Our Sweet Destiny

by Addison Cole

  She heard the laugher before she reached the edge of the woods. Clear joy sifted through the air and drew her forward. She guided Flame toward the road, leaving the woods behind, the same way she had so many months ago when she’d come upon Rex and his family in the driveway.

  They walked past the driveway, in the direction of the voices, and she brought Flame to a halt just above the barn, giving her a clear view of the family gathered around a long table. She counted three dark male heads, Savannah, and another woman who she assumed was Treat’s girlfriend. Her heart kicked up a notch when Rex walked out of the house toward the table. She’d recognize his formidable gait anywhere. His dark brown Stetson made him appear even taller than she knew him to be. Oh, how she longed to be at that table. No, not just at the table. I want to be welcomed to the table.

  She watched as Savannah stood and brushed her hair from her shoulder, then scooped something from a bowl and put it on the plate of whichever brother was beside her. Then she reached across the table and did the same for her father, but he knocked the ladle just as she was putting it on his plate, and the plate tumbled off the table. Jade bit her lower lip through her smile as Hal Braden shot to his feet, his hands out to his sides. All fell quiet, and just as quickly uproarious laughter filled the air. She picked out the cadence of Rex’s hearty laugh, wrapped it up, and tucked it away next to her heart. Then, fearful of being seen, she guided Flame home.

  SEEING HIS BROTHERS and sister was just what Rex needed—and just what he didn’t. Anytime the Bradens were together, there was laughter and love, and tonight was no different, even without Dane and Hugh, who were unable to clear their schedules for the weekend.

  “Josh, tell me what’s going on in New York these days,” his father said, slinging an arm over Savannah’s shoulder.

  “I’ve got a new fall line coming out, and so far the critics are loving it.” Josh’s brown eyes were smaller, more almond shaped than Rex’s, and ever since he was a little boy, they’d told the story of his emotions. Now Rex saw delight as Josh spoke of his fall line. He ran his fingers through his closely shorn dark hair just above his ear, a mannerism as familiar to Rex as the silence Josh kept regarding the women he dated.

  “I saw something about it in People mag. Someone wore one of your gowns to something,” Savannah said. “Very impressive.”

  “Someone’s always wearing something of mine,” Josh teased. “Other than that, not much is going on.”

  “You seeing anyone special?” Josh never talked about the women he dated, and though his father would never push any of his children for information, he held Josh’s gaze until Josh turned away.

  “Nah, Dad.” Josh slugged his beer and began to choke.

  As Rex patted him on the back, he caught sight of Jade passing their driveway on Flame, and his chest squeezed tight, stealing the laughter right from his throat and replacing it with a longing so present it inhabited every inch of him.

  Rex lowered himself to his chair across from Max and Treat. Max reached over and wiped the edge of Treat’s mouth with a napkin, then kissed him on the lips. His father reached out and draped his arm across the back of Max’s chair. The tug on Rex’s heart spurred his jealousy. He narrowed his eyes, watching his father whisper something in Max’s ear. He yearned for his father to accept Jade in the same way.

  “Rex, hello?” Savannah tapped his arm.

  “Sorry, what?” he asked.

  “Ketchup, can you pass it, please?”

  He handed her the ketchup while looking up toward the driveway again, feeling Jade’s absence like a missing limb.

  “Hey, what’s that?” Savannah said, touching the chain around Rex’s neck.

  He swatted her hand away and rolled his shoulders forward. “Nothing.”

  “Oh, come on. Let me see. You never wear any jewelry. What is it?” Savannah was being her normal teasing self, and if she’d have done that two weeks ago, he’d be laughing right alongside her, tickling her ribs until she stopped badgering him. But tonight he was all kinds of stressed out.

  Rex’s biceps flexed, and he gritted his teeth. A hush swallowed the din of his family, and he felt five sets of eyes on him. “It’s just something I bought in town,” he said gruffly.

  Savannah reached up again, and his father growled, “Savannah, leave the man alone.”

  She arched a brow. “O-kay then.” She picked up her fork and stabbed a piece of broccoli.

