My One and Only (Ardent Springs Book 3) (29 page)

The butterflies doubled and her lungs burned. Whatever happened, Cooper was worth the humiliation. If this didn’t constitute fighting for her man, Haleigh didn’t know what did.

“Mr. Ridgeway,” Zac said. “I have someone who’d like to say something to you.”

On cue, Haleigh stepped off the curb and accepted the microphone the DJ thrust into her hand. It was heavier than she’d expected, and Haleigh nearly dropped it.

“What’s going on?” Cooper asked under his breath.

Diving ahead, she spoke into the microphone. “My name is Haleigh Rae Mitchner, and I’m in love with Cooper Ridgeway.”

A collective gasp echoed from the crowd while her mother said, “You’re what?!”

Ignoring her parent, Haleigh charged on. “Cooper, I know that I screwed things up. And I know that I don’t deserve you. But I want to. I want to be the woman that you see when you look at me. Because you make me want to be a better person. You’re the most generous, caring, beautiful man that I’ve ever met, and you gave me your heart without hesitation, knowing that I was damaged goods.”

“Haleigh—” he started, but she kept going.

“Of all the stupid things I’ve done, hurting you is the worst. And while I can’t undo what I did, I vow to wake up every morning for the rest of my life determined to make it up to you. If you’ll just give me a second chance, I swear that you won’t regret it. Not for a moment.”

A hush fell over the crowd as Haleigh finished pouring her heart out. Even her mother held silent. A miracle if there ever was one. But when Cooper too stayed quiet, Haleigh began to shake. This was it. She’d given it her all and it didn’t work.

Cooper wasn’t going to forgive her.

When the silence had carried for what felt like minutes, Haleigh’s knees threatened to buckle. Fight-or-flight kicked in, and she was about to drop the microphone and take off running when Cooper finally said something.

“Haleigh Rae, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember.” He closed the distance between them, passing the microphone back to Zac without breaking eye contact. “And there is nothing you could ever do that would change that. Not now. Not ever.” Cupping her face, he leaned close. “You’re mine, Haleigh Rae. My one and only. And I’m never letting you go again.”

The moment their lips touched, the crowd erupted in applause, but Haleigh couldn’t hear them over the echo of Cooper’s words in her ears and the beat of his heart beneath her hand. If she lived another hundred years, nothing would ever top this moment. This
was
the real thing. The best thing that would ever happen to her.

Chapter 30

Contrary to his mother’s prediction, the car rally did not top the festival of the fall before for most money raised in the Ruby project, but the total came close and more than half the slots for the next month’s rally were booked and paid for by the end of the day. To declare the event a success would be an understatement, but the real win for Cooper had been Haleigh. He still couldn’t believe she’d put her heart on the line in front of such a huge gathering, never mind the entire KARD listening area.

And, of course, her mother. Meredith Mitchner had stared pinch-faced as her daughter clung to Cooper’s arm, beaming with love and pride, immune to the older woman’s blatant disapproval. The conversation that followed had been one of the oddest of Cooper’s life.

“I love him, Mother,” Haleigh had stated. “I don’t want to lose you over this, but I won’t bow and scrape to win your approval anymore. And I won’t give Cooper up for anything, so it’s up to you what happens between us.”

Staring daggers through his skull, Mrs. Mitchner had said, “Do you expect her to give up being a doctor to stay home and churn out children?”

Stunned by the question, Cooper had answered, “I don’t expect Haleigh Rae to give up anything. If she wants to stay home someday when we have kids, that’s up to her, but I’d never demand it.”

His future mother-in-law had given a curt nod of approval. “Good. I don’t understand why such a public scene was necessary, but if you’re happy, Haleigh Rae, then that’s all that matters.”

“Who are you and what have you done with my mother?” Haleigh had asked.

“For heaven’s sake. You act like I’m a monster,” she’d said, rolling her eyes. “Now I suggest you go home and take a shower. You look like you slept in those clothes and your hair is a mess.”

Haleigh had laughed as her mother walked away. “She’s never going to like me, but that went better than expected.”

“I like you,” Cooper had said, pulling her tight against his side. “I like you very much.”

Turning into his arms, she’d said, “And that makes me the luckiest girl in the world.”

