Page 51 of Can’t Let You Go (Ivy Ridge #3)

JASON

F allon was quiet most of last night. I easily convinced her to spend the night as Presley has a few sets of clothes at my house anyway.

I held her in my arms all night. I didn’t make her talk or share what she was going through in her head.

I was a comforting presence for her. I dropped the girls off at school this morning and arranged for my mom to pick them up so we could meet with Brad.

I’m not looking forward to having to spend any amount of time with the asshole, but I’ll do it for Fallon.

The plan is for her to meet me at the brewery after work, and we’ll head to the diner together. I don’t know why the asshole suddenly wants to meet after three years, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I worry he’s going to try and pull some shit to get custody of Presley.

All day I’ve been extra alert, almost like I’ve been waiting for Brad to show up here again and confront me.

When four-thirty rolls around and he doesn’t appear, I let out a breath of relief.

Fallon should be arriving any minute, and I know I’ll be better when she’s in my arms. My mom sent a photo of the girls playing in the backyard a few minutes ago, so I know they’re having a fun time.

The front door to the brewery opens, and all three of my brothers walk in. I toss the rag in my hand into the bucket of sanitizer water at my feet and greet them. “What are you guys doing here?”

Beau shrugs. “Had the afternoon off. Andrew was at Josie’s shop and she needed to work, so I took him with me. We ran into Thomas and figured we’d all come here.”

“I finished a big project and figured I would take the afternoon off. I was going to help Josie with some arrangements, but she said I was doing them wrong,” Andrew explains.

“They looked like shit,” Beau says. “I don’t know much about flowers, but it was not good. Poor Josie was trying so hard not to cringe.”

“She was not!” Andrew smacks Beau’s shoulder. “She loves my flower arrangements.”

“That’s what she tells you,” Thomas says with a snicker. “I’m off duty. Where’s Lenners? Is she back in the office?” He gestures toward the back where my office is.

Usually she would be. After school, we come back here for an hour or so while I finish things up for the day, then we head home. I shake my head. “Nope. Mom picked her and Presley up today. It’s a long story, but Fallon’s ex is in town.”

“The fucker who disappeared on her?” Thomas asks, eyes widening. “Didn’t he leave her super unexpectedly?”

I nod. “Yep. We don’t know why he’s back. Fallon’s worried he’s going to try and get partial custody of Pres, even though he waived his rights to custody on the divorce papers. He wants to meet tonight, so mom took the girls. We’ll pick them up later. ”

“Damn.” Thomas shoves his hands in his pockets. “Want us to go with you? We don’t have to sit at the table with you, but we could be stealthily hiding somewhere.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Fallon probably wouldn’t want that. We can ask, but I don’t think so. I appreciate the offer, though.”

I sit down at one of the tables with my brothers.

It’s been a while since the four of us have hung out.

Life has been changing, and for the first time in a while, I’m not upset about it.

I’m happy with the direction my life has taken.

I want my future to include Fallon and Presley.

I want them to be a part of my family, part of this crazy life we share.

Beau shows us pictures of the twins, who seem to be growing like weeds. I saw them yesterday, but they already look bigger in the pictures that Marley sent him today.

“I really think Josie and I are ready to have a baby,” Andrew proclaims. “Sure, we watched Lennie that weekend a few months ago, and maybe we should watch the twins, but I’m so ready to be a dad.

Thinking about it makes me want to go knock her up right now.

She’s going to be the best mom, and god , she’s going to be so beautiful pregnant. ”

Fallon appears behind him, a smile on her face. “I agree.” She smiles as she sits beside me.

“See!” Andrew gestures to Fallon. “She gets it.”

I tug her into my side, kissing the top of her head. “Hey, sunshine.” She smiles up at me, her eyes dimmer than normal, but still carrying so much of her usual shine.

Fallon squeezes my hand, then directs her attention back to Andrew. “For what it’s worth, you’re never really ready to have a kid. You learn as you go.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Beau agrees. He runs his hand through his long hair, putting it up in one of his signature buns.

“And every kid is different. I mean heck, Arlo is a champion sleeper and eater, and getting Ariel to sleep is like pulling teeth. The girl has some serious FOMO. You could read all the baby and parenting books — I did — and still not know what’s going to happen.

What works for other people won’t work for you. ”

Fallon smiles, offering an encouraging nod. “But if you are ready to start that chapter of your life, talk to Josie, and if you’re on the same page, then go for it.”

Andrew nods furiously. “You’re so right. Everyone thinks I’m joking, but I’m totally not.”

I look down at Fallon, wondering if she wants more kids.

In all honesty, it’s not something I ever gave much thought to.

I was always so focused on Lennie, and I never thought I would end up with anyone.

Would I want more kids? More little Lennie’s or Presley’s running around the house?

I can’t say I’d be against it, but only if Fallon wants it.

Perhaps I’m getting way too far ahead of myself.

We have other things to be focused on right now, and we’ve only started dating.

But I’m all in. I’m happy to be a father figure for Presley, and I’d love to have Fallon as Lennie’s step-mom.

Like I said, I’m getting too far ahead of myself.

I need to focus on dealing with whatever it is Brad has planned, and we can go from there.

