Page 88 of The Convict Gets His Girl

Ava's skepticism hung in the air, heavy as summer humidity. Chase took a deep breath, biding his time and letting his actions speak louder than any defensive explanation ever could.

"Whatever will you do with all that house?" his mom asked, her voice high with surprise.

Chase crossed his arms and leaned back in his dining chair. "Live in it, what else? It's perfect for Destini and raising a family."

The restaurant went quiet, the kind of silence that made silverware seem loud and breathing seem intrusive.

Ava's whisper cut through like a knife. "A family?"

Two simple words, but Chase saw the implications rippling across faces around him. His mother took a sharp intake of breath. Jewel became suddenly still. His siblings exchanged quick, loaded glances.

He was prepared for judgment, prepared for doubt. But he was not prepared for the raw vulnerability that suddenly made his throat tight and his eyes sting.

"Yes," he said simply. No defensiveness. Just quiet certainty.

Destini wasn't just a daughter he had accidentally discovered. She was a second chance, a redemption narrative written in DNA and unexpected grace. And that house? Those acres? They were more than property. They were a promise to them both.

Chase watched Ava's face, saw the calculation behind her eyes. The maternal protectiveness wrestling with reluctant acceptance. She had always been the gatekeeper, the one who decided whether someone was worthy.

And for the first time, Chase met her gaze without flinching, silently challenging her to let him grow up and take this chance at happiness.

"So the three of you will live there together?" Taylor asked into the stillness.

Chase nodded, even as Jewel's shoulders hunched, breaking the tension. Her voice was soft, almost hesitant. "I haven't agreed to move in yet. It's really up to Destini, and she hasn't said yes. She seemed... thoughtful? Hopeful maybe, when we showed her pictures of it yesterday. I'm not pushing her on it until she comes to visit for Thanksgiving, though."

Ava's lips pursed—a telltale sign Chase knew meant she was about to unleash her particular brand of maternal worry. Her fingers drummed against the tabletop, a staccato rhythm of disapproval.

"The MacDonald place though?" she said, her tone sharp enough to slice through butter. "Those mortgage payments are no joke, Chase. Have you really thought this through?"

Chase felt the familiar heat racing up his neck. Not really anger, but determination. He'd calculated every single number, knew exactly what he could afford, but Ava always saw him as the kid who'd spent years locked away, the one she still tried to shelter.

She didn't realize the man he'd become.

"I've run the numbers," he said evenly. "Multiple scenarios, with both conservative and aggressive projections."

Ava raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. "And child support? Destini's future university tuition? Those aren't cheap."

The implied judgment hung between them, and he was getting tired of the tests and hurdles she always seemed to throw up at him.

"I can provide for my family, Ma." His tone was harsh, and the tables went quiet once more. The rest of the table's food was delivered as they talked about his ability to provide for his family, and Lola and Kendall left with their foster daughter.

Landry chose that moment to interject, a protective edge in his voice. "Ma, Chase has almost as much money as I do at this point. I set aside twenty percent for him, ever since I started making money with songwriting and singing a decade ago. He was giving me directions on what to do with the money even then, and since he's been out, he's grown that nest egg considerably."

The comment landed like a strategic missile, cutting through Ava's skepticism. Chase felt a flush of gratitude—and embarrassment. He'd never asked Landry to do that, never expected his brother's financial support during those years.

Parker, sensing the moment, slapped Chase on the back with brotherly enthusiasm. "Thanks to him, I could grow my soccer money so I could buy the Old Mill, the gym on Main, and my house. All my soccer friends use him for financial portfolio help too."

Chase ducked his head, uncomfortable with the sudden spotlight. He didn't need validation, but hearing his brothers speak up felt like something profound. Like being seen, really seen, for the first time in his life.

His fingers absently traced the edge of his water glass, catching Jewel's sideways glance. She looked away, but not before he caught a flicker of something. Pride? Respect? Something he couldn't quite name, yet his soul hoped for.

Henry cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. His weathered hands rested on the table, callused from years of veterinary work and ranch life. "When Chase got out and started working with Lola, I was hesitant to work with him. Lola vouched for his work though, so I told her I'd give him six months."

His voice was measured and deliberate, his eyes piercing as they bored into Chase's heart. "I'll tell you what, it didn't take but two to see that he knows what he's doing. This boy knows numbers like I know animals. If he says he can afford that place, I believe him."

Henry raised his soda in a silent salute before taking a sip. Chase's throat threatened to close, knowing Lola had had to talk a lot of clients into taking a chance with him. Henry's vote of confidence was unexpected.

Believe in him…

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