Chapter Eighteen
Two weeks later
“What do you think?” Pricilla wrung her hands, clearly anxious.
Becky looked around Spinners. On the wall over the mechanical bull was a huge sign, “Congratulations Logan, Becky, and Sophie!” Caterers had tri-tip, chicken, and sides spread along one wall, a three-layer cake dominated a corner. Guests milled around, dancing and celebrating.
Yesterday, they’d had the custody hearing for Sophie. Becky secured full custody, and Dylan had no visitation. The next step was going to be terminating his parental right so Logan could adopt Sophie.
“I know it’s not fancy or—”
Becky turned to her mother-in-law and hugged her. “It’s perfect. Thank you for doing this.” She didn’t want to know how much it cost to get Mac to agree to close Spinners on a Saturday night.
Pricilla hugged and released Becky. “I wanted to, Becky. I love you and my granddaughter. Say you believe me. I still feel awful that we turned our back on you when you needed us the most.”
“We’ve been over this, it was as much our fault. I should never have agreed to deceive you and the family. Logan and I were both wrong.”
Pricilla nodded. “I wish I could fix this with Brian and Logan. Neither will make the first move. Brian’s sitting home while we party.” She shook her head. “He’s going to end up a bitter old man.”
Becky rubbed her arm. “You decided to stay with him.”
“You probably think I’m a foolish woman.”
“Far from it. You don’t want to lose your family.” The old pain stung. “I lost most of mine and would have given anything to have them back, faults and all. We’ll heal this rift between Brian and Logan someday. In the meantime, he’s Sophie’s grandfather and he has the right to see her. Logan isn’t fighting me on that.”
Pricilla laughed. “Cause he’d lose. You’re a heck of a lot fiercer than I gave you credit for.”
“It’s easy when I know Logan loves me just as I am.”
“Thank you for understanding about Brian. I wanted him to love me the way Logan loves you, but I can’t make him. But he did apologize to Pam. They’ve been spending more time together, and that makes me happy.”
“You don’t have to explain.” She hurt for Pricilla. “He loves you, he just can’t say it.” Becky had seen how angry Brian was that Becky’s deception hurt Pricilla.
Logan strode up with a few other people in tow. “Sophie wants her grandmother.” He handed the baby over.
Pricilla’s eyes lit up. “Here’s my darling girl. Let’s go look at the cake.”
“Good luck with that.” He grinned at Sophie. “All she wants to do is sit on the mechanical bull.”
“Such a tomboy. You’re going to be just like your Aunt Abby, aren’t you?” Pricilla’s voice trailed away.
“Becky.” Logan put his arm around her. “This is Adam Waters.”
“Hi Adam.” She held out her hand to the man with the tawny eyes and killer smile. “Thank you for all you and your security agency did to help us. Sophie—” She glanced over to see Pricilla holding Sophie on the unmoving mechanic bull. “She and Logan are my world. I’m beyond grateful.”
“No need. We’d have been there from the start if we’d known.” He released her hand and flashed a hard look at Logan before returning to her. “Don’t ever hesitate to call any one of us if you or Sophie need something.” Pulling a beautiful redhead into his side, his face softened. “This is my wife, Megan.”
Forgetting the men, she grinned. “You’re the veterinarian with the little boy. It’s great to meet you.” Becky dropped her gaze. “Looks like little Cole will be having a brother or sister soon.”
“Great to meet you, Becky.” She patted her baby bump. “Four more months. Next time we visit, we’ll bring Cole so you can meet him. He’s staying with my mom.”
“So how do you juggle work and kids?” They wandered off to a table.
“It’s going to be harder with a second one. I may take on another vet and cut back to part time. Adam and I are talking about it. But I couldn’t do any of it without my mom.” Megan glanced over to her husband. “Adam didn’t know about Cole for the first couple years of his life. I was a single mom.”
“I bet that’s a story.”
Megan laughed. “Oh yeah. I’ll tell you sometime. But right now, why were you asking about balancing work and family?”
“I’m going back to school to finish my nursing degree. Or I think I am.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Once it was. But now…I’m not sure.”
Warm hands settled on her shoulders. “Sugar, you’re going. Even if you never use your degree, it’ll still be yours. Finish it.”
Megan’s light blue eyes moved up to Logan, then drifted down to her. “He’s right. Love doesn’t mean giving up your dreams. It means you work together to make both your dreams come true.” She tilted her head toward the mechanical bull. Abby had somehow gotten Sophie from Pricilla and the two of them were sitting on the bull. “Looks to me like Sophie will be well cared for if you and Logan aren’t home.”
Her baby’s shriek of delight sounded over the music and voices, and Becky’s heart swelled. How could anyone have this much joy? She put her hand on Logan’s. “That means your dream, too. Even if we have to start from the ground up, we’re going to build Camp Warrior Recovery.”
Adam pulled up a chair by his wife. “What can we do to help?”
Becky leaned forward. “We’re going to need the perfect location. We want a ranch environment, outdoors and away from civilization. These men and women need a chance to get away from the pressure of trying to assimilate back into civilian life while coping with their PTSD symptoms.”
Becky flushed. “You were probably asking Logan, not me. He can explain it better.” She wasn’t the one who had dealt with combat PTSD and spent all the time and money working to build the camp to help other veterans.
