37. Tucker

The heavenly scent of pie fills the air the second we step foot inside of Gran’s house. Squeezing her eyes shut, Skylar takes a deep breath and lets out a moan.

“If you keep making noises like that, I”m going to throw you on this table and make everyone uncomfortable,” I mutter against her neck, pressing a soft kiss right below her ear.

Pulling back, I find Skylar’s cheeks turning a deep red with embarrassment. Gran walks into the kitchen, eyeing us like she always does. That old woman sees more than anyone should be able to. When I was little, I used to swear she was psychic. More times than I can count she’d know I did something and I could never figure out how.

Her gaze snaps to Skylar’s left hand, like there was a flashing light pointing her attention there. A massive grin spreads across her face.

“Willow! The boy finally grew some balls and proposed!” Gran calls over her shoulder, never taking her eyes off us.

“Damn, Gran! Didn’t you listen to the sermon today? You shouldn’t be talking like that!” Colton chuckles from beside me.

“Oh, I listened, but did you? You shouldn’t cuss on the Lord’s day! If your Judith heard you talking like that, she’d whoop your butt.” She swats him with a kitchen towel, making him yelp and hide behind Skylar.

“Aww, c’mon Gran! Don’t get me in trouble like that! She’ll yell at me for weeks. Do you know how embarrassing it is to be the sheriff and still get yelled at by your grandma? Last week, she tried to put soap in my mouth for cussing… in front of a bunch of high schoolers. She’s going to make me a laughing stock of the town! No one’s going to take me seriously and this town will take a turn for the worse. Do you really want to be the reason this town becomes filled with drug dealers and murders? I don’t think so, Gran!”

“You always were a little drama queen. You get it from Judith.” Gran rolls her eyes.

“Mom, leave Colton alone.” Ma shakes her head, turning to Skylar and me. “So, ya finally did it?” She smiles lovingly at my future wife. “Welcome to the family, sweetheart… officially. Because we both know you’ve always belonged with us.” Ma pulls her into a tight hug.

“Thanks, Willow.”

“Alright, Ma, let her breathe.” I glance down at her stomach, worried she’s squishing my little baby.

Skylar decided to wear a loose shirt so no one would notice she’s pregnant before we could tell them. But Gran doesn’t miss where my gaze goes. She gives me a devilish grin.

“Wanna tell us your other news, boy?” Gran flashes me a knowing look.

“No. I really don’t want to yet.” Putting a hand on my hip, I stare the old woman down.

“I wanna know! Tucker, what’s going on?” Ma tugs on my hand. “Please tell me it’s good news, I”m not sure I can take bad news today.”

I”m confused for a split second before I realize what day it is. Dad died seven years ago today. He’ll never get to meet my little princess or see me find my happily ever after with Skylar. He’s never going to meet my son or see either of my kids grow up.

“Tell her,” Skylar whispers, tears filling her eyes.

I know she feels horrible for not being here for the funeral. She always loved Dad. He used to call her the daughter he never wanted and she would giggle every time. I can”t take away Skylar’s guilt, but I can let her give Ma the good news.

“You do the honors, baby.”

“Riley, Willow, Gran, we’re having a baby!” She places her hands over her small bump. I’m sure it’s been killing her to keep her hands at her side since we got here. I swear her hands have barely left her stomach since she found out she was pregnant.

“You’re pregnant?” Ma moves closer, holding a hand out to Skylar’s stomach as tears stream down her cheeks.

“I am. I”m fourteen weeks.”

“Past the first trimester,” Ma whispers, a smile spreading across her face.

“Yeah.”

Ma wraps her in another tight hug, making sure to keep some distance from the baby this time. She whispers something I can”t hear in Skylar’s ear, and doesn’t let go of her.

“Let’s all sit down and start eating before dinner gets cold.” Gran pries Ma off of my future wife and ushers us into the dining room.

