Ren and Della: Boxed Set (Ribbon Duet Book 3)

by Pepper Winters

  “Della Wild now. As of a few hours ago.”

  Della threw me a kiss, folding a t-shirt neatly.

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.” My knees wobbled, depositing me onto the pushed together single beds of our youth. “Is she okay?” My eyes never left Della’s as she plopped the t-shirt into the small pile we were taking with us and came toward me.

  Slotting herself into the V of my spread legs, her fingers curled in my hair, and I held her waist to my nose.

  I inhaled hard, smothering a cough as Rick said, “She’s fine. No signs of any asbestos related diseases.”

  A cry that could only be described as tormented thanks fell from my lips, soaking into her belly button. “Oh, thank God.”

  Della hugged my head, trembling. “I love you, Ren.”

  Her whisper scattered around me as Rick continued, “As for you…I really should ask you to come into my office so we can go through any questions you might have, but...well, I can’t wait. I wanted to tell you straight away.”

  Blackness slithered its way through me, blotting out my hope, tearing up the calendar pages of my heart, deleting the months I thought I had. His urgency created pure terror. “What is it?”

  You have one month to live.

  Kiss your wife goodbye.

  Hope you have your casket sorted.

  I planted a hand over my eyes, begging the depression to stop.

  Rick’s voice cut through the medley. “You’re a positive responder, Ren.”

  For a second, I had no idea what that was.

  All my research and knowledge, gone.

  Poof.

  Then the words deconstructed and reassembled into a sentence I could understand. You’re not dying…yet.

  The phone slipped through my hand. It bounced on the carpet like an undetonated bomb.

  Was it real?

  Was it true?

  Not only had I gotten one dream by marrying Della today, I’d earned an extension from leaving her too?

  “Ren?” Della’s worried voice cut through the buzzing in my head. “You okay?” Ducking, she collected the phone and held it to my ear. “He’s still talking.”

  I cupped her hand with mine, ignoring the phone.

  My lungs blazed with pain, but I didn’t trust that pain anymore. It was trying to make me believe in a lie.

  I’m not dying…yet.

  Gripping her hard, I breathed fast. “It’s-it’s good news. Fuck, it’s excellent news.”

  For all my positive thinking, I hadn’t dared hope for this.

  It would fucking break me if it turned out to be bad.

  She nodded frantically, tears sparkling. “Thank God.” Urging me to take the phone, she said, “Find out more. Talk to him.”

  Licking my lips, I obeyed, still shell-shocked and disbelieving but ready to listen. “Sorry. Minor accident. Wh-what did you say?”

  “What happened? You drop the phone?” Rick chuckled. “You wouldn’t be the first. But…be happy. You didn’t mis-hear. I said you’re showing signs of improvement. As you know, mesothelioma is aggressive, and the tumours are small and dispersed throughout your lungs and abdomen. However, the treatment has halted any from multiplying. In some areas, they’ve even decreased.”

  “Holy shit.”

  Della whacked me on the shoulder. “Language.”

  I laughed, daring to grab a piece of lightness in all of this. “Sorry, Doctor Mackenzie.”

  “Bah, I’ve heard worse. And call me Rick. Think we’re on first-name terms now that I’m healing ya.”

  Della bent and pressed her head against the phone, trying to hear. I pulled it away and put it on speaker so we both could listen.

  Coughing just a little, I asked, “So…what now?”

  “Now? We keep you on three weekly treatments and watch for more progress. If, in a few months’ time, your lungs show significant improvement, you come off the drug and are announced in stable condition.”

  Don’t ask.

  Don’t ask.

  “And my prognosis?”

  I asked.

  Shit.

  This was a happy time.

  The best of times.

  I shouldn’t ruin it by asking for the new date of my death.

  However, Rick laughed encouragingly, light-hearted even, infecting me with his optimism. “Screw one to two years, Ren. You’ve just bought yourself a few more. I don’t know how many more, but you’re young, only stage one, and prepared to do whatever it takes. That in itself puts you miles ahead. As far as I’m concerned, we’ll keep you alive for however long you decide.”

