hanging them in the tree that hung over the place where the ceremony was going to be held. Small tea candles gave off the perfect glow.
Trevor and Cord came up with the idea to use the hay bales for places to sit. Since it was just family and a few close friends who could make it at the last minute, we didn’t need a whole lot of seating.
Dad was helping one of his closest friends he had known since college put up the reception tent. We were keeping it simple. A grill had been brought over from the guest house, and the menu was hotdogs and hamburgers. Lucy offered to make up a batch of her homemade potato salad and her macaroni salad because she knew Corina loved it. Mrs. Johnson was making a few of her famous, award-winning, blueberry lemon lavender pies. They were Corina’s favorite, and she had asked for those instead of a cake.
The guest list had been pretty much kept to family, with a few exceptions. Robert and Mary were there with their newborn son, Jimmy. Lucy, Sheriff Miller, and Mrs. Johnson were also invited.
“I think we’ve got enough bales out,” Cord called up to me in the tree. “You need any help with the lights?”
“We’ve about got them all up. Maybe check with Dad to see if they need anything. If not, we should head back to the house to get ready.”
Cord gave me a thumbs up.
I put the last set of lights up and climbed out of the tree. It was going to look beautiful.
After climbing down, I looked around. “Wow, I can’t believe we pulled this off.”
Tripp hit me on the back. “That’s what happens when you have a big family who comes together to make it happen.”
I nodded, the lump in my throat keeping me from speaking.
Tripp continued, “I have to say, I’m impressed, little brother. You seem pretty calm in light of the fact that you’re getting married in a few hours.”
Wade chuckled. “You nervous at all?”
“A little,” I said. Truth was, my stomach was in knots. “Were you nervous, Wade?”
“Hell yeah. Not because I didn’t want to marry Amelia. It was a different type of nerves. I can’t explain it.”
I nodded. “I get you. That’s how I feel. I’m ready to marry her, but at the same time, I’m nervous as hell.”
“The pre-wedding nerves. Boys, each of you will experience it.” We turned to see our dad walking up.
“You were nervous before you married Mom?” Trevor asked.
Dad laughed. “I was so nervous I couldn’t eat. I just knew she was going to come to her senses and realize she was making a mistake by marrying me.”
We each chuckled.
My father placed his hand on my shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Mitchell. You followed your heart and that’s all I’ve ever wanted for my kids. Your happiness.” He looked around at his sons and Wade. “I’m proud of each and every one of y’all.”
The moment was getting heavy, and I knew my father was fighting to hold back tears.
Wade cleared his throat. “If you don’t want to be late for your wedding, we better get out of here and head back to the house.”
Everyone agreed and we started making our way to the trucks. I slipped in with Tripp, and we set off toward my parents’ place. It was the first time I’d had a chance to be alone with him since he found out Harley was back in town.
“You doing okay?” I asked.
He gripped the steering wheel harder. “I’m fine.”
“Liar. If you grip the wheel any harder, you’re going to pull it out of the dash.”
Tripp sighed heavily and pushed his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe she’s back. Why now? Why, after all these years, does she decide she wants to live in Oak Springs? It wasn’t good enough when I asked her to come back. I don’t fucking get it.”
“Are we sure she’s back for good?” I asked.
He looked at me and then back to the road. “I did some digging around. Well, actually, I had Karen do some digging around to get information.”
“You made your secretary do your dirty work?”
“Hey! I pay her well. Besides, she is one of the biggest gossips I know. The woman knows everything that happens in this town. I’m surprised she didn’t know Corina was pregnant. Kudos to your future wife for keeping her business on the down low.”
I laughed. “Okay, well, what did Karen find out?”
“Doc Harris asked Harley to take over his practice a few months ago. I guess the few times she’s been in town she’s helped him out, and he was really impressed.”
“And she agreed? I mean, she hated Oak Springs. Couldn’t wait to get out of here.”
Tripp shrugged. “I guess. Dad said when he saw her at the vet, she told him she would be coming back to town a few times a month and would be here permanently by Christmas. Doc wants to retire and travel with his wife while they can still get around good.”
“Wow. And she never called to tell you?”
He let out a gruff laugh. “Why the fuck would she call me? She made her stance on us known a long time ago when she left me for the fucker she met in college. For all I know, they’re still together. I don’t ask her parents when I see them. Mom said from what she can gather from Harley’s folks, Harley still isn’t married. I don’t know for sure, though.”
“I’m surprised Mom hasn’t done more poking around.”
“Yeah, unless she knows and isn’t saying.”
“That’s possible. I guess you’ll be finding out soon enough.”
“I guess,” Tripp said. He hit my shoulder. “Enough of my drama, dude. You’re getting married.”
I smiled. “I’m getting married.”
The closer we got to my folks’ place, the more my stomach became a jumbled-up mess.
If anyone had told me a year ago I’d be getting married, I would have arrested their ass and let them sit in jail for a night. But now? Now I couldn’t wait to make Corina my wife. I couldn’t wait to hold her in my arms each night and wake up next to her. The idea that she was carrying my baby made me realize that this was the only thing I wanted. A life with Corina and our baby.
Tripp pulled up and parked behind Steed’s truck. He turned off the engine and looked at me. “You ready to do this?”
With a wide grin, I replied, “Never been more ready.”