Page 40 of Silver Sanctuary (The Silver Springs #3)

Twenty-Four

A s much as she tried to stay present in the moment and trust what the lawyers told her, it was torture the next day, waiting for the phone call. Nash stayed with her all day at Petals, but even his presence wasn’t enough at times to distract her from the worry that simmered just beneath her skin.

They were on their way to pick Embrie up from school when Nash’s phone rang.

He pulled over to the side of the road and parked, the school just a few hundred feet in front of them.

Lacy stared at the elementary school sign even as Nash’s hand grabbed hers before he answered the call.

And when the “congratulations” came over the line, Lacy burst into tears.

They were granted immediate emergency custody of Embrie.

It was the first step in sorting things out, and it had gone in their favor.

She was floating on cloud nine the rest of the week.

It was easy to walk around smiling when life felt like a dream.

Fresh from her shower that Saturday morning, Lacy walked out to the table.

Her arms slid over Nash’s shoulders and her hands rested on his chest as he sat with Embrie, eating the most ridiculous stack of pancakes she’d ever seen.

Embrie had her own comically high stack that she was really putting a dent in too.

“I missed pancakes while I was taking a shower?” Her bottom lip stuck out and she added a little tremble to it for extra effect.

“No need to pout. Embrie and I made plenty for you.” Nash chuckled.

Lacy wrinkled her nose as she eyed Nash’s stack. It looked suspiciously like blueberries were dotted in the batter of his, not chocolate chips. What an abomination. “What kind are they? I don’t want?—”

“Fruit.” Embrie laughed. “I told you, Nash.”

“You did. It’s half blueberry, because I didn’t believe our daughter, and half chocolate because she was really insistent, and I got scared.”

Lacy tipped her head back and laughed. “Good man.”

She stalked to the kitchen and grabbed the pancakes with chocolate chips in them and padded back to the table.

“What are you working on? More stuff for The Trident?” The words fell out muffled as she stuffed the first sinful bite into her mouth.

Oh hell. They were delicious. She was definitely regretting her decision to wear jeans to her brunch with the girls.

Maybe she could change into a dress. The second bite confirmed it.

Post-pancake Lacy would definitely be wearing a dress.

“No. I should be, but I’m working on something more important.”

“Oh?”

“I’m planning something for us—as a family.

” Her breath hitched as she waited for him to continue.

“A trip to Florida, to the beach, and the theme parks. And of course, a trip to Montana, for you both to meet my family, see our ranch. Oh, and I want to take you guys out to California, to show you Coronado. And maybe Hawaii. No, definitely Hawaii. Once everything settles, I think we should pull Brie out of school for a year so we can travel as a family.”

Lacy studied his face. Of course he was serious.

“Where is this coming from?”

He sighed, his body moving away from the table to rest on the back of his chair.

“I had the best childhood, Lace. The best. My parents might have been gone, but my grandparents loved me so much. What you had to deal with as a child… for your whole life… I just want to take every burden off your shoulders and give you the world.”

She reached out and let her hand settle on his thigh. “You already have. We don’t have to travel anywhere for you to prove that to me.”

“Except to meet Nanny and Pop. Because you promised me.” Embrie waved her fork at them.

“I did promise. And I plan on keeping that promise. Just like you need to keep yours about being ready to go to this birthday party on time.”

“I am.” Embrie rolled her eyes. “I just need to grab the present and we can go.”

“She’s in better shape than me. I’ve got”—Lacy looked over at Nash’s laptop screen—“Shit! Ten minutes before I have to meet the girls.”

“Where are you going again?”

“Some place on a lake.” She shrugged. “I’ll text you the name. Gunner’s driving us, so try not to worry too much.”

“You won’t be with me. I’ll be worrying until you get back.”

Lacy stood, pressing a messy, chocolaty kiss to her husband’s lips. “I promise to behave. Someone’s got to keep Mae in line.”

“This place is so cute! I don’t think I’ve been to Lark Lake before, even as a kid.

” Lacy wrapped her arm through Mae’s as they walked into their brunch spot that morning.

She’d gotten the full rundown on the Lucky Duck’s lake-side location from the girls on the drive over.

And, as promised, she let Nash know where they were going.

What she hadn’t been expecting from the name alone was the venue they’d arrived at.

