Love At First Sight (Southern Bride 1)

“I’m happy for you, sweetheart, it’s just…I need a moment.”

And this was why I hadn’t broken the news right off the bat. I knew what was going to happen.

“I know.”

She faced me, taking my hands in hers. “I am happy for you, if you’re happy. Are you happy? Are you sure about this? You haven’t been dating him very long, and just a few weeks ago you said you thought things were ending.”

I drew in a deep breath. “I am happy. I’m feeling a bit torn. I love Easton, and I want to, well, I want to marry him.”

Her head tilted to the side. “I feel like there is a but in there somewhere.”

“There is. Like you said, things seemed off with us, but maybe it was the stress of school ending and knowing we were going our separate ways. And if I marry him, I’m leaving home. For good.”

She drew me into her arms and hugged me. “Oh, Chloe Cat. You have to do what is right for you and your heart. Have you told Alyssa? Rip?”

I drew back and looked at her. “Only you know so far.”

“Well, this is a shock, and if it is truly something you really want, I’ll support your decision.”

The doubt in her voice was palpable.

I nodded. “Daddy is going to be so upset. All those plans we had for me working with him on the ranch. I’m letting him down.”

“No! You are not letting anyone down. You are living your life. Your father knew there was always the chance you might do something different. Will he be upset? Of course, not because of the job, because you’re our daughter and the thought of you moving away…”

Her eyes filled with tears again.

“I need to tell Daddy. Easton wants us to announce the engagement at the party tonight.”

Wiping her tears away, a look of worry crossed her face before she forced a smile. “Okay. We can do that. All your friends and family will be there. It will be the perfect place. Do we have a date?”

“Easton wants it close to Christmas.”

“Christmas! That’s only seven months away!” she shouted.

“I know. We did decide we would have the wedding somewhere between Oak Springs and Houston. I just don’t know where.”

She narrowed her eyes at me. Had she heard the disappointment in my voice?

If I was being honest with myself, I had always dreamed of having my wedding here on the ranch. This was where my life started all those years ago, and this is where I wanted my life to start with the man I love. I guess I’d have to move on from that dream as well.

She nodded, her mind probably already swimming with ideas.

My mother was actually my kindergarten teacher when we first moved back from Oregon to Texas. She and Daddy were high school sweethearts. Things went wrong between them, and I still don’t know what it was about to this day, but I figured that was their story to tell when they were ready. If they wanted to share it with me and Gage, they would. But she wasn’t my biological mother. She adopted me right after she and Daddy got married. Then Gage came along.

Gage.

The thought of leaving him made me feel ill. The thought of leaving Oak Springs and everyone here had my head spinning.

“Well, if we are talking about a wedding that soon, we have some planning to do.”

There was a knock on the door, and I looked over to see my father standing there.

“Planning for what?” he asked.

I took a deep breath and held up my hand, showing him the ring. “Easton asked me to marry him.”

For the rest of my life, I will never forget the look on my father’s face…and the moment of silence while he digested the words I’d just said.

“Is that so?” he said, walking into the room. “Boy didn’t even have the manners to ask for your hand?”

I laughed. “Daddy, he isn’t a country boy.”

“No, he is not. I suppose you’ll be going to Houston to live with him.”

My gaze dropped to the floor for a moment. “Not for awhile. I told him I didn’t want to leave Oak Springs until after we were married.”

That seemed to make my father happy for a brief moment. Then the frown appeared on his face again. “Do you have a date?”

I swallowed hard. “Close to Christmas. That’s when Easton would like it.”

He nodded.

“Steed, I believe you should be saying something to Chloe.”

“Right. Sorry, baby girl.”

He walked up and hugged me tightly. “Congratulations. I always thought it would be…”

My mother cleared her throat and stopped my father’s words instantly.

“Thought it would be what?” I asked.

“Nothing. Nothing. Listen, we best get cleaned up and get up to your grandparents’ place. We’ve left Easton all alone up there with your granddad. Lord knows what he will do or say to the boy. You know how your granddaddy feels about city folk.”