I glance at the time, realizing we should probably get going. “Ready?” I ask Fallon, watching her expression morph from one of joy and relaxation to anxiety and fear.

“Do we have to?” she asks quietly. She leans into me, and I focus only on her. The conversation around us has shifted to other topics, leaving us alone. “My brain is telling me that if we don’t go, or avoid it, then it’s not real. ”

“You know that’s not what will happen,” I tell her regretfully.

She leans her forehead on my chest. “I know.” Her voice is muffled against my shirt and I rub her back soothingly. After only a minute, she leans back. “Okay. Let’s go.”

“Fallon.” Thomas stops us, reaching out his hand.

“I don’t think Jason was going to mention it, but…

” He hesitates. “He told us your ex wants to meet. Do you want us to come too? We wouldn’t be at the table, just at the restaurant.

You wouldn’t even see us. We’d be there as silent support.

It’s up to you, but the offer is there.”

She glances around the table, locking eyes with each of my brothers, seeing the sincerity in their eyes.

“You would do that?” she asks, her voice that is usually confident, now small and reserved.

“Of course,” Andrew chimes in. “You’re part of the family. We don’t mess around with family.”

“What about Marley and the babies? And Josie? Don’t you need to get back to them?”

“I think Josie will be pissed if she’s not invited.” Andrew stands, rounding the table to squeeze Fallon’s shoulder. “But like Thomas said, we won’t make our presence known.”

“As for Marley and the twins, Mar would probably love a night out, even if it’s simply to the diner,” Beau states. “But I’ll check in with her first.”

“I have no life, and no one to report to, so I’ll be there if you want me.” Thomas shrugs. I can tell it hurts him a little that he doesn’t have anyone to call his own, but I don’t bring it up now.

“Wow,” Fallon breathes. “That means so much. If you’re okay with it, then, yeah, I would love your support. ”

“Then we’re there. Anything you and Presley need, we are here for. ”

The way my family is rallying around my girl and her daughter is enough to spring a tear to my eye. It means so much to me to know that they care for her as much as I do.

“Thank you,” I tell my brothers. I know I told them that she may not want them there, but I’m glad they asked. Having them there will help. “We should get going.”

I tell my staff working the bar that I’ll be back later, then Fallon and I are heading out the door hand in hand. The diner is a block or two away from the brewery, so we walk there. “Tell me what’s going on inside your head,” I say after we walk in silence for a minute.

With a sigh, Fallon shakes her head, looking up at me.

There are dark circles under her eyes, and her demeanor is defeated.

“I don’t even know, Jase. I barely slept last night.

What if he really does want custody of her, and takes this to court, and takes her away from me?

I don’t even know where he lives now. He could live halfway across the country. I’d have to move. Then what?”

“We’ll figure it out,” I try to soothe her. Her breaths are coming in faster pants, her anxiety growing. I try to speak, but she interrupts me.

“And what’s this about him being married again? How long ago did that happen? What does she have to do with all of this? There are so many unknowns.”

We reach the front of the diner, and I pull her into a tight embrace. “Deep breaths. I’m sorry I made you think about it again. We won’t know until we go in.”

She inhales and exhales against my chest, and I’m thankful she’s listening.

Thomas pulls up outside the diner in his patrol car, and I see Beau in the passenger seat, with Andrew in the backseat behind the Plexiglass.

I can’t stop the chuckle the sight elicits, and I slowly pull Fallon away from me.

“Look.” I point to them. She chuckles when she sees Andrew in the backseat.

My brothers are clearly arguing about something, and if I had to guess, it would be about who has to sit in the back next time. Jokes on Andrew, though, he’s always going to be in the backseat. Perks of being the youngest of four.

Another vehicle pulls up beside the car, and I spot Josie in the driver's seat.

She climbs out and sees Andrew in the backseat behind the bars, and starts laughing.

Fallon and I watch as Josie snaps a few pictures from the front of the car with Beau and Thomas in the front seat offering a thumbs up, and Andrew in the backseat frowning.

“We should go in,” Fallon whispers, pulling my attention away from them.

Josie turns, offering Fallon a gentle wave and sympathetic smile before we head into the diner.

Fallon looks around as soon as we enter, and when she doesn’t see Brad, she heaves a sigh of relief.

I reach down and take her hand in mind, squeezing it tightly and offering my support.

The waiter brings us to a table for four and leaves us on our own to wait for Brad and his new wife. Anxiety practically radiates off her, but I know she can hold her own. She’s the strongest woman I know, and it also helps that she was married to the guy, so she knows how he might react.

The door opens with a chime, and my siblings walk in, Josie, Marley, and the babies in tow. Marley waves as they walk by and are seated a few tables away from us. They won’t be able to hear the ins and outs of the conversation, but they will still be able to see us.

Fallon sits in silence beside me as we wait for Brad to arrive.

I don’t try to fill the void with conversation.

There’s not really a point. She’s too lost in thought right now for anything to stick.

The waiter drops off some waters, and extra menus for us, and a moment later, the door opens and Brad walks in.

Fallon’s head snaps up, and a grimace crosses her face almost instantly.