Chapter 39

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Mason

I kiss Nine's knuckles while we wait outside her parents' home.

As promised, we came to have breakfast with them and discuss our wedding plans. Nine has no idea when she wants to finalize our union. At least not yet.

It's all up to her, though. If I had a say, I'd do it right now. There's no reason for us to wait. Well, yes, there is… it's right in front of us.

Chris Decker and Gabe Colt, who made me sweat when I told them I wanted to marry their daughter. They want to throw her a big wedding, walk her down the aisle, and give her away.

"Too close, Bradley. A foot apart from my child," Chris instructs me.

Gabe pulls Nine toward him and hugs her without saying a word to either of us. They walk inside, and in front of me remains the scary one, my future father-in-law. The guy who I begged for help and who gave me what he called the most important advice: ‘Listen to your heart. Your heart knows what's best when it comes to the one you love, Son.' And I did, along with everything else that I could come up with. Letting my heart lead didn't turn out to be dangerous, after all. It's actually the best way to reach Ainse.

"Give them a minute or so." Chris leans against the wall. "His child just got engaged. It's hitting him hard. Not that it isn't hitting me, but every person is different. Gabe feels as if he's losing her all over again."

He shrugs, and I'm left with more questions than answers. How will they lose her, and doesn't Chris give a shit about it, too?

"Yeah, hard for either one of us to understand. You're an only child. I never had siblings or parents." Chris understood my blank expression. "Gabe's the baby of his family. As his brothers and sisters married, his relationship with them changed. It became somehow superficial. When he moved out of Albany, he stayed in touch, but it has never been the same with any of them. Janine and James don't see our kids too often. He fears Ainsley won't stick around, and the grandkids will barely know us."

"You're welcome to care for Toby," I joke.

He glares at me.

"Ainsley won't ever let that happen. She's the glue of the family." I offer him an olive branch. "She adores her guys and I kind of like the four of you."

Chris shrugs, skeptical of what I say.

"You know, the house next door to the one we're buying is for sale," I offer. His green eyes stare at me, waiting for more, and his lips fight a smile that's so much like his daughter's. "Enough bedrooms for out-of-town visitors, and as I said, it's right next door to our new home. She'll love to know that you two are close by."

Chris scratches his ear and doesn't say a word. He stares at Nine's house for a few seconds and then looks back at me. "You're a good man, Mason."

His half smile tells me I did something right. "We just may look into that house you mentioned. In a few years, you're going to need help with those babies. You are having children, aren't you?"

I nod at him and then look at the door where Ainsley appears, her eyes filled with moisture and a few dried tears are on her cheeks.

"Lord, your husband thinks this is the end of the world," she announces and looks at Chris. "It won't be, because Deckers stick together. Family-time Sunday is a tradition, right Papa?"

He pulls her to him and hugs her tight. "Right, baby girl." Gabe comes out, and Chris touches his arm without releasing Ainsley. "We're not losing a child but gaining another son and all the other fucking shit that implies."

"Perfect, let's have breakfast. Later, we're heading to the shelter," Nine announces. "We're adopting a dog. Oh, Dad said that I can spend your entire fortune on the wedding, as long as I agree to a ridiculous white dress and letting you walk me down the aisle."

"For you, whatever you want, but not the entire fortune." Chris ushers us inside. "Babe, hurry. We have a new business transaction to look into. You'll love me even more after I tell you the new plans. Maybe it was a good idea that we didn't kill the boy, after all. Not ideal, but we can work with it."

Ainse's brown eyebrows rise as she stares at me suspiciously. I walk toward her and use my thumb to smooth the creases forming on her forehead and give her a chaste kiss. If they buy the house, she's going to love it.

Ainsley

I zip the weekender bag and look around the room, wondering if I forgot anything. Staring at the ring on my finger, I wonder where Mason is. Instead of waiting for him to appear, I walk around the house searching for him.

He's in the backyard, tossing the ball for Wade, our new furry child.

"He'll be fine," I assure him.

This weekend we are all going to Albany to visit the family. Gabe and Chris want to introduce Mase to the family while we extend the invitation to our wedding.

I'm getting married!

This entire year has been complicated, hectic, pleasant, and full of surprises. The best surprise was falling in love with my best friend, and now planning the beginning of the rest of our lives—together.

