Page 50 of Our Sweet Destiny
Rex was dying to be able to say something similar about Jade at their family dinner table. The idea of Jade being included in his family stewed within him. He envisioned her beside him, tossing snarky comments at his brothers and whispering with Savannah, like Max did. He touched the charm beneath his shirt and watched his family settle back around the table. “Mom, if this is from you, then I need a little guidance here,” he whispered before heading back to the table.
AFTER DINNER, HAL took Rex aside. “You okay, son?”
His father seemed to have a sixth sense about his children. He always knew when their minds, or in some cases, their hearts, were tied in knots. It pained Rex not to be able to tell his father the truth.
“Yeah, just sidetracked with the horse show.”
His father’s eyes narrowed, and Rex watched him search his own. His stomach clenched, feeling as though his father could see right through his evasion. He had the urge to just spill it all, lay it out on the table, but he knew that would open up a can of worms that nobody was ready for.
If his father saw something in his eyes, he didn’t let on. “If there’s anything you want to tell me, I’m here. You know, your mother used to call you Rascally Rex.”
Rex smiled at the memory. “I remember.”
“I don’t know what’s going on, Rex, and I don’t expect you to tell me, but you and I…” He put a hand on Rex’s shoulder. “We’ve had our share of going head-to-head with the ranch. This feels different. I don’t expect you to talk to me until you’re ready, and your gut will tell you when that’s right. Just know that I love you.”
Rex had never doubted his father’s love. Everything his father said rang true in his heart, momentarily curbing his anger about the feud and soothing the hurt he’d been carrying about the increasing rift between him and his father.
“Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.”
His father pulled him into a warm hug, then headed down to the barn. Rex touched the necklace beneath his shirt and wondered if, just maybe, his mother had had a hand in that out-of-the-blue conversation.
REX AND THE others did the dishes and put away the leftovers.
Josh peered out the glass doors toward the barn. “I worry about him. He seems like he’s all tied in knots again, like he was before he had that heart issue. He’s usually much warmer, and he didn’t say two words during dinner.”
Treat and Rex exchanged a knowing look.
“He’s fine. You know how Dad is. He goes through moods, like we all do. Right now he’s dealing with something in that big old head of his.” Rex knew his father wasn’t fine. His comment about being careful where he tread, coupled with Rex’s growing anger about the feuding families coming between him and the woman he loved, had caused a fissure between the two men, and the brief conversation they’d just had still had him reeling with conflicting emotions.
Ever since he’d been given the necklace, he found himself believing more and more that his father remained connected to his mother. Whether that made his father delusional or spiritual, he had no idea, but he wasn’t there to judge him. He was trying his best to be there to love and support him, just as his father had done for him his whole life. He knew he was falling short as he questioned the value of his loyalty to his father against his loyalty to Jade.
“He was fine when you guys were in here passing secrets like children,” Max said with a smile. She pulled the elastic band out of her long dark hair and rewrapped it, then helped Treat dry the dishes while Savannah put them away.
“Are you gonna clue me in? I know I’m not a Braden yet, but almost…”
Treat dried his hands and pulled her close. “You’re a Braden, whether we’re married or not.” He kissed her so tenderly that Rex had to turn away.
When they drew apart, Treat answered Max’s question. “Jade,” he said.
“The dark-haired beauty from Fingers?” Max asked with a smile.
“Yup,” Rex said, turning to face them.
“Yay! So you finally asked her out?”
“Something like that,” he said. Rex wasn’t really listening. He was biding his time until his father went to bed so he could go over to Jade’s and see if he could catch her in the barn. He just needed to see her. The longer he waited, the more anxious he became. He grabbed his keys.
“I’m going to the store. I’ll be back in an hour,” he said.
“I’ll go with you. I wanna get—” Savannah lifted her eyes as she grabbed her purse and saw Rex’s stare, the shake of his head. “Oh. Thestore. Got it. Have fun!”
He laughed on his way out the door. As he climbed into his truck, he heard his father’s voice down by the barn, and guilt tightened around him again. He pushed it away and drove toward Jade’s.
