Page 118 of Huckleberry Hill
“This is your home. In good times and bad. Sure, you might’ve come home to heal and maybe to hide a little. But this thing you’re doing with Declan . . . that shouldn’t be the reason you run back to New York. It shouldn’t be the reason you stay, either. Stay because you love it. Stay because this is the right place for you. Stay because this place is in your blood.”
I thought about what she said and nodded slowly. “Can you not—please don’t tell Dad what I told you. I’ll tell him—in my own time. When I’m ready to face it. Right now, I just . . .”
“I understand. This stays between you and me.”
I sighed in relief.
“But it seems the town now knows you’re running around with Declan. It’s only a matter of time before Connor finds out the truth. And he should hear you’re with Declan from you before he hears it from someone in town.”
“Ugh. You’re right about that. He’s going to fire Declan, isn’t he?”
“Probably.” She shrugged. “But that was a risk you were both willing to take. You’re adults and you can make your own decisions. That doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences to those decisions.”
“Adulting. Zero out of ten, do not recommend.”
She gently patted my cheek. “You’re going to be fine, Hadley. You’ll figure it out.”
I wasn’t sure if she was talking about my relationship with Declan or my infertility.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The Ranch
* * *
“So we kinda have a bit of a problem,” I said to Declan the moment I walked into the cabin.
He closed the slow cooker lid and came to me. “Hi.”
“Hi.” I looked up and wrapped my arms around his neck and brushed my lips against his.
“So, what’s the problem, bear snack?” Declan asked as he pulled back but didn’t let me go.
“Apparently, Larry, Gracie’s egg delivery guy from Silver Springs, saw us at the bar last night. And he told her about you carting me out of the bar over your shoulder . . .”
I went on to explain the details and then he raised his brows. “Huh.”
“Yeah.”
“So, the problem would be . . .”
“The townsfolk.” I smiled wryly. “People are talking about us.”
“Ah, and you’re upset the cat is out the bag.”
“No, not really. It’s just that my dad doesn’t know yet and I don’t want him coming home and having someone else tell him before I get a chance to.”
“I see,” he murmured, dropping his arms from around my waist.
“So, I think we need to tell him. Or I need to tell him,” I said.
“Actually, I should tell him. Man to man.”
I shook my head. “He’s probably gonna fire you. But if I tell him maybe I can dissuade him. But only if I talk to him before he hears about it from anyone else.”
“No, Hadley. I should tell him. He’ll respect that I wasn’t a coward about it. And if he fires me, so be it.”
“What will you do if he does fire you?” I asked, biting my lip in concern.
