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When we exit Cole’s truck on the massive stone-paved driveway, Cole slides his palm into mine. I lace my fingers between his, letting him know I’m becoming more comfortable with his touch. Zander has a similar idea because he runs to Cole’s other side and takes his hand too. I swallow the pang of hurt, knowing that Cole he reaches for now instead of me.
Cole’s here for us now. But for how long? My heart aches at the thought of this ending.
I can’t talk with the lump in my throat. I just squeeze his palm tighter as mine begins to sweat.
“They’ll love you both,” Cole whispers as we near Buckee’s front door.
I pause at the rustic wood-paneled door to take in my surroundings, letting Cole and Zander walk ahead of me. Before we go inside, I take a moment to breathe in the crisp autumn air. The golden leaves of the fields around us sway in the breeze. The sunshine kisses my cheeks. Okay, I feel calmer now. I can do this...
As Cole opens the door, he shouts, “Morning everyone,” to alert his family to our presence. A second later Zander’s voice utters a sweet “Morning,” which he definitely picked up from Cole.
Maybe surprising everyone with our instant family was a bad idea because the minute we walk through the door and into the massive living room, the room goes eerily silent, save for a telenovela playing on the TV. The main character looks almost exactly like Connie, causing me to do a double-take.
Stationed a few feet in front of the screen is an older man in a wheelchair with thick silver hair tucked beneath a cowboy hat. That must be Buckee.
In the armchair beside him is a woman, perhaps a little older than I am, with long black hair and piercing blue eyes that are trained on me. “Hi, I’m Cali, Cole’s cousin,” the woman says. Her gaze is so intense for a moment that I’m glad for the giggles in the corner of the room that force my attention away from her.
Tucked behind a doll house are two little girls around Zander’s age. The one holding the Ken doll looks like she could be my daughter, with the same caramel skin and sun-bleached highlights. The girl beside her with a Barbie doll whispers into her ear, and then they both erupt into another fit of giggles as they stare at Zander.
Speaking of Zander, I don’t recall a time I’ve ever seen him so shy. His eyes flit from the floor to the girls repeatedly as he tries to hide a nervous smile behind Cole’s leg.
“Sorry to burst your bubble girls, but he can’t be your new Ken,” the old man says, pointing at Zander. “He’s your new cousin.”
Cali laughs, setting off a chain reaction that cracks my lips and deflates the tension in the room.
Even the kids join in, though their confusion is evident when the little girl holding the Ken doll whispers, “I don’t get it.”
Cali jumps to her feet and comes over to give me a hug before wrapping her arm in mine and leading me towards the couch. Her warmth takes me by surprise for a moment, but Cole’s serene smile tells me it’s zero surprise to him.
“Those are my nieces, Sunny and Everly Woods. They’re my brother-in-law's kids.” Cali says.
“Nice to meet you,” I smile and wave, but the girls are busy taking Zander’s hand and leading him toward the dollhouse, where I’m sure he’ll be subjected to at least an hour of house play. Not that he seems to mind as he inspects the wheels of a hot pink convertible.
“And you must be Uncle Buckee, right?” I ask, extending my hand to the older man. He shakes it but doesn’t let it go for a long beat as he gives me a long, hard look.
Suddenly, the tension begins to rise again, but it pops the moment he smiles and says, “I’ve been waiting for Cole to make a move on you for a long time.”
Cali swats his arm playfully, and I let out a breath, turning to Cole, who’s blushing and staring wide-eyed at his uncle.
“What?” Buckee asks. “You’ve only been in love with her since she came to town.”
Butterflies erupt in my stomach, and my heart soars into my throat at his words. Is that what Cole told him? It’d make sense as to why we got married so soon if his family believes that he’s always been in love with me.
I blush and look around the room. I’m fascinated by the exposed beams and vaulted ceiling. There’s also a beautiful view and a lot of natural light coming in through the wall of windows at the back of the house. Maybe if I seem really interested in the view—which I am— we can talk about something else. No such luck though.
Cole wraps his arm around me, inches so close that our thighs touch. “That’s why we rushed the elopement,” he says with an apologetic grin. “I just couldn’t wait to become her husband.”
The butterflies in my stomach dance faster to the erratic beat of my heart. I love how he phrased that. To become her husband rather than just making me his wife.
“Same as Heath and Dixie,” Cali gushes. “We totally understand.”
They did? That eases my hesitation even more.
“But I assume there will be a wedding reception later, right?” Buckee asks. “We would love to meet your family too, Zoe.”
“Um...” I squirm, and Cole tightens his arm around my waist. His hand slips onto my upper thigh and his thumb settles into that little crease where it meets my hip. It feels far more intimate and comforting than it should. Instinctively, I lean into him. “I actually don’t have any family in Moonshine Creek. Or anywhere for that matter... It’s just Zander and me.”
The room goes silent for half a second before I add, “But I do have somewhat of an aunt, someone who’s become part of my chosen family. She looks nearly identical to that actress.”