  Treat caught Rex’s eyes and held them. Rex read his brother’s message loud and clear: Idiot. Are you trying to get caught? At this point, he wasn’t sure that wasn’t exactly what he was doing. He pushed away from the table. “I’m gonna get some water.”

  “Actually, that sounds good to me, too.” Treat rose to his feet.

  “Me too,” Savannah chirped.

  Josh was right behind Treat, leaving their father and Max alone at the table.

  Rex stood in the kitchen against the counter, drinking a glass of water, one ankle crossed over the other. He watched them file in and knew he was in for an inquisition.

  “Too bad Hugh and Dane couldn’t make it. We could have had a full house,” Rex said in a serious voice.

  “Hugh had a race, and Dane got some lead on a major funding initiative for the whale sharks. Max’ll keep Dad busy. She knows how this goes by now,” Savannah said, winking at Treat. “So, what’s the scoop? And what’s around your thick neck?”

  Rex shook his head.

  Josh leaned against the fridge next to him. His black slacks were perfectly pressed, his white dress shirt pristine. He was narrower than all of his brothers, as lean and sleek as they were thick and rippled, and every bit as handsome. His dark hair was just as thick, though he kept his much shorter. As a fashion designer, Josh was more interested in his appearance than any of them. Treat used to rival him with his Armani suits, but now that he was spending more time back home, Rex noticed that Treat rarely broke out anything more formal than a pair of jeans or dress slacks.

  “Anything I can do?” Josh asked.

  Rex shook his head. “Not unless you can end a forty-year battle,” he said honestly. It felt good to get it off his chest. What had his father said? Guilt’ll eat you up and spit you out, then stomp on your writhing body until there’s nothing left but a broken shell of a man. Rex wasn’t about to let that happen.

  “You mean the Johnsons? What’s going on with them?” Josh asked.

  Savannah grinned mischievously. “Josh!” she said in an excited whisper. “Jade!”

  Rex lifted his eyes to his sister and couldn’t keep a smile from his lips. He’d expected a modicum of support, but he’d also expected a rage about his breach of loyalty.

  “Jade Johnson? She was eyeing you the day of Max’s accident in the driveway.” Understanding dawned in Josh’s eyes, and he cracked a smile and elbowed his brother’s ribs. “You dirty dog, you. Did you eat the forbidden fruit?”

  You could say that. “Hey, let’s keep it clean,” Rex said. “Aren’t you guys gonna ream me out for going against Dad?”

  “Ream you?” Savannah asked. “I’ve known you were in love with Jade since high school when I caught you staring at her during that 4H auction. Remember?”

  He hadn’t remembered until now, and now he couldn’t believe he’d forgotten. Jade and her girlfriends were hosing down the animals in skimpy little bikini tops and cutoff jeans, and her father was standing guard with a scowl so deep, Rex thought he’d stab anyone who came near her.

  “I do,” he answered Savannah.

  “How come I’m always the last to know these things?” Josh asked.

  “You’re not. Hugh and Dane will be,” Treat said, leaning against the kitchen counter. “The question is, how do we convince the old man that this is okay?”

  Savannah laughed. “You’re on drugs if you think that’s ever gonna happen.” She put her hand on Rex’s arm. “Sorry, Rexy, but short of eloping and living several states away, I can’t see how you can be together and live th
rough it.”

  “You’re a lot of help, Vanny,” Treat said.

  She reached into Rex’s shirt for the chain, narrowing her eyes at him when he reached for her hand. “The cat’s out of the bag now, so I’m looking whether you like it or not.”

  He watched his sister roll the little silver naked woman between her thumb and forefinger. Her smile lessened, and her eyes darkened.

  “What is this? It reminds me of a story Treat used to tell me. Remember, Treat? You said the symbol was a naked woman and man twisted around each other. It looks like half of the dance of two lovers,” she said with wonder.

  Rex set down his water and wrapped his arms around his sister, feeling her heart beating against him, knowing she was missing her mother as much as the rest of them were at that moment.

  “It is,” he said softly.

  “I thought it was a myth,” she said.

