Page 8 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)

“Good to hear, how's your mom?” she asks, head tilted and I see the sadness that strikes across her face.

“She's getting there, just taking each day as it comes,” I give a soft nod before I am looking at the board.

Not wanting to be rude, but each time someone asks me how my mom is, I am taken back to that hospital room, back to where my dad lay lifeless, where my mom sobbed over his body.

.. that's the last memory I have of him.

And I fucking hate it.

“Good,” I hear the sound of her key fob unlocking her till, “what can I get you?” she asks.

“I'll have a white coffee, pumpkin bagel with cream cheese and a lemon muffin please.”

“To go?”

“To go,” my eyes settle on her.As much as I would love to sit in here and watch the world go by, I had so much to sort out.

“Not a problem, I'll get started on that now for you,” she says as I reach into my back pocket and slip out some notes before placing it on the counter, then slipping out a few more and sliding them through the tip jar.

“Thanks Pace,” her cheeks turn pink as she grabs a paper cup and gets started on my coffee.

I wait patiently, but I'm not waiting long when she holds out the steaming cup and hands me a paper bag.

“I popped a couple of treats in there for your mom too,” she smiles innocently at me and my heart constricts in my chest.

I find her attractive, but not enough to want to pursue, not that it matters anymore because soon I'll be a married man... all to help out a neighbor.

Giving her a soft nod as I take the bag from her grasp, I turn on my heel and make my way back down to my office. Reaching for my keys in my front pocket, I hook my finger around the keyring then slip them in the door, letting myself in.

My office is not big, but it's ample for me.

I normally have someone else work here, Avery, but after everything went down, I sent him off for leave until I needed him back.

So going forward, it was just me, myself and I.

Not that I minded, I was left alone.

It only causes a problem if I have someone held in the cells over night, but that's a rarity.

Kicking out the wheel of my office chair, I slump down into it and place the brown paper bag and coffee on the desk before I switch my computer on and wait for the machine to kick in.

Sitting back, I cross my feet at my ankles, fingers locked together and in my lap, as I stare out the large window, the town quiet for now, but give it an hour or two and everyone will be about their day.

The chime from the monitor has me focused on that and I settle myself down to work, losing myself in a couple of hours of admin work and to be honest, I needed this today. I needed the distraction, if only for the morning.

Locking up behind me, I walk towards the truck and place the brown paper bag with the goodies for mom on the passenger seat. My phone connects to the Bluetooth and I pop it into the cradle as I dial my mom's number.

She answers on the first ring.

“Hey ma, I’m on my way home now, all okay?” I ask as I reverse out of my space and pull onto the quiet roads of Lovelock Bay.

“Yes, all is fine, I'll put the kettle on,” and I can hear the smile that taints her lips.

“Perfect, see you soon,” I cut her off as the radio begins to play soothing country music, the voice of Lainey Wilson filling the car, my fingers tapping on the steering wheel to the soft beat.

The drive is short and it's not long before the tires are crunching down the long and winding drive of our ranch. I see Riggs and Tripp talking to Conrad as I pull into the space in front of the garages and cut the engine.

Stepping down, I grab the bag and slam my driver’s door.

“Lunch?” Riggs calls out and I flip him off.

“For ma!” I shout back and push a wide smile on my face then climb the steps onto the porch, the step creaking beneath my boot and I make a mental note to fix it this weekend.

Twisting the handle, I step into the house and the smell of a freshly baked pie fills my nose and my stomach grumbles.

“Ma!” I call out, kicking off my boots before I toss my hat on the side table.

“In here,” she replies from the kitchen, and I duck my head around and see her sitting at the table with two cups of tea.

“Hey,” I smile softly as I place the bag on the table, and she looks at me. “I went to Sunny’s for breakfast this morning, she put some treats in there for you,” my head tilts slightly as I narrow my gaze on her.

“Oh, thank you,” she says, rolling her lips and peeking at the contents that sit inside the bag. “That’s very kind of her, please tell her thank you.”

Dragging a chair out, I sit down next to her and reach for my cup of tea.

“Work okay?” she asked, wrapping her fingers around the mug and bringing it to her lips.

“Yeah, just working through paperwork, never ending,” I roll my eyes, and she gives me a ghost of a smile. “Being Sheriff is not how I imagined it when I was a kid, chasing down bad guys with my pistol and a patch work pony,” and that causes her a laugh, her face lifting to look at me.

