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I looked up at him, confused by the change in attitude. “What gives?” I asked.

He shook his head. “Too damn bad you two couldn’t be living out on the land. We were supposed to close on it today, you know.”

“I know.” I pointed my gaze toward the table, not wanting him to see how disappointed I was about that. It was the one fly in the ointment. I had everything I wanted, but I still had to wonder—what next? Would Maggie and I ever be able to afford that land and a new build?

Grandpa said, “You should just take it.”

All three of us swiveled our heads, staring at him.

“What?” He raised his hands. “I already have it in the will to go to you when I die. Seems stupid to wait until then. This way I could actually see you enjoy it.”

My eyebrows went up. “Grandpa, you don’t have to do that. I can save the money.”

He narrowed his gaze at me. “You know you’re not supposed to argue with an old guy.”

Cam held up her French fry as she spoke. “I thought it was ‘you’re not supposed to argue with a drunk.’”

“Same difference,” Grandpa muttered. “Have you seen the people around here?”

Cam covered her mouth as she laughed, and Mags admonished, “Grandpa Griffen.”

He gave her the side-eye. “You know it’s true.” But then he looked at me. “When I look at you, I see myself. Same sense of humor, same determination. Same stubborn pride always getting in the way.” All the smoke he’d blown quickly deflated. Because he was right. I had pride in spades.

“You want to do everything yourself, but look around!” Grandpa gestured at the four of us sitting here. “You’re never alone, Rhett Griffen. You need to let your family help you, and you can bless them in return by enjoying the blessings they bring to you.”

I tilted my head. “I don’t feel like I deserve it,” I admitted. I’d messed up so much in life. Working hard made me feel like I’d earned what I had.

“Well, I’m pretty fucking sure you won’t look at the lawyer when I’m dead and tell him to give it back to a corpse.”

“Grandpa!” I said, half laughing.

Mags put her hand on my leg. “He wants you to be happy. We all do.”

Grandpa tapped his nose. “I want you two to start a life together like Jane and I had, and I want to be here to see it all unfold.” He brushed his hand over his hair. “With a really good hairs cut of course.”

“Haircut,” Maggie corrected.

He gave her a look like she was loopy. “You know I have more than one hair on my head, right?”

I chuckled and pointed at Mags. “He has a good point.”

Maggie only shook her head at us. “Are you sure about the land, Grandpa Griffen?”

He nodded. “If Rhett doesn’t take it, I’m giving it to you.”

Her laugh warmed my heart. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”

68

RHETT

Nine Months Later

I greetedfriends and family as they pulled up to our homestead. I wore a tux Maggie had picked out and a magnolia boutonniere, made from flowers on the tree in our new backyard.

Someone patted my shoulder from behind, and I turned to see Cooper holding baby Cadence in his arm. She was our flower girl at three months old, and my nieces Maya and Cora would be walking her down the aisle in a little stroller decorated with our wedding colors—cream and deep green.

“It’s time to go,” Cooper said.