Chapter 36

“Babe . . . babe?”

Piper jolted awake.

Chase knelt down at her side, his hand on her shoulder.

“I fell asleep?”

She ran a hand over her eyes and sat up. “What time is it?”

“Your parents are pulling up the driveway now.”

“What?” She shot up. “You let me sleep?”

“My mother threatened to disown me if I woke you up.” Chase followed her into the en suite bathroom.

She went to grab a hairbrush and realized she hadn’t unpacked her bag. “I can’t look exhausted when they get here.” Piper pushed past him and over to her suitcase.

Chase took it from her before she could lift it and set it on a rack, similar to one you’d see in a hotel. “You look fine.”

“Fine isn’t good.” Piper grabbed her toiletry bag and rushed back to the bathroom mirror. She yanked the brush through her hair and then started digging through her bag for lip gloss. She applied the pink cosmetic while Chase watched her run around.

“You’re beautiful.”

She turned to the side, saw nothing but baby in the mirror.

Her shirt was over her head before she moved back to her suitcase. The dress she’d planned to wear sat on the top of her pile. A soft rose–colored short-sleeve dress that fell past her knees. It was pretty and sweet. Chase loved it because it pushed her ever-growing boobs up for him to feast on. She pulled the dress over her head and turned her back to Chase to zip her up. “I can’t believe I slept for two hours.”

“You needed it.”

“It’s rude. We just got here.”

With the zipper up, she moved back to the bathroom and looked in the mirror again. She pushed her hair up, looked to the side, and let it fall back down.

Up, she decided, and then searched for a clip.

“Everyone understands.”

With her hair up, she pulled a few strands down to fall around her face.

Piper blew out a breath.

Chase rested his hands on her shoulders and dropped a kiss to her shoulder. “You’re glowing, love.”

“Okay. Okay.” Another look in the mirror. This was as good as it was going to get. “I’m ready.”

Chase moved with her to the door.

“Hon?”

“What?” She patted down her sides, her back. “Is there something on the dress?”

“Shoes, maybe?”

“Shit.”

Back in the room, she dug out the simple sandals she’d brought for the dress. Piper held on to Chase as she slipped them on.

Another deep breath. “How do I look?”

“Spectacular.” He kissed her forehead, which she was grateful for since . . . lip gloss.

Chase held her hand as they walked down the oversize hall and to the grand staircase of the Morrison home.

She heard her parents’ voices and squeezed Chase’s hand.

“You got this.”

Two steps down the stairs, she caught sight of her parents.

Her mother managed a soft smile.

Her father managed not to frown. His chin was elevated, his hands were folded in front of him.

“Somebody was tired,” Vivian said when they approached.

“I didn’t realize it. Sorry to keep everyone waiting.”

“Don’t give that a second thought, little mama. Sleep when you’re tired and eat when you’re hungry. We don’t stand on ceremony in this house,” Gaylord told her.

Piper broke away from Chase after the last step and moved to her mother first. “Hi, Mom.”

Her mother wrapped her arms around her. “My sweet baby,” she whispered in her ear.

Next was her father, whose embrace wasn’t as endearing and bordered on cold. “Hi, Daddy.”

They broke away, her father looked at her stomach and then directly to Chase.

“You must be the boyfriend.”

Chase stepped forward and extended a hand. “I am, Mr. Maddox. Chase Stone.”

They shook hands.

And shook.

And shook . . . tight hands, direct eye contact.

“Daddy!” Piper placed her hand over the two of theirs and broke up the polite tug-of-war.

Piper moved to her mother. “Chase, my mother, Margaret.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Chase said, extended a hand to her as well.

Barely a handshake, and only a half a smile.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Chase told them.

“We look forward to knowing you better,” Margaret said. “Isn’t that right, Darryl?”

Piper’s father made a noncommittal noise.

“You’ve met everyone else, right?” Piper asked quickly to try and break any tension before it built.

“Yes, they have,” Jack told her.

“Supper is ready when we are,” Gaylord announced. “Darryl, how ’bout I get you a drink. You look like you can use one.”

“I’m not much of a drinking man, but I could use a whiskey,” her father said.

“I have you covered.”

Piper watched as her father followed Gaylord.

Jack looked at Chase with a shrug.

Jessie and Alex walked together as they all funneled away from the hall.

Vivian moved beside Margaret. “We adore your daughter.”

“She has a mind of her own, but she’s always been a joy.”

Piper glanced at Chase when he grabbed her hand.

They moved to an outside patio that was the size of an entire penthouse suite.

The smell of barbeque filled the air as country music wafted through speakers Piper couldn’t see. The heat of the day was fading, and outdoor heaters took the place of the sun.

Chase leaned close and put his lips to Piper’s ear. “I’m going to break the ice with your dad. If we walk away, don’t panic.”