“You should know by now my sunshine boy, that life isn't like the ones we dreamed up as children,” and I nod, swallowing the thickness down.

“I know,” I whisper as she pulls out a chocolate muffin, swiping her finger through the frosting before popping it into her mouth.

“Tasty,” she grins at me then places it back down on the table.

I try to speak but slam my mouth shut.

“What is it Pacey?” her voice is quiet as she slips her hand over to mine, placing it over the top and brushing her thumb back and forth.

I sigh before there is a knock at the door.

“One moment,” I slip my hand from under hers then push back, moving towards the door and opening it. Gerry is standing there. Battered cowboy hat on his head, off white shirt and beige slacked pants.

“Come in Gerry,” I step aside and wait for him to make his way in before I close the door behind him then lead him to the kitchen.

My ma's head lifts, her eyes volleying between me and Gerry and I can see the hundred questions that are whizzing through her head.

“Gerry, this is my Ma, Orla,” I look at him then turn to my mom.“Ma, this is Gerry,” I smile at her, her brows furrowed.

“Nice to meet you Gerry,” she goes to stand but Gerry holds his hand up, insisting she stays in her seat.

I pull his chair out and he falls into it, a heavy sigh leaving him as he does.

“You good?” I ask, giving him a curt smile as I take my own seat, and he gives me a nod before dumping a bag on the table.

“Care to explain?” My ma's eyes are on me, and I swallow.

“I do, but I think Gerry might be best to explain it, so you understand it a little bit better maybe?” my heart is banging in my chest.

Gerry shuffles before looking over his glasses at my mom then back down to the table.

“Firstly, I would like to offer my condolences on the passing of Jorge,” his voice cracks, “he was a major part of this town... and of Blossom Cove.”

My mom just nods, giving him a tight smile.

“Secondly, my reason for being here...” he pauses as his trembling hands fumble with the bag as he pulls out a large pile of paperwork then drops it on the table with a loud thud. My mom jumps slightly, her eyes on the paper but they're not on it long before her eyes find mine.

“What is this?” she whispers and I'm not sure if she is scared or disappointed.

“It's a contract, and deeds...” Gerry clears his throat.

“Contract? Deeds... Pacey... no, you haven't,” and her eyes widen, and she breaks my damn fucking heart that she would even think that.

“No, no, mom, no,” I shake my head and scoop her hand into mine, pressing the back of it against my lips.

“It's the deeds for my ranch,” and my mom's hollow eyes sink to Gerry. “I need Pacey to be on them... I also need him to take my granddaughter’s hand in marriage.”

Now her attention is back on me.

“Marriage?” she whispers.

“Yes ma, marriage.”

“I'm dying Orla,” he grumbles, his eyes glassing slightly and he is destroying me.

“Morgan has no one else, the suits have already squeezed in on my land and I am one signature away from letting them have it all, but now, it's going to be on her.

She can't do it by herself... there is no way in hell I would leave her to do it alone. Well, I knew Pacey would be a man of his word... plus, your reputable name and I know your eldest boy is dealing with the suits as well... I need this ranch to survive, not for me, but for her and it will only survive if Pacey will take her hand. He has agreed to it, but he wanted me to tell you why .”

He pauses for a moment, pushing the deeds towards her along with the contract.

“Read it, tell me if there is anything you want changed.”

But Ma's eyes are settled on mine.

“And you're okay with this?” she blinks at me, “This is what you want?”

I pause for a moment, ignoring the way my blood pumps around my body, the way it bangs in my ear like a drum.

“I am,” I nod, “it is.”

She slips back into her seat and drops her head for a moment.

“I don't need to read the contract or the deeds, I trust that you have my son's best interests at heart.”

Gerry bows his head and gives her a nod.

“Then I suppose I better go and buy a new hat,” she pushes back from the table. “If you'll excuse me,”and my heart implodes in my chest.

She isn't happy about this, far from it.

But it's done.

Gerry passes me a pen and I sign on the dotted line on both documents and my stomach flips at the sight of her name next to mine.

“You'll never know how much this means to me Rivera,” he just about manages before his head is in his hands and he’s crying.

My chest caves in and I find myself placing my hand on his back, palm down between his shoulder blades as his body trembles through the tears.