Chapter 30

30

Beau

The dinner table is nice and awkward. We opted to go out for dinner. One: eating out in public is more of a deterrent for anyone to behave badly or raise their voices. Two: I don't want my wife to fuss and have to cook when she's got enough to deal with while her parents are in town. I just don't want her stressed out, and as the weekend snuck up, Autumn got more and more agitated.

My job, not just as her husband, but as her best friend, is to be there for her and give her all the support she needs.

"… Once the wedding season is over," Autumn is explaining our future plans. "The weather should still be nice, and we can have all of our friends and family here to celebrate with us."

"Something that you probably should've thought about sooner," Ruth gripes.

She's been making snide remarks under her breath as if nobody else around the table can hear, and my parents smile politely even when I can tell they're uncomfortable. Chase keeps glancing at his wife, and I'll bet he's kicking her under the table. Can't we just be civil for one evening?

"Well, the Titans are lookin' a little more optimistic this year," Dad says. Football is never a safe subject, so I don't know what he's thinking. But he ignores my pleading looks and ploughs on regardless. "Even if Callaghan does have a resume to feel good about, time will tell. Levis has potential, and as the quarterback I like that he can make throws to both sidelines, his deep balls may be pretty but with a better wide receiver he may have more success."

Silence fills the table for a few seconds.

"Tell me about it," Chase sighs. "While I appreciate Levis is a hustle player and he does it well, his injury risk is heightened, and what happens when he takes a bad hit and misses time?"

Dad shakes his head. "Was wonderin' the same thing."

"I keep hoping and praying every night that they work on building their offense. That takes time and they'll have growing pains. If everything goes right, I think realistically it'll be two to three more years until they'll be really competitive."

My dad loves the Tennessee Titans, and it seems so does Chase, but Dad's also realistic. "Callaghan hired a whole new team, including strength and conditioning coaches. With Woodfin as the new director of sports performance, I'm expecting massive improvement, especially with injury."

"What about Ridley and Pollard?" Chase goes on, referring to the receiver and running back. "Ridley has speed, and he can get in and out breaks, but Pollard is explosive."

"Alongside Spears, the pair of them could be a deadly weapon," Dad agrees, referring to the Titan's third round draft pick. "His fourteen point seven target share was seventh in the league, even if his true talents were as a receiver. It remains to be seen how it'll play out but my guess is it'll be fifty fifty timeshare and Spears won't be the lead linebacker."

Well, at least they seem to be agreeing. I steal a glance at Autumn, and when her eyes meet mine, she smiles softly.

"Boys," Mom chastises. "I'm sure all of this is fascinating to you. Ruth, are you a football fan?"

Ruth turns up her nose. "Not in the slightest."

I sling an arm around Autumn. "Tell everyone who you root for."

She narrows her eyes. "Shut up."

"Team Tom Brady," I laugh.

She shoves me in the ribs. "Technically it's two teams in twenty-three years…"

"I rest my case. How are the Buccaneers doin', sweetheart?"

Chase chuckles. "Nine wins and eight losses so far this season."

Autumn pokes her tongue out. "Would anyone like some pie?"

Pie fixes everything in Autumn's book. I lean down and kiss her shoulder, her bare skin soft is warm, just like her.

I notice Ruth hasn't smiled once during the exchange. I really want to make things okay with them again, but then there's that fine line of interfering and standing by my wife. I just hope she comes around.

Mom makes casual small talk with Ruth about her charity projects and Ruth politely answers. How Autumn shares DNA with this woman, I'll never know, they couldn't be more different.

The one thing I am proud of is how Autumn holds herself. How she doesn't let her mom's disapproval get to her. Inwardly, I know it hurts. I've held her while she's shed tears and I can only hope that in time things will get better. I will do whatever it takes to turn her mom around if I can, though judging by the way she's been avoiding me all night, I think this could be a marathon, not a sprint.

"What are your plans for my daughter once the honeymoon period is over?" Ruth finally addresses me. I almost sputter my coffee all over the table but manage to stop myself.

As I dab my mouth, I pique an eyebrow. "Plans?"

"Yes. For generations the women in my family, and the Davenports, have been home-makers and bore children."

I know her parents are religious, but this is ridiculous.

"While there's nothing wrong with being a homemaker, or bearing children, your daughter is proud of her career. And with all due respect, Mrs. Davenport, we've been married for less than a month. We're still figuring things out."

I can tell that isn't the right answer, her nostrils are practically flaring. "I just thought now that she was married, you'd be starting a family. It was you who told us that you wanted to make an honest woman out of our daughter."

Technically, we didn't have sex out of wedlock, but I'm not about to go into any of that tonight.

"And I still stand by that, but we're newlyweds. We're not sure what we're going to do about children just now. Autumn is still developing her business, as am I?—"

"You develop video games?" Her face looks like she sucked on a lemon.

"He's also a wonderful artist," Autumn pipes up. "You should see some of his work."

I stroke her shoulder with my thumb, my arm still around the back of her chair. "I develop online games as well as apps for gamers. My friend and I developed a new concept of?—"

"How is that going to keep Autumn in the lifestyle she's accustomed to?" Ruth cuts me off and spares a glance at my parents. "With all due respect, your job at the distillery isn't exactly making you a millionaire."

