“Barb?” He looks to his wife. “What’s going on here?”
She shakes her head and takes a seat next to him on the sofa. “I did what was best for both of them. It was the right thing to do.” She won’t look any of us in the eye.
“What was the best thing to do,” he questions.
“The accident. When Jameson and I were in that wreck. Barb here had my pregnancy terminated and had the doctor lie and tell me it was a miscarriage. She told Jameson that they could either save me or the baby, and then she blackmailed him into leaving. Did I miss anything, Barb? Anything else you decided for me?”
Mr. Mathews is quiet, but his cheeks are red.
“I only did what needed to be done. You weren’t ready for a child. I only ever watched out for you and tried to be a mother to you, but you were a terrible child. So spoiled and you hated me. You never wanted me in your life.” The woman fake cries with her crocodile tears.
“Barb, that’s quite enough!” Mr. Mathews’ loud voice booms through the apartment. “I can’t believe you went that far without telling me. When Peyton was in the hospital, you said you handled it, but I never thought you capable of being so cruel. I’ve been so blind. But no more. I’m done. Pack your shit and get out.”
“What?!” She shrieks. “You can’t put me out. Not with what I know about you,” she threatens, and Peyton looks to her father.
“What’s she mean? What does she have on you?”
“I did some things I’m not proud of on some development deals. Real estate. I could go to prison, but it doesn’t matter now that you’re grown. I’ll serve five years or at best house arrest. I was young and your mother had died, and I needed the money. Eventually I was just in too deep. I stopped around the time you turned ten. Barb found out when I hired her as a receptionist at the firm, and she blackmailed me into marrying her. At first, I thought I could grow to love her, because you needed a mother, and she promised to love you as her own, but she’s just a cold-hearted bitch. So now you all know. You want to talk to the police, you do that, Barb, but don’t forget if you do, you won’t get a dime from me in the divorce. If you go quietly, you’ll get fifty-thousand and not a penny more. I’m sorry, Peyton.”
“Oh, Dad. All I ever needed was you. Not your money.” She hugs her father as a pinched face Barb looks like she might faint. “I’m sorry you felt you had to do that to take care of me and got saddled with such a bitch in the process. I wish I had time to stay here talk with you, but I think you have your own problems, and I am flying out to LA to record my album. You’ll hear about it in the news tomorrow over your morning coffee, but just know whatever they say it’s not true. I hope you’ll be happy for me and Jameson. He’s back in my life, and I couldn’t be happier.”
“That’s all I ever wanted for you, Petty.” He reaches a hand out to me. “Treat her right this time.”
“I will.”
He nods and they embrace again. We leave her father to deal with Barb and finally have the truth. Barb paid that shady doctor to abort our child. I think Peyton and I are both feeling that loss all over again, but this time we have each other.
I have the driver take us to the house I bought. It’s Peyton’s last night in Nashville for a while, but I want her to know that I’m serious about her—about us. She’s been lost in her own thoughts the whole way here and when we exit the car she is looking around in wonderment. “Where are we?”
“Home,” I tell her simply.
“What?” She breathes the word out.
“I bought this house with you in mind the moment I stepped foot back in Nashville. There’s even a mother-in-law cottage on the property that would be perfect for Nana and Pappy. It’s a new build, never lived in. The man who built the home died before it was finished, and his daughter lives in New York and wanted to sell. After you record your album and do whatever you need to, I’m going to bring you back here.” I tuck her hair behind her ear. “And then, I’m going to marry you, Peyton Mathews.”
A tear trickles down her cheek and she laughs. “Aren’t you supposed to ask me first?”
I smirk. “Nope. Not asking. I’m telling you. You’re going to be my wife, and we’re going to have babies and have dogs and chickens. Maybe horses. I don’t know, but whatever you want, I’ll make it yours. I promised you the fairytale, and I intend to deliver.”
“I love it—you. It all sounds so perfect.”
“Let’s go break the place in.” I wiggle my brows at her, and she kisses me.
Chapter 32
Peyton
She was a blue jean baby
product of a broken home
she had her mother's eyes and her daddy's smile
a young girl trying to make her way
She was a blue jean baby
living on a hope and a prayer