“It’s okay,” Nat said, getting up and wrapping her arms around my waist. “She’s not right in the head and needs help. The people around her obviously aren’t giving it to her.”
My mom huffed out a breath. “That snot-slinging drunk is so spoiled she expects spoon-feeding and expects my son to be the one to do it. How you don’t want to scratch her eyes out is beyond me, Natalie.”
“I’m secure enough in my love for Colt and his love for me to know she’ll never come between us. Maybe being here for a few months will help her dry out and put her demons to sleep.”
I rested my chin on top of her head and counted my blessings. “You amaze me, darlin’.”
“I don’t like this.” My mom continued to storm around the kitchen, not bothering to conceal her disgust. “Don’t expect me to be civil to her.”
“Put her in one of the mountain cabins,” I said. “Far enough away that you’ll never have to see her if you don’t want to.”
“I most definitely don’t want to.” The tone of her voice left no question she saw Montana as the devil.
“Tricia,” Nat said gently, “if I can give her a chance, you can too.”
My mom’s hard-as-nails expression softened a touch. “Fine. She can stay for as long as she needs. I’ll do my best to be pleasant if our paths cross, but I can’t promise anything.”
With Nat’s head resting against my shoulder, I redialed Montana’s number and told her she could come stay the day after tomorrow. Nothing and no one, especially not my messed-up ex, would ruin my wedding day.
Extended Epilogue
Natalie
I stood outside the wedding barn with Jonah by my side. The setting sun painted the sky with pink and orange hues, and the air was crisp and clear.
“Tricia and I never had the good fortune of having a baby girl,” he said, his voice breaking a little. “We couldn’t be prouder or happier to have you as our daughter. I’m honored you asked me to give you away.”
I dabbed beneath my eyes and sniffed back my tears. “Don’t you go making me cry. I’m the one who’s honored. From day one, you, Tricia, Brooks and Gunner welcomed me with open arms and have treated me like one of your own. I’m just so thankful for all of you. There isn’t a luckier woman alive.”
And I was about to get even luckier. The past few months had been a whirlwind both professionally and privately, but today was about pausing and being present.
I wasn’t foolish enough to think that life wouldn’t throw us a few curve balls—Montana Chambers being one of them, my dad being another—but I believed mine and Colt’s love and faith in each other would help us overcome even the toughest of obstacles.
Soon after we set the wedding date, I contacted my dad. Our conversation lasted all of two minutes. He made it clear he didn’t want me in his life.
His rejection stung, but not as much as it once did. I wasn’t worthless, and I wasn’t selfish. I was a good daughter and if he couldn’t see that, then his loss. I had a new family. One that loved me faults and all.
Two of Colt’s cousins slid open the trolley doors to the barn just as the Wedding March began. I hooked my arm through Jonah’s. It was time. I put one foot in front of the other, and we began our slow walk up the aisle.
I wanted to run to Colt, but that probably wasn’t the wisest thing to do in a dress with a ten-foot train. From the corner of my eye, I saw the grinning faces of our guests, but I kept my focus on Colt’s back.
He shifted nervously from foot to foot, and I smiled when I spotted his worn boots. At my request, there was a cowboy hat on his head. Maybe I’d make him wear it later when I tied him to the headboard.
When we got to the altar, Colt turned to face me, and the deep love in his eyes melted my insides.
“You look incredible,” he said, emotion cracking his voice.
“As do you,” I replied, my words sounding shaky.
The preacher began his opening remarks, and a short while later, when the time for our vows arrived, Colt took my hands in his.
“When you walked into my life, I’d given up on love. The last thing I wanted was to give my heart to anyone.
“You always said that the second I took your hand in mine, you knew. My heart knew too, but my mind wouldn’t admit it.
“I love you, Natalie Susan Davis. I’ll love you till the end of time and beyond. I promise I’ll never leave your side, and I swear I’ll make you the happiest woman on earth.”
I rolled my lips between my teeth and held my breath. How was I supposed to talk without crying? I briefly closed my eyes and prayed my words wouldn’t come out as gibberish. After gathering my thoughts for a few seconds, I felt strong enough to begin.
“Colt Ford Flynn, I’m honored to stand in front of your family and our friends. You’ve shown me what it means to love and to be loved.
“When our kids ask how we fell in love, we can tell them all it took was one handshake.
“You’re my everything. Break Me was the first song I ever sang for you. Thanks to
