The Scars That Make Us (Second Generation Book 3)

Chapter 40

JACE

Contrary to what it may seem based on the last eight months or so, it is actually really difficult to keep a secret around the ranch. Sure I secretly got married and then secretly got Catarina pregnant and all that fun stuff, but once something happens on the ranch, it is only a matter of time before everybody knows. That is why I am so damn proud of myself today. Harlow and Ember came to me one day and said they wanted to plan a baby shower for Cat, but it needed to be a day that Nola could come down because obviously, she's a super important personal to Cat.

Originally, it was planned for two weeks from now. Nola was going to be in between projects and her boyfriend/not boyfriend/friend who happens to be a guy she's kind of seeing was scheduled off and we decided to do the shower on a Thursday to not interrupt with any weekend weddings. That was in the works until Bev had a wedding cancellation for this weekend. It took some phone calls and moving shit around, but we have secretly arranged for Nola, Dante, and Asher to join us this weekend instead.

Ember has been working on a cake all week that is secretly for Catarina and the girls have been getting decorations together for the reception barn to give her a full baby shower as she deserves. We didn't have a wedding or a reception, so my mom took this as a chance to invite some other people that we knew from the town to the baby shower, but everybody has been told it is a surprise.

I even got up this morning to go to work, even though I was only going to be putting in a half-day before going into town and getting food from Pizza Ranch for the shower. Yeah, Pizza Ranch is catering her baby shower, but it is her favorite food so who am I to deny her?

"Granger, you in here?" I knock on the door to Granger's office. Word to the wise, ALWAYS knock on the door to Granger's office.

"Yep." Granger always has been a man of few words.

"I just wanted to let you know that Lyle and I are heading into town to pick up the food."

"Yep. Your mother has been on my ass all day about getting home and showering to 'look presentable' for this afternoon," using air quotes to quote my mom. "I told her she can't turn a rancher into a house husband."

I started to laugh and then stopped and stared at him, "Did you just...make a joke?"

He just smirked at me and shooed me away with a flip of his wrist. "Get out of here, Jace. We'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Thanks, Granger."

A tilt of his cowboy hat was all I needed in response from him. I grabbed Lyle and we loaded into Harlow's SUV so we could use the trunk for the food and drinks.

"Have you spoken to our surprise guests today?" Lyle asked as we pulled onto the highway.

"Asher sent me a text when they were on their way this morning. It is a six-hour drive so I imagine they'll get here just in time. She's going to totally freak out when she sees them."

"Are you sure she's not suspecting anything?"

I shake my head, "No way she thinks anything is going on. She was even talking to Nola last night, planning what they were going to do when she's here in a couple of weeks. I feel bad because she's going to be totally disappointed that Nola won't be here for the church farmer's market."

"Oh man, that's probably true, but in the end it'll be worth it. I mean, all the girls will go to the market with her anyway."

"That's what I'm thinking. My mom loves shit like that."