"Ruth!" Chase dabs his mouth with a napkin and almost chokes on his pie.

"I don't need to be a millionaire to provide for my wife," I say. "She's also very independent; one of the things I love about her. And I'm doin' okay financially. There is nothing Autumn could want for that I won't give her. But she won't be quitting her job anytime soon, she loves what she does and I'd never take that away from her."

Autumn is tense beside me and my heart aches for her. Her mom's constant disapproval of what she does has been a thorn in her side for years. I knew that it would be baby steps with her, but I really thought after the fight in Memphis she'd be a little more reasonable. It seems I was wrong.

"Mom, we'll talk about this later." Autumn's cheeks flush with embarrassment and my parents look like deer caught in headlights.

"Well, we're very happy with Autumn joining the family." My father places his coffee down on the table. Uh, oh. If Dad gets involved, things are usually bad. "While I was like you and a little dubious about the union, now that I've gotten used to the idea, I can see how in love they are."

"Love isn't everything." Ruth really is like a bulldog if she wants to get her point across. "Divorce is high on the rise these days because people don't think things through…"

"That may be true," Dad goes on. "But a marriage should be built on love first and foremost. As well as friendship. Trust. Understanding. Compassion. Loyalty. Things like money and how many children you may have, or what you do for a living are way down the line, for me anyway." He places his hand over my mom's. "We've been married for forty years and I can honestly say that the ups and downs Beau and Autumn will no doubt go through will be nothing compared to the love and commitment they made to one another."

I stare at my dad with an open mouth. Holy Toledo.

"I'll drink to that." My mom smiles over at us and it makes my heart clench. She's so supportive of us and has been since the beginning.

"Thank you, Bob and Gayle, for welcoming me with open arms." Autumn casts a glance over at her mom who doesn't even appear to be one bit embarrassed or affected.

"Marriage is about longevity," Chase affirms. "As a father, I appreciate everything you said. It's no secret Autumn is the apple of my eye, and I want what's best for her. She's happy, and that's all that matters. The rest will come."

"But—" Ruth starts but Chase holds up a hand to her.

I try not to balk. Normally, I wouldn't agree with shutting up a woman when she's about to talk, but I'm just about ready to pat my father-in-law on the back.

"It's getting late." Autumn looks up at me. "Take me home?"

I peck her on the lips. "Love to." I turn to my parents. "Mom, Dad, are you ready to go?"

"We are, son," Dad says. I can see the disappointment on his face; his eyes look sad and I can tell he wants to say a lot more. It really isn't worth it.

We know how much we love one another and how much we want to make this work. That's all that matters.

Chase mumbles an apology to my parents while Ruth excuses herself to the bathroom. "I'm sorry, she's very set in her ways," he explains. "I'd hoped that she'd come round after spending some time with the family. It's nothing personal."

My dad shakes his head. "I understand to a degree. She loves her daughter a whole lot, I get that. I have a daughter too, and we treat them a little differently to our sons. They're our princesses. But I know Beau will be an excellent husband. She's in good hands."

"I've maybe not always been on board with all the things she's wanted to do over the years." Chase glances at his daughter with new eyes. "But I respect her decision. Beau, I'm happy to call you a son and I know you'll take good care of my princess."

I'm taken aback as he reaches in to shake my hand and I quickly reciprocate. A lump forms in my throat as I heed his words. "I won't let you down."

"Thanks, Dad." Autumn pecks him on the cheek.

We say goodnight to my parents and head to my truck to take Chase and Ruth back to their cottage.

I think about what my dad said and how proud he was of us, even though he'd had his reservations. I want the same for Autumn.

We sit in silence for a while and I can tell by the way Autumn's fidgeting that she has something on her mind. Without warning, she turns and looks at her mom in the backseat. "You owe us an apology," she blurts out.

My eyes widen at the tremble in her voice.

I peek in the rearview mirror to take in Ruth's shocked face, her mouth a round ‘o'.

"Whatever for?"

"Embarrassing me in front of Beau's parents, for one. I thought things would be different this trip, but I can see that they're not. Until you're willing to accept that me and Beau are together, I don't want to see you." She turns back to the front.

"You can't speak to me like that!" Ruth snaps. She turns to Chase. "She can't speak to me like that, say something!"

I glimpse Chase turning to his wife and then he shocks us all. "If you have nothing nice to say about Autumn and Beau or this union, then I stand by Autumn when I say that she's right. They fell in love. It's done, Ruth. We should be happy for them, not intent on pushing them away."

She gapes at her husband. "I'm not listening to this."

"Oh, but you will listen," Chase goes on. "Because I'm not going to be shut out of my daughter's life because of you. You can either get on board with us, or don't. But you're not going to keep making snide remarks and wishing our daughter was married to that cheating, lying, piece of shit. I've had enough!"

I wince at his last words; he's almost shouting.

Ruth has a hand over her mouth and she's visibly shaken up. If she wasn't being so cruel to Autumn, I might even feel sorry for her.

