Page 46 of Together Is Where We Belong

It would, but if I had to guess, his siblings didn’t like me very much based on how I'd left and now returned with a child Leo had never known about.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Have you even had the chance to tell Ainsleigh and Gentry about Luke?”

“Not yet. I keep missin’ the chance to tell them together. But I’m makin’ it my mission to tell them Saturday. Think about coming. If not, everyone can wait to meet him. It’s not like he’s going anywhere,” Leo said with a smirk.

“I’ll let you know. It shouldn’t be a problem, though. I’ll get used to him being with you. It’ll just be an adjustment.”

“Thank you. Night, Carolina,” Leo said as he gave me a thoughtful look before he turned and walked away.

“Night, Leo,” I whispered back, my throat clogged with emotion.

thirteen

Leo

Imessaged Gentry and Ainsleigh this morning that I needed to speak with them and that I’d be over shortly. After I got dressed for the day in my typical attire, jeans and a Courtright Ranch T-shirt, I pulled on my boots and set out to leave.

Holden and Brooks had left earlier this morning but hadn’t told me where they were off to for the day.

I was nervous to tell them about Luke. While Brooks, Holden, and my parents took the news well and were excited to meet him, I wasn’t sure what Ainsleigh’s reaction would be. Especially once she found out that she was the last to know. It wasn’t as if I did that purposefully; it was just how the cards fell.

My phone vibrated in my jeans pocket just as I was about to leave the house. Pulling it out of my pocket as I walked to my truck, I saw a text from Ainsleigh.

Ainsleigh

Is everything okay?

Ever the worrywart. But I couldn’t blame her. I worried about her relentlessly after she’d left for college in Virginia five years ago. Now it was her turn to express her worry for me.

Yeah. Just need to tell you some good news. Is Gentry there?

I had to try and get into her good graces prior to telling her, and maybe she’d have the same reaction as everyone else.

Ainsleigh

Yeah.

OTW

I got into my pickup truck and drove the short distance to their house. They lived in my grandparents’ old house, and they’d done a good job decorating it and making subtle changes to it that suited their style.

I pulled into her driveway a few minutes later, and Brooks’ truck was in the driveway.

Maybe him being here would be a good thing.

I walked down the pathway to the porch and up the steps. When I reached the front door, I wiped the clamminess on my palms on the front of my jeans before I knocked on the door and entered Ainsleigh and Gentry’s home.

“Hey there,” Ainsleigh said from her spot on the couch. Gentry sat beside her with his arm thrown over the back of the couch.

Brooks and Holden sat on the other couch.

I eyed them questioningly as I took in the sight of Holden holding baby Olivia as he looked down at her and spoke softly to her.

“How’d I know you’d be holding her?” I asked as I took off my boots.

I walked over and stood in front of Holden, holding my arms out to take the baby from him.

“I just got her,” Holden said with a pout.