Page 12 of After this Summer (Seasons in Montana: Summer #11)

BEAU

T he day after bringing Indie home with me, I got on a plane bound for Tennessee and left Reid and Pen in charge of keeping her company. I told her my father had previously arranged for me to take an overnight trip to pick up material, but in reality, it had nothing to do with my father at all.

Just hers.

We’d kept news of the baby private other than to our families, and regardless of whether or not things between us would last beyond the baby being born, this is something I need to do.

I’d rehearsed my speech countless times but everything seemed to fly right out of my head the moment the plane touched down in Blackstone Falls.

My phone buzzes in my hand the second I’m allowed to turn it back on and I can’t help but laugh.

PEN: It’s going to be fine

BEAU: Easy for you to say

PEN: Probably, but this is definitely the right thing to do

The statement resonates in my soul because I feel it too. Pen had helped me coordinate this trip without Indie knowing, which worked out well considering she’s the only connection I have to this part of Indie’s life.

Following the directions on the little screen, I navigate my rental car through the winding backroads. It’s different from Montana, fields as far as the eye can see and a kind of humidity I didn’t know existed.

It makes me second-guess the dark jeans I’d worn as well as the long-sleeved button-down I’d thrown on before getting in the car. I hadn’t wanted to wrinkle it on the flight, but the air conditioning can’t seem to get cold enough to counter the way sweat beads along my hairline.

Or maybe I’m just nervous about seeing Indie’s father.

It’s probably the latter.

Definitely the latter.

That’s confirmed when I pull into the driveway of a beautiful home, the white siding and columns on the front porch making it look classy.

And expensive.

Swallowing hard, I put the car into park and grab my phone from the cupholder before pushing open the door and stepping out onto the gravel.

I retrieve the sign from the backseat—the one I’d intended to give her parents after the baby was born.

I’d spent nights in the barn hammering out the horseshoes, and in this moment, I’m thankful I’d finished it so far in advance.

Shoving the keys into my pocket, I make the quick walk to the front door and knock, noting that the pots of flowers adorning the porch are definitely not fake, the blooms bold and flourishing.

With two swift knocks, I step back and will myself not to fidget.

“Can I help you?” The woman’s voice is warm, her smile pleasant as she stares at me from the doorway. Her resemblance to Indie is clear, and I see our lives flash before me in an instant.

This could be us some day.

Pushing the thought from my mind, I square my shoulders and offer her my hand. “Mrs. Kade, my name is Beau Sterling.” When her eyes widen in surprise, and because I’m here to lay it all out, I add, “I’m in love with your daughter.”

“Wayne just went into town, he should be back any minute,” Dottie Kade tells me as she hustles around the kitchen. “If I’d known you were coming I would have made something fancier,” she says even as she piles a serving dish with pastries and miniature pies.

The space is bright and airy, the walls a light peach color with crisp white cabinets and a large marble island in the center of the room.

“This is really nice, Mrs. Kade. Thank you. I’m sorry to impose like this.”

She’s about to respond when the front door bangs open and a man’s voice fills the room. “Dottie, whose car is in the driveway?”

Standing, I turn and face the man who will be my biggest ally or adversary for what I hope will be the rest of my life.

“Mr. Kade, I’m Beau Sterling.”

I hold out my hand, and he eyes me a moment before returning the shake and exhaling heavily through his nose.

“I reckon you’re not here for the lemon tarts.”

“No, sir.”

“Why don’t I leave you two to talk?” Dottie says, bustling out of the kitchen, her voice a low murmur as she places her hand on her husband’s arm and says something that sounds an awful lot like be nice.

When she’s gone, he looks at me and nods toward the door. “Let’s go for a walk.”

I’d expected as much, but it takes more than a little effort to make myself move, my boots heavy as they cross the stained wooden floor.

The sun is already blazing as we move across the lawn. It’s beautiful but it’s not home.

“What brings you to Tennessee?” Wayne asks as he adjusts the Stetson on his head.

“I came here to ask for your blessing to marry your daughter,” I start, thankful that he remains silent and allows me to add, “but I think more than that I need you to understand why I want, need, to marry her.”

“Make it good, son. She’s the only little girl I’ve got.” There’s a hint of amusement in his tone, like he’s not at all surprised that I’ve landed on his doorstep.

“I love your daughter. She’s amazing, and her carrying our baby is the greatest blessing of my life.” Stopping, I clear my throat, ducking my head for a moment before meeting his gaze. “If we’d been on a different timeline, I have no doubt I’d still be here asking if you’d give me your blessing.”

“That right?”

Meeting Indie had changed me on a cellular level; it wasn’t even a question.

“Yes, sir,” I confirm because it’s the truth.

“We agreed that she’d move to Wintervale because her best friend is there and my family.

We had plans to pack up her apartment this weekend.

” His eyes darken as he stares at me, his arms crossing over his barrel chest. “She didn’t wait, fainted, and was rushed to the hospital. ”

“Son of a gun.”

“She’s all right. The baby’s all right. But—” It takes me two tries to force back the lump of emotion in my throat, before I can trust myself to speak.

“I dropped everything. My brother and cousin and his boyfriend didn’t hesitate either.

We drove out there and they packed up the rest of her apartment while I stayed with her in the hospital. ”

“How are you holding up, son?”

“Better now that she’s settled,” I admit and he dips his head in understanding, “but I realized that I can’t wait to marry her.

It’s not just about the baby—it’s her. I swear I couldn’t take a full breath until I saw with my own eyes that she was all right.

I didn’t mean to fall in love with her so fast but she made it impossible.

She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I just want the chance to show her that I can be that for her too. ”

“Guess that means I should start looking at flights then,” he says, his expression wistful as he looks out over the field before us.

“Sir?”

Extending his hand, he waits for me to clasp it before his other hand lands on my shoulder.

“Be good to my daughter, and make sure she’s good to you in return.

Marriage is hard. Babies are hard. And you’re about to do both at once.

” He smiles. “Remember this feeling right now, the one where you think she hung the moon because she’ll be goin’ through it, doubting everything and everyone, especially herself. ”

“I won’t let her do it alone,” I tell him, my voice filled with conviction.

“It’s just as important that you don’t either. Marriage isn’t fifty-fifty. You’ll carry her and she’ll carry you—just don’t be too proud to let her know you need her. She’s strong and if you’re in it together, there’s nothing you won’t be able to see to the other side.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Wayne is fine,” he says as he steers us back toward the house. “Let Dottie feed you before you need to get back to Montana. And uh, best let Indie tell her mama about her trip to the hospital if that’s what she wants.”

“I appreciate it. I was too nervous to eat.”

“Well, Dottie is no doubt whipping up enough food to feed the town.”

“Just like being at home,” I muse and he chuckles.

“Looks like you’ll fit in just fine then.”

Walking in silence, I smile, because our future was bright but it’s damn near blinding now and all I want to do is start living it.