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1113 Words
I had my truck ready to go and hugged my mom goodbye and my dad walked with me to the truck.
"Let me know when you get there," my dad said as we approached my truck.
"I will."
I hugged him and got in.
"When your grandma died she left me these." He said as he pulled a box out of his pocket and handed it to me. I grabbed it and opened it. There was a beautiful set of wedding rings. One was a thin silver band while the other was a larger band with an arrangement of diamonds.
"They are beautiful."
"Since your mom and I were already married, we decided to save them for when you got married."
"Thank you," I said as I closed the box and put it in my pocket.
"Win her back, son, and I expect to hear all about it."
I chuckled and said, "I will."
My dad closed the door and I started the car and drove off.
The drive felt long and I stopped for gas, but soon the wolf ranch was in sight. As I pulled up to the house, there stood Mr. Wolf with a smile on his face. I parked and got out.
"Welcome back."
"Thank you. How have you been?" I asked as I walked up to him.
"Good. I heard about what happened between your brother and Mia."
"It's been a sticky situation for both families. I honestly think that nothing will get resolved and both families will become enemies."
"I hope they work it out, since our families have been friends for so long. Would be a ashamed if two kids broke it up and, like I told my son, it's between the kids."
"It truly is."
"I spoke to your dad about an hour ago about a bull he might be interested in.. he said you would take a look at it while you're here."
"I'd love to, but first how is she?" I asked.
"She has been distant from us. Right now she is hiding in her room because she heard her grandma and I talking about having company over. If anyone comes over, she runs and hides. Mia and your brother really did a number on her."
"Does she know what really happened?" I asked.
" The moment we talk about any of you, she walks away. Haven't been able to get her to listen," he said as he shook his head.
"I'll need some rope and duck tape," I said as I smiled.
"What for?"
"If she refuses to listen, I tie her up and duck tape her mouth so she will listen."
Her grandfather laughed and shook his head. "Try talking to her first and then I'll help you tie her up."
I laughed and headed up the porch stairs. "Where is her room?"
"upstairs and the third door on the right. Good luck and if you need me I'll be in the barn.""
"Thank you."
I walked into the house and waved to her grandma. I didn't want Sheryl to hear me. I walked up the stairs and went straight to her room. I stood outside the door, took a deep breath and opened it.
The moment the door opened she was sitting on her bed reading and then she looked at me.
"What are you doing here?" She said with a venomous tone.
I smiled and said, " Well, I came to see you."
"I don't want to see you. Go away." She looked back at her book.
"I have been looking everywhere for you. I even hired a private detective to trace you, with no luck."
She didn't say anything.
I stuck my hands in my pockets and said, "the baby is not mine and I never slept with Mia. She faked the whole thing."
Sheryl just kept looking at the book and acted like I wasn't there. I walked up to her bed and grabbed the book out of her hand. She turned her head away from me and I put the book down, then cupped her head in my palms and turned her head towards me.
"I never cheated."
With tears in her eyes she said, "you were both naked together. You slept with my cousin. I hate you."
"I was drunk and Mia wanted me. She helped me to my room but I passed out and she decided to use that to her advantage. She wanted me to marry her, but Sheryl, I never cheated and the baby is not mine."
"Your marrying her."
"I am not. I don't want her, I want you."
I wiped the tears from her right eye and looked at her. She was so broken and vulnerable. Before she could say anything, I kissed her.
After kissing her, I looked her in the eyes and said, "I love you, Sherly, and I would never hurt you."
"But you did."
"That was Mia. I was too drunk to know what was going on and when a man is that drunk baby they can't perform. I'm sure some can, but I'm not one of them."
She turned red with embarrassment.
"Honey, I'm not marrying Mia and she is not having my baby. I have proof. We can go to the docs office if you need to see it."
"Why would she do this?" She asked.
"Because she thinks she loves me. She wanted an excuse to marry me and it didn't work. The moment I got up to my mom screaming at me and finding out you had left, I was crushed. I knew nothing happened but I had to prove it. So, when Mia announced she was pregnant, I had a fetal paternity test done. If it came back the baby was mine, I would have married her but I knew the baby wasn't mine. I let her do whatever she wanted as long as I got that test done. The test showed the baby and I are related, but it's not mine. Come to find out she slept with Marcus and was hoping that they couldn't tell it was his baby so she would marry me. Her plan fell through and she had her sights set on my brother but he won't marry her. Needless to say, the families are fighting and Mia is not happy."
"I won't go back, Drew."
"I never asked you to come back because I know things would be too difficult, but I was going to move here. I don't want to lose you."
Sheryl looked at me and for the first time since I laid eyes on her I saw hope in her eyes.
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- Writer
