Page 89 of A Lot Like Forever
There were murmurs amongst their friends and Faith reached for his hand, needing to touch him.
“I’ve known plenty of beautiful women in my lifetime,” Nate continued, scowling when a few of the guys sniggered, “but none who also possessed the brains and sass to keep me in line.” He cleared his throat. “And it seems that even my granddad knew I’d met my match, if this letter I just received is anything to go by. He’s the one person missing today who I wish could have held on long enough to see me married, but I’ll just take a moment to read this aloud for the first time, as he wished.”
Faith could see the tears glistening in Nate’s eyes, heard the catch of emotion in his throat as he spoke of his granddad, and so she rose, slipping an arm around him and dropping her head to rest on his shoulder, to stand by him and support him.
“ ‘To Nate and Faith, because I know that unless you’ve done something to muck it all up, son, that she’s the only one you’re ever likely to marry in this lifetime.’ ”
Faith laughed softly and held Nate even tighter.
“ ‘You swore black and blue that you would never marry, but I always knew that one day a woman would come along who would challenge you enough to make you want to chase her. And when I saw you all bent out of sorts over Faith, I knew you’d finally met your match, because that’s exactly how I was over your grandma. She pushed all my buttons, made me fuming mad half the time trying to figure out what the hell she wanted, but she was the only one for me.’ ”
Nate cleared his throat, glancing across at Faith before continuing.
“ ‘All I’ve ever wanted is for you boys to be happy, and imagine me finally letting go and knowing that your younger brothers had met wonderful women to love them. My only hope is that you and Faith can find the same kind of happiness that your grandmother and I had, to bring up your children on the ranch that has been in our family for generations, and to continue our legacy. And please tell that gorgeous new bride of yours that I wholeheartedly approve of your decision. In fact, if I was ten years younger I might have tried to give you a run for your money.’ ”
Everyone laughed then, even Faith as she dabbed at her eyes with her fingertips.
“ ‘And so I need to say my final good-bye, son. Please raise your glasses and toast to my new granddaughter-in-law, and wish her all the luck in the world at keeping a King under control.’ ”
The room was silent except for the shuffle of everyone reaching for their glasses to join Nate in his toast. Faith reached for her own and smiled at Nate, watching as he dropped the letter to the table.
“To my wife and to my granddad. Life wouldn’t have been the same without him, and it sure as hell wouldn’t be the same without you by my side right now.”
Glasses clinked, everyone drank, and slowly the noise level rose again.
“He knew, Nate. He knew all along,” Faith whispered into his ear as he wrapped his arms around her.
“That man knew everything,” he muttered back, hands slipping lower until they were resting on her butt. “I just didn’t expect him to realize what I hadn’t at the time.”
“We are going to have a family, right?” she asked, arms looped around his neck as she gazed up at him. “Because I think I want a whole lot of little Nates running around.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” he growled.
“Hey,” she said with a laugh, standing on tiptoe to press a kiss to his jaw. “I wished for you, didn’t I?”
