SWNOVELS Finding Hayes: Chapter 24
“This is so cute,” I said, as I stood on a step stool and held one end of the banner as Saylor held the other.
We were throwing Demi a baby shower at Saylor’s bookstore, Love Ever After. It was attached to Magnolia Beans, Demi’s coffee shop, and Peyton had been carrying over all sorts of pastries and getting things set up. Emerson loved to bake, and she brought in towers with cupcakes and some kind of unicorn Rice Krispies Treats. Ruby was placing linens on the tables that we’d rented for people to be able to sit and eat. Janelle had brought all the florals over from Magnolia Blooms, and Midge had just arrived and was setting up little grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in clear cups along the rectangular table on the back wall.
“Thank you for following my directions about wrapping the sandwiches in the cute wax paper that I ordered with the little boxing gloves on it.” Peyton studied the sandwiches and then looked up at Midge.
“Well, you didn’t give me much of a choice, did you? And I think pictures on wax paper that you’re going to throw away is kind of stupid,” Midge snipped. She owned the Golden Goose Diner, and I’d known the woman my entire life. She was hilarious and quirky, and I’d always liked her.
“Hey, it’s a baby shower. We don’t go to negative town. And we’re all about the themes here.” Peyton put her hands on her hips.
“We’re also all about the love here,” Saylor said. We both stood back to admire the banner we’d just hung that read: Celebrating our little Golden Boy!
It was a boxer-themed baby shower because Romeo was a fighter, even though he no longer did it professionally.
“These tattoos are hilarious,” Ruby said, holding up the temporary tattoos we’d sprinkled on the tables for people to take.
Ride or die. Brothers till the end. Loyalty always. Forever my friend.
“It was Beefcake’s idea,” Emerson said. “He’s always talking about how he’s going to get a matching tattoo with all the guys, so he’s convinced Romeo and Demi’s little guy will get one with him, too.”
“That’s so cute. I love that they all have the same tattoo.” I started placing the floral arrangements that Janelle had dropped off on the center of each table.
“How about you and that hot husband of yours?” Midge asked. “Are you guys going to have kids? I can’t see Hayes with a baby. He’s such a grump. But he’s easy on the eyes.”
“My brother would be a fabulous father. He just doesn’t know it because he didn’t grow up with a father, and he’s got it set in his head that he’d fail at it,” Saylor said, her gaze locking with mine, as if she knew the topic was something we didn’t feel the same about.
“Well, River and I sure aren’t in any hurry to have kids. We’re enjoying our time together.” Ruby bumped me with her shoulder and winked.
“Yeah, that’s another grump for you.” Midge chuckled. “River and Hayes would probably get arrested for beating up any boy that had a crush on their daughters.”
The thought made me smile.
I could see it. Hayes as a father. But I also didn’t believe in forcing your desires on someone else. People should live their lives and be true to who they are. That’s what I was determined to do. So I wouldn’t convince a man who didn’t want children that he’d be a good father. He’d have to decide that on his own.
And we weren’t going that far into the future. We were living in the moment.
I’d never hold him back, and he’d never hold me back.
We loved each other too much to do that.
“No doubt about it,” Peyton said. “But I’m guessing these two will be knocked up soon.” She thrust her thumb at Emerson and Saylor.
“We’re planning a wedding and very happy focusing on Cutler right now. But we would like to expand our family, for sure,” Emerson said. “But we aren’t in a hurry.”
“King and I are definitely trying,” Saylor said. Her cheeks flamed pink, which made us all laugh.
“Honey, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Sometimes I think that man is going to tear your clothes off in my diner. He’s always looking at you like a man obsessed,” Midge said, and we all broke out into a fit of laughter.
“How about you?” Ruby asked, directing her question to Peyton. “You and Slade sure seem to be inseparable lately.”
“My man is hot as hell. I’d marry him today, but he’s working on his sobriety, and I support that. We aren’t in any hurry.” Peyton placed the pretty blue and peach floral paper plates and napkins on the buffet table.
“That’s a good plan,” I said. “There’s no rush.”
“Says the girl who got married a few weeks after she arrived back in town.” Midge whistled. “You snatched yourself the most eligible bachelor in Magnolia Falls. The man no one ever thought would get hitched.”
“Hey, when you know, you know. Let’s all cram into that photo booth and take some pictures before this starts,” Ruby said.
Peyton had rented a movie theatre-style photo booth so that we could have fun photo strips to take home.
Midge refused to climb in with us, but the five of us managed to squeeze in there together.
There was a knock on the door, and Emerson hurried over to where Nash was standing, holding the cake she’d made. She couldn’t fit it all in her car when she’d come this morning, so she’d had Nash bring it when he dropped off Cutler.
The cake was three tiers high and covered in white icing, with a large dark blue boxing glove made of fondant sitting on top. There were even white fondant laces on the glove. We all gasped at how professional and gorgeous it was.