  “We all did,” Treat said. “I used to tell you guys that story all the time, to keep Mom’s memory alive, but I never really meted out the truth of it.”

  Savannah pulled away and tucked the charm back into Rex’s shirt. “So, what does this mean? Where did you get it?”

  Josh stared at his feet, and as Savannah moved away, Rex wrapped his arm around his shoulders and pulled him against his side. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” Josh said quietly. “I don’t think about Mom all the time. It’s too hard. I always feel like she’s right out of reach. I can’t really see her face anymore, or hear her voice.”

  Rex bit back the well of sadness that was slowly filling his body. “I know. It’s been a long time.”

  “Where did you get it?” Savannah asked.

  “A woman in the Village in Allure. She knew Mom in school, and she said it was just the thing for me and Jade. I have no idea why or how. I’m just as baffled as you are.”

  “Fate,” Savannah said. They all rolled their eyes. “Come on, Treat. You believe in fate. Look at you and Max.”

  “You have a point there,” he said with a nod.

  When Treat and Max were first dating, Treat had gone to Wellfleet for business, and Max had shown up to surprise him, making his favorite place on earth that much sweeter. It was the first time he’d been there in more than a year, and they’d fallen even deeper in love. Max had never been a believer in fate either, and their relationship had changed her view completely.

  “Wait. So you and Jade were together in Allure? How long have you been seeing her?” Josh asked. “How serious is this?”

  Treat smirked, and Rex shot him a harsh glare. Treat knew that Jade and Rex had been together only a few times, and he also knew that Rex’s heart already belonged to her.

  Rex drew his brows together and lowered his chin, hoping Josh would understand his silent message: Don’t even think about questioning my sanity. “We’ve only been together a few times.”

  “But he’s loved her forever,” Savannah said, sticking her finger on the edge of the chocolate cake she must have brought with her and licking the frosting from it.

  “Rex, do you really think this is smart? I mean, a few times?” Josh asked.

  Josh had never been very good at reading him. “It might not be smart, but it is happening.” Rex pushed away from the fridge.

  “I have to assume you know what you’re doing, but…a few times? I mean, I go out with women a few times and know absolutely nothing about them. I can’t tell you what we talked about, and I’m a good listener.” Josh shook his head.

  “Yeah, so have I. All I can tell you is that this is different. When I’m with Jade, I hear everything. It’s like…” He reached for the right words, and the only thing that came even close was, “Everything else in the world falls away, and all that exists is me and Jade.” He wasn’t taking any chances with Josh. “One word of this to Dad and I’ll personally rip you to shreds. Even you, Savannah.”

  “Oooh, I’m scared,” she teased.

  “We gotta get out there before Max feels left out,” Treat said, heading for the door.

  Rex was dying to be able to say something similar about Jade at their family dinner table. The idea of Jade being included in his family stewed within him. He envisioned her beside him, tossing snarky comments at his brothers and whispering with Savannah, like Max did. He touched the charm beneath his shirt and watched his family settle back around the table. “Mom, if this is from you, then I need a little guidance here,” he whispered before heading back to the table.

  AFTER DINNER, HAL took Rex aside. “You okay, son?”

  His father seemed to have a sixth sense about his children. He always knew when their minds, or in some cases, their hearts, were tied in knots. It pained Rex not to be able to tell his father the truth.

  “Yeah, just sidetracked with the horse show.”

  His father’s eyes narrowed, and Rex watched him search his own. His stomach clenched, feeling as though his father could see right through his evasion. He had the urge to just spill it all, lay it out on the table, but he knew that would open up a can of worms that nobody was ready for.

  If his father saw something in his eyes, he didn’t let on. “If there’s anything you want to tell me, I’m here. You know, your mother used to call you Rascally Rex.”

  Rex smiled at the memory. “I remember.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on, Rex, and I don’t expect you to tell me, but you and I…” He put a hand on Rex’s shoulder. “We’ve had our share of going head-to-head with the ranch. This feels different. I don’t expect you to talk to me until you’re ready, and your gut will tell you when that’s right. Just know that I love you.”

