Paige stopped reading and looked up at me. I instantly knew, but found myself asking, “What was his name?”
“Carl. Carl Lee Foster.”
I sat there, dumbfounded. “Does he say if my father knows?”
Fumbling with the letter, Paige went on. “Um, let me keep reading.” She took my hand in hers.
Carl Lee Foster is and will always be my son. Just like your father Phillip is my son. I loved them both, but I could only show one that love. Neither of them knows the truth, Paige. I would ask that you honor that wish. It is my hope that Lucas is there with you, if my plan works like I think it will. I know I don’t have much time left on this Earth, and with how stubborn the two of you are, I know I will have to work magic to give you both the second chance you need. It’s a little push, if you will. An idea I got a few months back when you were speaking about this house. I love you both, Paige. Lucas was my everything, and I do wish I could have told you and Tom how much you truly mean to me. When you were little and fell in love with the observatory, May told me someday you’d marry there, just like your grandmother had. It was why she held the teas in there with you and showed you all the flowers. She knew how much it had meant to Millie and that it was in your blood.
Do not be angry with me. Tell Lucas not to be angry. Everything worked out as it should have. Now, the journey continues on with you both.
Love always,
William
Paige dropped her hands to her lap and the letter fell to the floor as her eyes lifted to meet mine.
“I’m dreaming, right?” she whispered.
I shook my head, leaned down, and picked up the letter. I folded it and looked back at the chest. Another letter was in there, with my name on it. I picked it up and let out a sigh. We’d had enough letters for one day.
I pushed it into my back pocket, then shut the chest and pulled Paige into my arms.
“Lucas,” she whispered, her arms wrapping around me. “I need a drink.”
Laughing, I slid my arm around her waist and guided her toward the steps. “I need more than one drink.”
After making a few phone calls, we had gathered up friends to meet at Luckenbach Dance Hall. Both Paige and I needed a night of distractions. No house, no letters, no adoption papers. Just friends. Something we both had needed more than we had realized.
When Paige met me at the front door, I couldn’t drag my eyes off of her. Her hair was pulled up in one of those messy buns. A green dress hugged her body in all the right places, finished off with brown cowboy boots. She smiled when she saw me.
“Don’t you look handsome, cowboy.”
I winked and pulled her into my arms. To hell with slow.
“I’ve been itching to dance with you.”
Her brows lifted. “Really? Just to dance with me?”
I nuzzled my mouth next to her ear. “If you’d rather I fuck you, I can do that first.”
When her breath hitched, I couldn’t help but grin.
“Such a mouth on you, Mr. Foster.”
“Come on,” I said, holding out my arm. “Let’s go.”
Paige and I had decided we were not going to talk about the discoveries we made earlier. The drive to Luckenbach was filled with small talk until it went silent.
I, for one, was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that Paige was Grandad’s birth grandchild, not me. It wasn’t that it bothered me; I knew Granddad had loved me, but all I could think about was all the time I’d wasted. I was sure Granddad and Grams were happy, but had Granddad really not wanted to know Phillip better? Anytime I saw William with my own father, he showed nothing but affection. He loved him, as he should have.
“You’re thinking, Lucas. Stop,” Paige said, reaching for my hand and squeezing it.
I forced a smile as we pulled into the parking lot of the dance hall.
Milo had pulled in right next to us, jumping out of his truck and making his way around the other side to let out his date. Jen and her husband Gene walked down the path toward the dance hall. Soon, a small group of our friends made their way in.
Milo looked back at the truck with a smile and a quick thumbs up. I gave him a head pop. I’d texted him earlier with an idea I’d need his help with. Turning, I looked at Paige. She was staring at me, a delicate smile on her face.
“The only dream I’ve ever had was marrying you, Paige. It doesn’t matter to me where, when, or how, I just want to be with you, and I’m sorry I couldn’t figure that out sooner.”