Page 42 of High Water

“Are you sure you want to do this? You want to marry a woman you haven’t known for over fifteen years? Take on a teenage daughter full-time? Live with two women who like everything kept a certain way in the house? Be subject to their whims and moods? My temper? Fallon’s? Because let me tell you, hers is a particularly unique formula of Stockton ire.” I want to make sure he’s considered all the downsides for him.

I can tell by the look on his face that none of that was what he was thinking when he agreed to this. A bewildered flash of overwhelm from my questions crosses his features before he smiles.

“The idea of living with a family again over a group of guys in bunkhouses and tents honestly sounds like an upgrade to me. I know it’s not gonna be easy. I’m sure I’m gonna leave socks on the floor or end up pissing one of you off unexpectedly. But I’m just excited about the idea of being close to the two of you after all this time.”

“You won’t say that the first time you have to watch her stare you down like you’ve ruined her entire life for telling her no, or her telling you she hates you and can’t wait to move out of your house as she slams a door.”

“Think of it this way, it might take the heat off you for a little bit. Give her someone else to yell at.”

“She might want to leave us both and move back with Ethan.” I shake my head, knowing full well she’s going to hate this whole situation at first. I’m just hoping that if we do it, she sees what it can be like to have a dad who’s actually around for the day-to-day. Ethan loves her, but he took both of us for granted. I’m almost sure half her anxiety about leaving Boston was that if she was any more out of sight and mind than she already was with his schedule, he might forget about her completely. I know Bishop won’t do that to her. I believe that much about this campaign he and my brother are waging.

“Would he do that?” I see the panic creep in on Bishop’s face.

“No. I don’t believe he would. I told him you’re back in the picture. He’s nervous that you’re ready for it. But he was happy for her. Excited for her that she would actually know you beyond just the pictures I’d saved to show her someday. He loves her and would hate to see her upset, but he’d never interfere between us. Like I told you when you looked through the baby books, it was Fallon and me most of the time. He swooped in to take us on vacations or fly home just in time for a birthday dinner with some elaborate gift, but day-to-day, it was just us. He never even suggested the idea of me not having primary custody during the divorce. He respects our mother-daughter relationship.”

“I will, too, if that’s what you’re worried about. I want to be her dad, of course, but I have no interest in undermining anything you’ve built between the two of you.”

“I appreciate that.” I shift in my seat. “I just need time to think. Can I have that, a day or so? I know time’s of the essence. But it’s a big decision for her future. And mine to a lesser degree. I didn’t have any plans to get remarried again. It’s honestly not something I ever pictured for myself. Especially not under circumstances like these, where it’s nothing more than paper holding it together.”

“You didn’t hear the proposal yet.”

“I don’t think I need a proposal, Bishop.” I’ve barely gotten the words out when he’s down on one knee, pulling a box out of his jacket.

My heart flutters. Even though it most definitely shouldn’t be. But the much younger version of me that dreamed of this day won’t listen to reason.

“Bishop, please. Get up,” I beg him. If we can just keep this perfunctory, then I don’t have to worry about my feelings getting worked up in the middle of all this. Like they are right now, the second I hear him say his next words.

“Aspen Stockton,” he starts. “If you’re willing to give me a chance, I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make you happy, and keep you that way for as long as we both live, or at least as long as you’re willing to have me.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to earn your forgiveness and our daughter’s. If you want me to crawl over broken glass, jump through hoops, walk through fire—whatever it is, I’ll develop a newfound love of it until I can see you smile again. All I want in the world is to see both of you happy and be responsible for some small part of it.

“I’ve already talked to your brothers, and they’ve agreed to let us have the Fool’s Gold Homestead. I wanted to have Fallon close to her family, and somewhere I know you already love. I have Anson and his construction crew working on the structural restoration of it as we speak, and then we’ll work on renovations with your input so that we have a home of our own. I’m willing to follow your lead on anything you need me to, especially Fallon.

“As long as you need, as many miles as you need me to walk first. Or crawl, as we discussed. But I am hoping you’ll wear this ring. I know it’s not much, nothing like the one you used to wear. I thought about getting a new one, but then I’ve had this one for over fifteen years, and I’m kind of attached to the idea of seeing it on your finger. We can get you a new one if you like, but⁠—”

“Wait. What do you mean fifteen years?” I interrupt his perfect speech. One that I’m fairly certain is off the cuff but couldn’t be more perfect if he rehearsed it.

“I bought it. Impulsively for you for Christmas that year. I was gonna propose. Then I was just going to ask you to be mine. Then I felt ridiculous for doing it and tucked it away. After everything that happened, it’s probably for the best I didn’t ask… but I wanted to.”

“I don’t—I just…” I’m at a loss for words.

“I’ve always loved you. Then. Now. Always. But the second I saw you again in that kitchen, I was falling in love with you all over again. I didn’t deserve you back then. I wasn’t ready, but I’m ready now. More than ready.”

He’s cracking my resolve. Busting through the ice with each new declaration. I don’t know how anyone can endure it. Least of all me.

“Bishop…”

“You don’t have to answer now. Just think about it.”

EIGHTEEN

Bishop

“I assume you’re at least willing to negotiate if you’re meeting me to discuss it,” I say as I hold the door open to the bunkhouse, and Aspen makes her way past me into the kitchen. I’ve been waiting thirty-six long hours to hear her decision on whether or not she was going to accept my proposal, and in that time thought of a hundred ways I could have done it differently.

“I’m willing to talk it through. But I have a list of things.” She holds up a piece of paper. “Things we’re going to have to agree on. I want to help my brothers. With everything they’ve been through, I feel like it’s the least I can do. I want to pull my weight around here, but I have to protect Fallon in this too.”

“Of course,” I agree easily. Fallon comes first. Always. But I need Aspen to realize we’re on the same page.