Page 34 of Objection

Kaos

Thanksgiving

P ride filled me as I watched my parents interact with Serenity, Taylor, and Yolanda.

Yolanda had been coming to Rose Valley Hills every weekend for about six weeks.

I loved seeing Serenity and Taylor be like little girls with their mom all over again.

Even if Walter never came around, it meant the world to me that Yolanda was no longer allowing his ego and stubbornness to keep her out of her daughters’ lives.

They were thriving here without her, but they’d been significantly happier now that she was coming around.

As if Yolanda felt eyes on her, she looked around the room and smiled at me.

I took a sip of my cognac as she headed in my direction.

I believed she had a good heart and the right intentions.

Unfortunately, she let her desire to be loyal to her husband drive a wedge between her and her daughters temporarily, but she was finally making things better.

“Hey,” she spoke, as if we hadn’t been talking sporadically throughout the day.

Smiling, I set my drink on the round high top bar table. “Hey.”

“Um . . . Walter is here. Well, not here, but in Rose Valley Hills.”

“For what?”

Her eyes rolled as she said, “He said he didn’t want to be alone today.”

Chuckling, I shook my head. “You about to head out to meet him?”

“Actually, I was wondering if he could come here. He promised to apologize and be on his best behavior. I believe his humility took so long because I condoned his behavior, though that wasn’t my intention.

Now that I’m coming to visit the girls and making it clear I don’t agree with the way he’s been treating them, he says he wants to change. ”

“What he says and what he does are two different things. I don’t mind him coming if he’s genuinely going to apologize, but I won’t show him the same grace I did back in Jasper Lane.”

“I understand, and I promise, he will be on his best behavior.”

I nodded my agreement and told her she could give him the address. This was the last place he’d show his ass if he tried that slick shit.

About forty minutes passed before the doorbell rang.

As Mama mentioned not expecting anyone else, I headed to the door.

As soon as I opened it and saw him, I saw the difference in him.

He might have had the strength to live without his daughters, but the lack of his wife had already started to take a toll on him.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he said.

“Happy Thanksgiving.”

“I wasn’t the most welcoming the first time we met. For that, I apologize.”

“Apology accepted, but if you’re here to disrespect my woman or my little sister—”

“That’s not what I’m here for,” he promised, lifting his hands in surrender. “I’ve seen the error of my ways and I’m here to apologize.”

“Alright,” I agreed, opening the door wider for him to come inside.

I led him to the sitting room where everyone was gathered before dinner.

Serenity’s mouth dropped and Taylor almost spilled her drink.

Covering my mouth to keep from laughing, I led Walter over to my parents first. After introducing them, we went over to the girls.

My arm wrapped around Serenity as she stared at her father.

“Girls . . .” Walter started, looking from one to the other.

“I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting.

My feelings were hurt because you all were leaving me, the family, and our businesses.

Businesses that I take pride in keeping as the Monroe legacy.

Add my ego and stubbornness to that, and I’ve been a fool.

I didn’t know how to express how I felt—”

“Your feelings being hurt is no excuse for your bad behavior,” Serenity interrupted him to say, “but I know putting aside your pride to come here and apologize took a lot, so we can try to restore our relationship, but it’s definitely going to take some work.”

“I’m willing to put in the work,” Walter said with a smile before looking at Taylor. “What about you, baby girl? Do you still have space in your heart and life for me?”

“Yes, Daddy, but if you do this again—”

“I won’t. I promise,” he replied, pulling them both in for a hug.

A part of me was glad he’d come to his senses and joined us today because of what I had planned for after dinner, which we sat down for about thirty minutes later.

Pops said grace and thanked the Monroe family for joining us.

He also expressed his desire for this to be the first of many gatherings of both families, to which they agreed.

When dessert was served, I kept my eyes trained on Serenity next to me. While the servers gave everyone else plates with crème br?lée, hers had a twenty carat diamond pavé ring.

“Oh my fucking God,” she muttered, staring at the ring.

Pushing my chair back, I stood and kneeled. I grabbed the ring and took her left hand into mine. Licking my lips, I pulled in a deep breath.

“Among all the objections for why we shouldn’t have been together, there were more reasons why we should.

I love you so much, princess, and my life has been so much better with you in it.

I can’t imagine how great it will be with you as my wife, but I want to find out—soon.

Serenity Renae Monroe, you have been my most valuable asset at work and now my heart.

Will you do me the honor of making this permanent by becoming my wife? ”

Her head nodded rapidly as she bit her bottom lip while tears poured from her eyes.

“Say something, crazy!” Taylor yelled, nudging her sister and making her laugh.

“Yes,” she almost whispered, tugging me up and into her arms. “A million times yes.”

As I slipped the ring onto her finger, our families cheered.

I tried to be on my best behavior when I kissed her, but damn if I didn’t want to lay her on this table and feast on her .

When we sat back down, she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before making everyone in the room laugh by asking, “Um . . . does this mean I don’t get any crème br?lée? ”

The Beginning

Because true love has no end…