Saving Us (Mitchell Family #6)(49)
Author: Jennifer Foor

Randa must have been a nervous wreck over what happened. She was too far away to do anything and Ty was shorthanded on the farm since I hadn’t been there. They had brought the kids with them and I couldn’t believe how big the boys had gotten.

After all of the hugs, everyone gathered around Amy to watch her open all of her gifts. Ty and Colt finally pulled me to the side. “I know the timing is bad, but I need to know what your future plans are. Do you still want to build the house in North Carolina?” Ty’s question was necessary. He needed the manpower, so if I wasn’t planning on going back, he needed to hire someone to fill my shoes.

Of course, Colt was wondering the same thing. With me being back in Kentucky, he was able to spend extra time at home with his wife and kids. I knew he was getting used to that.

I couldn’t base my decision on them. It had to be what was best for Amy and our child too. “I haven’t had a chance to talk to Amy about it. It’s not a decision that I can just make myself anymore. I have to do what’s best for my family now.”

Ty smacked me in the shoulder. “Look at you, being all responsible and shit.”

“Be gentle, unlike your pu**y ass, I actually took a bullet.” Colt started laughing, while Ty just looked defeated. “Aww, what’s wrong? Did I hurt your feelin’s?”

“No, I was just thinking maybe I should go out and shoot myself twice. That way I don’t have to hear your shit for the rest of our lives.” I couldn’t think of a comeback for that.

Colt laughed again and put his arm around me. He handed me a beer. “I think you win the title for bein’ the toughest. Unlike dipshit over there, I am okay with it. There ain’t no way I would shoot myself for a label. Damn fool!”

Ty flipped him the bird and walked away.

“Colt, thanks for bein’ great to Amy during everything. I know I haven’t had a chance to say it.”

“No need to thank me, cuz. You would have done the same for me. I remember when my father passed. You drove everyone around and never complained.” I never said a word because I felt like I was losing my father all over again. Uncle Mitch had been my only father figure. When he took that fall and ended up losing his life, we were all devastated.

“Colt, I need to know somethin’. If we decided to move to North Carolina, is there goin’ to be any hard feelin’s? I’ve got to be honest when I say that it meant a lot to be so close to Randa. We’ve always been together and as much as I love bein’ home, I’m starting to feel like that’s where I want to raise my children.”

“Children?” He caught on to my comment.

“Well, yeah. I’d like to have a couple. You and Ty seem real happy with your children. Van is due any day with your third. I think two would a good round number.”

Colt shook his head at me. “It amazes me how you’ve changed in so many ways, but also somehow managed to stay the same. You’re right though, the kids are great. Noah has become such a big help. He loves his sister and he’ll love the next one too. Savanna is a good mother. I think that really helps. She’s so good with the children too. She’s got way more patience than I have. That woman can handle a bucket of paint falling down a set of stairs.”

“You still seem real happy.”

Colt looked over at Van, who was handing Amy another gift to open. “I don’t remember a time where I didn’t love that woman. She was worth the fight and if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Just look at all that she’s given me. She fits into our family like she’s always belonged.”

While he was talking, I didn’t take my eyes off of Amy. She looked up and I winked. “Seems like the ones you have to fight for are usually the ones you don’t want to live without. I happened to pick the one woman that I couldn’t have.”

“I didn’t see you goin’ about things any different. You’re famous for making things harder on yourself.”

I shook hands with my cousin, before he walked over to rag on Ty some more. When I realized I was too weak to follow him, I headed back into the room and sat down near Amy. I knew that men weren’t supposed to be around, but I was too damn tired and sore to stand around for hours. My discharge papers said that I was supposed to be resting.

Randa had brought a bunch of gifts from some of Amy’s favorite clients. Some of them even wrote her nice little notes asking her to move back soon. She seemed touched by their kind words.

With Rick out of the picture, everything had changed for us. We could go back to North Carolina and live a happy life without Amy’s ex trying to ruin our lives or put us in early graves. It was because of Rick that we’d spent over a year in fear. This was the first real time in our relationship when we were free.

I think we both needed to consider where would be the best place to live. My mind was already made up, I just needed Amy to feel the same.

The family being here was great, but once the presents were opened, they played their little games and the food was almost gone, it was time for everyone to go home. I didn’t even wait to say goodbye to everyone. When my head hit the pillows on my bed, I was out like a light. I knew my mother and the girls would make sure Amy didn’t have to clean up.

When she finally came to bed, it was dark outside. I had no idea what time it was, or how long I had been asleep. I refused to take my pain medication due to my earlier addiction with it. Over the counter medicine could take the edge off, but it wasn’t the best.

I reached over and pulled Amy into my arms. “Did everyone leave?”

She kissed my nose. “They are all still on the ranch, but we’re alone here.”

“Were you surprised?”

“You knew about it didn’t you?” She sat up and looked shocked.

“I just found out the other day. It just worked out that I got discharged and they were able to have it here. You know my family. They were plannin’ this shit for months.”

“I was so surprised. I knew they would have a shower, I just didn’t know it would be today. Getting you home was the best day for me.”

I pulled her back down, even though it hurt my stomach. “Now that we don’t have anything standin’ in our way. Where would you like to spend forever? Do you want to stay here, or do you want to go back to North Carolina? Our permits have been approved. We could break ground in as early as two weeks.”

Amy rolled on her back and put both of her hands on her belly. I put one of my hands on top of hers. The baby was moving all around and it made me smile knowing that it would be born and never know the hell that we had gone through. I was completely fine with that.