Chapter 153 Part 153
Emerson
It was late afternoon by the time Asher’s truck parked in front of her house. She zipped the suitcase shut and walked out of her bedroom. Three other suitcases stood in the short entryway that led to the front door.
She’d just entered the entryway, when the front door was opened, and Asher strode inside. His eyes immediately went to the suitcases, and then he was looking intently at her.
She took a step toward him, but he held up his hand. His steely gray gaze was fixed on her, and she’d never seen someone in so much pain before. He took a deep breath before he opened his mouth. “You’re moving? You’re really going to do this?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“When are you leaving?”
“I have another suitcase in the bedroom, and there’s another one in Henri’s room. The rest can be boxed up by movers,” she said
Asher clenched his jaw and nodded his head. “Do I need to get a lawyer?”
“Probably.”
“When, Emerson?”
“Today, the sooner the better it will be,” she said.
“I can’t stop you from doing what you want to do, but it’s killing me to let you. I want to be in your life, and I want to be in Henri’s life, not for a few hours a month, either. I know I hurt you, but you’re killing me.”
Emerson frowned, and she stepped closer to him. She took both of his hands in hers, and clutched them tightly. “Look at me, Asher.”
When he finally did, she could see that he meant every single word. “Please, don’t go.”
“I don’t think we’re talking about the same kind of moving,” she said.
His frown was instant. “What?”
“I’m moving from here to the ranch,” she said.
He took a step away from her, his gaze searching her eyes. It was an intense feeling, almost overwhelming her. “Why do I need a lawyer then?”
“To draw up a marriage contract,” she said.
He still looked at her in disbelief. “You’re saying yes? You’re really saying yes?”
She smiled then as she looked at him. “Yes.”
He took one step closer, and wrapped his arms around her tightly. She could hear his heart beating erratically. “I think I just aged ten years, when I saw your luggage.”
“Did you hurt Colt?”
Asher huffed out a laugh. “Not really, but he might have cracked some ribs, right where you’re squeezing me now.”
Her arms loosened immediately. “I’m sorry, but you probably deserved everything he gave.”
He chuckled. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“I can be on Colt’s side, too. I already chose forever with you.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Asher. So, stop being lazy, and get those suitcases in your truck.”
“The boys are going to love you,” he said, as he stepped away from her again.
“Why? Because nobody else can boss you around like I can?”
He grinned and nodded. Emerson smiled, as Asher took the first two suitcases, and headed outside to his truck. She’d just gotten the suitcase off her bed when Asher reached around her, and mumbled something under his breath.
“What was that?” she asked him.
“You trying to do everything on your own. Where’s that bratty city girl I had to teach how to fry some eggs?”
She gasped as she turned to look at him. “You never taught me to fry eggs, Asher! I could cook just fine when I lived with you the first time!”
He laughed, as he headed down the hall, and she headed to Henri’s room. The heavy-duty trash bag was still on the floor, and she stuffed all his toys and diapers into it.
It was barely 20 minutes later when she locked the door to the Lansing house behind her, probably for the last time. She’d taken all their clothes and personal belongings, it was just furniture and appliances that had been left inside.
Asher was holding the car door open for her, and he stepped to block her when she reached him. “You have my luggage in your truck, Asher. It’s not like I won’t follow you to the ranch.”
“How would you feel about renting this place out, as is?”
“What do you mean? With my furniture and your appliances?”
“Yeah…to Cassidy. She was already packing when I left the ranch,” he said.
“No,” she said, and shook her head. “Cassidy can live here rent free for as long as she wants.”
Asher’s smile made her heart beat faster, and for a moment, she couldn’t resist her own smile. “She needs it.”
“I know, Asher. I also know you care about her a lot. If she was with you in that cell, I can’t ever imagine what she went through, what you both went through, but she’s trying to heal, and that’s admirable.”
“Thank you.”
“Let’s go home, Asher.”
It didn’t take long to drive back to the ranch, and Emerson glanced in the rearview mirror. Henri was still asleep, he hadn’t even woken up when Asher carried him out to her car.
“You’re one lucky boy, Henri. You have the bravest daddy in the world,” she said, softly.
She was only allowed to carry Henri inside the house, and the moment she did, the boys were all over her. Joel took Henri in his arms, and moved to the couch. He put on a business documentary, and Emerson had to smile.
“We’ll watch an episode every day, so you can grow up smart like Asher, and take over the ranch one day,” Joel said, and Emerson could feel her heart melting.
“I’ll teach you how to draw,” Oscar said, as he sat down next to Joel, and his fingertips grazed over Henri’s small head. “Fitzgerald men are all creative in some way. Maybe you’ll even whisper to wolves like Asher does.”
“He’ll grow up being his own man,” Asher said, and wrapped his arms around Emerson from behind. “Maybe he’ll be an author like his mother. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be proud no matter what he wants to do with his life.”