To think that one crazy and impulsive decision to hop on that plane began to reconstruct my life a couple of years ago. And I'm now surrounded by so much love. My fathers are the best parents in the world, and we have the best relationship a daughter can ask for.

My brothers are insanely annoying, and I wouldn't have them any other way. We live close by and support each other like never before. The crazy trip to Santa Barbara not only saved my life but it also helped me find myself and the way to build a life I love.

I decided we should get married in Santa Barbara the weekend before Christmas. The same exact house where my parents fell in love, where Mase's and my story began, and where my parents promised to love each other and decided to start a family.

"I love you," Mase whispers in my ear, dragging me out of the happy haze. I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes back. My heart swells because he's not afraid to love anymore. "Marry me. I can get a marriage license and make you my wife today ."

"Ha, they'll kill you." I point toward my parents' home. "I'm thankful they agreed with my wedding plans. When Gabe proposed to pay for the wedding, he offered millions of dollars—he's ridiculous."

He just wanted the best for his baby girl. I told him the best for me would be to have an intimate ceremony. Santa Barbara is perfect, meaningful. My parents are the epitome of a ridiculous couple who want to do everything for their children.

They're selling the house next door because I'm moving out next week. No reason to keep it. Their daughter is no longer living close by. They think they're fooling me. I know the silly men bought the house next door to our new home—stalkers. Matt can't keep a secret when it doesn't pertain to him.

"Ready to head east?" I ask Mason. "My grandparents are going to adore you."

"As much as Milli loved you, or less?" We came back yesterday from a short trip to Vancouver, where I met part of his family. "Because she adored you, Nine."

Milli, his grandmother, gushed over me the entire time. She taught me how to cook a traditional Japanese dinner. Then she taught me a few words in Japanese and gave me a list of Japanese names for when we decide to have babies. Part of Mase's family will fly down to Santa Barbara for the wedding. My parents have rented a small hotel to room our guests.

The doorbell rings. Neither one of us move. My parents and brothers said they'd come by when they were done packing and ready to go.

"Good, we're not interrupting the morning coital session," Matt's thick grumpy voice makes me turn around.

"They woke you up, babe?" He nods. I open my arms, and he walks into them. "You can sleep on the plane. Want coffee?"

"That's a cool dog." Jacob's in the kitchen fighting with my coffee maker while Wade stares at him. "He looks like a Max, not a Wade."

That's a funny statement. In fact, that's his old name. Max. Ana, his previous owner, named him after some kind of teenage crap she didn't want to explain. Last week, when we arrived at the shelter, she stood in the parking lot talking to her dog. Her black hair covered her entire face, though it barely touched her shoulders. She apologized to Max for what she was about to do, hoping he'd forgive her. The sobbing and sad words broke my heart.

"He's yours?" I asked the obvious. She nodded. "How is it, having a dog? I've never had one in my entire life. I have a kitty, but my fiancé and I want to adopt a dog."

From there, she calmed down, and we began to discuss Max. She ended up telling me about her situation. Kind of homeless, jobless, and penniless. In order to have a roof over her head, she had to give him up—Max.

We not only adopted a new furry child, but we also found a friend. Ana reminded me of lonely, bitter Ainsley. Maybe I'm wrong, but I can always use a friend.

"His name used to be Maximus," I tell Jacob. "His owner had to let him go, but I have a new friend and a puppy."

"New friend?" Jacob prepares a second cup of coffee. "Hot new friend?"

Mason enters the room frowning at me.

"Is Ana hot, Mase?" I ask my fiancé, putting him in a very uncomfortable situation. "Remember, big, dark eyes that shine, long black hair, and beautiful, olive-colored skin?"

"She's not bad looking." Mason shakes his head. "Not your type Decker, she's no skinny, starving artificial model. Too normal for you. Matt might be able to work his magic."

Jacob's jaw clenches, and he gives Mase a glare but doesn't say a word.

"Dude, sorry, I just don't think your sister will appreciate it if you use Ana for one of your nights."

"What happened?" Matt snatches the mug Jacob holds, staring at him with worrisome eyes. "Who stole your puppy, Jacob?"

Jacob shakes his head, but my chest is hurting.

"Everything okay, Jackie?" I ask him as I hug him tight, trying to take away the pain.

"No, nothing will ever be okay, Ainsy. But I promised, right?" I nod, trying to smooth the big knot in my throat and the tears that threaten to come out. "As long as I have you and Mattie, I'll always try my best."