Noah (The Mitchell/Healy Family #1)(67)
Author: Jennifer Foor

I shrugged. “That’s what they said. I’m sure it was a ploy to get Shalan.”

“And you turned it down?”

“It’s kind of a long story, that has to do with Bells, and it doesn’t even matter. I don’t regret not goin’. I just regret not bein’ there for Shalan. She’s always been alone, and I hate knowin’ that.”

“You really care about this girl?” He leaned on the railing to the porch and looked out into the dark yard.

“Yeah, I really do.”

My dad looked over at the door to make sure nobody was coming. “Could she be the one?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never connected with anyone like I have her, that’s for sure. I mean, we talk all the time, and I miss her like crazy when we’re not together.”

“Could you see yourself with her in the future? Could you see her here?”

“Seriously, I don’t know. We haven’t been datin’ that long.”

“Noah, I’m goin’ to tell you a little story, and hopefully you’ll understand where I’m comin’ from.” He turned toward me and crossed his arms over his chest. “When your uncle Ty was injured in that car wreck, I went to go help out in North Carolina at their farm. Now I’d seen your mother through the years, but this time was different. She’d become a woman, and I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. The problem was that she was with your uncle Ty, and had been for some time. I tell ya, I did my best to ignore what I was feelin’ for her, but she was fragile, and something in my bones made me want to help her. I felt drawn to her in a way I’d never felt before. After only a short time things started happening between us that neither of us could stop. We started sneakin’ around, spendin’ all of our time together. Then your uncle woke up. I’ll give it to your mom for being a good person, because your uncle didn’t deserve her. The hardest thing I ever did was watch her with him. Did you know they were engaged?”

I shook my head. “No. You never told me that.”

“It was only for one night. He’d asked her in front of everyone they knew and she felt obligated to accept. During the party some things happened and she found me. I couldn’t watch them, so I’d taken a drink and went out to a combine in the field to be alone. I’d lost the girl, and there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it, so I thought. Then she was there, standin’ in that field in the pourin’ rain. She told me she loved me, and I told her the same. In that moment time stopped, I swear it did.”

“So you brought her home and married her?”

“Nope. Your uncle Ty caught us the next night in his daddy’s truck. We started to roll around until your mother broke things up. I was fully prepared to take her home with me, but she was feelin’ guilty about Ty and I got the call that your granddaddy had fallen off the ladder. I rushed home to say goodbye and missed it by only a little bit of time. You see, Noah, at that point in my life I didn’t have my priorities straight. I thought I did, but there always felt like somethin’ was missin’. I pushed your mom away, but she came running right to me, and the rest is history.”

“I don’t get what this has to do with me.” The story was nice to hear, especially since my dad was always a hard-ass, but it had nothing to do with me or Shalan.

“That’s where you’re wrong. The way you look at her, the way you kept her a secret, that’s love. You can fight it all you want, but it’s for real, and it’s goin’ to rip out your heart if you let it.”

“I think I can handle my relationships.”

“Noah, I’m tellin’ you this because I’ve been in your shoes, son. This ranch ain’t for everyone to love. I get that. It takes a strong woman to want this kind of life, so if you think she’s worth it, and you’re willin’ to lose every fight from now until your last dyin’ day, you make sure she knows how you feel. Don’t let her slip away.”

“Why are you bein’ so nice to me? You don’t even know her.”

“Boy, how do you think my mother felt when I brought my cousin’s long-term girlfriend home with me to stay?”

I’d never even considered that she’d met my family before. “She probably thought you were hardheaded and that it was a terrible mistake.”

“Exactly. Does that remind you of someone?”

I smiled, finally understanding how alike we were. Though I hated to admit it, my dad had a point. My feelings weren’t about a time or a place. They didn’t have anything to do with how long we’d been seeing each other. There was something there that I’d never felt before, and if I didn’t make my move I could lose it forever.

I reached out for my dad’s hand. “Thanks for the talk.”

He placed both hands on mine. “Noah, I know I’m hard on you, but you’re my son and I just want you to have what I have. I’ve never regretted this life, and you kids. You’re the reason I wake up with a smile every day. Life means nothin’ to me if I don’t have my family, even the ones I’d love to trade in sometimes. Together we’re better.”

My dad walked back inside after our talk, and for the first time in as long as I could remember I felt closer to him. It felt like he really did know what I was going through.

Shalan came outside almost immediately after, and found me still standing on the porch. She put her hand into mine and leaned the other on the railing. Though I’d never seen her wearing the dress before, the white long flowing fabric looked beautiful against her naturally tanned skin. “It’s so quiet here, Noah.”

The sound of creatures was all that could be heard. Crickets sang in the background, while frogs were also very apparent. “I wouldn’t say it’s quiet.”

“I mean there’s no traffic horns, sirens, or people fighting in the streets. It’s peaceful.”

“So, you like it so far?”

“What’s not to like? It’s overwhelmingly huge, but still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

I chuckled. “I was talking about Kentucky, Shalan, not my dick.”

She slapped me. “You would say that. You’re so sick.”

“Now you’re rhyming.”

“I’m not going to talk to you if you keep it up.”

I rushed forward, throwing her over my shoulder. She kicked her feet and beat on my back, but I kept moving. Once she was on the golf cart, I drove us out by the old willow tree to show her something even more spectacular.