  Rex had never doubted his father’s love. Everything his father said rang true in his heart, momentarily curbing his anger about the feud and soothing the hurt he’d been carrying about the increasing rift between him and his father.

  “Thanks, Dad. I love you, too.”

  His father pulled him into a warm hug, then headed down to the barn. Rex touched the necklace beneath his shirt and wondered if, just maybe, his mother had had a hand in that out-of-the-blue conversation.

  REX AND THE others did the dishes and put away the leftovers.

  Josh peered out the glass doors toward the barn. “I worry about him. He seems like he’s all tied in knots again, like he was before he had that heart issue. He’s usually much warmer, and he didn’t say two words during dinner.”

  Treat and Rex exchanged a knowing look.

  “He’s fine. You know how Dad is. He goes through moods, like we all do. Right now he’s dealing with something in that big old head of his.” Rex knew his father wasn’t fine. His comment about being careful where he tread, coupled with Rex’s growing anger about the feuding families coming between him and the woman he loved, had caused a fissure between the two men, and the brief conversation they’d just had still had him reeling with conflicting emotions.

  Ever since he’d been given the necklace, he found himself believing more and more that his father remained connected to his mother. Whether that made his father delusional or spiritual, he had no idea, but he wasn’t there to judge him. He was trying his best to be there to love and support him, just as his father had done for him his whole life. He knew he was falling short as he questioned the value of his loyalty to his father against his loyalty to Jade.

  “He was fine when you guys were in here passing secrets like children,” Max said with a smile. She pulled the elastic band out of her long dark hair and rewrapped it, then helped Treat dry the dishes while Savannah put them away.

  “Are you gonna clue me in? I know I’m not a Braden yet, but almost…”

  Treat dried his hands and pulled her close. “You’re a Braden, whether we’re married or not.” He kissed her so tenderly that Rex had to turn away.

  When they drew apart, Treat answered Max’s question. “Jade,” he said.

  “The dark-haired beauty from Fingers?” Max asked with a smile.

  “Yup,” Rex said, turning to face them
.

  “Yay! So you finally asked her out?”

  “Something like that,” he said. Rex wasn’t really listening. He was biding his time until his father went to bed so he could go over to Jade’s and see if he could catch her in the barn. He just needed to see her. The longer he waited, the more anxious he became. He grabbed his keys.

  “I’m going to the store. I’ll be back in an hour,” he said.

  “I’ll go with you. I wanna get—” Savannah lifted her eyes as she grabbed her purse and saw Rex’s stare, the shake of his head. “Oh. The store. Got it. Have fun!”

  He laughed on his way out the door. As he climbed into his truck, he heard his father’s voice down by the barn, and guilt tightened around him again. He pushed it away and drove toward Jade’s.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  JADE CALLED RILEY from the safety of her bedroom. She needed to share what she was feeling. Holding it in was making her feel like a balloon ready to pop.

  “Hey, Ri,” she said when Riley answered.

  “Well, if it isn’t Ms. Sneakaround. What’s up?”

  Jade sighed, her lips lifting to a smile. “That’s what’s up, actually. This is proving to be much harder than I thought it was going to be. Am I doing the right thing, sneaking around to see Rex?”

  “You know, I never really pegged you for such a straitlaced worrywart. Since when do you worry about following your heart—or lips—or whatever it is that’s drawing you toward Sexy Rexy?”

  “See, I knew you’d make me smile.” Jade lay back on her bed. “I care because of the feud between our families.” She thought about what she’d said and knew there was more that she needed to get off her chest. “Ri, I love him, and this is so impossible. I mean, our families hate each other. It’s not even realistic, right? Tell me I’m right, because I can’t stop thinking about him, and I’m not sure I can stop myself from wanting to be with him, either. Tell me I should, make me turn away or something.”

  Riley sighed. “Girlfriend, you know that’s not happening. You have fallen so hard for him. You fell for him too many years ago to count. You need to pull up your big-girl panties, suck up the sneaking around until you figure it out, and go with it. What kind of friend would I be if I let you turn away from the love of your life?”