Page 91 of Finding Hayes
“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 toMagnolia 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.
