Chapter 142 Part 142
Asher
He checked his phone again for the nth time as he stood on the porch and waited. Emerson hadn’t called, she hadn’t even texted him. It irritated him more than he cared to admit. She’d made a point of it to show him that she didn’t need him. Eight days had gone by and not a peep from her.
The car turned onto the dirt road and Asher couldn’t help but smile. The boys were finally home. The house had been too quiet without them. He heard Colt first, barking out a laugh as they rounded the corner of his house.
“You just couldn’t give me five minutes alone with my boys!” Asher said, loudly.
“Not a chance. We missed them too,” Colt said, and chuckled.
Joel parked the truck next to Cassidy’s car, but Oscar was the first one out. His grin was wide and his eyes glistened as he ran. Asher had moved, too, and they met at the bottom of the porch.
“Hey! Leave some for me!” Joel yelled, as he jogged over to them. Asher lifted his arm, and pulled Joel closer.
“I missed you both,” he said, softly.
“We missed you, too, Asher.” Joel tightened his arms around him, and Asher could feel his own emotions rising.
“Stop hogging the boys, Asher!” Colt’s voice was loud.
Asher finally let go and he took a step backward to look at them. “How was camp?”
“They can tell us everything at dinner tonight,” Blair said, as he pushed Colt out of the way, and hugged both boys.
“Nice, real nice,” Colt said, but grinned when it was finally his turn.
When his brothers had finally left, the boys took their bags to their room and Asher waited for them in the kitchen. He glanced at Cassidy as she thrummed her fingers against the table. “Are you bored?”
“Nervous,” she said, and inhaled.
“Why?”
“They’re your boys. What if they don’t like me?”
Asher laughed loudly, and shook his head. He could hear Oscar and Joel speaking as they neared the kitchen. Both boys stopped talking, and they stared at Cassidy.
“Hi,” Joel said, as he glanced at Asher.
“She’s pretty, Asher,” Oscar said, his voice not quite a whisper.
Cassidy laughed, and smiled at both of them. “I’m Cassidy, and it’s nice to meet both of you.”
“How did you two meet?” Joel asked, after he shook Cassidy’s hand.
Oscar brought the jug of sweet tea to the table, and went back to the cupboard to get glasses. He poured without asking if anybody else wanted, and sat down next to his brother.
“Cassidy whispered in my ear, and about an hour later, I met her for the first time,” Asher said.
“Right, because knowing people like Bear Claw isn’t weird enough,” Joel commented.
“I also sniffed his sweaty armpits for two days in a sniper’s nest,” Cassidy said.
Oscar choked as he started to laugh, and tried to swallow. “At least, he showers now.”
“I showered in the army, too!”
“When we had water,” Cassidy said, and grinned.
“I’m glad you’re getting out there again, Asher.”
Asher’s mouth opened as he looked at Joel, and Cassidy laughed again. “Oh, no, Asher’s like a brother. I came here to escape my life.”
“Oh! I’m sorry, I just assumed,” Joel said.
“It’s fine, but I do agree with you, he does need to get out there again, especially with the baby on the way.”
“What baby?” Oscar asked.
Cassidy blinked, and looked at Asher. “Did I just spill a secret?”
“What happened to your big talk about boxes of condoms?” Joel asked him.
“You boys know about Emerson. She moved to town just after you left for camp and told me that she’s pregnant. The baby will be born in about two weeks.”
“What does that mean for us?” Oscar asked softly.
“Nothing will change. This is your home, Oscar, forever. You’re a Fitzgerald; my sons. It only means you’re getting a brother.”
“We’re not going anywhere again. Too much stuff happens when we leave,” Joel said, with a grin.
“How much time do you spend with Colt? You have the same grin,” Cassidy said.
“I help him with his horses, so plenty of time,” Joel said, proudly.
“Joel also opened his own business on the ranch,” Asher said.
“At 17? Seems like you’re going places,” Cassidy said.
“Tell us what happened with Emerson. Are you guys getting married now?”
Asher spent the next hour telling Oscar and Joel about Emerson’s return, and how that would impact all their lives. He answered their questions the best he could, and he knew they wouldn’t completely understand his actions.
The boys left the kitchen with somber expressions, and Asher didn’t like the looks on their faces. They hadn’t said anything, but he knew they didn’t approve of his decisions. He’d maintained an open relationship with them, giving them the freedom to voice their thoughts, and even argue with him if they disagreed.
“I’m not even going to say anything,” Cassidy said, and stood up from the table. “What are we eating tonight?”
“Whatever you guys want. I’m going to take dinner over to Emerson. I don’t like the silence from her. I sent her a text two hours ago and she hasn’t even read it yet. Things can’t go on like this any longer,” Asher said.
“We’ll be fine, this will give me time to bond with your sons and swap stories with them,” Cassidy said, and winked.
The drive to Emerson’s house didn’t take long and he stood in front of the door with a slight frown. It was dark now, but no lights were on in the house. He unlocked the door with his key and put the casserole in the fridge.
“Emerson?” He headed down the hall toward her bedroom and knocked on the door. It was ajar but the bathroom light was on.
He pushed the door open and swore under his breath. There was blood pooling underneath her, and he made the split-second decision, and scooped her into his arms.