  “Forever.” Standing, I pressed a kiss to Della’s lips, talking more to her than my doctor. “I choose forever.”

  She kissed me back, breathing, “Forever, Ren. A hundred forevers.”

  “On that note, I’m gonna leave you two newlyweds to enjoy the good news. See you soon, Ren.” Rick hung up.

  Tossing the phone onto the bed, I swooped my wife into my arms and spun her around. “I hope you didn’t marry me thinking I’d be dead in a couple of years, Mrs Wild.”

  Her head tipped back, blonde hair flying, diamond ring glinting. “God, you calling me that does things to me.”

  “Things?”

  Her lips crashed down on mine. “Bad things. Wet things.”

  I stumbled to the wall, wedging her beside our old dresser. “I mean it, Della. I’m going to fight. Every fucking day.”

  “And I’m going to love you, every fucking day.” She plastered my face with kisses like she used to do when she was a kid and excitement overflowed.

  “Language.” I nipped at her lip.

  “Kiss me, husband.” Her lips kissed every part of me, from chin to throat to ear.

  I loved she still retained that childish enthusiasm.

  I loved that she was giddy with joy, celebrating the best news of all.

  Her lips gave up their flurry of kisses, seeking my mouth with sweet desperation.

  I matched her with a different kind of fury.

  One of bittersweet relief and explosive gratefulness.

  I’d sworn my life to this woman.

  We no longer had to play pretend husband and wife.

  We were real.

  As real as any other couple and just as permitted to love unconditionally.

  And yet, I would forever be more than just a husband to Della. And she would forever be more than just my wife.

  Our relationship would always have a different depth to it.

  A unique connection that had been formed thanks to so many facets of love.

  Love that had already been tested in so many different ways.

  Breaking the kiss, I grabbed her hand and twirled her wedding ring.

  “Wild forever and always.” I quoted the inscription. “Time means nothing when it comes to true love. Promise me you understand that.”

  She searched my eyes, finding nothing but my soul bare and hers for the taking.

  Death would still come for me.

  But for now…we were hiding.

  Hiding out of its reach, creating a life that would be so infinitely precious and pure.

  She blinked back tears. “I understand, Ren.”

  “Good.”

  She smiled softly. “Fine.”

  The familiarity of such a silly phrase meant we didn’t end up camping that night.

  We fell together and consummated our marriage in the very same beds where we’d denied such a future from existing.

  From children to adults.

  From friends to soulmates.

  Forever.

  Forever.

  And always.

  CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

  REN

  * * * * * *

  2021

  “REN?”

  John lugged his big body from the couch where he’d been nursing a beer. “Can I have a word?”

  Liam sat on the floor with his very pregnant girlfriend, and Adam had his wife, Carly, o
n his lap while their two kids played on the carpet.

  Since Della and I hadn’t made it to the forest for our honeymoon, the Wilsons had improvised and hosted an all-day affair of just hanging out. And for once, I didn’t mind being around people.

  These weren’t just people.

  They were our people.

  Family.

  Cassie had hired a last-minute caterer to feed us, seeing as Patricia’s culinary magic was no more, and the Wilson grandchildren did a good job at pegging up the hole left by her missing presence—even though nothing could replace such an amazing woman.

  Della and I were planning on going away tonight. We’d have a few days to ourselves before I threw myself back into my farm chores, saved some cash, and planned where we would live.

  The one bedroom in the stable was too cramped, and although I’d had such good news yesterday, I wouldn’t take any bonus years for granted.

  I needed to sort out our future…soon.

  “Sure, what’s up?” I asked, swigging the final mouthful of my own beer—just one to celebrate—and catching the ever watchful, always loving eye of my wife.

  Della had been Mrs Wild for twenty-four hours, and I couldn’t stop looking at her or my ring on her finger.

