Page 135 of Huckleberry Hill
“How?” I demanded. “At this point, falling in love quickly with the right person is clearly in the Powell DNA. I came by this genetically. You have no one to blame but yourself.”
“It’s different because you’re my daughter,” he rasped. His hands were on the table, and they were clenched.
I reached over and took one of his fists, forcing it open so I could hold his hand. “I didn’t tell you the full story of why Gianni and I broke up.”
“No, you didn’t,” he allowed. “You kept that one close to the vest.”
I glanced at Muddy, who smiled at me with encouragement. I took a deep breath. “I found out I—I can’t have children, Dad. I went to two different doctors who both confirmed it. And Gianni couldn’t handle that, so he ended things with me.”
“Hadley . . .” His hand tightened on mine.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “It was bad. The breakup. I didn’t get out of bed for days. I came home to heal. I didn’t expect to meet Declan. I didn’t expect to fall so hard and fast for him, but he’s just so . . . you know who he is. You hired him, for crying out loud.”
“Cow-wrangling lothario,” Dad muttered. He raised his brows. “And does he know? What you just told me?”
I nodded. “I told him last night. And he told me he loved me after I told him.”
“And you believe him?” he asked gruffly.
“Yeah. I believe him.” I smiled. “You think he’d risk your anger and losing your respect for a few rolls in the hay if he didn’t really love me?”
He closed his eyes. “You don’t roll in the hay. You’re still six years old with pig tails.”
“Dad,” I said softly.
Dad opened his eyes and sighed. “I’m going to have to be okay with this, aren’t I?”
“If you want to be okay with me, then yeah,” I said. “Please, Dad. Go to him. Un-fire him.”
“High road, Connor. Hadley fell in love and now she’s not going back to New York,” Muddy said. “Actually, you should be thanking Declan.”
Dad looked at me. “Is that true?”
“How did you know?” I asked Muddy.
“I’m Muddy.” She shrugged.
“Hadley?” Dad pressed.
“I’m not going back to New York,” I said slowly. “I’m right where I want to be.”
“One more question, and then I’ll let it rest,” Dad said.
“Shoot.”
“Would you stay even if you weren’t with Declan? What I mean is, are you staying for you as much as you are for him?”
“You’re worried this is just another Gianni situation,” I said in understanding. “That I stuck it out in New York because of him.”
He nodded.
“Yeah, Dad. I’m staying as much for me as I am for him. But I’m staying for you and Muddy, too. I’m staying for the mountains. I’m staying for the huckleberries. I’m staying for the mushroom festival. I’m staying because this is where I belong, and I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
Dad rose from his chair. “Excuse me, will you?”
“Ask him to come for breakfast,” Muddy said as she got up from the table.
Dad sighed but reluctantly nodded and then he walked out of the kitchen. The front door opened and then closed, leaving me alone with Muddy.
