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RHETT

One Month Later

On Tuesday,I went to pick Maggie up from the salon,hersalon. She was spending the week cleaning, reorganizing, and decorating the place that was now called “Hair and Home.” She was now selling my wire art and even bringing in a pedicure chair and added a space to do nails. Her mom happily agreed to start coming one day a week, and if there was enough demand for her services, she wanted to move back to Cottonwood Falls too. She came to a Sunday night dinner with Maggie’s dad, and I swore there were some sparks between the two of them. Maybe Maggie and I weren’t the only couple who would get a second chance.

When I pulled up along the curb, she came running to the truck, looking adorable in her Farley Trucking cap—courtesy of the trucking company where her dad worked now—paint-stained jeans and a white T-shirt. I got out of the pickup to meet her, hugging her tight and dropping a kiss on her pretty pink lips.

After knowing I could lose her, I was never taking a second for granted.

“Good to see you too,” she said sweetly, smiling up at me from under her cap.

I grinned. “Ready to see Grandpa?”

She nodded. “Absolutely. Can you get him a regular Coke this time? I promised him last week that we’d smuggle one in.”

I narrowed my gaze at her. “Grandpa’s not supposed to have regular soda.”

“He’s eighty-seven,” she retorted. “As far as I’m concerned, he could have actual coke if he wants it.”

I rolled my eyes. She and Grandpa were both stubborn as mules. “Just this one time.”

“Yes.” She pulled her arm down in victory, and I reached over to tickle her side.

She squirmed away from me, yelling for me to stop. I did, but just so we could get in the truck and drive away from the salon. We went and grabbed the food from the diner and then drove the rest of the way to the retirement community.

Cam was already waiting by the door to greet us, her small bump visible through her scrubs.

“Look at you bumpin’!” Maggie said. “You’re so freaking adorable.”

Cam turned to the side, accentuating the small bump. “I feel like I’m cute pregnant now, but I’m going to be big, uncomfortable pregnant soon.”

Maggie laughed. “I need to add maternity stuff to my next visit to the city. Lord knows I already have tons of cute outfits for my future niece or nephew!”

I nodded. “It’s taking over the house. Maybe I should put a baby in you for all the clothes we have left over.”

Cam and Mags both rolled their eyes at me.

“What?”

Cam answered, “You better put a ring on it first.”

I raised my eyebrows at her.

“I know, I know, do as I say, not as I do.” She turned and started walking toward the common area where we always ate with Grandpa.

He was waiting for us at a corner table, his cowboy hat resting on the bench next to him. He struggled to get up as we approached, eventually straightening and hugging all three of us. As we sat down, he gave me a crinkle-eyed smile. “Have I mentioned how happy I am this one came back around?”

I chuckled. “You and me both.”

Maggie hugged him and then started passing out the takeout containers. “I got you regular Coke,” she whispered.

His eyes lit up. “That’s it. I’m writing all the grandkids out of my will and putting you in it instead.”

She laughed. “My evil plan is working.”

I rolled my eyes at her, and Grandpa only chuckled. Then his face grew serious. And he grunted.