“Damn, girl. If that whole doctor thing doesn’t work out, you could make wedding cakes for a living,” Peyton said, as she guided Nash over to the dessert table.
“My Sunny is the best doctor and the best baker and the best mama around,” Cutler said, and I didn’t miss the way Emerson’s hand went to her chest as if she were overwhelmed by the sentiment.
They were the perfect example of a family that was meant to be together. Emerson had shared her story with me about how she’d almost married another man, but thankfully, she’d found out that he’d cheated on her with her best friend. She’d come to Magnolia Falls to hide out for a while, and she’d never left. She’d found her forever here.
Where she’d least expected it.
I felt that same pull with Hayes. Like he was what had been missing in my life for the longest time. Ever since I’d left this town, it had felt like there’d been this hole that I couldn’t fill, and somehow he’d filled it.
But not everything good lasted forever, and I knew that better than anyone.
I had job offers in the city that I would have killed for a few months ago. I was having fun with the social media design stuff right now, but that was temporary.
Like my marriage was supposed to be.
My husband wanted to date me, not spend his life with me.
I wanted a family.
He didn’t.
I shook it off when Cutler tugged at my hand. “Will you put this tattoo on me, Savvy?”
“Of course, I will. Will you put one on me next?” I asked, as I led him toward the restroom and held the disposable towel under some warm water and then pressed the tattoo to his little arm.
“Oh, man, that would be cool. None of the girls have that tattoo yet. You’ll be the first.” He chuckled as I held the warm cloth over the tattoo on his arm. “Uncle Hayes told me you were different.”
“He did?” I asked, checking my phone timer to see how much longer he had to wait.
“Yep. Remember how I was real sad that I didn’t get to go to your wedding?”
“I remember. You know how bad we feel about it, right?”
“That’s okay, Savvy. You’re my girl now. But Uncle Hayes, he explained it to me,” Cutler said, as he looked down and gasped when I peeled back the paper so he could see the words temporarily inked on his arm. His eyes were wide, and he waggled his brows when he looked up at me. “You know, my uncle Hayes never thought he’d get married. But he said he couldn’t wait one more second to marry you because you were different. He said you were always different.”
“I don’t know if that’s a good thing.” I chuckled as he held the warm cloth over my tattoo.
“Oh, it’s a good thing. He told me that you were his best friend, and then you left, and he was real sad, Savvy. And that when he had the chance to marry you when you came back, he was afraid if he waited, you’d leave again. And he said losing you once was terrible.” He threw his arms in the air. “Just terrible! But losing you twice would be too much. That’s why I wasn’t mad anymore. He’d waited for you, and you came back.” He smiled up at me with his pink round cheeks and those chocolate eyes that could melt anyone’s heart.
And his words melted mine.
“Well, who knew my husband was so sweet?” I said, my voice all tease as I pushed the lump in my throat away.
Cutler’s head fell back in laughter. “Nobody calls Uncle Hayes sweet ‘cept you and me. I know he loves you and me, Savvy. And we know Uncle Hayes can be sweet, right?”
“Yeah, we do,” I said, as I peeled the paper away on my own arm, and we both admired our matching tattoos.
“I like you with my uncle.”
“Me, too,” I said, tapping the tip of his little nose.
“That means you’re my girl forever.”
“Yep. You’re stuck with me, Beefcake.”
I took his little hand in mine, and we made our way back out to the party.
“Okay, Demi’s here,” Peyton said, as she took one last look around the bookstore. It looked stunning. The dreamiest baby shower I’d seen.
The door opened, and Demi’s mother and grandmother walked in beside Demi, and her mouth fell open as she took it all in.
“This is too cute. Look at all the details!” she shouted. “Thank you so much.”
“Man, I can’t wait to meet my new brother,” Cutler said as he squeezed my hand. “I’m going to teach him everything I know.”
“I’m sure you will.” I smiled down at him.
People started rolling in, and we played games where we guessed the size of Demi’s baby bump, filled out cards with advice and encouragement, and laughed and ate and had the best time.
I realized in this moment that I’d missed Magnolia Falls more than I’d ever realized. I’d left this town, my home, under such awful circumstances, and I’d allowed that to block out all the good memories that I’d had growing up here.
I knew how lucky Demi and Romeo’s son would be to grow up in Magnolia Falls, surrounded by love and the magic of small-town life.
I’d never felt so confused about my future.
I’d spent the last ten years cursing this town and convincing myself that I hated this place, when, in reality, I loved it here.
Magnolia Falls is home.
I spent the next few hours chatting with everyone and moving from one table to the next. Once all the guests cleared out, we helped Demi get her car loaded with gifts and got the bookstore cleaned up and back to normal.
I hugged the girls goodbye and made my way home.
I turned down our street and saw the house in the distance.
And for whatever reason, I started jogging. My booties clacked against the pavement in a rhythmic sound.
Because suddenly, I couldn’t wait to get there.
To him.
Home.