Promised (The Promised Series)

a good surprise face for her. I walk up to the house hand in hand with Wyn; she’s been Mom’s distraction today, keeping me out of the house so everything could be set up.
    I push open the door and everyone shouts. “Surprise!” Wyn and Mom are both grinning like fools, thinking they’ve pulled off their surprise. I grab both of them to me and hug them, kissing Mom’s cheek and then Wyn’s.
    “Happy birthday, baby boy.” Mom says as she squeezes me around the middle and then releases me. As she moves away from me, I feel a strong hand grab my shoulder from behind. I spin around and my mouth falls open. The tears spill out of my eyes before I can even try to stop them. I grab him in a bear hug, fisting my hands in the back of his fatigues.
    “Dad!” I sob into his neck.
    His hand rubs the back of my head and the other is hugging me tight to his chest. “Happy birthday, kiddo.” He’s holding back his tears, but I can tell by the shake of his voice that he’s barely doing so. I pull myself together and release him from the hug. Mom takes my place, slipping her arms around his waist and leaning her head against his chest. I admire the ease they have with each other even after being separated for so long. I smile at them and then remembering Wyn, I pull her to my side and introduce her.
    “Dad, this is the girl I’ve been writing you about. Wyn, this is my dad, Andrew Tatman.”
    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Tatman.” Wyn says as she holds out her hand for Dad to shake.
    Instead, Dad uses her hand to pull her into a hug. He whispers something in her ear that causes her to smile up at him and nod her head. I look at Dad in question and he winks at me, but doesn’t explain.
    “You have good taste, son.” Dad says. He releases Wyn who moves back to my side. I slip my arm back around her shoulder.
    “Something you passed down to me.” I reply grinning.
    Dad looks down at Mom and smiles. “I do believe you’re right.” Then he leans down and kisses her.
    “Well, I believe that’s our cue to join the rest of the guests.” I tell Wyn.
    “Smart kid.” Dad chuckles and adds. “We’ll catch up more after the party, Kiddo. Enjoy yourself.”
    The party goes by in a blur. I make my rounds with the guests, introducing Wyn to my family. I blow out the candles and make my wish. I open my presents: a car cleaning kit from Nate, money from my parents and most my relatives, and Luke Bryan tickets from Wyn. Then the last of the guests leave, including Wyn and Nate.
    I’m settled on the back porch with Dad. A bottle of beer in his hand, a glass of sweet tea in mine. It’s a perfect spring evening; mid-seventies, sun slowly fading, and a George Strait song coming out the kitchen window where Mom is straightening up. Dad takes a swig from his bottle as he watches the sky.
    “I like your girl.” He says, breaking through the comfortable quiet.
    “Me too.” I reply as I take a drink of tea.
    “I told your Mom I’d be okay with her staying with us. It takes an awful lot of courage to turn your back on the only life you’ve ever known. And I’m proud of you for supporting her through this. She’s going to need that when the time comes to leave them.”
    “I’m afraid I won’t be enough.” I tell him the truth, what’s worrying me.
    “And you might not be, but all that matters at this point is that she thinks you are.” He sets his beer down and scoots closer to me, putting his arm around my shoulder. “Whatever happens, I want you to remember that she does love you. I saw it in her eyes tonight and even if she can’t leave them, at least for a little while, you got to experience a real version of that. Some people never do.”
    But will that be enough to keep me going if she leaves me? I take another drink of tea and watch the back yard instead of putting that thought into words. I’m afraid of the answer I’ll get and the worry that answer will cause my parents.
    Chapter 26 – Wyn
    ~Born Fighter~
    My phone goes off for the third time. I hit ignore and throw it back on my night stand. It’s Dani, again. She hasn’t talked to me in three weeks and now she thinks she can call me like nothing happened. After the blow up, I needed the time to cool down. Her words hurt and scarred me, but I can’t help thinking what if she’s right. What if I leave my family and then Linc realizes he doesn’t love me? I’ll have no one. My family won’t take me back; they’ll be too ashamed by