Page 114 of Derecho

“My old hat?”

“Birdie told me. About the tradition with the hats. For Colt and Beau, when they became dads. I didn’t want you to be left out. You should have yours done, too.”

I flipped the hat over, my heart stumbling in my chest when I saw what was written on the inside.

Dad.

Emotions wrapped around my heart, and my throat ached. After the fire, after losing Dad, the one bright spot had been the final resolution between Greg, Jasmine, Lainey, and myself. Colt insisted we press charges against Jasmine for trespassing on our property, and as soon as those charges went through, Greg wanted to talk.

He and Jasmine were quick to drop the custody petition, and although he wasn’t listed on Reid’s birth certificate, Greg still signed the paperwork saying he voluntarily dissolved all legal claims over Reid’s paternity. We all agreed that dropping the trespassing charges was worth having the both of them out of our lives forever, and focused instead on getting the paperwork ready so that I could legally adopt him. Knowing he would grow up calling me Dad had my heart in a chokehold. And it didn’t hurt that the protective order was still in place. If Greg ever came after my family again, I’d have no problem handling the situation myself. Beau reminded me of a boggy spot in one of the fields that would be the perfect place to⁠—

“Was it silly of me to do? I know your brothers wear their hats all the time, and I’ve never seen you in yours. But I didn’t want you to be left out, and it’s such a sweet tradition.”

I rolled the hat in my hands. “It’s been a long time since I wore this. A long time since I felt worthy of wearing it.” I slid the hat up on my head, and Lainey smiled.

“I know the paperwork hasn’t gone through, but you’re his dad already in my heart. You’ve really always been.”

I wrapped my fingers around Lainey’s wrist and pulled her toward me, pressing my face into her soft belly as tears pricked at my eyes. I wish I had more time with my dad, especially now that I had Lainey and Reid. But I knew I was making him proud. And that would have to be enough.

“Why don’t you let that chunky nephew of mine come say hello to his favorite uncle?” Hayes smiled as he plucked Reid from Lainey’s arms.

“Favorite uncle my ass.” Beau chuckled.

“Right. Because it’s clearly me,” Colt said as he tickled Reid’s cheek.

I tried not to roll my eyes as we walked into the dining room. Dad’s spot at the table was still set. A plate waiting for him. His chair with a pillow for the spot in his back that would always crink-up if he didn’t use it, still empty.

I held my hand on the small of Lainey’s back, letting everyone take their seat ahead of us. Birdie’s eyes were already shimmering with tears, and she winked at me as she pointed to the camera set up in the middle of the table, a little red light on in the corner to let me know it was recording.

“What’s going on?” Lainey whispered to me, clearly catching on that I was lagging behind.

I let my hand fall away from her back, sliding it into my pocket where the black velvet box had been sitting against my thigh for the last hour. And with my cane still holding me steady, I dropped down onto my right knee.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her face filled with the most brilliant smile.

“Lainey Belle Calloway, I’ll never, ever, be able to put the words together to tell you how thankful I am for you. How big my love is for you. How my days are made better just with you being by my side. But I’ll spend every day for the rest of my life trying to. You’ve given me a reason to live life again. You and Reid are the best surprise that life has ever blessed me with, and I want to spend every day, for the rest of my life, enjoying every big and little moment with the two of you. Will you marry me?”

She blinked, one tear, and then another, rolling down her face. “Of course I will. I’d marry you right now, with just our family here as witnesses if I could.” Her hand cupped my face as she got down on her knees to look directly in my eyes. “You are every good, and kind, and strong, and protective thing I’ve waited my whole life for, Lachlan Graham Ford. You make me feel heard and seen, and your love for our son—because he is and will always be ours—makes me fall more in love with you with every passing minute. You are the man I used to pray for, when I believed there was someone out in the universe conspiring for my good. For my happiness. You are the answer to every prayer I ever prayed. I love you. And I always will.”

I slipped the ring out of the box, Lainey’s mouth popping open in a little O when she finally got to see it. My hand shook as I slipped it onto her finger, my brothers chuckling at my expense, but I didn’t care.

Congratulations rang out all around us, Ma wrapping us both up in a giant hug before everyone else joined in. “Your father would be so proud of you,” she whispered as Lainey showed the ring off to Jessie, Violet, and Birdie. “And I am, too. You deserve all this happiness, Lachlan.”

“You do too, Ma. He’d want you to be happy.”

“I know, honey. Seeing all you kids find a love like we shared, it’s more than I could have ever hoped for.” Ma sighed. “Alright! Colt, go grab the champagne out of the fridge. We’ve got celebrating to do!”

Hayes

“Last night was a good night,” I said as I hammered another nail into the post I was working on. Mom was standing right next to me, the cup of tea I’d made her still warm as she sipped on it.

“Yeah, it was, honey. I’m so excited for Lach and Lainey.”

“Me too. Even if that means I’m the last lonely Ford left standing.”

“You know, he would have loved how this turned out.” Ma placed her hand on my shoulder as I finished placing the last birdhouse on the stand I’d built.

“He’d love them because you love them.” I wrapped her up in my arms, pressing a kiss into her hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t make him stay.”