"Then I suppose we have nothing left to talk about. When we see each other I hope you'll still be able to speak to me the same way. I'd expect nothing less from you."

He hangs up and I'm left wondering what the h.e.l.l just happened. Since I'm a little freaked out, I call Callie, hoping to G.o.d we're still getting married in a few short hours.

She answers after the forth ring. "Hey, babe. Are you nervous?"

"Are you?"

"Not at all. I'm sitting here with my sister telling her all about your proposal. She's so jealous of my beautiful ring."

"So you haven't heard from anyone today? No calls from your family?"

"No why?"

"I'm freaking out a little bit, that's all. I'm afraid you won't be there when I arrive." I can't tell her about the call. She'd get upset and this is her special day. I'd do anything to make it perfect.

"I'll be there. We're doing this."

"Promise?"

"Of course. I love you, Jacob Monroe. This is right."

"Would you marry me even if none of this s.h.i.t happened? If I asked you three days ago, what would you have said?"

The line is quiet for about twenty seconds. I know because I'm counting to keep my cool. "Yes. I would have said yes, because never in my life have I ever felt love like I feel with you."

"That's all I need to hear. I can't wait to see you."

"A few more hours."

"I'm counting down the seconds."

"See you soon."

Chapter 27.

Callie "He sounded off. I feel like something is wrong," I tell my sister. "I don't know why."

"He's a man. Do they really need a reason?"

"Hey, I'm in the room, you two," Logan, my sister's fiance states from the couch.

"Sorry," we both say at the same time.

"You have nothing to worry about. Look at the rock on your finger. He adores you. This was his idea. He's not going to back out."

"I hope not. I want this."

Ca.s.sie spins me around and finally lets me see the finished product. "What do you think?"

"I think Cob is going to s.h.i.t when he sees me."

A knock at the door startles me, and from the look on my sister's face I can tell she's up to something. "What did you do?"

She holds up her hands. "Before you freak out let me explain."

I'm standing. "No. Please say you didn't."

Logan is already at the door letting whoever it is into the room. Then I see him.

My father, followed by my mother, and then Josh. This can't be real.

I'm standing in my wedding dress, fully prepared to walk down the aisle and marry Cob, and they're here to stop me. This is an outrage. I'll never forgive my sister for this for as long as I live, which might not be very long.

Josh burst in front of them chanting like a little kid. "You're in trouble."

I place my hands on my hips and stand my ground. "Don't take another step closer, at least until I have a say."

My parents, both wide eyed, freeze in place. They're shocked I've demanded this of them.

"Nothing you can say or do will stop me from marrying Jacob Monroe." My makeup is about to be smeared. I can feel the burning in my eyes as I continue. "I don't care what I have to give up to be with him, even if it's my place within the family. You've always taught me to be independent. You wanted me to be happy. I left because I was miserable. You can believe what you want, but I've found someone who fills my life with happiness. He's done right by me. Look at my beautiful dress," I say as I spin around. Then I hold out my ring finger. "Do you see this? He's made sure this day would be perfect, down to the color of my flowers. You can't barge in here and ruin it for me. I won't let you. We came all this way. It's my day. Please, don't make me choose between you."

My mom takes a few steps forward. She's in tears too. "Callie, my dear sweet girl, we don't want to see you this way. You shouldn't have to run off and elope to be happy. Don't you see that?"

"How else will we be able to stay together? You're forcing our hand."

My dad chimes in. "What if we didn't come here to ruin your life?"

"You're always interfering," I argue. "You followed me here to stop me. You think I'm making a mistake, well guess what, I won't let you do this to me, not today, not anymore."

I can tell I've hit a nerve. My father's jaw is clenching and that usually means the s.h.i.t is about to hit the fan. "Callie Healy, don't you dare disrespect your mother and I this way."

"I want you to leave," I demand.

Now Ca.s.sie is pleading. "Callie, they aren't here to hurt you."

I'm in shock. "What?"

"We're here because we couldn't let you do this the wrong way," my mom explains. "Your sister didn't tell us what you were doing. Cob's mother did. We talked to them last night. We knew you probably told one of your siblings what you were doing, and it wasn't easy prying the truth from your sister."

"They knew I was lying, Cal. I only caved after they promised they weren't going to do anything to hurt you."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Why did you come all this way?"

My father lets out a loud sigh. "It seems we've overreacted, especially your mom. Due to the circ.u.mstances around both of our families we've had to take some time to consider how this was affecting you and Jacob. After talking to the boy earlier I can tell his heart is in the right place. He wanted to do right by you, and I have to respect him for that. The truth is, if it wasn't for his mother, none of you kids would be here. It's time we started acting like adults. The past has nothing to do with either of you. It's not fair for us to punish you for our mistakes."

