Page 66 of Tough Love

“Thank you all for coming to celebrate my Louisa. I know we do this every year. And there is a reason why we do.” Ma looks up at him, and he runs a hand behind her neck. She grabs his arm, leaning into him. “It was a little while after our youngest, Reed, was born, and we were up all night again. Exhausted,walking the halls with the little devil who wouldn’t stop crying. We swapped shifts in some wee hour of the morning, and she took him from my shoulder. I asked her then what she wanted in exchange for four sons. I felt so bad for the weariness written all over her face. The pain she went through with feeding, labor, the lot. It was supposed to be a little joke to lighten the mood, but she stood there staring at me for a moment. Then she said she wanted a birthday party every year for the rest of her life. Now at first, I thought that was an odd request for a woman who doesn’t do fuss. But then I realized, only a month or so later, that it wasn’t about the birthday. It was about seeing her boys grow. Marking every year that passed like waypoints on a map. She was strategically ensuring we had memories of each of their years. Of the milestones our family made throughout the decades. Smart woman, my wife. And it worked. We know that at least once a year, all our boys will come home. And that means something else entirely now.” He tracks his gaze to Mackinlay before glancing around at the rest of his sons. Addy squeezes my hand in hers and my breathing shallows out. I swear there isn’t a dry eye in the whole damn yard. “Anyway, happy birthday, my love. Here’s to many more milestones.” And now his eyes fall to Addy.

Talk about mixed signals, old man.

Ma catches the silent exchange between him and Addy and beams up at him. He drops his gaze to her and raises two fingers to his forehead in a subtle salute before he leans down and kisses her briefly.

“To Louisa!” someone yells, holding their glass up.

“To Louisa!” we all shout. Every last person raises their glass or bottle and takes a sip before the clatter of glasses and bottles being set back down cues the ruckus of chatter, plates and cutlery clinking. One of our neighbors, Brian, starts chatting to me about the mares. “How’s ya herd comin’ along?”

I turn to face him, swallowing. “Good, they should be foaling not long after we come back from the roundup.”

“All twelve of them this year?”

“Yep, they’re trackin’ along well.”

“Hear you have a new vet at your clinic. She taking care of your girls right?”

Addy stiffens and Mack catches her attention. My fork is suspended halfway to my mouth.

“Dr. Howard. Yep, she has done a brilliant job with them all. An asset to the clinic.”

Mack smiles at her then shoves a forkful of food into his grin.

“Got the same feedback from a few other folks with their horses. I should give the clinic a ring and see if she can come and check over my herd this year.”

I turn to find Addy stifling a laugh, and Mack’s shoulders trembling. Pair of idiots. “You takin’ new clients, Howard?”

“Sure.” She tries not to laugh, as if not wanting to offend the man. Brian’s eyes widen when he realizes who she is.

“Sorry, love. Brian Lovett. Nice to meet you, Dr. Howard.” His hand shoots past me.

I lean back, and Addy says a quick hello to the man, confirming he should call the clinic and book in. “I’d be happy to come and check your girls over.”

He raises an eyebrow to me and goes back to his food. Mack is back to talking to the woman beside him. And I lean over and whisper, “Eat your food, sweet girl. We’re not stayin’.”

When I straighten, her mouth gapes. “We’re not? What about your ma?”

“Think she has enough company.”

I finish my meal and stand. Addy pushes up out of her seat, and I manhandle the chair on the grass, stuffing it back under the table. “Say a quick goodbye to Ma; I’ll meet you at the truck.”

She closes in on me and whispers, “I have to make a quick pit stop first.”

“See you in a minute.”

She walks toward the house as I make my way to the other side of the table and tell Ma I have to take Addy home. She protests, but I kiss her forehead as her face deflates. Absolutely smitten, this mother of mine, with the woman I want and can’t have. At least, not for much longer. And I intend on making the most of her time here. Showing her exactly how I feel.

I sit in the truck. When five minutes have passed, I wait another five minutes. The pit of my stomach twists.

Fuck.

I jump from the truck and walk back inside.

“Get off me, Morley,” Addy seethes from somewhere in the hallway.

What the fuck?!

I rush through the kitchen, and as I round the corner, I find Justin holding Addy up against the hallway wall. One of Reed’s fists is around Justin’s collar, the other bending his arm back around behind his back. I fly into the mix and throw the asshole onto the ground. I spin back to Addy.

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