Chapter Eighteen

CAYDEN

Last night I was able to find a few minutes to talk to Hadley’s parents alone. I wanted to have the talk and give her father the respect he’s owed by informing him of my intentions. It went well, at least I think it did.

I didn’t ask for his permission, mostly because it’s really not up to him, it’s Hadley’s choice. However, I did ask for his blessing. Which they both gave.

I roll over, reaching for my future fiancé and she’s not there. The sheets are cold and I sit up, looking around for her. I find a note on my side table:

Went to the treehouse to watch the sunrise. I’ll be back before you wake, but in case I’m not, I love you.

No idea what treehouse she means, but this gives me a few minutes to get the ring and prepare myself. I’m going to propose today. With the ring in my pocket, I head downstairs. She and her father are sitting by the fireplace, smiling and drinking coffee.

Her eyes light up when she sees me. “Merry Christmas.”

I walk over, kissing her nose. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

Her mom enters and then her sister comes barreling down the stairs. “Santa came! Oh! My Santa never fails.”

Hadley’s mother huffs. “Give it up, Beth, you’re almost twenty! We know you don’t believe.”

Beth grins. “You really shouldn’t ruin the hopes and dreams of your children, Mother. I know that Santa is real. How else would we have the presents like we do? It’s a miracle and each year he reminds me of the miracles that occur.”

She and Logan would get along perfectly. Both are smartasses and have that sense of humor that only they understand.

Hadley reaches over into the bag she brought and pulls out a gift, handing it to Beth. “Here, Santa came to my house for you too.”

Bethanne grins and takes it. “The spirit of Christmas lives for us believers.”

Her mother turns to me while I have my arm thrown around Hadley as her hand sits on her stomach. “I wish I knew you were coming. I hate that you’re just sitting here with nothing to open.”

“I promise, this is great. I don’t need to open anything. I appreciate that I’m not dead or digging my own hole in the field.”

Her father laughs. “That can always be arranged.”

“It’s probably no less than I deserve. I know my mother is going to want to kick my ass when we head there tomorrow.”

“The firm doesn’t really care about holidays and we’re both trying to make partner. Our time is just limited,” Hadley explains. “I’m sorry, Mom. I know I’ve been away, but we’ll come out for a weekend soon.”

“Now that she doesn’t have to hide the pregnancy, she can come back all the time,” Beth unhelpfully adds.

Hadley sticks her tongue out and Beth returns the gesture. “Well, I have a present for Cayden. Since I knew he was coming.”

“You do?”

“I do.”

I like those words from her lips. Not wanting to delay any longer, I get up as well, and grab the bag I had on the side of the couch. “I have something for you too, but I want you to go first.”

Hadley unwraps the larger box, to reveal a smaller box inside. “Cayden? What is this?”

My heart is pounding, but as nervous as I am, it’s more that I’m just ready. I want this with her and I don’t want to wait any longer.

I hear her mother or sister gasp as I take the velvet box from her and drop to my knee. Hadley’s eyes fill with tears and I open the lid to show her an emerald cut diamond ring sitting in the center. “I wanted to come here with you so that I could talk to your dad before I did this. I fell in love with you the first time you argued with me in class. You’re smart, funny, beautiful, kind, and so much more. I spent two years just trying to get the courage to ask you out and when I did, you said no.” They both laugh and she sniffs at the same time. “After our first date, where you spent two hours scolding me about how I was wrong about my stance on a law, I knew there was no other woman for me. Hadley Arrowood, I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and I’m asking you to do me the honor of being my wife?”

She launches herself forward, tears falling and kisses my face. “Yes!”

“Thank God, because it was going to be an awkward ride to Tennessee if you said no.”

Her laughter fills the room and her lips find mine again. “How could I say no to you when I have waited my whole life to love someone the way I do you?”

Bethanne squeals and runs to her and they hug and laugh. Connor comes toward me, hand outstretched. “Welcome to the family.”

“Thank you.”

“Just do right by her and we won’t have any issues.”

I nod once. “I promise.”

Hadley shows her mother the ring and they both cry and hug. Then Ellie makes her way to me. “Oh, I’m so happy. Congratulations! And you’re sure you have to leave today?”

“I wish we could stay, but it’s a long drive to Bell Buckle and my parents are anxious to meet Hadley.”

