Chapter 57

“Excuse me, who are you?” Meredith’s mother asked as her gaze flashed to Garrett, standing on the outskirt of their imaginary circle, in between the two different factions. Meredith at the tip, her parents at the base.

But he closed the gap between him and the offending faction and shook her parents’ hands as he said, “Garrett Slater. Meredith’s boyfriend.”

He was too polite, too much of a Southern gentleman not to be gracious.

Though he immediately returned to his spot that mimicked a referee at a hockey game faceoff.

Meredith’s parents gaped at him, in general…and probably, most specifically, the term he’d used: Boyfriend.

Meredith fought the urge to grind her teeth. Garrett had rendered the senior Carlisles speechless and that irked Meredith no end. They clearly couldn’t fathom what the hell the gorgeous man was talking about as it related to their daughter—that he was with her.

Then again, they hadn’t exactly been around to witness her transformation, now had they?

And it didn’t help matters, either, that—this morning—she was still looking the way they were accustomed to seeing her, dressed in jeans that were a bit too big for her and a sweater with a hem that reached mid-thigh.

She resisted the innate desire to stomp her booted foot on the concrete of the parking lot outside the diner. Didn’t it just figure that they’d catch her at breakfast on a casual morning when she wasn’t working—or when she wasn’t all gussied up for a night out with Garrett?

On second thought, though…

Holy hell, wouldn’t that have just set them on their ear if they had seen her dressed to the nines with full-on hair and makeup?!

It was too bad, really, they’d missed out on that.

Very likely, it would have proved to them that she wasn’t the same ole Meredith Jane Carlisle they’d expected to find when they’d dropped into town.

She did everything in her power to remind herself that she truly wasn’t the same ole, same ole. She’d changed. She’d evolved. She’d expanded her personal and professional spheres, and she’d become a highly active, productive and respected member of this community.

She sat on the committee for the inaugural street festival and was the one to develop the marketing materials. Plus, folks around town looked to her to post on social media all the current happenings related to the event and the developments in Wildfire—not to mention all the new and exciting things going on at Lacey’s boutique and at Chase’s ranch.

And, oh, yeah…She had a boyfriend.

A devilishly handsome one, at that.

Meredith grinned, despite her swirling consternation. And her inherent aggravation over this unfortunate situation she’d found herself in.

Her parents still couldn’t find the words they were looking for as they stared at her, then Garrett, then Meredith again.

This made Garrett scowl—on Meredith’s behalf.

She realized, instantly, that she couldn’t be upset with the current circumstances. She couldn’t be put-out by small-minded people anymore. Nor could she accept that she’d been cut off from her own family, because she’d been considered an embarrassment to them.

And now, because of this contest she was entered in, she was suddenly a “somebody” once more in their eyes. A person worthy of their attention and affection. Their recognition, in general.

Meredith mentally contended that she’d cried a river over being shunned by her kin.

She didn’t deserve to shed another tear.

And no doubt, if she didn’t emerge a winner in the fragrance competition, they truly would fade back into the woodwork, losing instant interest in her.

If Meredith let them in, they’d only crush her again.

If she allowed them to command her emotions by popping back into her life, because it suited their intents and purposes, she’d only be devastated in the end.

Been there, done that.

Thank you very fucking much.

Given that Meredith was getting damn good at standing up for herself, it wasn’t terribly difficult to make her choice as to which force of nature she’d merge her faction with.

She walked toward Garrett.

He stood with his arms crossed over his massive chest. She wedged her hand under and through one of his arms, linking hers with his as he maintained his stance. She rested her other hand on his powerful forearm.

To her parents, she said, “It was kind of you to come visit your old friends in town. I hope they enjoy your company. As for the three of us…I’m guessing we’re all about as caught up as we need to be, so…”

She tore her gaze from them and it landed on Garrett’s tight jaw. “What do you say we go ridin’, cowboy? It’s a gorgeous morning to take Storm up onto the ridge, don’t you think?”

The corners of his mouth twitched, as though he wanted to grin at her. He remained pensive, though, with a stern expression on his chiseled face. For effect, to keep her parents on edge, she presumed.

However…his eyes eventually dropped to her. And they glowed warmly. Fondly.

He said, “Excellent idea, Meredith Jane.”

“They come upon me from time to time,” she quietly jested. To her parents, she said, “Y’all have a safe trip home.”

She unraveled from Garrett, but he slipped an arm around her waist, protectively, as he directed her to his truck.

Meredith felt a tinge of guilt as she walked away, leaving her parents gaping where they stood.

Of course she did.

But she reminded herself that she’d suffered the most in this entire scenario. They’d stopped speaking to her when she’d been kicked out of school. And their first or second or third words since getting in touch with her of late had not been we’re sorry. There’d been no apology issued whatsoever. No remorse hinted at and clearly none showing in their eyes this morning.

So Meredith had to accept the inevitable. She wasn’t reconciling with them anytime soon.

And while she momentarily wondered if she was supposed to be the bigger, better person and rise above—forgive and forget—she mentally contended that she’d been tormented for too long with the feelings of inadequacy and shame they’d made her feel.

Until her parents could atone for putting that all on her, Meredith needed to keep her distance.

She’d come too far to fall back into the good little girl looking for a pat on the head persona she’d projected when she was, in fact, a good little girl.

She was a woman now.

And Meredith demanded respect when she earned it.

It was as simple as that.

Naturally, she’d feel infinitely better if her fingers weren’t trembling and her knees weren’t nearly knocking together.

But Garrett had a firm grip on her. As always.

Meredith focused on keeping her tears at bay, at walking more steadily. At letting him help her into the cab of his Super Duty, and strapping herself in without missing the seatbelt latch a million times.

Okay, the latter was a true feat.

But she was able to pull in a few full breaths as he rounded the front of the vehicle and then climbed in behind the wheel.

He shot her a sexy smile and said, “They’re gonna make peace with their regret, darlin’. Someday, they’re gonna around. For all the right reasons and with the right words. In the meantime…You keep holding your head high. Because you have every damn right to, honey.”

The tears filled her eyes, despite her best efforts to stem them.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “You cryin’ just plain kills me, Meredith Jane. And if for one second you start doubting yourself and all you’ve accomplished—”

“I’m okay,” she insisted, and swiped at several drops with a shaky hand. “Maybe I’m just expecting too much from them.”

“You’re not.”

He jabbed the key into the ignition and cranked it so the engine roared to life.

Then he returned his attention to her. He leaned toward her, brushed his fingers over her cheek, kissed her softly and murmured, “You don’t ever stop just bein’ you, honey. Not for anyone. All that matters, in the end, is what you see when you look in the mirror and how you feel when you stare yourself in the eyes. Everyone else will have to contend with what they see when they do the same.”

She sniffled. She didn’t bother to attempt a smile, knowing her mouth would only quiver.

But she asked, “How do you always know the right thing to say to me?”

He didn’t even hesitate as he responded, “Because I know you. Because I see you. Because you’re incredible, Meredith Jane. And because I love you.”

“Jesus, cowboy. Who’s killin’ who now?”

He kissed her temple. And whispered, “We have plenty to overcome, darlin’. It’s infinitely easier if we do it together…Am I right?”