Never Too Far (Rosemary Beach #2)(46)

"Yes. They said everything was perfect," she replied. "If you want it you can keep that one. I have three. But I'd like for you to leave now."

I wasn't leaving. Bethy standing guard wasn't going to stop me either. I would say all this in front of Bethy if I had to but I refused to leave this condo.

"My mother and your father showed up unannounced today. Nan leaves for college Monday. Mom thought I'd be leaving too so she was back to move in for the year. I informed her I wasn't leaving and she'd need to find another home. I also informed them that I was staying until you decided you wanted us to move somewhere else. That I intended to ask you to marry me," I paused and watched as her face paled. Not the reaction I was hoping for. "It didn't go over well. There was a lot of yelling. Hours of screaming and threats. When you called me I had just announced to the three of them that I was going to marry you. All hell had broken loose. I was going to call you back once I had my mother and Abe back in their car and headed out of town. I didn't want you to have to face either of them. But my mother doesn't go down without a fight. Nan packed up and left for school this evening. She is refusing to ever speak to me again." I stopped and took a breath.

"I can never tell you how sorry I am. The fact I forgot about today's appointment is unforgivable. I keep having to apologize to you. I wish I could stop f**king everything up."

"You weren't going to have lunch with your family?" she asked.

"My family? What? No!"

The rigid stance of her posture relaxed. "Oh," she said in a sigh.

"Why did you think I'd go to lunch with them? I wouldn't hang up on you to go spend time with them."

"Nan," she replied with a sad smile.

"Nan? When the hell did you talk to Nan?" I'd been with Nan all morning.

"When I called you back. Nan answered and said you didn't have time for me because you were going to eat with your family."

My lying little sister better be glad her ass was headed back to the east coast because I'd go ring her neck if I could get my hands on her.

"You went to that appointment thinking I'd blown you and our baby off for them? Fuck!" I pushed past Bethy and pulled Blaire into my arms. "You're my family, Blaire. You and this baby. Do you understand me? I missed something today I will never forgive myself for. I wanted to be there and hear the heartbeat. I wanted to be holding your hand when you saw him for the first time."

Blaire tilted her head back and smiled up at me. "You know it could be a girl."

"Yeah, I know."

"Then stop calling our baby a 'him'," she replied.

I was calling the baby a him. Smiling, I kissed her forehead. "Can we go back to your room and you tell me about the appointment. I want to know everything."

She nodded and glanced over at Bethy. "Are you going to continue scowling at him or are you going to forgive him?"

Bethy shrugged. "Not sure yet."

Chapter 34

Blaire

School was back in session. Vacationers and summer people had gone home. The club had a lot less traffic and because of this tips were down. The biggest thing was that Rush hadn't mentioned the proposing thing again since the night at the condo when he'd said that was what he'd told his mother and sister and my father. He never even mentioned them again. I wondered sometimes if he'd changed his mind or if I'd imagined it.

If it wasn't for Bethy asking me weekly if Rush had brought it up again I would think it had been a figment of my imagination. Every time I told her no he hadn't she got more and more agitated. Not to mention my heart hurt a little more. I was afraid he'd thought it through and decided it was a mistake. Before he'd mentioned it that night I hadn't even let myself believe he'd want to marry me. I figured we'd raise the baby from two different homes. If my thoughts went to the future I would block it out. It wasn't something I wanted to hope for.

My hours were being cut back due to the slower season and I wondered if I needed to get a second job. There wasn't a lot to choose from around here. Then it was very likely that Rush wouldn't take it well.

When I stepped into my bedroom there were two things that caught my attention. There were rose petals on my bed and in the center of them was an envelope with my name written neatly across the front. I picked it up and opened it. The stationery was expensive feeling and Finlay was embossed at the top.

Meet me down at the beach.

Love,

Rush

His abnormally perfect handwriting made me smile. I went to my closet and pulled out a white sundress that had two black stripes across the hem. If he had planned a romantic something at the beach I wasn't going to wear my work clothes.

After brushing my hair and touching up my makeup I headed out the French doors that faced the gulf and made my way down to the beach. Rush was dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and a button up shirt. I was glad I'd changed. His back was to me and his hands were in his pockets as he stood there staring out at the water. I wanted to stop and admire him admiring the water but I was also anxious to see him. He'd been gone when I woke up this morning.

I stepped off the walkway and onto the sand. It was oddly deserted except for the two of us. Even though the crowds were down it was still eighty-eight degrees and sunny outside. Glancing down I noticed something in the sand. Someone had written in it. There was a stick lying off to the side.