She knew it had to happen, and since her dad wasn’t big with crowds, it was probably best that Chase talk to him alone. Piper mouthed the words I love you before Chase left her side.

“That dress is beautiful,” Alex said once Chase had joined the men with their whiskey. “I bet you can get it taken in after the baby is born.”

“Or just keep it for the next one,” Jessie said.

“One at a time, please. She’s plenty already.”

“I’m looking forward to being a grandmother,” Vivian told her. “Gaylord adores his grandchildren. Can’t stop talking about them.”

“Where are your kids?” Piper asked Jessie.

“They’re at home. We thought it was best for the adults to get to know each other without that chaos. Danny might bring them by later.”

“You live on the ranch?” Piper asked.

Jessie pointed across the property. “We built on the east side of the ranch, Katie and Dean are north of us. But they’re away right now.”

“Jack’s sister, right?” Alex asked.

“Yes. It gets rambunctious in this house when we’re all together.”

Jessie went on to tell them about the kids and the huge holiday gatherings.

As Piper expected, a few minutes into the small talk, her mother pulled her aside.

“Oh, baby,” she said on a sigh as soon as they were alone.

“Mom, I’m okay.”

“Are you, honey? You look tired.”

“Of course I’m tired, I’m pregnant. And I’ve been fretting over seeing you two since I know you don’t approve.”

“No, dear—”

“Then you do approve?” Piper knew that wasn’t the truth.

Her mother tilted her head to the side. “Well . . .”

“Right, well . . . I don’t need your approval.”

“Aren’t you worried what people will say?”

“I did . . . for a long time. And what a waste of time that was. From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I worried what you and Daddy would say. What the people back home would talk about. How the people I work with would judge. I didn’t see my doctor for ten weeks, and when I did, the first thing I considered was giving my baby up for adoption, not because I wanted that, but because I wanted to hide this from you forever.”

“Oh, honey.”

“I spent the first half of my pregnancy in agony and keeping it a secret to avoid hearing ‘what people would say.’ I convinced myself that I couldn’t do this alone.” Piper felt a wave of emotion swell up inside of her and, with it, the conviction she put into words she hoped her mother would hear. “To think I almost gave my baby girl away just so I wouldn’t have to hear what people would say. So no, Mom. I don’t care what anyone says anymore. When you’re dating someone as well known as Chase . . . you end up getting talked about a lot. I never thought I’d be in the pages of a tabloid, but here I am, a weekly headline. And since the truth is boring, it’s much better to tell outright lies. I am finally at the point where I don’t care.

“I’m going to live my life on my terms with an even greater conviction than I had when I left Ohio. There isn’t one person in this house tonight that has been anything less than supportive of me and Chase. Chase most of all. You should have seen his face when I told him I was keeping her.” She took her mom’s hands in hers. “I want you and Daddy to be a part of this. But if you’re not going to be as proud of this grandchild as Gaylord is of his, then I won’t have it. She deserves hugs and kisses, quilts and cookies, regardless of when she was conceived.”

Her mom brushed away a tear that fell on her cheek and pulled her in for a hug. “Of course we’ll love this child.”

“I hope so, Mom.” Piper lifted her chin and stepped out of her embrace.

Her mother tilted her head to the side and ran a hand down Piper’s arm. “I can’t believe my baby is having a baby.”

Piper rested a hand on her belly and felt her little girl kick.

“Supper’s ready.”

Piper looked over at all the guests, heard laughter above the music, and knew in that moment that if her parents walked away and didn’t look back, she’d be okay. The love and support from Chase alone would be more than enough to last a lifetime.

The two of them walked over to the outdoor dining table and searched for Chase.

He stood just outside the patio lights, talking to her father.

Her father made several gestures with his hands while Chase nodded the way he did when he was summing up a person’s worth.

Gaylord came up behind her. “Your daddy hasn’t asked me for a shotgun yet, I think he’s safe.”

Vivian was close enough to hear and started laughing. “Gaylord. Don’t put thoughts in her head.”

Jessie walked over. “Mrs. Maddox, would you care for some wine?”

“Yes, actually. That would be nice.”

Piper took her seat, eyes glued to the men in her life.

Finally, after what felt like forever, Chase extended a hand to her father, and he shook it. Followed by a pat on the shoulder.

Alex leaned over. “They’re both smiling.”

Piper blew out a breath, smiled, and took a long drink of water.

“Where’s Kitty?”

“You brought a cat?” Jessie asked. “I thought you only had the dog with you.”

“No, my dog. Kit. I call him Kitty.”

“That dog’s name is Kitty?” Gaylord asked. “That’s messed up, darlin’.”

“He’s playing in the barn with the dogs, Bear and Roxy,” Jessie told her.

“You have a dog named Bear? That’s messed up, Gaylord,” Piper tossed back at their host.

