Page 23

October

W ell, this is going horribly.

As I sit across from my father in his study in my childhood home, I can’t help but wish it were yesterday again. It was such a great day, and I’d rather be anywhere but here right now.

Yesterday was my rest day, so Scarlett decided to take the day off and let the kids play hooky from school.

We spent the morning making breakfast and sharing the news of our engagement with Gunner, and Gemma was a good sport by acting surprised to hear the news.

After breakfast, we took the kids to the pumpkin patch and a craft store to get supplies for the front porch decoration contest. Scarlett didn’t hesitate to use my muscles and put me to work.

She even asked if I’d call to get Jackson’s help.

He brought Alexa with him, though he swears they’re not serious and she’s in agreement with not putting a label on things.

After we finished the porch decorations, we ordered pizza for dinner and I stayed to help put the kids to bed and pack their lunches for school the next day.

“This all feels very domesticated, I bet your skin is crawling right now,” Scarlett sighs as she puts apple slices into Gunner’s Spiderman lunchbox.

“Today has actually been one of the best days I’ve had in a long time,” I tell her, feeling my neck heat from my admission .

Gripping the edge of the kitchen island, she tilts her head to the side and takes me in. “You keep surprising me, Cap.”

“Only in good ways, I hope.”

“In the best of ways.” She breaks eye contact, looking down at the counter and shakes her head to herself.

“Do you want to hang around for a bit longer? Maybe we could talk about when you’ll move in and then watch an episode of Outlander or something.

I mean, only if you don’t have other plans already. ”

Just as Scarlett and I had sat down to talk about the timeline for me moving in, my father called for the fifth time in a row, so I reluctantly left to take his call.

Which is how the four of us ended up at my parents’ house for an early dinner this evening. I’d barely gotten through introductions when my father demanded “a word” and brought me into his study.

He offers me a glass of gin and I decline, just like I always do, because I can’t stomach the taste.

“So, do you want to tell me what the hell is going on?” he asks me once he’s sat down with his glass of gin.

“If you would’ve let me finish introductions, you would’ve heard that Scarlett and I got engaged a few days ago and we were excited to share the news with our families, but unfortunately word got out before we could tell everyone in person,” I explain, bracing my elbows on my knees, anxious to get out of this room I’ve grown to hate over the years.

Even if it weren’t for the cold, rigidity of the room, I would still hate it for all the memories these four walls hold. Dozens of scoldings. Meetings with coaches my dad had no business talking to. Shouting matches between our father and Jax that I had to break up. The list goes on and on.

“What’s with the entourage?” he questions.

“What do you mean? ”

“The kid and the teenager. Why are they here? Don’t tell me the kid is yours. Haven’t I taught you anything?” he asks, his tone laced with disgust.

“Their names are Gemma and Gunner, and they’re her younger siblings.”

“Couldn’t her parents have found a different babysitter for the evening? This dinner is important to your mother. She was devastated to find out her oldest child had run off and got engaged without telling us.”

“Like I said, we just got engaged earlier this week—we didn’t run off. Scarlett is Gemma and Gunner’s guardian; their parents passed away in a plane crash five years ago. I’m sure you remember their father, Charles Carlisle.”

That bit of information catches his attention. “So is this guardianship temporary until another family member can adopt them? Five years seems like a long time.”

My shoulders stiffen at his implication.

“No, Scarlett is the sole guardian of her siblings, and will remain as such until they’re eighteen years old. She’s in the process of adopting them, but that hasn’t been finalized yet.”

He moves in his chair, sitting forward. “If you marry her, what does that make you?”

“I would become their co-guardian once we’re married.”

“Christ, Bennett. We’re Wilsons for god’s sake. We don’t become guardians to bastards.” My father slams his free hand down on the arm of his chair.

I clench my jaw so tight I fear my teeth may crack. “They’re not bastards. They were orphans and their sister became their guardian. Show some damn respect for my future family. ”

“Respect? Future family?” he questions, his voice raising so loud I fear they’ll overhear. “I don’t give a damn if her family comes from old money and is respected, you will not play daddy to two children who are not your own. End of discussion.”

“Good, I’m glad this discussion is over because I’m not sure where you got the impression that you have any say in what goes on in my life.

Scarlett will be my wife. And I will be the best co-guardian to those two children in spite of what you showed me growing up.

If I can’t do that as a Wilson, I’d gladly take her last name instead.

Bennett Carlisle has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

” Without another breath, I stand up and clasp the button of my suit jacket before leaving and slamming his study door behind me.

Fuck him for thinking he can tell me who I’ll marry. It took everything in me not to knock him on his ass when he had the audacity to talk that way about Scar, Gemma, and Gunner.

