The four of them watched him disappear into Maddie’s room. What was Kyle supposed to do now? Wait some more to find out what was happening with his daughter?
Liam cleared his throat. “Hadley and I talked, by the way. We ripped up all the adoption paperwork. We’re formally withdrawing our bid for custody of your daughters. It’s pretty obvious you’re the best father they could hope for, and we want you to know we’re here for you.”
Somehow he managed to blurt out, “That’s great.”
Grace nodded, slipping her hand into his. “He’s an amazing man and an amazing father. I wouldn’t have recommended that he retain custody otherwise.”
Their overwhelming support nearly did him in. He’d left Royal to find a new team, a place where he could fit in and finally feel like a part of something, only to learn that there really was no place like home.
“Just like that?” he finally asked Liam and Hadley. “You were going to adopt Maddie and Maggie. It can’t be easy to live in the same house and realize what you’ve missed out on.”
He wouldn’t take to that arrangement too well, that was for sure. If they’d somehow gotten custody, there was no way he’d have stayed. And he’d have ruined his second chance with Grace in the process. Leaving was still his go-to method for coping. But if things went the way he hoped, he had a reason to stay. Forever.
Hadley shook her head. “It’s not easy. It was one of the hardest conversations we’ve had as a couple, but it was the easiest decision. We both love them, so much, and want the absolute best for them. Which means you. They’re your daughters. We’re incredibly fortunate for the time we’ve had together, and besides, you’re not going anywhere, right?”
“No.” Kyle tightened his grip on Grace’s hand. “I’m not. Royal is where I belong.”
The words spilled from his heart easily, despite never dreaming such a thing would be true.
“Then it will be fine,” Liam said. “We’re still their aunt and uncle, and we expect to babysit a lot in the future.”
“That’s a deal.” Kyle shook his brother’s hand and held it for a beat longer, just to solidify the brotherly bond that they were forging.
Hadley and Liam waited with Kyle and Grace, chatting about the ranch and telling stories about Hadley’s cat, Waldo. Finally, the doctor emerged, and Kyle tried to read the man’s face, but it was impossible to tell his daughter’s prognosis from that alone.
Quickly, he stood.
“She’s going to make a full recovery,” Dr. Reese proclaimed. “The tests were all negative. The fever didn’t cause any more damage to her heart.”
Everyone started talking at once, expressing relief and giving the doctor their thanks. Numbly, Kyle shook the doctor’s hand and stumbled toward Maddie’s room, determined to see her for himself to confirm that she was indeed fine.
After a few minutes, Grace forced him to go home with her so he could get some sleep, but he couldn’t sleep. Now that he could stop worrying about Maddie so much, he couldn’t get Grace’s comments about being swept off her feet out of his mind.
They’d talked, and things were looking up, but no one had made any promises. Of course, it hadn’t been the time or place. They’d been in a hospital room while his daughter fought for her life.
But he owed Grace so much. And now he had to step up. This was his opportunity to give her everything her heart desired.
When Hadley called Grace to invite her to a horse show Friday night, Grace actually pulled the phone away from her ear to check and make sure it was really Hadley’s name on the screen.
“I’m sorry. Did you say a horse show?” Grace repeated. “There’s no horse show scheduled this time of year. Everyone is busy with calving season.”
In a town like Royal, everyone lived and died by the ranch schedule whether they worked on one or not. And Kyle had been conspicuously absent for the better part of a week as he pulled calves, worked with the vet and fell into bed exhausted each night.
He always texted her a good-night message, though, no matter how late it was. She might have saved them all, even though not one had mentioned talking about the future. It had been almost a week since the hospital, and she and Kyle had had precious few moments alone together since then.
That’s what happened when you fell in love with a rancher.
She’d hoped he might be the one calling her for a last-minute Friday night date so they could talk. It wasn’t looking too promising since it was already six o’clock.
“Don’t be difficult,” Hadley scolded. “Liam is busy helping Kyle and I need some me time. Girls’ night out. Come on.”