Page 146 of Before You Can Blink
Two years out of school, Reagan was still living in Rust Canyon, where she spent nearly every waking moment at the restaurant my mother helped start, and doing her best to keep Ma’s memory alive through her recipes, while also working hard to craft her own.
“Blackberry is my favorite.” Though my appetite had faded, my mouth still filled with saliva at the thought of tasting the dessert my granddaughter described.
She ducked her head. “Yeah, I know.”
My heart swelled at the idea that she’d had me in mind while creating in the kitchen.
I took her hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I hope you know how special you are to me, sweet girl. You’re the one who made me a grandpa.”
Blinking furiously, Reagan sniffled. “I’m tryin’ real hard not to cry.”
“It’s okay to be sad, honey. It’s never easy letting go of the people you love.” I tucked a stray strand of hair that had escaped her bun behind her ear. “But know that I’ll keep watch over you always.”
My beautiful granddaughter lifted from her seat to loop her arms around my neck before pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Love you, Grampa.”
When Aspen appeared, with Mac at her side, it hit me that I wasn’t sure I had the strength for this particular goodbye.
I’d had the ultimate pleasure of watching my baby girl grow into an incredible woman who’d started her own business, become a wife and mother, and created a foundation. And it still shocked me that I had lived long enough to see gray threaded through her copper locks.
When she remained silent, likely warring with the multitude of emotions this moment brought along with it, I spoke first.
“I want you to know you changed my life.” Her blue eyes snapped to mine as I continued, “Even after I married your mother, I was dead set against having kids. Not because I didn’t like them, but because I figured I’d make a terrible father. Then, you came along—best damn surprise of my entire life. The minute you were born, it’s like something changed in my DNA. In the blink of an eye, you stole my heart, and there wasn’t anything I wasn’t willing to do to protect you.” I grasped her hand. “My baby girl.”
Mac’s lips twisted into a knowing grin, likely having felt the same thing when Reagan was born.
“Now you’re all grown up. You’ve built a life for yourself, created a family of your own. And I couldn’t be more proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Tears rolled down my daughter’s cheeks, and thickly, she whispered, “You were the best dad I could have ever asked for.”
Mac’s hand came down on Aspen’s shoulder. “Thank you for everything, Jett. I owe you my life.”
I beckoned my girl closer, and she came willingly. With my hand cradling her face, I said, “It’s not goodbye; it’s see you later. Okay?”
“Okay,” she agreed on a shaky exhale. “I’ll see you later, Daddy.” With that, she fell into my arms.
We stayed like that for a while, neither of us ready to let the other go for the last time. But eventually, Mac urged his wife to come away because there was one more couple I needed to see before I could finally rest.
Tripp stood on the threshold, his hair sticking out in all directions, like he’d run his hands through the thick black strands one too many times. After a gentle nudge from Penny, my son reluctantly entered the room.
“We sure got off to a rocky start, didn’t we, kid?”
“Dad.” His voice cracked on that single word.
“A lot of that rests on me. I had this experience when Aspen was born, where I lit up her whole world, and then you came along, and I thought it would be exactly the same.” Shaking my head, I let out a wry laugh. “God, was I wrong. You wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. Hell, you screamed your head off every time I dared to hold you. And I think deep down, a part of me resented the bond you had with your mother. It wasn’t right, I know that, blaming a baby for wanting their mama. It’s only natural you would gravitate toward the person who carried you inside them for nine months and then became your sole source of sustenance for nearly a year after that. But it hurt my feelings just the same. So, because of that, I was tougher on you than I should have been. And I know it’s coming almost fifty years too late, but I am sorry for that.”
A tear leaked from Tripp’s eye, and he didn’t bother to wipe it away.
“I’m so grateful that we were able to mend our relationship, that you allowed me the opportunity to help guide you as you grew into new roles—husband, father, and now primary owner of Sullivan Ranch. You’ve excelled at every single one.”
I took his hand in mine, switching from sentimental to serious. “You don’t need me to tell you this, but you’re the man of this family now. It falls on you to look after your mama, this ranch, and all the people livingon it. But I can rest easy knowing they’re in good hands. I know in my heart you would never let a single one of them down.”
Shaking his head, my son vowed, “I won’t. I promise, Dad.”
“Penny?” I shifted my gaze toward my daughter-in-law.
She came closer, a sad smile curved on her lips. “Yeah, Jett?”
“A man is only as strong as the woman by his side. My son couldn’t have picked a better one to share his life with.”
