16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chase

I wasn’t sure what I thought, what I even felt, as I left the table. I mean, it was good to know there was a serious reason behind why she walked away. But she really couldn’t tell me.

I sat on the chair outside, looking at the snow that was falling, and huddled in my jacket.

“You okay?”

I looked over at my dad as he sat down beside me.

“I don’t know. That was the last thing I expected to hear.” I paused, collecting my thoughts for a moment as the flurries drifted down. “I mean, it’s for a good reason. And I know Betty, stubborn as a mule when she gets in her own head. And she always thinks she knows what’s best. And in most cases, she does.

“But this, Dad? This? She’s my grandma too, I would have been by her side, helping her in any way I could have. The ranch has more than enough funds. It’s damn pride that kept her from saying something.”

“And damn pride that kept you two apart?”

Leave it to my dad to hit the nail on the head. I wasn’t upset that Betty kept her secrets. Hell, we all knew she had some. And it wasn’t like we didn’t suspect, or at least my parents did. But it bothered me so much more because had she just been open, I wouldn’t have lost all these years with Belinda.

“Can I ask you something, son?”

“Sure, dad.”

“What were you like ten years ago?”

“I was a young man in the prime of his life having fun with the woman he loved.”

“There are some keywords in there. Prime, fun, young. Do you think you were ready to settle down and take on the job of this ranch? Do you think you would have stayed put and been the man Belinda needed you to be.”

He sat forward, his fingertips pressing together as he regarded me.

“Even better, do you think she was ready? Ready to be the wife you needed, to be the partner you needed, to step up and run this place too?”

It was on the tip of my tongue to say yes, but looking back, no, she wasn’t. And in fact, neither was I. The love was there, sure. But we were both young. We needed time to grow, time to become the actual adults we needed to be.

“No, she wasn’t.”

“There would have been nothing wrong with you two getting married then, having a life, kids, having it all. But there would have been a time when the fights would have gotten ugly, would have gotten bad, and I’m not sure that the love you all had would have survived that.

“You all weren’t bad kids, don’t think that. But there was just some more growing you two needed to do, and being a part was going to help a whole lot more than being together.”

“Have I told you, Dad, that I hate when you can be insightful?”

He chuckled and leaned back in his seat.

“I know you do. And you’ll get there too. Someday, hopefully soon, I’ll be out here on this front step, my grandbaby on my leg, and you being the insightful one.”

“Woah, baby? Where is that coming from?”

“Oh, Chase, don’t call me a fool. I know damn good and well you got a ring in your drawer, waiting to spring it on the lady inside.”

My mouth dropped open at that comment, which he only laughed at. Did my freaking parents really know everything?

“I mean, the hickey, son, was a dead giveaway you two were back together.”

“Well, it was a starting point.”

He stood up and slapped my back, giving me a wink.

“Whatever it was, it’s you two again. Which means it’s only a matter of time before you ask her and then it’s only a matter of time before babies pop out.”

I couldn’t help but shake my head at his antics, or his thought process.

Four hours later, I leaned against the wall with my booted foot crossed over the other as I watched a very full family open their presents. It was pure chaos in the Montgomery household with squeals, hoots, and hollers, but I wouldn’t have traded it for the world.

This was my family, this was how we were, and I loved it. At least only for this one day. Any other day, I was over it.

I glanced over everyone for a moment before letting my eyes land on Belinda, and once more, her story came to mind. How many Christmases did she have alone? How many did she suffer through? How many did she work to give someone else a day off and then regret it?

Well, that’s going to stop now. At least, I hope she lets me help her stop it. Because this woman deserves every good thing in the world.

And if she’s game, I want to give it all to her.

So, once everyone was done, I cleared my throat to get their attention. I looked around, all eyes on me, and I had to swallow hard.

Okay, maybe asking in front of my family wasn’t the best idea I ever had. However, it was far too late to turn tail and run. I was here, she was here, the ring was in my pocket, I was committed to this.

“As you all know, I became a hell of a man, ten years ago. I was wild, reckless, not caring about anything, or anyone. Because my heart was ripped from my body, and it was never given back to me. Maybe that was for the better, debate is still out on that one.

“But a talk with my dad tonight showed me that maybe it was better that things happened the way they did. That way, when we got to the right time, everything would fall into place. I tried fighting with fate and lost, she’s a mean ol’ lady who knocked me on my ass.”

I walked over to the other side of the room and sat down next to Belinda on the floor.

“What I know now, though, is that I’m the best kind of man I could ever be for the job I’m looking forward to most in the world. Ten years ago, I gave you my heart, Belinda. When you left, I thought I wanted it back. No, I did want it back. But I’m really glad you didn’t give it to me like I wished.”

She frowned as she glanced around the room, our mom’s dabbing at their eyes, before she turned back to me. No one knew I was doing this, especially not tonight. Hell, I wasn’t certain it was my plan, but it just felt right.

“Chase?” she muttered quietly, and I gave her my most endearing smile.

“I didn’t just lay my heart on the line for you, Belinda. You’ve always had it, you’re the only woman who has ever had it. And you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, could ever love now that I come to think of it.

“So, I’m done waiting. Your back, and I refused to let you go. I waited ten long fucking years to ask this, but,” I took the ring out of my pocket and grabbed her hand, enjoying her gasp. I looked up into her tear-filled eyes, wanting to kiss every last one of them away. “Will you allow me to have you in my arms for a lifetime and beyond?”