Page 153 of Bad Run

“And you will. Consider the will void. Absolutely meaningless. I never should have followed your grandfather’s wishes to begin with. He was not a good example when it came to women.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Juju snarks, sipping her white wine.

“I know, Ma. I’m sorry. To all of you.” Dad makes eye contact with Lance and extends his hand. “You too, Taylor. Thank you for talking some sense into me and giving me a chance to talk to my daughter. Just don’t make it a habit. I still sign your paychecks.”

Lance stands, stepping beside me, wraps his arm around my waist, and extends his hand to my father. “You’re welcome, sir.”

“Ted is fine,” Dad says as they shake hands.

My mom rushes over, tears in her eyes, and throws her arms around my dad’s shoulders. “Oh, Teddy Bear, I’m so proud of you.”

As my parents hug, having a private moment, Lance looks down at me and mouths, Teddy Bear?

Scrunching my nose at the endearment my mother used, I shrug.

We stifle a chuckle as Juju claps her hands, drawing all our attention. “Now that the apology portion is over, let’s get down to business. Lance?”

“Yes, ma—” My grandmother glares at him from her place at the head of the table. “Juju?” he corrects himself.

She steeples her fingers. “Where do we stand on a proper wedding and giving me a great-grandchild? I’m not getting any younger.”

“Ma,” Dad grumbles.

“What? I’m just asking?” Juju says with an innocent smile.

Lance chuckles. “That’s all up to Gwen. I’ll be happy with whatever she wants. Big or small wedding? Kids or no kids? Doesn’t matter to me as long as she’s mine.”

“Good answer,” my dad says, slapping Lance on the back as he walks around the table and takes the seat next to my mother.

Lance and I take our seats as well, but Juju is determined. “Well?”

“How about we start with a wedding?” I ask, looking over at Lance. “At our house?”

Lance places his hand on my thigh and squeezes as he clears his throat. “Our house sounds perfect.”

His blue eyes sparkle as he chastely kisses me, making my heart soar.

The rest of lunch is filled with light conversation and, thanks to Juju, a lot of laughter.

I never thought today would have turned out the way it did—that my father would apologize, that I’d return to work and become a part of my family’s legacy, and that I’d be planning a wedding.

There’s no doubt the man I love made all this happen. I don’t know what he said to my dad to help him come around, but whatever it was worked, and I couldn’t be more grateful to him for making it happen.

Later, I plan on showing my husband exactly how thankful I am for everything he’s done to make me happy.

forty-eight

Lance

Present

“Lance,” Gwen hisses as I tug her down the hallway that leads to the locker room. “What are you doing?”

She knows exactly what I’m doing.

“Making good on my promise.”

Cheeks flushed pink, she giggles as I wiggle my eyebrows at her.