Page 88 of The Deadbeat Next Door

“I’m sorry, Carrie. I screwed up, Cody screwed up, but it came from the right place.”

“The place where his dream was more important than mine?”

She tossed something in my lap. “Just read this. Read it and I’ll go.”

I picked up the bundle of papers. It was a sale agreement for Bart’s property. Dated two weeks ago. Bart had sold the property to Cody two weeks ago, in exchange for money and some arrangement about wine and visitation. “He already owns the property?” I asked, confused.

May rested a gentle hand on my shoulder. “He already owns the property. He wanted to make a big gesture, Carrie. He wanted to prove to you how serious he is. I convinced him to make it a surprise wedding. Dilly and I thought it would be romantic, but clearly it wasn’t.”

“But why? Why would he want to marry me?”

“I think he should explain that to you,” she said. “Will you come with me?”

I looked at Mom and Dad. I needed help on this one. “We’ll watch the kids,” Mom said. “You should at least hear what he has to say.”

“Fine.” I was beyond pissed at them and likely never to forgive them, but I wanted answers. I stood and handed the papers back to May. “But I’m driving separately.”

I followed her, having to drive a lot faster than I was comfortable with to keep up, back to Bart’s house. She parked and ran inside. Cody was on the front porch, sitting in a rocking chair. He’d changed into jeans and a t-shirt and he didn’t smile when I got out of the car and made my way over to him. My heart stuttered in my chest at the sight of him and I hated myself for still wanting him, for still loving him, even after everything he’d done.

He stood and met me halfway. “I love you,” he said. “That’s what I should have led with at the wedding. That’s what I should have told you last week. I’m so, so sorry, sweetheart. I never suspected how it would look to you. I thought…I just wanted to do something big and splashy to let you know how I feel.”

“I don’t need big and splashy,” I said, his words melting my anger. “I never have. I just need you to tell me how you feel. Maybe ask before you plan our next wedding.”

He rubbed his temples like his head ached. “Yeah, that probably would have been the wiser route. That’s the last time I listen to May’s advice.”

“Maybe not the last time. Everything about the wedding was perfect. I think that’s part of the reason I got so mad.” I reached up and touched his cheek. “I’m sorry I smacked you.”

“That’s okay. You can smack me anytime you want as long as you never run away from me again.”

“I’m not sure I can promise you that. You can be pretty stubborn and obnoxious.”

He took my face in both of his hands and leaned in until his lips were almost brushing mine. “Carrie Harrison,” he said. “I am crazy, insanely, certifiably in love with you and I want you back in my life and my bed. You don’t have to marry me, yet, but just consider letting me back in your life.”

“Okay.”

“Okay you’ll consider it, or okay you’ll let me back in?”

I laughed. “You never can leave well enough alone, can you?”

“Nope. Come with me, I want to show you a few things that may help you decide.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve already seen those things.” I put my hand in his and let him lead me to the right of the house where a minivan was parked. “After I asked you to marry me and you said no, the first time,” he said. “I realized you had no reason to expect me to be a reliable husband or co-guardian. I wanted to prove to you that I’m serious about you and the kids, so the first thing I did was trade in my truck and buy a minivan that will fit all of us, comfortably.”

My heart leapt into my throat and his words became more than just words, more than just a confession of his love, they became a promise of his commitment to us, of his intention of being a part of our lives for the foreseeable future. I turned to him, ready to tell him what it all meant to me, but he spoke first.

“I got a new roof put on the house so that you and the kids can live here. I got the plumbing fixed so that you can be comfortable here. I didn’t do any of it for the winery.” He sighed. “That’s not entirely true. Fixing up the house is a step toward getting my winery off the ground, but I need the winery to be successful for us, for our family, and not just for me. Not anymore.”

“Now I feel really bad about slapping you. But why didn’t you just tell me all this before? Why the surprise wedding?”

“I didn’t think it would be enough. I thought I needed more to convince you to stay with me.”

“You don’t need to do anything but love me,” I said. “Love me and love the kids. That’s all we need.”

“Oh.” His cocky smirk was back in place. “I’m pretty sure I can do that.”

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