Part 13 (2/2)

He took another drink of his beer and looked straight ahead as if he was recollecting something.

He inhaled a breath and slowly blew it out. ”No matter how bad things seem to be, never give up on your love. Fight for it with all you've got, Luke. There were times your mother had me wanting to pull my hair out-many, many times.”

I laughed as I took another drink of my beer. ”I feel a 'but' coming.”

Nodding his head, my father said, ”Your mother saved me, Luke. I tell her all the time if it hadn't been for her love, I'm not sure what I would have done. Life without her is not an option.”

Looking straight ahead, I let his words sink in. ”I feel the same way about Libby. I think I've been in love with her for so long, the idea of actually doing something about it scared the h.e.l.l out of me. I kept thinking if it didn't work out I'd not only being losing the love of my life, but I'd be losing my best friend as well.”

Laughing my father shook his head. ”It's like I'm listening to my younger self.” Turning, he looked at me with a serious look. ”Do everything in your power, Son, to never hurt her again.”

Swallowing hard, I nodded my head. ”Yes, sir.”

He nodded his head and looked away. ”I know you won't, because if I don't kick your a.s.s first, I know Josh will.”

I let out a nervous laugh. ”Yeah, for some reason Josh scares the p.i.s.s out of me now.” My father threw his head back and laughed his a.s.s off. ”Trust me, someday, when you have a daughter, you'll understand.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. I had never thought about kids before. Ever. That was the last thing on my mind. The idea of having a baby with Libby filled my heart with excitement. I smiled as I pictured Libby pregnant.

My father jumped off the tailgate and pointed at me. ”No. Stop it right now, Luke Johnson. Right now.”

I held up my hands in surrender. ”Stop what?”

He kept pointing. ”Don't you even picture it in your mind. I know what you're doing. I'm too young to be a grandfather and you have two more years of school.”

My mouth dropped open. How did he know what I was thinking? Then I decided it was time to play with good ole Dad. I smiled when I looked at his s.h.i.+rt. My mother would flip if she saw it.

Lick it like a lollipop.

I chuckled inside. I got my love of crazy s.h.i.+rts from my father, that is for sure. I put on a serious face and dragged my hands down my face. ”Sorry, Dad. It's just, it's gonna happen.”

My father took a step back. Horror washed over his face. ”I'm going to kill you, Luke Drew Johnson, if you say what I think you're fixin' to say.”

I shrugged my shoulders. ”The pa.s.sion between us is too strong.”

His mouth dropped open. ”What the h.e.l.l does that mean?”

Looking down, I kicked a rock. ”We didn't want anything between us, Dad and well, I'm afraid you and Mom are gonna be a memaw and pappy sooner than you thought.”

The beer dropped from his hand and he let out a gasp.

”W-what? Why in the h.e.l.l would you think I'd want to be called-Pappy? I mean, Pappy?” I stood there shocked. He was more worried about the name Pappy than the possibility of Libby being pregnant.

I smiled as I walked over and placed my hand on his shoulder. ”Yeah, you just look like a Pappy, Dad.” He pushed my hand off his shoulder and turned and walked away. He was mumbling something, but I was trying too hard not to laugh so I couldn't hear what he was saying. I pulled out my phone and sent Libby a text.

Me: Do you love me?

Libby: More than anything.

Me: Do you trust me?

Libby: With my life.

Me: Text my dad and say, Hey Pappy, what's up?

Libby: Okay ... why?

Me: I told him you were pregnant and we are calling him Pappy!

Libby: What? HAHA! OKAY doing it now!

Spinning around, my dad pointed to me. I slowly dropped my phone to my side. ”Your mother and I taught you better. Always, always wrap your stick!” He pushed his hands through his hair as he let out a moan.

”I'm not going to be able to keep Josh from killing you. You know this, right?” He dropped his head back and looked up at the sky as he lifted his fist. ”Why a boy? You did this to pay me back, didn't you?”

I looked up and laughed. ”Yep, it's a blessing indeed.”

”You think this is funny? Luke, you're going to start your life out struggling. And what about Libby?” His phone went off in his pocket and he pulled it out. The face he made caused me to smile bigger.

”What the f.u.c.k?” His head jerked up as his mouth dropped open.

”What's wrong?” I asked. He started walking toward his truck shaking his head. He turned and looked at me. ”Luke, you have to know that y'all are too young to be having a baby. I'm too young to be called Pappy, and Josh is going to kick your a.s.s.” He turned and showed me the text from Libby.

Libby: Hey Pappy! How is your day going?”

G.o.d I love her. Libby always went along with my pranks. No matter what the outcome was, she was always in. One hundred percent.

”Dad, it's a joke.”

He began running his hands through his hair. ”Oh G.o.d, Josh is gonna kill me. He's not only going to beat the s.h.i.+t out you, he's gonna beat the s.h.i.+t out of me.”

I walked up to him and put my hands on his shoulders. ”Dad, look at me. It's a joke. Libby's not pregnant; I've always wrapped the stick and always will.” I frowned and made a face. ”Well, I guess I won't always, but-”

Anger washed over my father's face. ”Luke Drew Johnson. I ought to kick your a.s.s now for doing that to me.”

I laughed as he pushed me away. ”Little b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you scared the h.e.l.l out of me.” Placing his hand on his heart he looked up and mouthed, Thank you.

I SAT ON the porch of Gram's house as I listened to my mother, Alex's mom, Ellie, and Grams, talk about life. Listening to them always made my heart soar. I glanced over and looked at Grams. She was talking about Gramps. Grams and Gramps were Alex and Colt's great-grandparents, but it felt like they were all of our grandparents. I can't even begin to count the number of times we have all sought them each out for advice.

”Garrett intends on taking me to Florida. Why in the world would I want to go to Florida? That man is crazy if he thinks he is dragging me away from my garden for two whole weeks.”

I smiled as I glanced over to Alex. She was rocking away as she focused on the women surrounding us. She looked over to me and smiled as she shook her head.

”Grams, you'd have a lovely time in Florida,” my mother said with a sweet smile.

Grams shook her head. ”Heather darling, have you ever been on a plane with Garrett?”

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