“I just hope that you have something legal in place. That’s all,” he ground out through gritted teeth, realising her insinuation.
“I don’t know what you think he’s going to get, Adam. After you left my dad in debt to his eyeballs, Carrillo isn’t worth anything, but you would know that, wouldn’t you? After all, you had your lawyers draw up our divorce settlement in your favour. You stole my father’s money.”
“I did no such thing,” he spluttered.
“No? You just took all he had, and sunk it into a bad investment.”
“He knew what he was getting into.”
“He was trying to make sure his daughter was looked after, Adam. Which is more than I can say for you.”
Adam’s eyes flashed to Grace stroking the dog on the veranda while Cody’s arm snaked protectively around Callie’s waist.
“I look after my kids.”
“With your two hundred dollars a month child support payments?” she scoffed. “You must have some pretty creative accounting work going on there, Adam. You can afford new cars and new apartments. Meanwhile, your kids have to go to a public school while I work my butt off to take care of them. What school are Leesa’s kids going to? Huh?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he shook his head. “Besides, you chose to move here.”
“That’s not the point. The point is, you don’t get to turn up here, telling me what I should and shouldn’t be doing. Who we can have in our lives, and who we can’t.”
“No, the point is, she,” he pointed to Leesa, whose head popped up when she realised he was talking about her, “is twice the wife you ever were. She makes me happy. She is an amazing mother, a great cook. All you ever cared about was your precious farm and your horses. Well, you got it now, haven’t you? Huh?”
Cody tensed and took a step forward. “I don’t care who you think you are, but I won’t have you coming here and speaking to her like that.”
“What, tough guy?” Adam smirked. “Are you gonna punch me? Why don’t you get on your horse and ride away? Leave my family alone.”
“They’re my family now, mate. You had your chance, and you blew it.”
“Are you ready to go, buddy?” Adam called, looking past them both.
Callie turned to see Austin drop is duffle bag in the dust behind her.
“I think . . . I want to stay here.”
“What? What do you mean? Come on,” Adam waved his arm in the air.
“No,” Austin’s eyes darted from his dad to Cody. “I heard what you said.”
“It’s okay, Aus,” she tried. “I know you’ve been looking forward to seeing your dad. Go.” Callie moved to her son, leaving Adam and Cody to stare each other down. She hated that her kids were being dragged into Adam’s jealousy.
He shook his head. “Grace tried to tell me, and I didn’t believe her. He doesn’t love us.”
“Is that what he told you?” Adam charged toward him, shaking a finger at Cody.
“No.” Austin shook his head vehemently from side to side. “It’s what you said, Dad. You think you can turn up here, buy us a puppy, and that will make up for the past two years that you couldn’t be bothered coming to visit?” He walked back to Grace and plucked the puppy from her arms. “You are very cute,” he said sadly, roughing the fur on the puppy’s head as it excitedly licked his chin. “Here,” he said, holding out the dog. “Take it back. We don’t need you or your gifts.”
Adam’s face stained a deep shade of red as he looked from Austin to Grace, to Callie, then to Cody before turning back to Callie.
“This is all your doing. You won’t hear the end of this,” his voice grew with anger. Then he turned on his heel and stalked back to his car. Leesa scrambled to climb back in before he started the engine, kicking up dust as he spun his car around and screeched out of the drive.
“Well, it looks like we get to keep you, after all, little one.” Austin smiled, hugging the puppy closer.
“Yolanda!” Grace called.
Chapter Eighteen
Six months later
The bridal march rang out through the paddocks, and Callie adjusted her dress for the last time. She had chosen an off the shoulder white lace gown, while Grace looked all grown up in a tight navy number, her hair curled and piled into a fancy up-do.
“You look amazing, Mum. Cody’s gonna flip when he sees you.” Grace beamed at her.
“He’s a very lucky man,” Wal chimed in. “Your dad would be so proud if he could see you now, Missy.”
A moment of nostalgia washed over her at the mention of her dad. He hadn’t wanted her to marry Adam, but he had supported her decision. He always had. He had supported everything she did, and she couldn’t have asked for a better parent. He hadn’t been perfect, but it wasn’t for lack of trying, and to her, that made him perfect.
“Thank you for being here for me, Wal. I’m pretty sure that would make Dad proud too.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” the old man smiled his crooked smile. “Are you ready to go marry your cowboy?”
Her gaze fell to her daughter’s smiling face. “I sure am.”
Clutching Wal’s arm, he leaned heavily into her. He usually walked with a cane, but today, dressed in his suit, and obligatory cowboy hat, he proudly held her arm as they made their way toward the red carpet rolled out in the dust.
“Oh, wow,” she whispered when they reached the edge of the chaired space. A huge, white arch stood at the end of the small walkway, adorned in white roses.
“That’s what Cody and Austin have been working on the last couple weeks,” Grace whispered.
They had been coy about their project. Working late into the night. Her heart swelled at the thought. Cody had stepped up, taken the place Adam should
