She looked up at me as we both busted out laughing. I moved my lips to her lips and kissed her quickly.
“Should we go tell your parents first, or mine?” I asked.
She bit her lip. “Can we keep it our secret for a little while? I want to take it all in. And I think you should probably ask Daddy about marrying me.”
I nodded. “Then my lips are sealed until you’re ready.”
She smiled sweetly and rested her head on my chest. “I love you, Walker.”
“I love you, too, baby.”
I TOOK A deep breath before I rang the doorbell. I knew Liza, her mom, and my mom were all in Austin today, shopping. It had only been twenty-four hours since I’d found out I was going to be a father. I’d talked to my dad last night about building a house on our property. It took him less than five minutes to figure out what was going on. I laughed as I thought back to our conversation.
“I WANT TO build a house dad. With the money I have left over from what Mom’s parents set aside for college and whatnot, I can pay for the whole thing with cash if I do most of the work.”
My father turned and looked at me and smiled. “Apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
I smiled and nodded. I followed him out the back door as we walked toward my parents’ huge garden.
My father stopped and turned to me. “What’s on your mind son?”
“What do you mean
?”
My father laughed and shook his head. He started walking again, so I followed.
“What’s on your mind, Walker? I know my son well enough to know when he’s holding back something he needs to say.”
I ran my hands over my face and stopped walking.
My father smiled and said, “Liza’s pregnant.”
I rolled my eyes. “Why do you have to do that, Dad? Why do you always know shit?”
“Because I’ve seen that look before, Walker. In my own reflection, just after your mother told me she was pregnant on the night before our wedding.”
I smiled. “Were you happy?”
My father’s eyes got watery and he nodded. He cleared his throat. “Oh, yeah. I was very happy, Walker. I can still smell the perfume she was wearing when I think of that moment.”
“Liza is scared.”
“I’m sure she is. But things happen for a reason. Would I have liked to see you build that house, get married and live a little first? Yeah. But I just want you to be happy, son.”
I took a deep breath. “I forgot to mention. I asked Liza to marry me when we were in Austin. And no one is supposed to know either one of these secrets, Dad.”
My father’s jaw dropped. Then he chuckled. “Jesus, you know how to drop the bombs on a person. Is there anything else I need to know?”
I pursed my lips and thought for a second. “No. No, I think that covers it.”
THE DOOR OPENED and Layton smiled. “Hey, Walker. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?” Layton reached out his hand as I shook it and walked into the house.
“Yeah, um, yes sir. It’s all um, it’s all good. Fine and dandy. Yep.” I lifted my hands up and said, “All good here.”
Layton stared at me as I babbled on like a scared little boy. He turned and headed into the living room as I sighed and rolled my eyes at myself. Idiot.
“Have a seat, son.” Layton said.