Her dad laughs. “Who would’ve thought the man who gave my daughter her horse almost twenty years ago is going to be her father-in-law…you’ve made her very happy and for that, I thank you.”

“There’s no thanks needed because she’s given me more than I can ever give her.”

* * * *

I don’t feel half as sick to my stomach as I did going to Hadley’s family.

My parents took the news—all of the news—with absolute joy. Mom cried, because that’s what she does. My father was worried, but warmed to her immediately, and now I think he likes her better, and my uncles and aunts are already helping pick out baby names.

Hadley reaches over, tapping my shoulder. “Tell them about the time you failed the debate.”

“No.”

“No, tell them how I was right and you were wrong, it’s a great story.”

I roll my eyes. “And now she’s marrying me. ”

The ring shimmers in the light and she smiles. “I am. Even though you lost that day.”

“One time. One time I was wrong.”

“There were more than that, but who’s counting?”

Uncle Wyatt chuckles. “Son, you better get used to being wrong. I haven’t been right in about fifteen years, right, Angel?”

Aunt Angie sighs. “He wasn’t right before that but he had no one to remind him of it.”

Hadley grins. “Cayden was right this morning, I’ll give him that.”

“Last time ever, kid,” Dad says.

Logan leans back, tossing his arm behind Hadley. “If he ever does something really dumb, let me know and I’ll tell you exactly how to make him hurt.”

“And on that note,” I say, getting to my feet. “Come on, sweetheart. I want to show you something.”

Hadley gets up, and I help her with her coat, wrap a scarf around her, and we head out toward the barn. Dad has about ten horses that are just for family. He and Mom ride every morning, and I want to take her to one of my favorite spots. However, there’s not a chance in hell I am going to put her on a horse.

So, I asked Uncle Wyatt to do me a solid.

“Your farm is amazing,” Hadley says as we go through the stable. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“Dad rebuilt a lot after Granddad died. He wanted his legacy to really live on.”

“He’s done a remarkable job. Everything is beautiful, but still a horse farm, if you know what I mean?”

I laugh. “That’s Mom’s doing. She wanted everything to still look affordable. We sell not only racehorses, but to everyday farmers as well. Dad never wanted us to forget our roots, which is deep in Tennessee with farming. My mom’s parents were one of the Hennington’s first customers.”

Sometimes it’s easy to forget where you come from. While I have my other father’s family, they’ve never really been like the Henningtons to me. They barely speak to Logan or I, the only time is to let us know how much we remind them of my dad. I can understand it, but when we moved here, we became MiMi and Grandad’s blood, without sharing a drop of it.

Hadley wraps her hands around my arm and sighs. “I love all the history here. We both have that in common. ”

“It’s probably why I didn’t run out of your parents’ house screaming.”

“Daddy is intense, but you won him over.”

She looks up at me and my chest tightens.

“What?” she asks as she studies my face.

“I didn’t know I could love someone this much.”

Her face softens and her smile reaches her eyes. “You’re going to make me cry.”

“That’s not very hard to do lately.”

“True.”

I keep going until we reach the back and she gasps, hands flying to her mouth. “Cayden!”

We have a genuine sleigh that has two large gray horses hitched to it. Manny, our foreman is holding the reins. He claps me on the back as I take them, petting each of the horse’s necks. “Well, are you going to just stand there or get in and go for a ride?”

We spend an hour riding through Tennessee farmlands, over to a spot that my family rode to all the time. Thankfully, the snow on the ground allowed us passage, I was worried, but we made it.

She rests her head on my shoulder and drinks her hot chocolate as I hold her to me. “If I knew I just had to get knocked up to get all this, I would’ve done it on purpose.”

I laugh and rub her arm. “I think we would’ve ended up right here no matter what.”

“I think you’re right.”

“Hold on,” I pretend like I’m reaching for something.

“What?”

“I need my phone, I have to record you saying that.”

Hadley snorts and then nestles herself back against me. “When do you want to get married?”

I hadn’t thought much past this. “I don’t know, when do you want?”

“Do you think we could do it before the baby comes? I know it’s soon, but…I really would like to have it somewhat in order.”

“I’d marry you today, Hadley.”

Her mouth finds mine and the cold air fades away as we create our own heat and I am eternally grateful I get to spend the rest of my life with her.