Among Wildflowers (17 page)

Macy took a second look
around the kitchen, feeling pretty satisfied with the work she had done. The cupboards were still in disrepair and the linoleum needed to be replaced badly, but at least the whole place was now thoroughly clean. She had washed all the dishes, scrubbed all the cupboards and drawers, mopped the floor, and cleaned the windows. She’d only been in Aunt Suzy’s house, the house she grew up in, for about a week, but it looked so much better already. When Macy had arrived, the place had looked so much more dilapidated than she remembered. But for the grace of God, no one had broken in. The windows had been boarded up, but she took those down, hiring a local handyman to come out right away to put up bars over the windows instead so that she would at least have some light coming in through during the day.

She sat down at the kitchen table, which looked like it had fallen right out of the seventies, and opened the newspaper that she had picked up that day. She could live off her savings for now, but that wouldn’t last forever. She needed work. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much work around. She just hoped she could somehow manage to find enough freelance photography jobs within driving distance. Oh yes, and she was going to buy a car. She couldn’t survive in Detroit without a car like she could in New York City. But she’d figure it out. That was her new thing—figuring things out and making her life work.

Sighing, she stood and looked out the large kitchen window onto the street. The sun was beginning to set and was casting a beautiful orange glow on everything. Her Aunt Suzy had loved this house. No matter how terrible the economy got, she’d refused to leave her home. At the time it frustrated Macy and she would get upset with Suzy for being so stubborn and staying in such a dangerous area, but now Macy kind of understood it. This house represented so much comfort and love.

Pushing away from the kitchen counter, Macy went to the closet where so many of Aunt Suzy’s paintings were stored. She began pulling them out one by one and lining them up along the hallway so she could look at them all.

Once again, regret pooled in her stomach when she thought about how she hadn’t appreciated her aunt’s talents while she was
here. But she couldn’t change that now. The only thing she could do was to honor her aunt’s memory as best she could. Celebrate her life by making this house as cheerful as it had been when her aunt was alive.

***

Macy was just pulling her nightshirt over her head when there was a bang at the door. Her heart dropped inside her chest and then began to hammer painfully against her ribs. She held her breath and waited for any other sounds. Another bang, followed by whispers.
Shit.

She flipped off the light in the bedroom, and tiptoed to the front of the house. Another bang, harder this time. Someone was trying to kick in her front door. She picked up the baseball bat that she kept at the front of the house and held it tightly, her body trembling.

“Go away!” she yelled through the door.

“Shit, man. Someone’s in there,” a man’s voice said. “You said the place was empty.”

“Thought it was.”

“Get the fuck away from my house!” she yelled again.

“It’s just a woman, sounds like she’s home alone,” the second man said.

“Come on, sugar, open up the door. We ain’t gonna hurt you.”

“I’m calling the police. Go away!”

Another bang as they kicked the door again. This time the frame began to splinter. Macy screamed and backed away, clutching the baseball bat.

“I have a gun!” she yelled.

“Fuck, man, let’s just go,” one of the men said.

“No way, it’s just a lady—”

“What the hell are you doing? Get away from that house!” a
third voice yelled. It was farther away, maybe coming from the
street.

“Shit, go! Go, man, just go!”

Macy dropped the bat on the floor and pushed hard against the door, letting out a tiny sob of relief. She tested the door, making sure it was still secure.
Damn.
It felt loose. One more kick and they would have--

“Macy,” a tentative voice said from the other side of the door. “Macy... you in there?”

Another sob escaped from her throat and she slid the deadbolt over, yanking the door open.

“Ryland?”

Ryland quickly stepped through the threshold and swept Macy up in his arms. “Oh, thank God, Macy.” He reluctantly released her to examine the door. “Man, they did a number on that. We’ve got to reinforce this tonight and then get it fixed tomorrow. We should install a security door, too, I think. Those assholes were up to no good, but I doubt the cops will be too interested in a couple guys attempting to break into a house. Looked like their hands were pretty full as I drove through town.”

Macy watched Ryland, feeling shaken that he was standing here in front of her. “Ryland...what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here? What the hell are you doing here?”

“This is my aunt’s house... my house now.”

“I know, I know,” he said, planting tiny kisses all over her face as he cupped it with his hands. “I mean, why did you leave New York like that without even telling me? Why did you just leave me like that? I would have come with you in a heartbeat.”

“I ruined your life. The paparazzi were all over the place… I just did what was best for both of us and got the hell away from you. And I figured you hated me and went right back to your ranch anyway.”

“I don’t hate you. Not for one minute. I’m sorry... I know I shouldn’t have left like I did. I was just... having a hard time swallowing everything.”

“I know, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry I did that to you.”

He put a finger to her lips to silence her. “It’s not your fault. You’re as much of a victim of the press as I am. This isn’t the first time my life has been scrutinized, and it won’t be the last, I’m sure. I went back to your apartment that day, but you were already gone. I was so worried. You haven’t been answering your phone… I didn’t know how to get ahold of you.”

“I’m sorry, Ryland. I couldn’t take the constant onslaught of calls. I just turned my phone off and forgot about it. I wanted to disappear for a while.”

“Lane has been out of his mind with worry.”

Macy’s eyes widened. “You talked to Lane?”

“Yeah, I have. A lot, actually. You have to call and check in with him, let him know you’re okay.” Ryland stopped. “You are okay, aren’t you?”

“Yes, actually. For the first time in my life, I think I am.” She leaned against him, tucking her head beneath his chin. “How did you find me?”

Ryland pulled away, looking down into her eyes. “I told you I’d follow you forever if I had to, didn’t I?”

