takes you to my brother Brock’s house,” Tanner said. “We’ll pass a few more roads, mostly dirt roads that take you to various parts of the ranch. Then as we get closer to my folks’ place, we’ll pass the road that takes you to Crystal Lake and my house.”
“And your other brother? He lives on the ranch too?”
“He lives with Kaylee on a piece of property that’s adjacent to the ranch,” I said.
Tanner nodded. “It used to be part of the ranch, but my parents subdivided it for my brother a number of years ago.”
“I see, like they did for you?” my father asked.
“Yes,” Tanner answered, not giving him any more details.
The house soon came into view, and I took in a deep breath. I had no idea how this night was going to go, and I couldn’t shake the strange feeling of uneasiness that bubbled up in my chest.
But suddenly, my father said the one thing I hadn’t expected him to. “I’m sorry for coming off as a hard ass, Tanner. It’s just…she’s my only daughter.”
Tanner looked in the rearview mirror and nodded. “No apology needed, sir.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
TANNER
The moment I parked in front of my folks’ house, the front door flew open and out piled the entire Shaw clan.
“Oh no,” Timberlynn whispered.
“Looks like they’re excited to meet me,” Frank said with a chuckle. His mood had lightened, and to say I had been shocked when he apologized would be an understatement. Timberlynn still seemed to be stunned by Frank’s apology. I took the excitement in Frank’s voice as a good sign. Timberlynn hadn’t noticed it though, because it appeared she was attempting to keep herself from hyperventilating at the thought of her father meeting my whole family.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I said as I squeezed her leg.
She looked at me, and I smiled. I instantly saw her relax, and she mouthed thank you before looking back at her dad. She went to say something, but he was already halfway out the door. He got out and shut it and glanced back at us as if wondering why we were still sitting in the truck.
“Looks like he’s ready to meet everyone.”
Timberlynn looked at her father as he stood there and waited for us to get out of the truck. She turned back to me and let out a disbelieving laugh. “I guess so.”
“Come on, let’s do this.” I jumped out of the truck and jogged around to help Timberlynn down. The three of us made our way toward the front porch.
“Uncle Frank!” Kaylee said, the first one to hold out her arms for a hug.
“It’s good to see you, Kaylee. You look…” he gave her a once-over and smiled. “You look very happy.”
She laughed. “It could be the pregnancy giving me a glow.”
He hugged her again as he chuckled. “I knew it. It showed in your eyes.”
I turned and looked at Timberlynn, wondering if she had remembered our conversation about the emotions our eyes held. She gave me a knowing smile.
“When are you due?”
“August fifth.”
“Well, congratulations are definitely in order,” Frank told her.
“Mr. Holden, this is my father and mother, Stella and Ty Senior. Mom, Dad, this is Dr. Frank Holden.”
Frank waved his hand off. “No need to be formal. Frank will do.”
My father was first to approach. He held out his hand. “It’s good to have you here, Frank. We’ve sort of taken to that daughter of yours. She’s something special.”
Frank looked at Timberlynn and winked. “That she is.”
I could see the confused expression on Timberlynn’s face before she covered it with a soft smile.
My mother spoke next. “Frank, I’m so glad you’ve come to visit. Now, if you don’t want to stay with the kids, we have the guest room all set up and ready for you. Timberlynn was staying there before she moved out with Tanner, but it’s yours if you need it.”
Timberlynn squeezed my hand, and I gave her a squeeze back.
“Thank you, Stella. I think I’ll take you up on that offer of staying here.”
That made both me and Timberlynn jerk our heads to Frank.
“You don’t want to stay with us?” Timberlynn asked. Even I could hear the hurt in her voice.
Frank looked at her, and it was evident he heard it as well. “It’s not that I don’t want to stay with you, sweetheart, I just think it’s better this way. Let me get used to you living with a man before you throw me full on into it.”
Everyone laughed, and Timberlynn’s body relaxed a