The table is bursting with so many different dishes. There are all of our favorites, everything we beg Gran to make. Colt reaches for a roll before everyone has even sat down.

“How are you feeling?” Gran asks the second Skylar sits down.

“I’m feeling pretty good! I’ve been really tired and I”m not sure if I had morning sickness or if I had a stomach bug last week, but it only lasted a few days. And the baby’s doing really well. The doctor says he’s growing well and everything looks perfect.”

“He?” Riley stares across the table at me with wide eyes. “I”m getting a baby brother?”

“You are, sweetie. How do you feel about that?” I keep my focus on her.

Riley’s entire world has been turned upside down over the last few months and this isn’t going to help. I just hope she isn”t upset.

She’s not going to be the center of attention anymore. She’s going to be sharing the spotlight and I”m not sure how she’s going to do with that. I know Skylar will never treat my daughter as anything less than her own, which will make things easier, but I hate how quickly things are changing for Riley.

“I’m so excited! How much longer until he gets here?” She bounces in her seat.

“About twenty-six weeks,” Skylar smiles at Riley when her forehead scrunches up. “About six more months, so the end of the summer. Pretty much right before you go back to school.” She winks at my daughter.

A frown appears on Riley’s face. I”m not sure if it’s because she has to wait so long or because she won”t be home after the baby’s born.

“Have you picked a name yet?” Ma scoops a spoonful of potatoes on her plate before handing it over to Colt.

“We haven’t discussed it. I just found out I was pregnant two days ago. Tuck… I was thinking… Could we name him Duke?”

Duke.

My son would be named after my father.

“You’d really be ok with that?” I take her hand in mine, placing a kiss on her ring finger.

“I’d be more than ok with that. I’d be honored for our son to share your dad’s name,” she whispers.

Ma chokes out a sob, covering her mouth with her hand. Gran pats her shoulder lovingly while Riley glances around the table, trying to figure out why everyone is so emotional.

“You always were the daughter he never wanted,” Colt grumbles under his breath, making us all laugh.

“Duke would be so happy that you’re back. He prayed every night for you. He asked God to keep you safe and to give you whatever life would make you happiest, even if that sort of life didn’t bring you home to us.” Ma swipes at her cheek, but the tears keep on coming.

“He always hated Malory. He told me I’d never do better than little Skylar Barren.” I shake my head, a soft smile on my lips.

“He told me to stay away from the feisty ones… I regret not listening,” Colt mutters under his breath.

“Duke always told me I was too good for you.” Skylar giggles through her tears. “He said no other man would ever be able to have my heart because I gave it to you before I understood its value… He wasn’t wrong, Tuck.”

“Wow, you think you’re too good for me?” I arch a brow in amusement.

“No, not that part.” She swats at my chest, chuckling. “I mean how I gave you my heart before I understood what that even means. Every man I met while I was away, I unconsciously compared them to you. They never stood a chance, no one ever could. It was always you, Tucker.”

“I know, baby. It was the same way for me. I could never love another woman the way I love you.” I press a kiss to her temple, keeping an arm around her shoulders.

“Duke also told me Skylar was a little shit.” Colton shrugs a shoulder, making us all laugh.

“That’s it! Two cusses on the Lord’s day! I’m telling Judith!” Gran slams a hand down on the table, making us all jump in our seats.

“Aww, C’mon, Gran! Love me despite the sinner I am! God does and you always say we should be more like him! Plus, I”m just repeating what Duke used to say!”

“Don’t you sass me, boy.” Gran wags her finger in his direction. She mutters a prayer under her breath and shakes her head.

“See! She does love me; she’s praying for me!” Colt beams at Gran.

“I”m praying for patience so I don’t whoop your butt on the Lord’s day!” Gran scowls at him. Skylar snorts with laughter, causing the rest of us to chuckle.

I”m so lucky to call these people my family and to know they always have my back. More than anything, I’m lucky my children have them to turn to whenever they need anything.