  She gave me a smile from where she sat with Cassie and Nina on the floor doing a puzzle. Pieces were scattered everywhere with Nina giving directions to her mother and aunt.

  Cassie looked up, grinned at me, then glanced at her father and nodded secretly.

  What the—

  I didn’t like that.

  I didn’t like secrets.

  My hackles rose.

  “Come into the kitchen.” John tipped his white head toward the scuffed, well-used table and chairs. “Bring Della. This concerns her, too.”

  Whenever we had conversations at that table, things happened.

  Big things.

  Life-changing things.

  I wanted to groan. What had he done now, the meddling ass? I still had his Cherry River contract tucked in the dresser in our room. I’d read the fine print, and sure enough, he’d given full insurance to all my health-related incidents.

  I’d made a mental note to call the lawyer who had my Will and Testament and ask him how much John would stand to lose by covering me. I’d heard horror stories of some drugs costing thousands per week, sometimes tens of thousands.

  I didn’t want to die, but I wouldn’t put anyone into destitution to save my life, either.

  John was worth a lot with his land. If he were to sell, he’d be a millionaire without a doubt. But all that equity was tied into his legacy, and I never wanted to be the reason he’d be forced to sell.

  Della cast me a look, climbing to her feet.

  “Go on,” Cassie whispered. “You’ll want to hear this.”

  My eyes skipped over the Wilson children and grandchildren before Della clutched my hand and tugged me toward where John had sat down. The entire vibe of the place had changed. Everyone was in on this, whatever it was.

  I narrowed my eyes warily. “What’s going on?”

  “Sit.” John pointed at the chairs beside him, waiting until Della and I obeyed.

  We sat, and my tension wound even more. “Okay, we’re sitting. Now what?”

  He smirked. “Always so suspicious.”

  “Always justified around you.”

  He chuckled, his large paws linking on the table top. “One of these days, you’re going to learn to relax, Ren. Mark my words.”

  Phrases like that were double-edged swords. ‘One of these days’ implied a timeline that stretched into infinity. We both knew I didn’t have infinity—not that anyone did. We all died...eventually.

  But just because I’d had incredible news that I wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while, it didn’t stop the bitter-sweetness that it would be sooner than I liked.

  “One of these days, you’ll stop surprising me with your harebrained ideas.” I smiled. “I mean, who gives a fifteen-year-old kid a place to stay and makes him family? Who hires a lawyer for a supposed kidnapper—”

  “Yeah, okay. I’m a saint. I get the point.”

  Della laughed, making my heart wing as I reclined in my chair.

  I chuckled under my breath. “Yeah, a saint who interferes.”

  He held up his hand. “Guilty.”

  “Once Ren has stopped giving you a hard time, John…what is it you wanted to talk to us about?” Della asked quietly, blonde hair scooped over her shoulder. Her ribbon around her throat today.

  The same throat I’d squeezed from behind and pushed down while I took her.

  Tearing my gaze away, I cleared my mind from inappropriate thoughts.

  John grinned. “First, I want to say a very happy marriage to you two. It was an absolute honour to give you away, Della.”

  Della’s cheeks pinked with affection. “The honour was mine, Uncle John.”

  My skin prickled with warning as John looked at me. “It’s tradition, don’t you think, that the father—or at least, pretend father of the bride, gives a gift on their wedding day?”

  “John…” I warned. “What did you do?”

  “What?” He blinked innocently.

  He wasn’t innocent.

  Smiling, he raised his voice. “Cassie, darlin’? I forgot the file. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all.” Cassie leapt to her feet, earning a screech from Nina for disrupting the puzzle, then practically skipped into the kitchen where she placed a blue folder in front of her dad, kissed his white hair, then winked at me.

  My nervousness blew into all-out alert. “What exactly is going on?”

  “You’ll see.” Cassie blew Della a kiss, then went to sit with her daughter.

