She loved talking about their day over dinner and how they traded off reading stories to the boys at night. They’d done that here at her mom’s place this past week, but she imagined them doing it at Mason’s from now on.
The ranch would be their home.
And she couldn’t wait.
“Mason loves us. I’m excited about our future. So are the boys. They light up around him. They even mimic him.” She smiled to herself. Every night Mason stood to clear his plate from the table and the boys did the same thing and followed him into the kitchen. Mason rinsed his plate and put it in the dishwasher. The boys followed his lead and did the same.
They looked up to him.
They wanted to be like him.
She loved that.
With Mason, everything seemed easy and possible.
“I just want you to be happy.” Her mom searched her face for any sign she had second thoughts about moving in with him.
“Mom, I was happy when David and I moved in together and started our family. With Mason . . . I wish I could express how joyfully blissful I am. I think about him and I smile. I see him and all I want to do is hug him and kiss him and just be with him. When we talk, I know he’s listening and wants to know about my day and what I want and need in my life. From the start, he’s talked about us. It’s not about him or me, but what we’ll do going forward. How we’ll raise the boys. The life we’ll share.”
“That’s how it should be.”
“After all this business with him investigating David and learning about Heather, I know I can count on him to have my back and stand beside me. I know that if we disagree or he does something I don’t like, he’s willing to talk it out, apologize, and make things right.” Sierra appreciated his openness so much. “I know that if we hit a rough patch, he’ll speak up about what he needs and that we’ll talk it through together. He’s seen so many relationships fall apart. He knows how devastating David’s betrayal was for me. Our relationship is different. It’s better. When Mason is happy, I’m happy.”
“Then you’re truly fated.”
For some reason, that sparked a memory from the past. Something she’d forgotten, but suddenly wanted to share with Mason. It shifted something in her heart and eased the sting of what David had done to her.
“Where are the boys? We need to get going.”
Dede checked her watch. “Mason picked them up twenty minutes ago and took them over to the ranch to get the horses ready for your ride.”
Mason taught the boys all about chores and caring for the horses.
“Strange. I told him last night we’d head over together.”
Dede shrugged and looked away. “He must be anxious to have you all there together today.”
Sierra had spent the morning packing up their rooms while her mom kept the boys occupied downstairs with breakfast and cartoons.
“Well, I’m headed over there. We’ll be back later to pick up the bags and boxes.” They’d use Mason’s truck, because they’d accumulated a lot of new stuff since arriving.
Excited, Sierra’s belly fluttered with anticipation. She couldn’t wait to merge their lives together. She wanted to be his partner in every way, and that included finally being together every night. She wanted to wake up with the man of her dreams every morning.
She couldn’t think of a better way to start and end her day than being with Mason.
“Go. Have fun.”
Sierra took a step toward the door, then turned back and wrapped her mom in a huge hug. “Thank you for everything, Mom. For being my sounding board, welcoming us home when we had nowhere else to go, and understanding that I need time when it comes to Heather.”
“If I could erase that from your heart, I would.”
“I know. Thank you for all the support. I appreciate it even when I’m stubborn and try to do everything on my own.”
“I’m always here when you need me.”
“I always need you, Mom, even when I make it seem like I can fix everything on my own.
“Stubborn is right.” Her mom hugged her tighter anyway.
“I love you, Mom.”
“Oh . . .” Choked up, her mom gulped. “I love you, too, sweetheart.” Her voice shook with the emotion-filled words and Sierra’s heart grew two sizes too large for her chest.
She sucked in a deep breath, released her mom, gave her a smile, and headed for the door. “See you soon.”
“Enjoy today. Take it all in.”
Sierra raised a brow at how she said that, but thought it good advice and headed out to meet her guys.
She smiled at the thought and moved a little faster to get to the ones she loved.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Mason’s gut had tied itself into a knot so tight he could barely breathe. He kept a close eye on Danny riding alone beside him. Sierra rode on his other side with Oliver seated in front of her. The two of them looked sweet riding together.
He offered to have Oliver ride with him, but the little guy wanted his mom today.
The boys had helped him set up this surprise. They kept glancing at him, their smiles and excitement evident.
Mason hoped Sierra attributed it to the fact they were headed to the creek where the boys loved to fish and splash in the wading pools.
He’d been waiting for this day a long time. He’d never been more nervous in his life. He wanted to give Sierra something amazing and wonderful.
The creek came into view. Danny reined in his horse and dismounted just like Mason taught him. The horse cropped grass and remained docile with Danny holding the reins.
Mason dismounted and plucked Oliver from his mother’s lap. “This is going to be so good.”
Mason appreciated the little guy’s enthusiasm and optimism.
“What is all this?”
Mason gripped Sierra’s hips and lifted her right off her horse, drew her body to his, and let her slide down him until she stood close in his embrace. “A celebratory picnic.”
Her gaze left the blanket spread out under one of the huge oak trees with the food basket and cooler to meet his. “What are we celebrating?”
“Us.” He took her hand and drew her toward the creek.
Danny had already tied off the horses’ reins to the bushes like Mason had shown him earlier in the morning when they rode out to set everything up while Sierra packed up their stuff. Tonight, they’d all sleep under the same roof for the first time.
Mason couldn’t wait.
But first, he needed Sierra to answer one question.
“Do you remember this spot?”
“We came here all the time when we were in high school. We’d skip stones and just hang out listening to the water. I poured out all my secrets to you.”
“We share some history.” Mason drew her to a stop in the shade next to the rolling creek, the cascading water gurgling over rocks next to them, and took her hands in his. “I’m looking forward to us making more together.”
Danny and Oliver appeared on either side of him and stared up at their mom. She glanced down at them.
“What’s going on?”
Danny pulled out his hand from behind his back and showed Sierra the small white box.
Mason explained. “This represents our past.”