Tennessee Summer

Funeral

Ady's POV

I wake up the next morning with a smile on my face and feeling pleasantly sore. Until I roll over and find the spot in the bed where Derek had been was now empty.  I then smell the fresh aroma of coffee and I can hear Derek talking on his phone if I'm to guess correctly.

I get out of bed, slip on his t-shirt and make my way to the kitchen area where I spot Derek on his phone. I quietly grab myself a cup of coffee and wait. He gets off the phone and turns to me. "Get dressed baby we have to head back to the main house quickly," he says.

Not questioning him I pour out the rest of my coffee, unplug the coffee pot and run up the stairs to get dressed. Thirty minutes later we are riding quickly, but carefully through the woods. I've got a lot on my mind, thinking of all the different things that could have gone wrong in one night.

I quickly get off knight at the barn and hand his reins to an awaiting ranch hand and run to the house not waiting for Derek. I sling open the back screen door and I'm greeted by the sullen faces of my family members.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" I ask, he sighs and gets up and come's over to me taking my hands in his. "It's granddad sweetheart, he passes away in his sleep last night, his nurse found him this morning," At the sound of his words my legs buckle and I break down, dad catching me before I hit the floor. Yeah, granddad was an asshole these last six years, but before that he was the best grandfather and I did love him.

I hear the screen door open and then I'm in Derek's arms sitting on his lap in a kitchen chair. He rock's us softly, whispering everything will be alright into my hair until my cries settled.

A couple days later we sit in the funeral home, I am numb by this point and so is Ally, we are sitting side by side holding hands with our boyfriends on the opposite side of us. People are taking turns talking about granddads life and then his nurse gets up there.

"Ady, your grandfather asked me to write a letter to you from him a couple days prior to his death and asked me to read it to you." It was the first time since we walked in her that I looked directly at someone. I nodded my head and she started.

"My dearest Adelyn, I know I haven't been the best grandfather these last several years, nor the father to my son. When your father told me about the ranch some years ago, I thought it was going to be like it was for my parents who ended up selling out and barely making enough to raise me and my siblings, our life was hell and I vowed to never let my children and grandchildren go through what I did. I thought that's what was happening when the ranch was purchased. I was bitter, until the day you told me that you owned the ranch, your dad showed me the book you keep from over the last several years and I was impressed and mighty proud. Ady, you're the one this family needed a long time ago and still needs to this day. I've been doing some thinking over these last few weeks, sorta seeing things through your eyes and I have to say sweet girl I've never seen things clearer. I've apologized to your dad and brother, they come to visit me daily now, I enjoy their company, but I sure do miss seeing your bright smiling face come through my door. Now I know what you're thinking, don't beat yourself up. It was my fault I drove you away, I want to ask your forgiveness for being as ugly as I was and I want you to know that I've changed my will yesterday, everything will be divided between you, Ally, Stiles and your dad. I thank you for opening my eyes and through you, I'll see your grandma again. I love you, Ady, take care of your dad, brother, and cousin and keep doing the amazing job you're doing! Love Granddad." When she finished I had forgiven my grandfather and I was crying hard again because I was proud he left this earth happy once again. 

A little while later finds us back at the ranch, visitor's come and go, a lot of the ranch hands and their family's stop by to pay their respects and tell me that come Monday they can handle everything in the field and for me to take my time getting back to work.

I thank them all and tell that that I wouldn't know what I would do if they weren't here to work the ranch. I've become hungry and get up from my chair to seek my father. Ally must have the same idea because she gets up and links her arm with mine. 

We head around all the people through the dining room to get to the kitchen when we walk in my face gets red and my blood boils. Braden had Derek pinned to a wall feeling him up and down, his face screamed uncomfortably and when he see's me relief then floods his face.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing you, little trollop!" I shout causing people in the house to venture into the dining room. My father and brother included, "Uh oh" I hear Stiles whispers, but not quite enough.

"Oh, you know Derek was just telling me that he was leaving you for me," she lies, I laugh, "Oh really, you're something else you know that Braden, you would think a smart person would back off after taking a horse shit bath, but you, you are a stupid spoiled little brat and I've had enough, you will no longer, receive your riding lesson's here and if you show up here again, I'll press charges," I say getting closer to her.

"You can't do this to me, I'll ruin you!" She screams, "Oh yeah, I doubt that, Hey Liam did you get all that?" I asked the young newspaper writer. "Yes ma'am, every bit," he says, "Good, oh I'll have a picture for you from the other day where she rolled in horse shit." I say, "don't you dare, you do it and I'll own you." she says.

I grab her by the arm and drag her out of my house and sling her off the back porch where she lands square in a fresh pile of Rambo's shit. "Oh and by the way, you don't hold a dime to what I do, you try to ruin me, I'll have my lawyer dig you a grave, I've got twice the bank your daddy does, so don't try me," I say and turn to go back in the house.

I walk right up to Derek, wrap my arms around his neck and plant my lips on his. Pulling back I smile, happy with the way things are turning out.  "What's that smile for?" he asked, "I'm just happy that I decided to come home for good and meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me," I say.

He kisses my lips again, "I'm so glad you came home, I was actually planning on giving your dad my two weeks that day, but when I walked up behind that cray horse of your's, I knew then that I couldn't leave, something about you drew me in and the more I got to know you the deeper in love I fell, I love you Adelyn Stilinski" he says. "As I love you, Derek Hale," I reply and place my lips back to his.