My eyes widened in shock.
“I wouldn’t have, but for one brief moment, I panicked. How in the hell would I be able to run this ranch, help her with Waylynn, Tripp, and twins? I gave myself ten minutes and a few shots of Jack Daniel’s and I made my way to her and told her I was scared to death.”
“What did she do?”
“She laughed and started to cry and admitted she was scared, too. I’m sure Scarlett is scared, just like I know you are. A relationship is a lot to take in, and then throw a baby into the picture. The only thing you can do is let her know you’re here for her…for as long as she needs you to be.”
I nodded.
“Do you know what I’m most scared of?”
He shook his head. “What?”
“Not being a good dad like you and not being able to make Scarlett happy like you make Mom.”
My father’s gaze stayed locked on me for the longest time before he shook his head, looked down at his drink then finished it off. Setting the glass onto the desk, he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his legs.
“I’m going to let you in on a little secret, Trevor. Listen to me closely, do you hear me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ve made plenty of mistakes as a husband and a father. Lots of them. Especially in the beginning. Do you want to know what I did when I found out you got your first tattoo?”
Smiling, I answered, “You probably shit your pants.”
He chuckled. “Something like that. I flew off the handle and told your mother I was going to make you go into the military because you needed to have some discipline.”
My eyes widened in shock. “Dad, I was eighteen.”
“I know. But do you know who stopped me from acting like a complete idiot and kept me from storming into your room and ripping you a new one?”
“Mom?”
He smiled, and it lit up the room. “I’m the father I am today because you have a mother who is amazing. Who loved me beyond everything. Even with my mistakes, my short temper, my over-controlling ways. Your mother and I are a team. Sometimes she’s the coach and sometimes I am, but no one is perfect and you’re going to make mistakes. It’s okay to make them, son. That’s how we learn. The most important thing you can do as a father, and a husband, is to make sure your children and the woman you love know that they are number one in your life. Everything else is below them.”
He leaned forward and pressed his hand on my chest. “What do you feel in here when you think about Scarlett?”
Closing my eyes, I pictured Scarlett. I opened my eyes and looked directly at my father.
“A fire. A blazing fire.”
He nodded. “Yes. Don’t be afraid of it. Step off into the deep end, I promise, the water won’t put it out.”
The slight knock at the door caused my father to pull his hand back. With a wink, he said, “Come on in.”
“Boys, it’s getting late, I’m going to bed.”
I stood along with my father and shook his hand.
“I’m leaving, Mom. Thanks for letting me borrow him.”
My mother wrapped her arm around my father.
“Always happy to share him.”
I watched my father gaze down at my mother with so much love on his face. For a moment, I think they forgot I was even there.
Finally clearing my throat, I said, “’Night y’all.”
“’Night, sweetheart.”
“Trevor, are we on for south pasture this week?”
Laughing, I nodded. “Yeah, Dad. I’ve got it all under control.”
He gave me a thumbs up. “That’s my boy.”
Walking out of my parents’ house I knew exactly what I had to do to prove to Scarlett I was in this come hell or high water.
She was the love of my life, and I was never letting her go.
“Ms. Littlefield?”
Trevor nearly jumped out of his seat when the nurse called my name. I stood and walked toward her, smiling. She looked past me to Trevor. I expected her to smile at him, like most women, but her gaze fell back to me and she smiled. She mouthed, wow, and we both let out a small chuckle.
“How have you been feeling?” the nurse asked while motioning us into a room.
“Pretty good. Morning sickness is pretty intense, but other than that I feel good.”
She motioned for me to sit down. After taking my blood pressure, she made a few notes in my chart.
“Are you the father?”
“Yes, Trevor Parker.”
She wrote Trevor’s name in the chart then asked for the best phone number to contact him.
Standing, she turned back to us. “Looks like you’ll be getting a sonogram today. Go ahead and take your pants and panties off and cover up with this blanket. Dr. Buten will be doing a sonogram today as well as a nuchal translucency test if you want one.”