All I See Is You

36. Beneath Oak Trees

Chapter thirty-six

Beneath Oak Trees

Hux

M y heart fluttered uneasily in my chest as I stood in what I was pretty sure was Mama’s crafting room, if the onslaught of scents was any indicator. It was sensory overload, but I ignored it as best I could. This wouldn’t take too long, I presumed. Dad liked to give lectures like how you’d rip off a band-aid. Quick and with purpose.

“What the hell were you thinkin', boy?”

I huffed. Some things never changed with my old man. “About what exactly, sir? You’re gonna have to be a bit more specific.”

“Gettin' all drunk and belligerent in public!” Mama said. “Yellin' at that poor, sweet girl out there.”

Dad’s words nearly drowned hers out as he said at the same time, “Tellin' the whole damn crowd you’re coming out of retirement.”

Their replies couldn’t be more them. Mama had always been more worried about my drinking and how my actions affected others. Dad had always been more worried about me and my career. Not that they didn’t share all of those fears together, but it just highlighted their thought process so clearly to me.

I blew out a breath and addressed my mother first. “I know, Mama. I was an idiot and she didn’t deserve that. It ain’t gonna happen again, I promise.”

She sighed heavily. “I sure hope so. She seems good for you.”

I thought of Quinn, and how much it meant bringing her here. Meeting Walker and Dad and Mama. Especially Mama. She didn’t know about the silent promise I’d made back when I was just a teen, but I’d kept it all this time.

I had every intention of marrying Quinn one day. If she’d have me. And I was willing to wait. However long it took.

“She is,” I replied. “She’s kind and patient. She believes in me.”

Mama’s sharp inhale of breath squeezed at my heart. “Oh, my sweet boy. That’s wonderful.”

Dad’s brusque tone still held anger in it. “I suppose the talk of comin' back was just you being drunk, too?”

Well, if this talk was like ripping off a band-aid, might as make it quick. The good thing about Dad is he didn’t stay mad long. Better to get it over with. “No, that was true. I am comin' back.”

“Huxson!” Mama gasped.

“Fuckin' hell,” Dad growled, the sound of his boots loud on the hardwood as he paced a path back and forth. “What the hell for?”

“Look,” I sighed, pulling my hat off for a moment to run my hands through my hair. “I don’t expect y’all to get it. I don’t expect y’all to support it, or agree with it even, but it’s…well, it is happenin’.”

There wasn’t any reprieve from the accusation in Dad’s words. “And what does she think of this?”

Mine and Quinn’s conversation echoed in my mind from earlier. Of the undying support she offered me. “She understands.”

“Does she know you can die?”

I nodded. “She does, sir.”

Dad scoffed, his boots never slowing their pacing. “You’re willin’ to risk your life, whatever you got goin' on with that girl, to ride again?”

I didn’t expect him to understand. Hell it was hard to fully comprehend and grasp it myself. But I wasn’t changing my stance on this now. “Dad, I just…I gotta do this.”

He blew out a breath. I braced for his disappointment. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d felt the scalding heat of his ire, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Well, I guess you better start trainin’ then, you ain’t in ridin’ shape. And you will tell us when you ride. We wanna be there.” I’d never know how he could sound so harsh while his actual words were anything but. He might not understand, but I could always depend on them to support me. To believe in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.

A soft, appreciative smile tugged on my lips. Holding out my hand, I said, “Thanks, Dad.”

His strong, calloused one gripped mine tightly as he pulled me into a hug. My throat tightened. I could count on one hand how many times he’d hugged me. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. So these random bursts of emotion were just as unexpected as they were meaningful.

Mama made a little gasp. “Huxson…” Oh God, was she crying? “Are you…are you sure?”

I pulled out of dad’s grip and aimed my words toward her. “I am, Mama.”

A sigh and then, “what changed?”

“She came in.” My voice turned thick. I rubbed the back of my neck. “She makes me want to be better. She helped chase away the darkness.” I thought of her words on that first night we’d met. They’d never been more true. “She breathed life back into me.”

Another little gasp from Mama as she wrapped me in a hug. “Oh, Huxson. I like this girl. How long have y’all been together?”

“About a week,” I admitted with a shrug.

I expected her reservation, or at the very least surprise, but I didn’t expect her next words. “Well, if this girl’s done that much for you in a week, I can’t even imagine what good she’ll do in a couple months, a couple years from now.”

I smiled softly. “I intend to find out, Mama.”