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“Yes you do,” he agreed.
We drove onto the property I grew up on. “Are you going to change that to the Flying Diamond?” I asked as I looked up at my father’s brand in the center of the gate we drove under.
“I don’t think so. I’d like to leave this one for our kids to know the legacy they come from here.” He lifted my hand and kissed it.
“Thank you,” I whispered. The house appeared as we crested the hill that led to the yard. “My God. It looks worse than you described,” I lamented, looking at the barn and outbuildings. Tears pricked at my eyes and I willed them not to fall. I couldn’t cry anymore over things I couldn’t change.
“I’m going to make calls while we’re here and get things started. It will be put back to right.” He smiled and nodded toward the house. My parents were standing on the porch. Mamma was wringing her hands, and Daddy had his hands on her shoulders. I suspected it was so she didn’t run out in front of the truck.
Kipp put the truck in park and I sat staring at my parents. “They’re older,” I mumbled.
“Baby, time didn’t stand still while you were gone.” He ran the back of his hand over my cheek. “Cooper and I will wait here for a minute, go to them.”
Opening the door, I got out of the truck and closed it softly behind me. With every step I took, I felt years of hurt break away. My feet had a mind of their own and, before I knew it, I was running, right up the porch steps and into the arms of my parents. Tears flooded my vision as I clung to them, our sobs all mingling together. “Okay, that’s enough, this is happy, not a time for tears,” my father said as he patted my back. Pulling at the sleeve of my shirt, I dabbed my eyes.
“Gracious child, nothing’s changed, you never have a tissue when you need one.” Mom shook her head and pulled out a tissue from her apron. It looked like it had been there a while but I didn’t care. Wiping my eyes, I heard a commotion from the truck and Kipp had helped Cooper out of his seat. They were walking up the gravel sidewalk hand in hand. They were carbon copies of one another, why had it taken me so long to see it?
“Goodness, you’d think they were actually father and son,” my mother said in my ear. In the commotion of the last weeks, I guess I’d forgotten to tell them.
“They are, Mamma. He’s the man I was with.” I ripped my eyes from my men and looked at her. A frown crossed her face before she realized what I’d meant. “Kipp was the stranger. He is 99.9% Cooper's father.”
“Well, I’ll be,” she said, putting her arm around my waist. Cooper looked from my parents to me.
“Cooper, these are your grandparents, Ray and Lena.” I smiled and waited.
My dad dropped to his knees and met Cooper on his level, just like Kipp had done the first night at the ranch. The more I stood there, the more similarities I noticed between the two men. “Well Cooper, it’s wonderful to meet you.” My father held out his hand and Cooper looked up at me. I nodded.
Cooper ran past my father’s outstretched hand and wrapped his arms around him. “You’re my Grandpa?” Dad stood and clung to him.
“Yes, I am.” The tears ran from his eyes again and I couldn’t stop mine, either. Kipp put his arm around my shoulder.
“What about me?” my mom asked.
“Hi, Grandma.” Cooper leaned out of my father’s arms and hugged her but didn’t make any attempt to leave where he was.
“Mom, Dad, I know you’ve already met him, but this is different. I’d like you to meet Kipp Miller, my fiancé.” There was no way to hide my smile.
“So, she said yes,” my father said, holding out his hand for Kipp.
“She did, sir.” He grinned as they shook hands.
“Well, welcome to the family officially, son,” my mom beamed, giving him a hug.
“Wait. Neither of you are surprised?” I looked at my parents, who were both grinning.
“When Kipp was here the other week, he asked me for my permission, even knowing how things had been between us he still asked. Of course, I said yes. Now, let’s get you all settled in.” Dad opened the screen door and we all stepped into the house.
It looked the same as the day I left. The ugly orange patterned carpet was still in the entryway, and my father’s chore clothes hung in the closet behind the door. The kitchen still had the pine cabinets my mother had been so proud of when they were new. An antique table sat in the dining room and was the same one that my grandparents had eaten at. We walked into the living room and an overwhelming feeling of home washed over me.
Moving to the wall of pictures, I thought back to all the memories they displayed. “That one.” Kipp pointed at my rodeo queen crowning picture. “That’s the first one I saw, and it stopped me in my tracks. Any chance you’ve still got that crown?” he whispered in my ear.
“I’m sure it’s in my room.” I nodded.
“It might need to come to the barn,” he said so quietly I almost missed it. I stifled my laugh but still managed to snort. Kipp’s hand rested on my hip as I continued to look at the photos. My eyes stopped on one in the corner. It was of Cooper and I. I gently touched the frame. It must have been one of the photos Kipp had sent my mom. There was another of the three of us I had taken not long ago when we’d gone to the meadow for a picnic.
“Now Kipp, things here aren’t the same as your home. I have put your things into the room at the end of the hall.” Mom hooked her arm through his and walked him to the extra bedroom that had always been for guests. I rolled my lips together, trying to stop from laughing. Following them down the hall, I entered the room behind them. “You two are not to be alone in here.”
“Mamma,” I groaned. “We have a kid together.” I knew this was coming but I’d hoped we could make it through supper before that happened.
