“Don’t go after him, he’s only trying to do what’s best for everyone. Think about your own kids for a second; Stacy has spent years raising Harrison alone. She has dated and has kept him away from me for a reason. Would you want to give up one of us? Even a little?”
“Well no but –
“Then keep that in mind before you go wild with this information. I’ve already spoken with an attorney, and I’m doing what I think is best in the situation. Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me before?”
“No, sweetheart, of course not. You’ve always been so strong and steady when it comes to matters of the family and ranch both. This is your heart speaking though, I just want to make sure it doesn’t get in the way of you having rights to your son.”
“And it won't. I don’t think it’s going to get to that point, but if it ever does, I’ll do everything that I can to keep Harrison in my life.”
“What does the attorney say?” She asked.
“He hasn’t really said anything yet. I just spoke to him last week. He said he was going to do some digging and get back with me. I told him to take his time.”
“Well, maybe someone should light a fire under him to see some results.”
I took a deep breath. She was slowly starting to come around, but her desire to take matters into her own hands was still very present. My mother was a formidable woman when she wanted to be. Her heart was in the right place, but her deep southern roots ran right over any filter she may have had. If there was something on her mind, she was going to share it, and if it was fixable, she’d be the one to do it.
“We’ve gone out on a handful of dates, and things are going good. As a matter of fact, we are having dinner again tonight. Then this weekend, I’m going to meet my son. Please, mom, don’t do anything that might jeopardize that.”
“And your sure that he’s your son?” She asked.
“One look at him, and you’ll see it too. Hell, Hailey has been around him, you can ask her. She’ll tell you the same thing. He’s got our eyes, it’s a dead giveaway.”
“Maybe he’s one of your brother's surprises, and this is just a way to get a husband,” she grumbled.
“For Christ’s sake, mom, I slept with her at Jackson’s wedding. Stop trying to pin the blame on everyone else. Stacy and I had sex, Harrison is the result of that and an amazing one at that! He’s smart, adorable, outgoing, and always looking for another little adventure. Just stop it already!”
I was starting to feel like I was talking in circles. It seemed like no matter what I told her, she was going to believe that Stacy was some succubus set on destroying me. It was infuriating. If I didn’t get out of the situation soon, I would lose my temper entirely and end up saying something that I didn’t mean. My parents were owed a certain level of respect, but they wouldn’t keep attacking the woman I loved.
“You really care about this woman?” She asked.
I nodded. “I think I’ve loved her from the very first second that I met her. She doesn’t know that, though. I really don’t want to screw this up, okay? Please, just back off, and I promise I won't cut you out of the loop again.”
“Fine, as long as you keep me appraised of the situation, then I will give you a little bit of time. If I have a grandson, though, I want to get to know him just like the others. Don’t keep him away from us for too long.”
“You are Stacy’s biggest fear. She doesn’t want you taking her son away from her, and I can sympathize with that.”
“Do people really think I’m that much of a witch?” She asked.
“No, but they know you are that protective as a mother and the matriarch of the Wheeler family. You’ve got half a dozen women already lined up for Thompson when he decided he wants to settle down. People know that you watch out for your family, and Stacy is no different.”
She sighed. My words seemed to sink in for the first time. Even if she couldn’t change her ways, at least I’d given her something to think about. I still had four more brothers