Gaylord laughed loud enough to command attention. “I like your sass.”

“She has a lot of it,” Margaret told him.

Chase moved to his place beside Piper and pulled out his chair. “I missed the joke.”

Piper looked at Chase, then her dad.

She hoped Chase’s conversation with her dad was as conclusive as hers was with her mother. Either way, they were going to be just fine on their own.

Chase placed a hand over hers on the table and squeezed. She leaned into him and whispered, “I love you.”

Dinner was out of this world. Piper ate enough for her, the baby, and the next town over.

They assembled out under the stars. The glow of the patio lights and glass firepit was the perfect end to a wonderful night.

Her parents had visibly relaxed. Maybe it was the wine, but they didn’t struggle with things to talk about. Gaylord would tell a story about Jack as a child, and her father would bounce something embarrassing about Piper’s growing years. There was a little bit of laughter that gave Piper hope that everything was going to be okay.

Gaylord had walked away at one point and returned with a box. “I know this is a bit soon, but when I saw it, I couldn’t stop myself.”

He handed the box to Piper.

“What is this?”

“Just a little somethin’.”

“You don’t have to buy me gifts.”

“Who says it’s for you?”

Piper smiled, glanced at Chase, and untied the bow before lifting the lid.

Inside was a pint-size cowgirl hat, in dark purple and rhinestones. With baby cowboy boots to match. “Oh my God, these are so adorable.”

Chase lifted the hat and popped it on Piper’s belly. “It fits.”

She pushed it away and stood to hug Gaylord. “Thank you.”

“You’re slipping, Dad . . . where’s the pony?” Jack said with a wink.

“Shush, boy. We need to ease that in slowly.” Gaylord patted Piper’s back. “You’re welcome, darlin’. Glad you like it.”

“I love it.”

“I have one more surprise.” He walked her out, away from the lights.

Her heart started to pound. “You didn’t really get a pony.”

“Naw. I just like to celebrate life. And since you have one brewing inside of you, I thought we should celebrate hers.” Gaylord looked over his shoulder. “Jack, tell them we’re ready.”

The patio lights dimmed, and Gaylord looked up at the sky.

Out of nowhere, lights started to dance. Not just any lights, but that of drones. Someone turned up the music around them, which synchronized with the show in the sky.

“Wow.”

“Oh, Gaylord, that’s amazing,” Vivian cooed.

The drones outlined a baby’s face with a single curl in her hair. The lights shifted and seemed to burst into colors like fireworks.

Everyone moved to their side, eyes on the sky.

Chase snaked a hand around her waist, she leaned into him. “This is nuts.”

“Go big or go home, huh, Daddy?” Jessie said.

“No point in making money if you don’t spend it.”

Next came a purple-studded cowboy hat and boots that danced by themselves, then a baby was added. Then came the shape of a pony, with a baby on its back, wearing the purple hat.

“There’s the pony!” Jack said with a laugh.

More bursts resembling fireworks.

Chase moved his hand to her shoulders and rubbed the chill from them.

Then, letter by letter, the drones spelled out Piper before going dark.

The next word flashed.

WILL.

Then . . .

YOU.

MARRY.

Piper’s jaw dropped.

ME?

She sucked in a breath and turned around.

Behind her, on his knee, Chase held a box in his hand.

Piper sucked in a sharp breath.

“Piper, you are, without exception, the best thing that has ever happened to me. You make me laugh, and you take no shit from me.”

Piper covered her smile and felt her eyes swell with happy tears.

“You make me a better man by being in my life. A life I want to live with you. I wake up thinking about you. I daydream about you when we’re apart. I want you now, and I want you forever. I promise you all of my tomorrows. If you’ll take them.”

Piper was shaking, and crying, and smiling so hard her cheeks hurt.

“I love you with everything I am. Please say you’ll marry me?”

She choked on a cry, nodding and reaching for him as tears rolled down her face. “You know I will. Yes. Yes . . . a gazillion yesses.”

Chase stood and folded her into his arms. Their lips touched with sparks and love.

She heard clapping and the sound of her racing heartbeat.

She whispered in his ear, “This is a lot more than dinner and flowers.”

“We’re going to have the best life.”

He pulled away enough to show her the ring in the box.

“Oh my God!” An oval diamond, large enough to mirror the drones in the sky, set in a whimsical setting with diamonds flowing down the band like ivy. It was way too much and oh-so perfect.

“Alex said you liked this shape.”

“It’s perfect.”

He slipped it onto her finger and kissed her again.

Behind them, real fireworks took off, popping in the sky and filling the air with color and sound.

The drones flashed:

SHE SAID YES

Wedding bells and churches, and a three-tiered cake . . . all alongside fireworks that couldn’t be a better fit to the joy in Piper’s heart.

Not that they noticed much of any of it . . . they were in a sea of people, completely alone and staring into each other’s future.