  “John?” My eyebrow rose as the big man opened the file and smoothed out the papers with a hairy hand.

  “Hold your horses, Ren. Give me a moment to find the right words.”

  “What words?”

  “The words to tell you what I did and make you somehow accept it, without getting all high and mighty.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake.” I crossed my arms. “If this gift is more than just a bottle of wine then I’m not accepting it.”

  “Wind your neck in, Ren.” John pointed a finger in my face. “Just ’cause you’re sick—” He cut himself off with a terrified wince. “God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  “It’s fine.” I forced myself to relax and take the blame. “My fault. I’m winding you up.”

  Della scooted forward, placing a dainty hand on John’s massive wrist. “He’s the one being an ass. Take all the time you want and don’t worry about his reaction.” Her blue eyes met mine with a sharp glare. “I’ll deal with him.”

  “You’ll deal with me?”

  “Yep.” She stuck her chin in the air.

  “Just because I married you doesn’t mean I obey you, Mrs Wild.”

  “Oh, yeah?” She tried to stop a smile. “Well, I’ll just have to beat you until you do.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  Lust sprung hotly.

  Della averted her eyes, cheeks pinked and skin flushed.

  John groaned. “Ever since that phone call from your oncologist yesterday, you’ve been incorrigible, Ren.”

  I shrugged, no longer caring what he was about to do. “What can I say? I’m the happiest guy alive.”

  No one mentioned the part of that sentence that lingered in the dark.

  I’m the happiest guy alive…for now.

  I could joke and laugh and be truly happy that I’d bought myself more time, but I also couldn’t deny that the awful word still existed.

  Incurable.

  “Right, well, before you two disappear into the forest to do God knows what, I’ve done something.” He laid his hand firmly on the folder like a judge would a gavel. “I’ve told you that I love you as much as I love my own kids. You are my kids. There is no difference. And because of that…I couldn’t not do what I’ve done, if that makes
sense.”

  “Your cryptic reply is not helping my ability to stay calm, John,” I muttered, doing my best to read the papers his hand obscured. “What exactly is going on?”

  “Having you guys back here, knowing the farm will be taken care of and that you’re both happy and safe…that’s a gift for me, do you understand? It’s a gift because I saw where you guys came from, and I feel as if I played some small part in getting you this far.”

  “You did,” I said fiercely. “Without you, I would’ve died of pneumonia.”

  “Without you, we wouldn’t have trusted anyone or been fit to be around society,” Della murmured.

  “Well, I’m glad. But you’re both stronger and braver than you give yourselves credit for, so I won’t take all the praise.” He looked down at the table, refusing to meet my eyes. “What I will do, though, is take your word that you’ll accept this.”

  “Accept what?” My back stiffened, muscles locking.

  “Give me your word.” He narrowed his eyes. “Before I tell you.”

  “Not going to happen.” I crossed my arms.

  “Della?” John turned to her. “Give me your word, sweetie, seeing as that stubborn husband of yours won’t.”

  “I won’t risk his temper.” She laughed. “Best spit it out. Otherwise, Ren will just snatch what you’re hiding and find out anyway.”

  She’s right.

  I was seconds away from stopping this charade.

  John chuckled. “You’re probably right. Look at the man.”

  They both looked at me, twin expressions of affection and exasperation.

  I scowled harder. “Ganging up on me won’t make me take this any easier.”

  John laughed again, before slipping back into seriousness. “I changed my Will and Testament.”

  My heart stopped beating. The ruckus in the lounge quietened as the adults tuned in to listen. “Excuse me?” I leaned forward, ever so slowly. As methodical as a viper. “What did you say?”

  John puffed out his barrel chest. “I asked Adam, Liam, and Cassie before I did it, and they’re all on board. Don’t think for a moment there is any bad blood about this, or that it can be taken away from you in the future. Because it can’t.”

  “You’re terrifying me.” I swallowed hard. “What. Did. You. Do. John?” My teeth chopped every word.