Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I nod. “Yeah,” I agree.
“So you want to talk about it?”
Our parents never pressured us growing up, and they don’t do it now that we’re adults to talk. However, just them asking always led to us spewing whatever’s on our minds. We know we can do so without judgment, and they’ve always helped guide us in the right direction.
“Kennedy.”
Dad smiles. “We like her.”
“So do we,” I reply, talking about Blake and me.
“Maureen is convinced Kens and I are going to get married one day.” I smile at the thought.
“And what do you say?”
“I can see it,” I tell him honestly. “She’s great with Blake, and they have a fondness for one another. She’s beautiful and kind and funny, and I love spending time with her.”
“I’m not seeing the problem here, Declan.”
“She doesn’t live here, Dad. She still plans to go home to Florida.”
“Then you have to change her mind.”
“How do I do that? How do I make her see that she’s it for me? I feel it here.” I place my hand over my heart. “Everything is different with her.”
“Show her your heart, Declan. I know you keep things bottled inside since Cassie. Losing her was tragic, but it wasn’t your fault. Give Kennedy your heart, and she’ll stay forever.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
“You have to have faith, Dec.”
“I can’t leave Willow River. My business is here. You and Mom, my brothers, nieces and nephews of the future. Blake needs to be surrounded by family.” What I don’t say is that even though I say that I can’t leave, I’ve considered it. Leaving everything we know, and everyone we love to be with her.
“Would she not be doing the same?” he asks.
“Yeah, but there is so much more here for her than in Florida. A Kincaid support system, her grandma, and Blake and me.”
“Show her your heart, Declan. You know our motto.” He smiles.
“Work hard. Love harder.”
“Love her hard. Work at loving her and showing her what life in Willow River would look like.”
“I’m running out of time.”
He smiles. “Then you better lay it all out for her.”
“Yeah,” I agree. “Looks like that’s my only choice.” I know he’s right. I need to show her, and I feel like I have been. Although, I’ve been trying to go slow with her too. However, I don’t have time for that now. She’s going to be leaving in a few weeks, and I don’t want to watch her drive away from me. Dad’s right. I need to show her my heart.
“Thanks, Mom,” Orrin says as they step back into the living room.
“Palmer’s going to love this,” Brooks adds.
“What is it?”
“A cookbook. I added some of my recipes that you boys loved growing up. A little taste of home.”
“Do I not get one?” I ask her.
“Your wife will.”
“He’s wifed up, Momma,” Brooks tells her. “Maureen says he’s going to marry Kennedy.”
Mom laughs and shakes her head. “She told me all about it. It's not up to her.”
“What if I want her to be right?” I say, shocking my brothers.
“Then I’d say I have one of those—” she points at the cookbook that Orrin is holding— “with her name on it.”
“Hey, beautiful, are you okay? The baby?” Brooks says, answering his ringing phone. He smiles. “Yeah, I can do that. Anything else?” He listens intently. “Got it. We’ll be by soon. Love you.” He ends the call sliding the phone back into his pocket.
“Everything all right?” Dad asks.
“Yeah, everything is fine. Apparently, she thought we had ice cream, but she ate it.” My brother’s smile is huge. “I can’t keep it in the house. Anyway, they promised Blakely an ice cream sundae, so we need to run to the store and drop off some supplies.”
“Why don’t we just call the others and tell them to meet us there? They can pack up the burgers, and we can eat at your place?”
“Crash girls’ night?” I ask them.
“Yep,” Orrin and Brooks reply in unison.
“Let’s do it.”
Mom and Dad’s laughter follows us out of the house.
When we pull into the driveway, it looks as if every single light in the house is on. Deacon, Sterling, and Rushton are already here from the looks of the trucks in the driveway. Orrin and I, with our arms loaded with bags of junk food, follow Brooks through the front door and into the house. Laughter rings out, and we follow it to the living room.
Maverick and Merrick are dancing with Alyssa being silly, while the rest of them are cheering and hooting at their ridiculous moves. My eyes find Sterling’s. He’s smiling and laughing with the rest of them, but there is something else in his gaze as he watches our little brothers dance and act like a fool with his best friend. It’s easy to see it’s all in good fun, but the look in his eyes tells me that while it’s funny, he’s not exactly fond of them touching her. I don’t know how I didn’t see it before now. I mean, I did, but not like this.