I wasn’t sure. But I’d give it everything I had.
Chapter Fourteen
GRIFFIN
The doctor said James wouldn’t be ready to go home for another two weeks, which meant Sage’s funeral had to wait. That Saturday, we stayed at the hospital until nearly midnight, which meant everyone in my immediate family slept in and missed church. But the drive over to Granny and Gramps’s for dinner was more hushed than a Sunday service.
I sat on one of the jump seats in the back of Bowen’s Land Cruiser, an arm around Jules’ shoulders. I smiled at her, so proud. As promised, she’d caught a flight the day after mine. From the minute she’d arrived at the hospital—verbally destroying the ICU nurse who wouldn’t let her onto the floor—she’d won my family over.
In the front passenger seat, Maggie watched with soft eyes as Bowen flipped the blinker. A month ago, I wouldn’t have been caught dead riding anywhere with these two. Now, I felt a grateful peace that the three-way rift between us had been repaired, they were happy together, and Bowen had someone to help him through this tragedy.
My beautiful wife turned sideways, head angled so shecould look up as we passed under the Dupree Ranch sign. “It’s like watching an episode of Yellowstone,” she said.
I smiled. “Except no one fights over inheritances, we’re a lot less violent, we obey the law, and nobody’s morally gray.”
“That last one’s debatable,” Bowen said. “Funcle Ford?”
“Fine.” I clicked my tongue. “Nobody’s morally grayanymore.”
“Darn.” Jules snapped her fingers. “Morally gray characters are my favorite. They’re so delightfully conflicted.”
I nudged her knee with mine. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
When Bowen put the car in park, I looked out at the two-story farmhouse where our dad, uncles, and Aunt Sophie grew up. Jules started to get up, and I put a hand on her knee. We watched as Bowen climbed out and opened Maggie’s door.
Once they were gone, Jules pressed a kiss to my cheek and murmured, “He’s still not as cute as you.”
She’d been saying it all week. Not to convince herself, but to make sure I didn’t forget.
“Thanks.” I kissed her quick. “And you’re still the hottest woman on the planet.”
She grinned. “I know.”
I blew out a breath and dragged my palms over my thighs.
“Why are we still sitting here?” she whispered.
“Nerves. You’re about to meet my entire well-meaning but overbearing family.” She’d already met my immediate family. Anna had cried all over her. But Anna cried at everything lately, her heart still tender for James. Now, Jules would meet the rest of the gang. All at once. “Just…don’t take anything Granny says personally.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek. “Is she going to have an opinion about our elopement?”
“Does the sun come up every morning? She’ll have an opinion. The real gamble is which one.” I held out my hands,weighing invisible options. “We’re either getting a slice of pie… or a lecture.”
“Noted. Thick skin, starting now.” Jules nodded. “So she’s nothing like Grandma Lisa?”
“Pretty much opposites in every way.” My mom’s mom had gushed over Jules, all twinkly-eyed, as if our elopement was the best news she’d had in a year. But that was just how she was. I could come home covered in tats, with twenty-five facial piercings, and she’d hug me and whisper in my ear that she liked her men a little dangerous. “Don’t worry. Whatever Granny’s reaction is today, she’ll get used to it in time. She just doesn’t always roll with change very well.”
Jules raised her hand to show me the tremor running through it. “What if they hate me?”
I closed my fingers around hers and brought her knuckles to my mouth. “Not possible. Trust me.”
“But what if they do?” Her voice came out smaller this time.
“If they do, we turn around and leave, and we never have to talk to them again.” I pressed my forehead to hers. “It’s Team Griff and Jules from here on out. But I promise that won’t happen.”
Her fingers wound into my hair, and she stayed there, forehead to forehead, breathing. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
I climbed out of the vehicle and reached for her. The second she was on the pavement, in plain view, a disbelieving squeal detonated inside the house. “Sophie wasn’t pranking us!” one of my girl cousins screamed, apparently unaware the screen door offered the soundproofing power of a napkin. “Griffin really married Juliette Serrant!”