"I never meant to?—"

"Don't tell me, tell your daughter." Chase turns to look out the window, ignoring her.

"Autumn. I'm… I didn't mean any harm. I'm… I'm sorry." She struggles with the last word. "I just think you rushed in too soon. I was wrong about Michael, I know that now."

I try not to crash the car hearing that. Sorry? I never thought I'd hear the words tumble out of her mouth, but there they are.

"That's just it, you say that and then look at what happened tonight. Just admit it; I'm not good enough! Beau's not good enough?—"

"No, that isn't true."

"Mom. I'm sorry that I hid this from you. Believe me, I wish things could be different and I could tell you things, but if you're not going to support me in this marriage, then we're done."

I'm proud of her for sticking up for herself, for us. Ruth can't go around making Autumn's life a living hell. The sooner she accepts it, they can start the path of healing and hopefully growing closer.

"Done?"

"Life's too short to hold grudges, and as much as I love you, if we can't agree to let me live my life how I want to live it, then I don't know what else we have to say to one another."

There's a long pause. The silence is deafening. I expect her mom to yell or say something horrible like she usually does, but no such words leave her mouth. "I don't want us to be done, Autumn. It'd break your father's heart… and mine…"

Autumn turns around again. "Can we agree to try, Mom? I love what I do. I love Stoney Creek and the Bassetts and I love Beau. Most of all, I love you, both of you. None of that is going to change. But I'm not moving back to Memphis. This is my home."

She nods. "I understand. I'll work on being better, I promise."

Autumn reaches her arm out and Ruth takes her hand. If I'm not mistaken, her mom wipes a tear from her eye. So the woman does have feelings after all.

I flick my eyes to her father and his eyes meet mine. He gives me a nod.

It looks like there may be hope for my wife and her mom after all.

??

Autumn climbs into bed and I take my glasses off and put my book down.

"Hey." I stretch one arm out and she slides under the duvet and snuggles up to me. "You okay?"

She kisses my chest. "I'm okay, Beauster. Just a little shocked, to be honest."

"You don't hold out much hope she'll change her ways?"

She sniffs. "There's always hope. I just want it to be true."

I plant a kiss on top of her head. "So do I. At least now she knows where you stand and it's up to her to make an effort."

"I feel so guilty. Even though she's been awful to us, she's still my mom."

"She also still wanted you to marry that cheater." Not that she needs reminding, it's like a thorn in my side. Autumn should be worshiped, not cheated on and lied to.

I would never do that to her. There's too much of her to love to ever betray her like that.

"I know."

We lie together in silence until I reach over and turn off the bedside lamp. Sometimes just laying here like this is enough. Her being in my arms feels like the safest place on earth. "I'm so proud of you for tonight, for standing your ground."

"I still can't believe my dad."

"Tell me about it," I snort. "I think I'm beginning to really dig him."

She kisses my chest again, then looks up at me. I dip to meet her mouth and our slow kiss turns heated quickly as I tip her chin up. Rolling her over, she gazes up at me and my heart swells once more with the love I see in her eyes.

"I want to make love to my wife," I tell her, my chub growing harder with each passing second. "These little sleep shorts leave nothing to the imagination, by the way."

She grins. "Uh, that's the general idea, hubs."

I meet her mouth again, brushing her lips with mine. "Looks like my wayward little wife might need a reminder that she can just slide into bed wearing nothing." I reach down and slide her shorts off. She lifts her hips to help me as her fingers fumble with my boxers. As soon as my dick springs free, she reaches to the hem of her sleep tank and pulls it off and I stare down at her perfect breasts.

"I'm so glad we did this," she whispers.

"Is that because I'm good in bed?" I smirk against her soft lips.

"Not just that."

I reach down, sucking a nipple into my mouth, causing her to let out a sexy groan. I hold the base of my dick and tease her hot pussy, not penetrating, but circling that bundle of nerves that always sets her off. I do it over and over again as she grips my ass, encouraging me as she tips her head back and comes all over the length of my dick. I don't wait, I slide into her and she squeezes her eyes shut.

"Eyes on me, Wifey."

Her eyes pop open. "Oh, Beau."

I move in and out, my hands pressed either side of her head on the pillows and I circle my hips, feeling her clench. "I can't believe we took so long to do this," I mutter.

"I know," she moans. "To think we could've been doing this for years…"

"We're together now, that's all that matters."

She cries out when I grab her knees and push them backward, her ass lifting off the bed as I claim her even deeper. " Beau !"

The sound of her losing control quickly sends me over the edge as I let go with a deep grunt. I fill her with slow, hot spurts as I try to hold onto my sanity.

Finally, I still. Her hands digging into my ass as we try to control our breathing. I roll to my side, bringing her with me, still buried deep inside because I don't want to lose the connection.

"I don't know what my life would look like without you in it," I whisper.

She folds into my arms. "I can't wait to marry you again, Hubs."

I smile, kissing her head. I've never felt more relaxed, happy, or more content in my life.

We're here. We're doing this. And I will never regret marrying my best friend. "And I can't wait to make you mine all over again, Wifey."