“Yep,” I said. “I’m ready. Bring it on, Dr. Monroe.”
Reaching for Liza’s hand, I held onto it as Dr. Monroe started typing on the screen. It’s a healthy baby boy.
Liza let out a sob and squeezed my hand. I didn’t care that I was being a pussy. I cried. I cried like a damn fool.
Liza wiped her tears away and looked into my eyes as she whispered. “Michael Jacob Moore.” We had picked our fathers’ middle names for our son’s name.
I nodded, unable to find the words to speak. A son. We were having a son. I was going to teach him everything I knew, just like my father had taught me. Fishing, hunting, the ranching business. How to smile at girls and make their hearts melt and, more importantly, to treat girls with the upmost respect. I closed my eyes, thanking God for our blessing.
Four Months Later - May
I TOOK A step back and looked at the house. Our house.
I’d ended up hiring on some people to help out with building the place. I’d wanted to have it done by the time the baby came. We would stay in my parents’ rental in Llano for the first few months, then move here.
I looked up at the sandstone structure. Liza loved the massive front and back covered porches. We both talked about the nights we’d sit out here and watch the storms roll in. I walked up the back steps and into the house. I went into the breakfast area and smiled at the window-lined room. The views were amazing. In the kitchen I ran a hand along the granite countertop. Liza had fallen in love with cooking, so we’d put a commercial-grade oven and a prep sink in the island. I peered into the open living room and admired the massive cedar beams running across the ceiling. A massive sandstone fireplace stood in the corner. I pictured it decorated for Christmas with stockings and garland.
I turned and headed down the hallway. The three rooms on this end would be Michael’s room, a guest room, and an office for Liza. She was handling more and more of the cattle ranch business and was now doing all the books and payroll. She loved it. She loved working alongside her father, my dad, and me.
Jase had told Liza and me how excited he was to be heading into the family business at the end of the summer. He was almost finished with school and would return home after a few months in Italy. Ava was heading to Paris first and then Italy. My mother and father were fit to be tied. I smiled and shook my head. My baby sister was good at what she did—I was glad she was following her fashion dreams.
After walking through all the rooms I headed back across the house to check out the laundry room. I smiled when I saw the finished product. Liza would be happy with the size—it was big enough to have a table and storage, as well as a deep freezer.
I turned down the hall and made my way upstairs. The only room upstairs was the master bedroom. We’d added the addition above the garage at the last minute when Liza and I had decided we needed a more private master suite. I walked in and looked around. There was a separate sitting area with a huge bench that ran along massive windows at the back wall. The windows were flanked by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. My mother had moaned when she saw it. I was glad that Liza’s love for books had grown from my mother’s job as a freelance editor. I remembered Liza and Ava sitting on the floor of my parents’ room when they were little, listening as my mother read them stories.
I chuckled at the memory. In the master bedroom, the giant walk-in shower was finished and my dick jumped at the thought of taking Liza ag
ainst the stone tiles. I turned away and adjusted myself—my damn pants felt two sizes too small now. One last look around at the sunken tub and dual vanities, and I was ready to sign off on everything. Liza was going to be really happy with how it all had turned out.
Heading back downstairs, I turned off the lights. I walked into the baby’s room one more time. My mother and Whitley were surprising Liza with the room. They’d been working on it for the last week. Liza had become obsessed with Winnie the Pooh, so the entire room was decorated in a Pooh theme. She was going to cry when she saw it.
I checked my watch. Liza was three days overdue, and pretty miserable. Jessica’s trial had been last month and it had worn both of us out. Jessica lost it three times during testimony. She was ruled incompetent to stand trial and sent to a psychiatric hospital. My heart broke for her. I still had no clue what had pushed her so far over the edge.
I headed out to the front porch and locked the house. I took in the view of our property. We’d be living on part of Mimi and Frank’s old cattle ranch. Liza’s lot and mine combined gave us 2500 acres. I knew I wanted to raise horses on our place. Part of our land butted up against Liza’s dad’s place. Layton and I had already talked about it, and he thought it was a great idea, since I had a keen eye for horses. I couldn’t see doing it right now, though. I loved being a part of what my father and Layton had built. Maybe I’d start slowly buying a few horses here and there. Our parents had given us so many opportunities to do great things, anything was possible.
My phone buzzed and I smiled when I saw a text from Liza.
Liza: Can you come to my office?
Liza had an office in the main barn, just down from her parents’ house. She still went into work twice a week, even though I’d begged her to stop working.
Me: Sure. I’ll be there in about ten minutes.
I walked to my truck, got in, and headed to Liza. As I drove, I thought back to our wedding. It had been just Liza and I along with Ava, Jase, and our parents.
LIZA HAD WANTED a small wedding and she’d wanted to have it on the fishing dock where we had so many wonderful memories. I stood next to my father as my heart beat at an uncontrolled rate. I held my breath when I saw Whitley walk up followed by my mother. They both were breathtaking in flowing emerald dresses. I chuckled when I saw that they both wore cowboy boots.
Ava followed my mother. She was dressed in a different style dress, but in the same emerald color. Liza was thrilled that Ava had designed all the dresses, including her wedding dress.
Then I saw her. Dressed in white with her long, golden-brown hair piled up on top of her head. Long curls blew in the wind as she walked toward me. She wore a simple white dress that dragged the ground as she walked. Her arm was hooked in Layton’s and she smiled when Layton whispered something into her ear. I could see her swollen belly peeking out as she moved closer.
Layton stopped just short of me and lifted Liza’s veil as he whispered something in her ear, causing her to let out a little sob. I smiled. Liza had not been able to keep her emotions in check during her pregnancy—she even cried while watching commercials. Layton kissed her cheek, then put her hand in mine.
“Take care of her, Walker. I’ve loved her since the day I found out she’d be mine. It’s hard for me to share her. Notice I said share?”
I nodded and tried not to smile. “Yes, sir. I noticed that.”
He winked. “Good, because she’ll always be my little girl. I’m trusting you to always make her smile and to show her every chance you get how much you love her.”