“She wanted to enter the Classic, because this farm is on the brink of financial collapse every month. Her previous husband had racked up quite a bit of debt and didn’t tell her. She is strong, and capable, and one of the best women I know. She’s worked tirelessly on this farm, because she loves it, and she can’t lose one more thing.”
He threw his hands up into the air. “So I said yes. Heck, I’ve liked Beth for months. I even asked her out before she suggested we get married. We were going to go to dinner one night, but she told her dad she wasn’t ready. We were married less than a month later anyway.”
He watched only her now, unsure if he was making things better or worse. She wore a shocked expression, and Trey honestly felt like he was digging his own grave. He couldn’t stop, though, so he opened his mouth one more time.
“Even before the wedding, we agreed that what we were doing wasn’t fake. That we’d work on making the relationship and our marriage real. Somewhere along the way, I fell in love with her.” He chuckled, though he wasn’t sure why, because he didn’t feel an ounce of happiness in his soul.
He gazed around at everyone, adults, children, cowboys, family members. “I’ve just had a very bad day today, and I lost my temper a couple of times.” His chest quaked, and he couldn’t stop it no matter how deeply he breathed.
“I’m sorry, TJ. I did not mean to snap at you. I was just frustrated that I’d dropped all that sauce. You can understand that, right?”
“Trey,” Beth said again.
He didn’t look at her. “Honestly, I love all of you guys. I do. I think it’s amazing how you rally around each other and how well you get along. It’s nice to spend time with women and not just my brothers. I just…I couldn’t hear one more thing about when Beth and I are going to have a baby. Frankly, I find it odd that that’s the highest priority for a relationship.”
He turned toward Beth. “I messed up. Everything turned against me today, and yes, I snapped at your son.” He hung his head. “I ruined my boots, and I’d driven ten under the speed limit on the way back because some guy was out for a joyride on his motorcycle. So I was late getting here, and your family showed up right after I’d dropped the sauce. I wasn’t nice when they arrived, because I was stressed. I know this is all just an excuse, and I’m sorry.”
Trey’s chest shook as he faced everyone again. “I’m sorry.” He didn’t know what else to say or do. He looked at Jen, who had one palm pressed against her heart. Maybe he hadn’t messed up again, though it certainly felt like he had.
He stepped over to Beth and brushed his lips along her cheek. “I love you, Beth. Out of anyone, I can’t stand the thought of you being angry with me. I’m sorry, and I hope you’ll forgive me.” He looked over to TJ. “Sorry, bud.”
Touching his cowboy hat, he nodded at everyone at the table. “Excuse me, please.” He started for the front door, aware of the silence behind him and that he wasn’t currently wearing any shoes.
TJ went to Bluegrass all the time without shoes; Trey could too.
In all honesty, he expected Beth to catch him on the front porch. When she didn’t, he told himself she’d call his name the moment he reached the bottom of the steps.
She didn’t.
Trey made it to his truck and still no one had followed him or called his name. His heart pounded as he drove away from Beth’s farm, thinking of it as hers and not theirs for the first time in a long time.
* * *
Trey kepthis head down while he waited for his mother to answer the door.
When she did, she said, “Trey,” her voice full of surprise. “You could’ve just come in.”
“The door was locked, Momma.” Trey’s mask broke, and he swept his mother into a hug. “Mom, I messed up.” He held her tightly, even when she tried to pull back.
“Honey,” she said into his shoulder. “I’ve got lemon pound cake. Come tell me everything.” His mother thought everything could be fixed with enough sugar, and honestly, Trey would take anything he could get at this point.
He finally released her and nodded. His father leaned in the doorway, his eyes concerned, but he didn’t start firing questions at Trey. He never had. Daddy could say a lot without saying anything at all, and he could convey exactly how he felt with very few words.
Trey never wanted to disappoint his father, and he’d definitely done that in the past. Those were some of the worst words he’d ever heard.I’m disappointed in you, Trey.
He was plenty disappointed in himself.
“Hey, Daddy.” He hugged him too while Mom continued into the kitchen to dish up the cake.
“We have banana cake too,” she called, and for some reason, Trey found that funny. He half-laughed and half-scoffed as he stepped away from his dad.
“How do you not weigh five hundred pounds?” he asked. “She makes a new cake every single day.”
Daddy chuckled and patted Trey on the shoulder as they moved into the kitchen together. “Maybe you can take some to Beth to fix whatever you messed up.”
“I think it’s going to take more than cake.”
Mom put a plate carrying a huge chunk of lemon cake in front of him. “You can fix anything with cake,” she said.