Page 42 of When the Smoke Clears

“You just say whatever you need to, honey.” Randi pats my hand from the seat next to me.

I take a deep breath. The warm water on my feet is soothing, and the ladies in front of us are talking amongst themselves, mostly ignoring us as I begin. I turn to Izzy and Leah. “I’m still planning to move here for good.”

Leah does a happy dance in her seat.

“My goal of opening a B & B at Nana’s and turning the garage into a dedicated photography studio is still on track. I want to set up some areas around the grounds for photos, but it will give me the option of an indoor space, as well.”

Izzy’s mouth purses. “Are you going to be living there?”

Leah grins beside her.

I settle deeper into my chair, enjoying the feel of the massage chair balls roaming up and down my back. “Sutton and I had a long talk, and I’m going to be staying with him permanently.” I blush as my friends squeal and squeak. “It’s just so weird to think that six weeks ago we didn’t even know each other, and now he’s talking about building a house with me. We haven’t made anything official, so if I need the space at Nana’s, it’s there. But it doesn’t seem like I will.”

“You move at whatever pace you want.” Liv’s calm voice carries over the bubbling water of the foot spa. “Don’t worry about what other people think. People get married after short courtships all the time. Nana and Pop did. And they were really happy.”

Randi smiles softly in agreement.

I chew my lip, considering if it’s the opinions of others that make me question making things official with Sutton. “Sutton’s been great. His whole family has. I haven’t met his sister yet, but I know we’ll be headed up to Dallas soon to see them.” I take another deep breath. “You may be right, though. No one seems put off by me being there.”

Randi wiggles in the seat as the nail technician scrubs her foot. “Does Stephanie know what’s happened? Where you are?”

“I only talked to her briefly. She isn’t aware of any of this, actually. But she is aware of the incident with Colt and my conversation with James.”

“James?” Randi’s brows are furrowed.

“Yes, James. My father.” Liv and Randi’s eyes pop open, creating mirror images. I turn to Leah. “Remember the President of the motorcycle club we saw at The Spur?”

Her eyes widen and she grins. “Does this mean I get a new Daddy?”

I can’t help snickering at her joke.

Izzy blushes for her. “You are so inappropriate.” But any real chastising is missing.

I continue with a sideways smile, facing Randi again. “That’s who stopped by when you were leaving the other day. Before the situation with Colt. He saw Stephanie and me at lunch and wanted to come clear the air.” I’d nearly convinced myself that my mother was having an affair she hadn’t mentioned to me, which knowing that they were together at some point doesn’t seem so far-fetched.

“Did he want anything else?” Izzy is obviously still concerned.

My head snaps back her way. “He wants to get to know me. I think he genuinely cares. In fact, once he got wind of what happened with Colt, he came by the ranch. That was awkward for a minute.” I choke on a laugh.

“What happened?” Liv prompts.

I let out a heavy breath. “James showed up with a few club members—”

Izzy’s eyes go wide. “A bunch of bikers?”

I don’t know why she says it like they’re street thugs. I guess Colt didn’t help whatever image she had in her mind about them. “He was worried about me. I hadn’t had a chance to share who he was yet, and Sutton’s dad didn’t know what to think. Michael came onto the porch with a shotgun.”

“Oh my God!” Izzy’s half-panicked. “Sutton’s dad?”

I nod through my words. “It turned out fine. But everyone was a little on edge for a moment.”

“Why do I get the feeling this isn’t why you called us all here?” Randi’s legs jerk intermittently from the attention on the soles of her feet.

“There’s something I haven’t had a chance to share.” I exhale a long breath. “When Colt came over, he didn’t just start swinging. He had some interesting things to say.”

“We’re all waiting with bated breath.” Izzy smirks.

“Colt is Alan’s son.”

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