When I get to the sitting room where the three of them are talking to my mother, I stand beside Scarlett and place my hand on her shoulder.

“I apologize for the interruption, Mom, but we unfortunately won’t be staying for dinner.”

The look of hurt she looks back at me with isn’t easily masked. “Are you sure I can’t change your mind, sweetie?”

“I’m sorry, Mom. Something came up,” I lie, but after thirty years, she knows the truth. Something with my father came up, and I refuse to take his shit as an adult.

“Is everything alright?” Scarlett asks, concern etched across her features as she stands and moves closer to me.

Placing my hand on the small of her back, I lean in so she can hear me speak under my breath. “Yeah, I’ll tell you about it later,” I promise, though I know I won’t be telling her all of the sordid details .

“Well, I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to talk more. It was lovely to meet you, Scarlett, Gemma, and Gunner. I hope we will have the opportunity to get to know one another more in the near future,” my mother says before pulling each of them into a warm embrace.

When she gets to me, my mom wraps me in the biggest hug and does what she does best, apologizes on behalf of my father. “It’s not your responsibility to clean up his messes, Ma,” I whisper into her ear.

She pulls back and holds my arms. “I know that. But it doesn’t mean I’m any less sorry for whatever he’s done or said this time. I love you, sweetie.”

“I love you too, Ma.”

Turning to face Scar, she says, “Perhaps the five of us can get lunch when you’re back in town next week. Your father is traveling for work over the next few weeks,” she points out, telling me without blatantly telling me that he won’t be joining us.

“We’d love that, Mrs. Wilson,” Scarlett answers.

“Please, call me Kathy, I insist,” my mother tells her, and Scar simply nods in response. “How about we leave the restaurant selection up to these two,” my mom says pointing to Gemma and Gunner.

“Oh, I don’t know. If we did that, they might choose a fast food chain,” Scarlett replies.

“I’m not picky,” my mom informs her. “Let them pick wherever, and you have my son send me the time and place and I’ll be there. I can’t wait to hear all about your schools and hobbies,” my mom says to Gemma and Gunner.

Scarlett places her arms around the two of them, guiding them toward the foyer after she’s thanked my mom for having them and I hang back for a second before following the three of them out .

“Thank you for bringing them to meet me, sweetie. I hope to get to know them more soon,” my mom says in a hushed voice as I turn to face her. “Congratulations. I’m excited to have them be a part of the family.”

“Thanks, Ma. At least one of my parents is happy for me.”

She pats my arm. “He’ll come around.”

“Doubt it. But I don’t care if he does or doesn’t. Either way, they’ll become my family. If he wants to be a part of my life, he better get on board.”

I give my mom one more hug and place a kiss on the top of her head the way she used to do to me when I was little.

Once we’ve pulled up to Scarlett’s house, I turn off the ignition and walk them inside. Thankfully, Scar accepts my offer to cook dinner now that our plans have changed.

I’m just pulling the steaks off the grill when Gunner joins me outside on the back patio. Setting the steaks aside, I squat down so I’m just about eye level with him.

“Hey there, Champ. How was school today? I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to ask you about it yet.”

Gunner scuffs his shoe across the ground, avoiding eye contact with me. “It was fine.”

My brows furrow at his change in demeanor. “Just fine? I thought today was your pajama party with your class.”

“Yeah, it was fun.”

“That’s good to hear. Did you guys get to watch a movie or have popcorn?”

“Did I do something wrong?” Gunner throws me off with his question, still not meeting my eye.

“What do you mean?”

“Did I do something bad at your mommy’s house?”

“No, buddy—” I start but he asks another question, cutting me off .

“Why did we leave? I like your mom.”

“We left because of some grown up stuff with my dad,” I answer him as honestly as I can, given the circumstances. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I promise.”

“I don’t have a dad anymore. He’s in heaven with my mama,” Gunner tells me and his words cause a fissure to crack down my chest, especially when he finally looks up at me with tears in his eyes.

“Scarlett told me, I’m sorry to hear that,” I tell him.

Gunner wrings his hands together. “Scar goes with me to my mom days at school. Are you going to go with me to my dad days?”

Unsure of how I’m supposed to answer that, considering Scar and I haven’t discussed situations like these, I give it my best shot at sharing the truth with him. “As long as I’m not out of town for work, and Scar is okay with me joining you, I’d be honored to be at your dad days.”

“What does hono-ed mean?”

“Honored. It means I’d be so happy.”

And I would be, because not only does this kid have me wrapped around his finger already, but I also made a promise to Scar that I plan to keep—I’ll be there for the three of them, not just her.