Page 122 of Conception
“I’ve never been likened to a tool, but I’ll take it,” I tell her, unsure if it’s the wine or her easy acceptance that makes me say what’s on my mind.
“The Knox I knew a year ago would’ve had a conniption if he found out he had a son he didn’t know about. With Branson? Not a single hesitation. And that’s because of you. Any other woman, I honestly believe he’d be there, providing for his child, but I don’t think he’d be so quick to offer marriage. He only did it with you because he loves you.”
“I love him, too. I never thought I’d be here. I wanted Knox to know. I truly did. But after the letter went unanswered, I lost hope. When he showed up in the hospital, I thought I was having a dream.”
She smiles. “That letter. His father and I should’ve asked him. We just naturally assumed the letter was written to my Knox. What woman would write my son at the company when she could’ve easily found him on campus? Oh well. It all ended just as it should. And here we are. A new daughter-in-law and grandbaby. I’m so happy our family’s expanding.”
“As am I.”
Kate leans forward and pats my hand. “I would never presume to take the place of your parents, but I hope you know I’ll always be here for you. Whatever you need. Even if you need to vent about my son being an ass. Knowing how he takes after his father, I’m sure that’ll happen quite often.”
I laugh and wipe away hot tears at the same time. “It already does. And I love him for it.”
“It’s Wellington magic. They can piss you off until you’re seething and then fix it all in the next breath. It’s rather annoying, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
I have a feeling, twenty years from now, my sentiments will be the same. I just hope Knox and I are blessed enough to give Branson siblings to grow up with. The thought of more babies twists my stomach into knots. I’m still in awe at how much my life has changed in the last year.
I’m getting married.
Branson grasps my hair and tugs as if he’s emphasizing my thoughts. I gaze down at my son in disbelief that this is my life.
This isourlife.
How the hell did I get so lucky?
I fixate my gaze on Amelia as she walks down the makeshift aisle in my parents’ backyard. She’s a vision in white lace, her long, blond hair flowing down her back in curls I can’t wait to wrap my hands in.
The ceremony’s a blur. I can’t take my eyes off her, my wife, as we promise to love and honor each other forever.
After hours of food, drink, and dancing at our reception, I whisk Amelia away from the estate. I’m eager to be alone with my wife.
“Knox, where are we going? Did you get a hotel suite for the night? What about Branson?”
“You already put him to bed, wife. He’s staying with my parents.” I glance over at her, not missing the worried expression in her eyes. “If that’s okay with you?”
“It’s okay with me. There’s plenty of milk for him. Your mom will call if she needs anything?”
“Of course.”
“So where are we going?”
“Home.”
She furrows her brow. “Without the baby?”
I laugh and reassuringly squeeze her hand. “No, babe. Not Crystal Cove.”
“I don’t understand.”
I glance over and hope like hell I didn’t make another wrong move. “I hope you don’t mind. As soon as I found out about Branson, I asked Mom to start looking at real estate for me. We couldn’t stay at their place, even though she insisted they had plenty of room. No way in hell am I starting my marriage living with my parents. As soon as you said you were content to live in Nashville, I settled on this place.”
Her silence in the car is deafening.
“Fuck, I screwed this up again, didn’t I? I should’ve asked you. Let you go house hunting with me.” I slam the heel of my hand against the steering wheel. “Babe, we can put—”
Amelia launches herself across the bucket seat and peppers kisses along my neck. I’m already too damn turned on to scold her for distracting a guy driving a classic car.
“It’s perfect, Knox. Simply perfect.”
