Page 70 of Promise Me a Forever Texas Love

“That’s just part of having two parents,” she said. “Now there are a few things I need to talk to Huck about. I just ran into Poppy down by the river. She said she’d teach you how to catch tadpoles.”

“Tadpoles!” He started for the ladder, but she stopped him and drew him into her arms for a tight hug. “I love you, Camden Joseph Stockton.”

“I love you too, Mama.” He gave her a squeeze before he drew back and squinted up at her. “But isn’t my last name Hennessy now? Aunt Poppy said I’m a Hennessy Hooligan.”

“We’ll talk about that later. Now be careful at the river. Don’t go too far in.”

He rolled his eyes. “I can swim, Mama.” He headed toward the ladder but then stopped and looked at Huck. “Do you think I can have a ship wheel in my tree house?”

Huck nodded. “I think that can be arranged.”

Camden smiled broadly before he headed for the ladder. Both she and Huck issued a warning at the same time.

“Be careful!”

Camden glanced between them and heaved a sigh before he disappeared down the ladder.

Leaving just Cadee and Huck.

They stared at each other as Cadee struggled to find words. Huck didn’t have the same problem.

“Thank you for what you told Camden about me being a good man . . . especially after learning what I did.” He ran a hand through his hair, causing it to stand on end as he stared out at the river that glistened in the afternoon sun. “I wish I had a good reason for taking the money, but it was just another one of my harebrained get-rich schemes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

He looked at her, his eyes contrite. “Because I didn’t want to see the same disappointed look you gave me today.”

“I was just surprised and hurt that you hadn’t told me. We used to share everything.”

He smiled sadly. “Not everything.”

He was right. They hadn’t shared their love for each other. That was her fault much more than his. If she had claimed him as her own, instead of hiding him, maybe he never would have left.

“I’m sorry, Huck. If I’d had the guts to stand up to my daddy, maybe you would have realized you are more than worthy of my love. Maybe you had some harebrained ideas when you were a kid, but every kid dreams about being rich and buying a big house and a fancy car.”

He stared back at her with such longing it broke her heart. “It wasn’t just about a big house and car. I thought if I were rich, your daddy would let you marry me.”

Tears filled her eyes. “Oh, Huck. My daddy couldn’t have kept me from marrying you if you had asked me. No one could have. I know my actions didn’t say that, but that’s the truth. And I’m so sorry for not seeing what my actions were saying to you. I’m not ashamed of you. You can drive a motorcycle. You can work at a bar. You can have a pirate’s mustache and soul patch . . . in fact, don’t you dare get rid of that mustache. I love you for who you are. I’ve always loved you for who you are. Because beneath the ornery kid and the impulsive teenager and the motorcycle-driving, sexy-mustached bad boy, is a good-hearted man who is kind and loving and loyal and charming . . . and perfect.”

After she finished her speech, she realized that both she and Huck had tears rolling down their cheeks, but Huck also had a huge smile.

“So . . . you do love my stache.”

Only Huck could make her laugh through her tears. “Damn right, I do. Especially when it’s between my . . .” She let the sentence drift off.

Huck’s grin got bigger. “Your what, Catydid?”

“You know what.”

“I do. And I have no plans to get rid of something that makes you so . . .” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Happy. But for the record, I’m no longer a motorcycle-riding bad boy. From now on, I’m just a truck-driving, woodworking, family man.”

“Family man?”

He nodded. “You and Cam are my family, Cadee. I know you don’t want to rush into anything, but⁠—”

She cut him off. “You call twenty years rushing?”

He blinked. “Well, no, but⁠—”