“She what?” Floyd exploded.

Scarlett looked into the shocked faces of Honey, Joyce, and her father. “Poppy blackmailed me so I would convince you to sell the farm.”

“That’s ridiculous. What on earth could she have to blackmail you with?” Honey said.

Scarlett tore a paper napkin into tiny pieces. Her newfound courage didn’t quite help with confessing all to her family. It had taken every ounce of the stuff she could muster to march into the kitchen and tell her story. “My junior year in college Poppy invited me to a party. Shortly after I arrived the cops raided the place. I was arrested for prostitution.”

“What?” they all said in unison.

“Turns out Poppy had an escort service providing the company of young women to older men.” She shrugged. “Wrong place, wrong time.”

Joyce’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, my word.”

“I always knew that girl was twisted.” Honey crossed her arms over her chest.

Floyd wrapped Scarlett into a fierce hug. “Oh, my poor girl. You must’ve been terrified. Why didn’t you tell us?”

As tempting as it was to hide in her father’s embrace, everything needed to be brought into the open. She untangled herself and sat up to tell the truth. “I was afraid of what you’d think of me.”

“Scarlett, I could—”

“Let me finish. I was afraid you’d think I was like mama, and I didn’t want to hurt you like that.” She didn’t stop the tear that rolled down her cheek.

Honey took her hand. “Oh, darlin’. You could never disappoint us.”

“We love you,” Joyce said.

Her father stared at the tabletop and didn’t say a word. The knot in her stomach cinched tighter as all of her fears hung in the air between them. She could let it lie. Take Honey and Joyce’s words and move on with her life. She’d never hold her father’s silence against him. This was painful for him, too. But she’d spent too much of her life hiding her feelings and she wasn’t doing it anymore. “Daddy?”

The wrecked look on his face nearly had her backtracking and telling him he didn’t have to say anything. But she didn’t. She only waited for him to speak.

“This is my fault.” His words sounded like glass crushed underfoot.

She wrapped her fingers around his folded hands. “What? How is any of this your fault? I’m the one who trusted Poppy. Then I complicated it by not trusting you enough to tell you what happened.”

“If I could’ve gotten past my own pain and embarrassment when your mother left we could’ve talked about it. You would’ve known that you are nothing like your mother. Yes, you look like her, but that’s where the similarity ends.” His chest expanded then deflated, as he gazed out the window. “I loved that woman, but it wasn’t healthy, she wasn’t healthy. I thought my love and our family could heal her. But I was wrong. So wrong.” He turned back to Scarlett and cupped her cheek. “And you’ve paid the price, darlin’. Can you ever forgive me?”

She started to tell him there was nothing to forgive, but realized he needed forgiveness like she needed transparency. “Of course I forgive you.” She leaned in, wiped his tears, and kissed his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”

“And I love you, sweet girl.”

“I want to know how you got out of jail.” Honey pulled a plate of cookies toward her, like she was settling in for a story.

Scarlett smoothed her hair from her face. “I honestly don’t know. The next day they let me go with no explanation. When I got outside, Poppy was there. I walked right past her, got a cab, went home, and never spoke of it again. Luanne didn’t even know. But I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I definitely saw a county judge at the party. Maybe she got him to pull some strings and get me out. Who knows? She’s not stable.”

“And wicked,” Joyce said.

“She has pictures of me being arrested and in jail that she’s threatened to send to the media, and considering the whole Gavin thing…”

“Oh, no she’s not.” Floyd dug his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call Hartley right this minute and tell him everything his daughter’s done.”

Scarlett took the phone from his shaking hands. “No need. I already did.” She’d forgive herself for the pride and self-satisfaction in her voice.

Honey’s eyes got as big as saucers. “You did?”

“Yep. He was none too pleased, and neither was she when I went to the bank and told her.”

“Did you also kick her ass?” Floyd asked.

“No, but it was made clear that it was the next step if she messed with the Kellys again.”

Honey slapped the table. “I like this new Scarlett. Now, darlin’…tell us the rest.” She arched a brow, daring her to argue.

Scarlett rubbed at an imaginary scuff on the table. “About that…”

She told them everything about how she and Gavin met, about Aiden, about falling in love, and about why she ran out on him.

“I think we all knew there was more to the story than either of you were telling, but it was so much fun watching you lose your mind over that boy, we didn’t say anything.” Honey laughed.

“You weren’t embarrassed?”

“Lord, no,” Honey said.

“When that video was released we did worry for you some,” her father said, “but that worked out too because it gave you and Gavin an excuse to get out of this small-minded town.”

“But now you’ve come back without him,” Joyce said.

“And that baby,” Honey added.

Floyd slung an arm over her shoulder. “We only want you to be happy, Scarlett, and that rock-n-roll fella makes you happy. Any fool can see that.”

“Yes, well, leaving him was the biggest mistake I’ve made through all of this. I left because I thought I was protecting him. The problem with that genius plan is that I need him so much it hurts. So even if it’s selfish, I’m going to get him back.”

“That’s good to hear.” Gavin pulled open the screen door and strode inside.

“Gavin.” She knocked her chair over trying to get to her feet. Hope jackhammered her heart. Maybe she could fix this. “Let’s go outside so we can talk.”

“I don’t think so, Red. I need the witness of our families to make sure you don’t run again.”

She gulped down a riptide of emotion. “Our families?”

Jack walked in carrying Aiden, Luanne right behind him, with Kristy pulling up the rear. The kitchen burst at the seams with family.

“Give me that baby,” Honey said.

Luanne crossed her arms over her chest. “Good luck, Honey. Jack won’t give him up, believe me I’ve tried.”

“Honey? I’m Jack Avery. Would you like to hold Aiden?”

“Hey.” Luanne swatted his arm.

“I sure would, you good-looking thing.”

Luanne gagged.

Jack smirked.

Aiden squealed, “Scawit!”

“Sweetheart, I’m Joyce,” Joyce said to Kristy.

“Hello, I’m Kristy.”

Floyd slapped Gavin on the back. “Son, it’s good to have you back.”

“Thank you, sir,” he said without taking his gaze from Scarlett. “I need to ask you a question.”

“Yes?”

“May I marry your daughter, again?”

Her entire body vibrated with happiness.

“Do you love her, boy?”

“Boy, boy, boy!” Aiden yelled.

“Yes. I love her very much.”

Her father’s grin split his face from ear to ear. “Scarlett, darlin’, do you want to marry this fellow again?”

“Again, and again, and again.” She could barely see his smiling face through the curtain of tears in her eyes. “I love you too.”

Gavin prowled toward her. When his warm hands cupped her face, the chaos of the room fell away and it was just the two of them.

“I do love you, Scarlett. I’m so sorry for the terrible things I said. Can you ever forgive me?” His gray cashmere eyes pleaded for forgiveness.

Her arms went around his neck. “I’ve already forgiven you. I’m the one who should be apologizing. I should never have left you. I’m yours. You’re stuck with me, rock star.”

He rested his forehead against hers. “Forever?”

“Forever.”

He kissed her, and she kissed him, and they made promises to each other surrounded by the nutty, messy, unpredictable family they both loved.