Logan angled his head down to catch her eyes. “You explained it perfectly.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You’re so going back to school. We need you at Camp Warrior Recovery. Get your RN then you can specialize and help these vets.”
“You mean that?”
Hunter dropped into the seat next to her. “Compassion and understanding like yours goes a long way, Becky.”
“She volunteered at a VA hospital in high school and college. Becky’s talked to a lot of veterans.” Logan’s eyes consumed her. “I didn’t even realize how much she’d absorbed until just now.”
The idea took hold of her. Excited her. “I’ll call my guidance counselor, see what the options are. Oh, and maybe I can—
“Logan.”
Pam’s strained voice cut her off. Becky swung around in her chair to follow Pam’s pointed finger. “I’ll tell him to leave if you want.”
Brian Knight stood just inside the door. His graze traveled the room.
Voices fell off as people realized who had come to the party.
“No.” Becky jumped up and dug her fingers into Logan’s arm. “Brian made the effort, he can stay if he wants.”
Logan’s mouth thinned.
Ava slipped up to Becky’s side, holding Sophie. “He threatens you and I’m going to neuter him.”
Becky briefly wondered when Ava got possession of Sophie. “He only did that when he thought I was using his son.”
Ava glared. “He threatened my goddaughter, Becky. I don’t forgive that.”
“You will. He’s her grandfather.”
Brian’s gaze landed on them and he made his way over. Whispers started, then built. By the time Brian stopped, they were surrounded by everyone there. All their family and friends including Lucinda, Mac, Brody, all Adam’s buddies from Once a Marine.
Brian faced them both.
Logan shook off Becky’s fingers and put his arm around her in a possessive gesture. “Becky won’t let me throw you out.”
She rolled her eyes. “Brian, you’re welcome here. Dinner should be ready soon. Would you like a drink?”
Surprise softened the deep lines in his face. “I have something to say.” He took a deep breath. “I’m proud of you both. Logan, you stood up like a man, defended your wife and child and chose them. And Becky, you did what you thought best to protect your child. After I’d made it clear you were to leave with nothing but the stuff you brought, you asked for one thing—that I give Logan his land.”
Logan swung his eyes to her.
“I told you that. Besides, it didn’t work. You signed it away for me and Sophie.”
He pulled her close. “I’d do it again. No regrets.”
Brian regained their attention. “I regret that I ever let you go, son. I should have gone after your mother that very first day she left.”
Logan turned. “Why didn’t you?”
“My father stopped me. Told me to choose, either you and Indigo, or the ranch. I was so humiliated and felt so betrayed by Indigo, that I chose the ranch. Took me eight long years to grow the balls I should have had that day and go get you back. I was furious when I found out the life you were living. It was one thing for Indigo to betray me, but you were a kid. She had you sleeping in bars, or sometimes alone on the bus while she performed in dives.” He shook his head. “When Kendra brought me that contract detailing your and Becky’s temporary marriage, I felt betrayed all over again.”
Becky fought a cringe. They had deceived him.
Brian went on. “Logan, in the end, you had more integrity than I did. You stood by your family, and now that I’ve had time to think, I respect that.” He turned to Becky, handing her an envelope. “The deed to Logan’s land. My son made a stand and I won’t insult him by returning it. He wouldn’t take it. He chose you, and he won’t go back on that. So this is my wedding gift to you, 100 percent free and clear.”
Becky ignored the envelope, slipped from Logan’s hold, and hugged her father-in-law. “Thank you, Brian.”
He seemed startled, his arms hanging at his side.
She leaned back. “I’m sorry, too. We tried to scam you, and we ended up hurting all of you.”
His eyes softened and he hugged her. “Accepted. Can I hold my granddaughter?”
Becky took Sophie from Ava, and handed her to her grandfather. “You don’t have to ask. We’re family.”
Brian smiled, his eyes lighting up when Sophie went right into his arms.
Pricilla put her hand on his arm. “I’m proud of you.”
Brian shifted Sophie and curved his hand around Pricilla’s hip. “I love you, Pris. More than any other woman. I’ll say it every damned day, just don’t leave me again.”
She sucked in a breath. “I’ve already come back. You didn’t have to say it.”
He smiled her at. “I know.”
Pricilla closed her eyes and leaned into her husband.
Logan turned Becky to face him. Taking her hands, he smiled. “You’re wearing your mom’s rings. She’s here with us, too.”
Her throat filled at that. For a fleeting second, she could almost feel her mom there, telling Becky that she loved her and wanted her to be happy, but that it was time for her to go be with Becky’s father and brother. She and her mom had gone through a lot together, Becky could let her go with peace, knowing her father and brother would care for her now.
“She knows Sophie and I are happy, loved, and safe.”
“And?” He reached behind him on the table.
She didn’t know what he meant. “What else is there?”
He held up a small black box and lifted the lid. “You’re mine.”
Glittering beauty shimmered against black velvet. “Logan, it’s breathtaking.” A white gold engagement ring with three diamonds. Nestled next to it was a slender band encrusted with diamond chips.
He slipped the rings out, and put them on her finger. “You’re my wife, my lover, and my friend. I want the world to know that I love you, cherish you, and I will stand by your side and guard your back all of our days together.”
She threw herself at him, knowing he’d catch her and hold her. Always.