"Honey, we're sorry for lashing out when we discovered who his parents were. It was a gut reaction. It was devastating. It scared me to know the past was coming back to haunt us."

"Do you think we wanted to find out our families were linked the way they are? We had no idea." I'm still defending our love, because if Cob was here he's be doing the same thing.

"We know," my father admits.

"Callie we came because we knew how important this is. We didn't want you doing this for the wrong reasons. We couldn't let you marry someone just because you feared you'd lose him if you didn't."

I'm afraid what this means. "What are you saying?"

"You don't have to get married."

Her words run through my head, but I fight to comprehend them.

"Callie, we won't come between you and Cob. If you want to be together it should be your decision," my father notes.

I leave them all standing in the room while I walk out onto the balcony to think. A few minutes go by before my father comes outside to join me. I'm holding the railing while pretending to ignore him.

"Heather says she hasn't had the opportunity to meet you yet. It's weird seeing her older, but I suppose she's thinking the same thing about me and your mom."

"I guess it's pretty weird to have to talk to someone from that long ago. Mom say you dated."

"It was more like I played with her head to get some answers. She was ..." He stops. "Never mind. It's doesn't matter. We were involved for a short time, but it's your uncle Ty who has the most history with her. She caused a lot of problems for him and your aunts, both of them. She was in love with him and he led her on for entirely too long. He couldn't keep his d.i.c.k in his pants in high school. I'm sure you don't want the details."

"I really don't."

"Sweetie, you know I'd do anything to make you happy, right?"

I shrug. "I'd like to hope so."

"You really love this kid? You think he's the one? I mean, you're not jumping the gun because you want what your sister has?" He holds up his hand for me to hold on. "I don't mean that in a bad way."

"Yes, I really love him, and I know that he's the one."

He takes my hand and looks at the ring. "He put this on your finger?"

"He did."

"You sure it's real?" He teases.

I jerk my hand back. "Yes, it's real."

He tries to laugh. "I don't want you jumping into marriage."

"I know."

"But I won't stop you."

I lose it. All of a sudden I'm hysterical and he's holding me to prevent me from falling to the concrete floor in my beautiful dress.

"I didn't want to do this without my family, Daddy, but you left me with no choice."

"I'm here now."

"But you don't approve."

"I spoke with Cob earlier. He's a pretty stand up guy. He holds his own, that's for sure. There's no way I'd stand up to a father like he did to me. I'll give him that."

"What happened?" I worry the chat was in person and Cob is injured or worse.

"I made my peace with the boy, that's all. I've been reminded that you're not my little girl anymore."

I back away from my father so I can look into his eyes. I wipe the burning makeup to keep it from running any more than it already is. "I'm marrying him today."

"Yeah, I reckoned you say that."

"I want you to promise you won't stop me, even if you think it's a mistake."

He nods. "I'll let you live your life."

"Thank you. That's all I need to hear."

"Just do me a favor."

"Anything."

"Don't let that little a.s.shole move you too far away. I'll be p.i.s.sed if I have to drive more than four hours to see my girl. Oh and wait a little while to have kids. It makes things harder, and you need time to grow together first."

"Anything else?" I ask with sarcasm.

"Yeah, tell him he has a job at the ranch, if he can't find anything else."

I know Cob is too proud to take my dad's offer, but it's the thought that counts.

Ca.s.sie b.i.t.c.hes at me as she reapplies my makeup, while my mother touches up my hair. Logan, my dad, and Josh have gone down to the casino to wait until I'm ready to leave.

It's three p.m. and I'm standing in the doorway looking down the aisle at the man I'm about to marry. He's wearing a dark gray tuxedo and I've never seen a more handsome man in my life. My waterproof mascara is no match for the tears I know are about to fall down my cheeks.

The wedding music begins and I watch the group of people in the congregation turn to look at me. I see my mother, Ca.s.sie, Logan, and Josh on the one side, while an older couple stands on the opposing side. One look at the man and I know this is Cob's father.

My dad takes his arm and ties it into mine. "You ready, darlin'?"

"I am."

"Let's get this show on the road, before I put you over my shoulder and take you out of here."

I march toward Cob like it's the last thing I'm ever going to do. His own tear filled eyes match mine as we come face to face for the first time. "My G.o.d you're beautiful. I love you so much." He leans forward and kisses me without permission.