Total pages in book: 156
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 151044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 755(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
He never talked about that day, so I sat quietly, giving him plenty of space to get out what he wanted to say.
“I’m sure it wasn’t easy for you to confront your father, Rayne. When I confronted my dad it was one of the ugliest fights of my life. Then he had a heart attack and took a spill down a flight of stairs and I felt responsible. I realized the worst part about hating him was that I didn’t know how to stop loving him.” He looked at me with glassy eyes. “No one will blame you for forgiving your father, baby. You have a good heart. Don’t let him change that.”
I looked away, losing the battle against my own tears. “Maybe one day, but I’m not there yet. I may never be.”
“And that’s fine too. Just know that Tyler was right. I’d never stand in your way if that was something you needed to do.”
“Thank you.”
He sighed and looked down at the thick envelope in his hands.
What was he waiting for? “Did you want me to sign that?”
“Very much so.”
Ouch. That wasn’t necessarily the response I’d expected, but I suppose he was being honest. Time to get this over with. “Give me your pen.”
“Before you do, I want you to really think about what it is you’re agreeing to, Rayne. There’s no going back after this. I'm asking you for forever and this is an ironclad contract.”
“I’m sure.”
He withdrew the prenup and handed it to me with the pen.
I wasn’t going to read it.
Marrying Hale had never been about getting his money. It was about spending the rest of my life with the man I loved. I flipped up the cover page and frowned.
“What is this?” Why was Elara’s name added to our prenup?
“It’s the adoption papers. Isn’t that what you were expecting?”
I looked at him in shock. “What?” My eyes scanned the page until they blurred. “Adoption papers?”
“Yeah. She and I are sort of a package deal. I thought you knew that.”
“I’m such an idiot.”
“Why?”
“Hale, I thought this was the prenuptial agreement.”
“No!” He laughed. “I told you I wasn’t going through with that.”
“But… What about your trusts?”
“The only trust I need is the trust between you and me.”
His words brought so much relief I nearly fell over. “You really want me to adopt peanut?”
“She already thinks of you as her mom. This would just make it official.”
He’d truly surprised me. “I really thought I was signing something to protect your assets.”
“Rayne, I love you. I know it’s never been about my money for you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I mean, no offense, but you’re pretty much the cheapest person I’ve ever met.”
“It’s called being thrifty.”
“Whatever you call it, I know you aren’t marrying me for my fortune.”
“Of course, I’m not!” I lunged forward, knocking him back as I kissed him. Smiling against his mouth, I mumbled, “If anything, it’s for your dick.”
“Brat.”
I shoved off of him and eagerly grabbed the papers and the pen. I couldn’t sign fast enough. “I can’t believe this. I’m going to be a mommy! Elara’s going to officially be my peanut!”
Navigating the multiple SIGN HERE tabs, I scribbled my consent on every black line and grinned. “Done!”
“Congratulations, Future Mrs. Davenport. It’s a girl.”
Warmth spread through my body as an incredible sense of rightness blanketed me. I could never pick a nail color or an ice cream flavor or even a lane, but when it came to Hale and Elara it was a no-brainer. I’d pick them every single time.
The Last Mile
They say the last mile is the longest and the hardest, but for me it was the easiest part of my journey. No Stephen King green tones here. This final mile was coming up pure unicorn dust.
“Ready, Rayne?”
I looked at Quinn and smiled. “Does my dress look okay?”
“You look perfect.”
“Then let’s do this.”
She smiled. “Tyler, you and Mom are up first. Then Noah, Seraphina, and Elara. Then Elle. Places everyone.”
Tyler pressed a quick kiss on my cheek. “Remember what I said, Ray. No looking back. Nothing but blue skies and green lights from here on out.”
“Tyler, you’re up!”
The doors cracked open, only enough for Tyler and my mom to slip out. I caught a quick glimpse of a few guests and my heart cartwheeled. Dabbing the gloss on my lips, I fidgeted with my bouquet as I took a deep breath.
Quinn, peeked out the door and turned. “Seraphina, Noah, you three are next.”
I waved and blew raspberries at peanut as she passed in her bedecked vintage carriage. She laughed and waved back.
“Are you nervous?”
I looked at Elle, wondering if she asked out of concern or because that just seemed like an appropriate question for the moment. I could count on one hand the conversations we had this week. In the end, it seemed like a blessing that she hadn’t inquired about my dad or asked any follow up questions about the night of the rehearsal dinner.