Lies Beneath the Surface (Buried Secrets 2)

We finish up our treats and say goodbye. With the Tahoe loaded down with half of Babies ‘R’ Us, we make our way back home for Colton to unload it all. Yep, I ain’t lifting a finger. I picked it all out and watched the stock boys load the vehicle, the least he can do is pack it in the house for me, right?

Pulling in the driveway I see the side-by-side still atop the trailer hitched to the back of Colton’s truck. Heidi Jo rushes in the house, giggling. Walking into the living room, I hear Luke and Colton laughing with Heidi Jo from down the hall. What the hell are they doing back there?

“Y’all better not have tracked mud in my damn house, Colton. Luke, I’m still pissed at you, so pack your sorry ass home.” I say waddling down the hall, following their laughs into Colton’s gym room. Pushing the door open, my mouth drops and I quickly encase it with my hands.

“SURPRISE!” They all three screech. Tears fall down my cheeks rapidly as I take in the baby’s nursery. Luke walks over and puts an arm around my shoulder, half hugging me.

“Sorry about my comment earlier. I really meant nothin’ by it, beauts.” Nodding his head to Colton he steps out of the room, disappearing through the house. Colton approaches me next, wrapping his arms around my hips and pulling me tight against his chest.

“That comment has bothered that asshole all damn day.” He snickers, rubbing my belly softly. “What do ya think, darlin’?” He asks burying his face in my neck. I grip his arms, melting into his chest.

I am in awe of this room. The walls are painted a bright turquoise blue with bubblegum pink polka dotted curtains stretching from the grey ceiling to the floor. I look around at the various pictures hung on the walls. My favorite is a simple wooden sign, hand painted with a monkey riding the waves on a surfboard. It reads, “If you want to know how much I love you, count the waves in the sea.” Circling around the room I take in the white sleigh style crib, decorated with funky polka dot sheets and a multicolored chevron printed bumper pad. A surfing monkey mobile hangs above the crib. Looking up my eyes catch the white wooden letters hung on the wall above the crib.

“RYLEE.” I whisper to myself.

“When I asked you what names you liked, that was the first name you mentioned. Is that okay?” He questions.

Turning around I tip up on my toes and press a soft kiss to his lips, “It’s perfect.”

Chapter 29

Opening up the front door to my childhood beach home brings back so many memories that a wide smile splays across my face. The fresh scent of peach cobbler wafts through my senses and I’d swear one had just been freshly baked. I step inside and look around the ginormous entryway in wonderment. Savannah steps inside behind me, linking our hands together and rests her head on my shoulder. “Feels just like home.”

And she’s right…it does feel like home. The only thing missing is Daddy smoking a cigarette on the front porch swing as he watches the tide roll in.

“Welcome home, girls!”

“MOMMA!” I screech when Momma makes her way from the kitchen. Latching my arms around her neck tightly, I giggle over this little surprise. “I didn’t think you could make it!” Colton and Luke carry in the luggage from the Tahoe, working their way around us as we embrace this moment.

“Savannah and I wanted to surprise you. I’ve been here since last week. Came in and cleaned the house, stocked the kitchen full of groceries and I have supper waiting for y’all now.” The boys come racing back down the stairs shoving each other out of the way at the mention of supper. Colton pauses mid stride kissing Momma on the cheek and saying hello as he rushes to the dining room table. Savannah and I get the kids washed up and together we all sit down together for a family supper. Everyone that is important in our lives is here to celebrate our union together. Savannah, Brailee, Braden, Emma, Bill, Momma, and Luke. I can’t help but to smile seeing my family among us, feeling all of their love and support.

I was very happy that Emma was able to talk Bill into coming. After his heart attack, Emma refused to let him go to work for a week. During that time, he and Colton had a few small trips up to the pond and judging by the way they react to each other now, I think they’ve buried a few of their outlying issues. Naturally, Colton hasn’t mentioned any of their tension to me at all, and if that’s how he prefers it, I’m fine with it.

After supper, Momma and Emma get the kids ready to go fishing on the pier with Colton, Luke and Bill, while Savannah and I clean the kitchen. Once everything is in its place and the counters are spiffy clean again, I cut four slices of peach cobbler and we make our way outside to relax on the front porch with Momma and Emma. Walking out the front door, Savannah stops and runs her hand down the molding on the door. “Look at this!” She exclaims. “Goodness, I don’t ever remember bein’ this small, do you?” I look at the uneven notches that Daddy carved into the door frame with his old pocket knife each summer.

Trailing my hand over the splintered wood I say, “It’s strange looking back on our childhood; especially knowing the things we know now, right?” Catching myself, I shake my head then proceed to the front porch swing.

“What do you mean?” Savannah ask, on my heels. Shit. I was really hoping that she didn’t catch that comment.

“Things change, is all.” She accepts my reply with a sweet smile.

She lays her head back against the old rocking chair, extending her legs to the ottoman. On a breathy sigh, she gazes out at one of God’s most beautiful creations and smiles. “It’d be so nice if my life could be as simple as it was when I was a little girl. I always loved coming here in the summer. I’d cry when we’d go back to Kentucky.”

“Okay girls,” Momma says clapping her hands to catch our attention, “Enough reminiscing, we have a wedding in a week so let’s get down to business.”

“Yes ma’am.” I mock, trying to sit up a little straighter. I’m so happy that Momma is here with us this week. When I called and invited her to the wedding she declined the invitation, saying that she and Garrett would be traveling this week.

We go over the details for the wedding, Momma making sure we don’t miss the tiniest of details. “Carolina Jo Simon, I can’t believe you didn’t even consider flowers.”

“Momma, who the hell’s gonna catch the bouquet? Everyone’s married!” I laugh. So I forgot a few minor details, who cares!?

“Don’t you use that tone with me, young lady. You will carry a bouquet, and Brailee and Heidi Jo will have flowers to toss on the aisle runner. The men will each have a boutonniere and the ladies will each have a simple corsage. A wedding can be simple yet elegant, dear.” She huffs a frustrated breath with her neatly shaped eyebrow arched high upon her forehead. Damn, I know that look…that’s the same look I give when I’m pissed. Oh shit. I have my momma’s mean look!

Gathering my resolve that this is a battle I will not win, since this old woman is good at her game I give in, dramatically tossing my hands up in the air for show. “Fine, Momma. There will be flowers. Now, anything else you’d like to request for MY wedding?” Emma and Savannah look back and forth between Momma and me silently laughing.

“Did you remember to order a cake, or to have dinner catered?”

“Yes, Momma. Savannah handled all of that for me. There will even be a photographer here to capture every waking moment of the wedding. Anything else?” I smile with my teeth, batting my eyes hoping that she’ll pick up on my annoyance.