Page 92 of Finding Hayes
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.