“But... how did you know I’d be here, at my aunt’s house?”

He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips gently brushing against her face. “I remember everything you say to me, Macy.”

“Ryland—”

Ryland smiled, pushing hair out of Macy’s face. “Lane helped me figure out your aunt’s address.”

“Ryland…”

“Shhh,” he said running his thumb along her bottom lip “Before anything else is said, there’s something I have to tell you. I love you, Macy. With all my heart and soul, I love you. I need you in my life. When I saw your apartment was empty, my heart broke and I panicked, not knowing if you were okay, if you were safe, if you were scared. Macy, more than anything else in this world, I want you to be mine. I want to be with you every day. Hold you, support you, love you. All of you, even the ugly parts. I just want to be in your life. That’s all I want.”

Tears began to flow freely down Macy’s cheeks. “Oh, Ryland, I just... I don’t know what to say.”

“Tell me you love me.”

She smiled through the tears and kissed him as she stood on her tiptoes and slid her arms around his neck. “I love you.”

“Do you, Macy,
take Ryland to be your lawful wedded husband for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” she said.

“Will you promise to love him and honor him throughout your years together?”

“I will.”

“And do you, Ryland, take Macy to be your lawful wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?”

“I do,” I said without hesitation.

“Will you promise to love her and honor her throughout your years together?”

“I will.”

Macy smiled through her tears at me, our hands clumsily clutching one another’s.

“By the power vested in me by the great state of Montana, I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

I couldn’t stop grinning as I leaned down and kissed her for the first time as my bride. Never in my life had I seen anything quite as beautiful as Macy looked that day as she walked down the aisle to me. Well, at least until the day our baby girl was born. But that’s a whole different love story that will have to wait.

We had a very small July ceremony on the ranch. Michael walked Macy down the aisle, looking every bit a proud papa as any man walking his daughter down the aisle would look. We had a very small group of people in attendance. My parents, and of course Helen sat in front beside them, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. Lane, Jackie, Robbie, and all my ranch hands were also there. And that was it. No celebrity friends, no press. Just the very closest people in our lives.

I had been so relieved when I introduced Macy to my parents for the first time. I knew that they had been watching the scandal about her unfold in the press, and I didn’t know what their reaction would be to her. But they instantly fell in love with her, just as I hoped they would. Mama welcomed Macy to the family with open arms and won her over with her southern cooking.

Our photographer took a few pictures of us, which we did release to the media in the form of a front page story in a magazine—
Celebrity News
, no less. The story was entitled
RYLAND IN LOVE AGAIN. How Ryland and Macy found love in the most unexpected way.

One painful lesson I had learned with everything that happened with Isabelle was that as a public figure, I couldn’t keep secrets. I couldn’t keep things that were sacred to me out of the public eye. I had learned that I had to be upfront about certain things so that I could at least make sure the truth was told.

Our ceremony took place in the meadow just beyond the small ridge by our house. Macy insisted that Isabelle be a part of our ceremony, even though I told her it wasn’t necessary—I didn’t want anything to take away from her wedding day. But that’s Macy. No sense arguing with her once she has her mind set on something.

After our 'I dos' and rings were exchanged and we were officially announced as husband and wife, she proceeded to pick a large bouquet of the fragrant wildflowers that were blooming brightly in the meadow. She led me by the hand to Isabelle’s gravestone and knelt in front of it, pulling me down beside her. Then she lovingly placed the flowers that Isabelle had loved so much on the grave, clutching my hand tightly. In that moment I saw just how endless the love was that Macy possessed within her heart. She still amazes me, and I thank God every day that I am the lucky man who got to make her his wife.

That night we had a small, intimate dinner with our loved ones. Michael stood, holding a glass of champagne up for a toast.

“Ryland, since the day I became your manager, I knew you were a talented young man and had a lot of potential to go far in this business. But what I didn’t expect was how proud I would be of you as you grew up over the years to become the good man you are today. Macy, thank you... so much... for coming into our lives. Your arrival was very unexpected, but so welcome. You two make a good team together, and I know you’ll be able to handle any ups and downs that might come your way in the years to come. I love both of you,” he said, trying not to get choked up. “To Macy and Ryland.”

“To Macy and Ryland,” everyone else said in unison.

Later that night as Macy stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair before bed, I came up behind her and slid my arms around her waist.

“Thank you,” she said quietly.

I spun her around and cupped her face. “For what, baby?”

“Everything,” she said smiling. “For being my husband. For making my life complete.”

Taking her hand, I kissed her palm softly. “No, love, it’s me who should be thanking you. You saved me, Macy.”

She smiled, pulling my face down for a kiss. Then she said, “I’d like to go back to Detroit soon.”

“Of course. I’d like to get back out there before my tour starts, too.”

“I want to check in and see how everything is going with the
house.”

“Jackie said the new manager was doing great handling things. She picked a great guy to run the halfway house.”

She smiled and nodded. “She’s good at reading people. I don’t know if I would have made it through to the other side without her.”

“But you did, that’s what matters. That you’re here with me now,” I whispered, brushing my lips against hers.

“That’s all that matters to me,” she whispered back, sliding her arms around me. “I love you, Ryland Quinn.”

I smiled against her mouth. “And I love you, Macy Quinn.” I ran my fingers through her beautiful blond locks. “I think it’s past your bedtime, Mrs. Quinn.”

She laughed, brushing her cheek against my chest. “Then you’d better take your wife to bed, husband.”

I sighed happily like a sappy fool as I scooped her into my arms. “I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of hearing you call me your husband.”

She nuzzled my neck as she giggled. “You better not, because you’re going to hear it a lot.”