It looked like something out of a fairytale.

A beautiful white building surrounded by climbing vines that not only climbed the restaurant, but also weaved their way through the trellis-lined walkway.

Behind the building, Lacy could see the stunning lake, with a dock large enough for patrons to stroll down.

There was this sudden pull in her heart to have Nash and Embrie with her.

“Let’s get inside! They have the most delicious mimosas!” Mae laughed as they made their way down the path.

“You only say that because they put like one splash of orange juice in and the rest is alcohol.” Sloane rolled her eyes, and Lacy couldn’t help but smile. She loved seeing these glimpses of Sloane, carefree and goofy.

“How else should a mimosa be made, Sloane?”

The teasing continued as they made their way to their table.

It was at the back of the restaurant, which meant there was a direct view out over the lake.

The way the sunlight bounced off the gentle waves was mesmerizing, and Lacy found herself wondering what it would be like to bring her family there one day.

Would they need a little highchair soon like Gunner was settling Sage into at the table next to them?

“Earth to Lacy.”

Her face snapped away from the window, the realization that all her friends were sitting at the table now while she still stood making the apples of her cheeks blaze.

“Sorry. Got lost in a daydream. ”

“About that dreamy husband of yours?” Mae winked.

“About him. About the future,” she admitted.

“Eee!” Lily squealed. “You two are so cute together. And I’m still not over those vows! My goodness, it was like you were both trying to see who could make us cry harder!”

“I’m still pinching myself that this beautiful life is mine now.

I know there’s still so much up in the air with Embrie and her custody, but I really feel like it’s going to work out.

For the first time in my life, I have so many incredible people standing by my side, offering so much support. I’m so thankful.”

She would have continued, spilling her heart out for the girls to hear, if the waiter hadn’t interrupted a moment later to take their orders. Sage giggled in her chair as Gunner sang her a song, but Lacy couldn’t take her eyes off Lily, who was focused on her husband and daughter.

“Never, ever, in my life did I think I’d see Gunner singing in public to his daughter. But damn, it really does something for my ovaries.” Mae held her mimosa up to Lily and the two of them laughed as their glasses clinked.

Sloane took a sip of her tea and looked across the table at Mae. “So, are you going to finally spill about why you organized this brunch?”

“Can’t a girl just want to spend some time with her best friends?” Mae sighed.

“She can.” Sloane nodded. “But since you called me sobbing on the phone last night, and didn’t spill any information then, I’m gonna need you to, now.”

Mae’s eyes closed for a second before they popped open, her gaze locked on the stemware in front of her. “I did really just want to have a nice brunch all together. But I can’t… Stone wants to end things between us.”

A clatter from the table beside them had all their heads moving to see what happened. Gunner was picking back up his knife to cut more of Sage’s french toast up when he looked at Mae.

“You need me to talk some sense into him? It’s about time someone did. You two have been sneaking around for such a long time, it’s giving me heart palpitations,” Gunner groaned, rubbing at his chest.

“No, dad. Thanks for the offer, but I’ve got things covered.”

“Why does he want to break up?” Sloane’s question echoed exactly what Lacy had been wondering.

“He thinks he’s protecting me. Because he still feels weird about sleeping with his best friend’s little sister.”

“He could just man up and tell Hawk. I mean, I can see Hawk getting in a right hook, but you’re worth that, at the very least.” Lily shrugged her shoulders before sipping her drink.

“Trust me. I’ve tried so many times to get him to see that my brother won’t have a problem with the two of us being together.

I think he just wants an excuse. Because first it was worrying about how Hawk would handle things, and now he says he’s letting me go so I can find someone who will be able to give me what I want.

A ring. A baby. A promise of forever. Apparently, if he goes back to school like he wants to, it can’t be him doing those things.

I don’t know. I’m not this woman—I’m not.

And I hate that right now I feel so desperate for him to see the potential in us that I see. ”

“Maybe you need to walk away. Show him what he’s missing?” Lily advocated.

“If I don’t fight for us, who will?” The women sat in silence. “It’s always been this intense push and pull between us—that’s what made it so fun in the beginning. But he’s never come right out and pushed me away like this before. The other night he had this really bad?— ”

“Mae, I’m so sorry to interrupt, but Lacy,” Lily whispered, “is that your mom looking over here at us?”