Two days later, Cooper felt like the lucky one as he witnessed yet another side to the woman he loved. Standing outside the entrance to JW Property Management, Jessi paced the sidewalk, on the verge of an impending meltdown.

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Haleigh calmly assured her. “You wanted to know who your father is and now you know. No reason you can’t leave it at that.”

“I came here to
meet
my father,” Jessi corrected. “I had no idea he’d turn out to be the freaking mayor.”

There was no reason to believe this meeting would go well. That Jebediah would welcome her with open arms as the long-lost daughter he’d abandoned before she’d even been born. Yet, Jessi had insisted on seeing him face-to-face. To see his expression when she announced their connection.

Haleigh took both Jessi’s hands in her own. “Breathe, Jessi. Nothing that happens inside this office is going to change who you are. You’re a brilliant and creative young woman and the mother of a beautiful little girl. If Jebediah turns you away, he’ll be losing out on knowing someone very special. You already have a family that you helped create,” she added, smiling Cooper’s way. “We’re right here no matter what. You aren’t in this alone, okay?”

Cooper could not have loved her more in that moment. To Jessi’s questioning gaze, he said, “She’s right. You’re one of us regardless of what happens today.”

The anxious teenager blew out her breath as she nodded. “I can do this,” she said, staring at the office door. “If he wants to stay nothing more than a sperm donor, so be it. At least I’ll know I tried.”

Together, they entered the building and gave their names to the receptionist at the tiny front desk. Oddly enough, Haleigh had recruited her mother to set up the meeting, and Cooper had no idea what the woman had given as a reason. He only knew that Jebediah Winkle had no idea what was about to hit him.

Haleigh held tight to Jessi’s hand as they entered Jebediah’s office, a space diametrically opposed to the one he occupied at city hall. While the civil office had been stark and sterile, Jebediah’s degrees and a few awards hanging on the wall serving as the only decoration, this office was almost warm by comparison.

Tall bookshelves flanked the window behind the desk, each thick with books and family photographs. Haleigh recognized some dating back to their days in school. Becky in her cheerleading uniform and another of her and her parents on graduation day. Plants lined a table along the right side wall while two overstuffed chairs offered comfortable seats for visitors.

On the corner of the desk rested an ornate picture frame encompassing the image of three smiling faces along with two fluffy dogs. The picture ignited a flicker of hope in Haleigh’s chest. This cold and often contrary man loved his family. Maybe he could extend that love to Jessi.

“Come in,” Jebediah said, rising from his chair. At the sight of Cooper, he visibly tensed. “I didn’t know you would be here, Ridgeway.”

“I’m just here for support,” Cooper answered, lingering near the door.

With a perplexed expression, the mayor passed over the bright-haired teen and asked, “Haleigh Rae, where’s your mother?”

“She won’t be joining us today,” Haleigh answered, then gestured toward the chairs. “Should we sit?”

“Y . . . Yes,” he stuttered, clearly off balance. “I’m curious what this is about.” Dark eyes darted back to Jessi several times. The young woman had yet to speak.

They hadn’t rehearsed how this would go, so, following her instincts, Haleigh took the lead. “Mayor Winkle, this is Jessi Rogers. She arrived in Ardent Springs a month ago on a mission. That mission has led us here today.”

“To me?” he asked.

“You’re my father,” Jessi blurted, putting an end to Haleigh’s diplomatic approach.

Winkle paled. “I’m your what?”

“You were in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 1995, weren’t you?” the child asked, a strong mixture of hope and accusation in her tone.

Jebediah seemed to be searching for an answer when Cooper said, “Don’t lie to her, Winkle. We know you made regular visits up that way as a youth minister.”

Sinking into his chair, the older man said, “Yes, I was there in 1995.”

“And you met my mother, Gloria Rogers. Though her name would have been Gloria Watkins back then.”

Aging before their eyes, Jebediah said, “You’re Gloria’s girl?”

“Gloria’s
and
yours,” Cooper corrected. “Take off the makeup and change the hair and she looks exactly like Becky did in high school.”

The mayor’s reaction took them all by surprise. “I can see it,” he said, eyes locked on Jessi’s face. “I had no idea.”

“You didn’t know that the young woman you took advantage of was pregnant when you left town?” Cooper asked.

Haleigh understood that Cooper’s innate sense of justice and responsibility drove his anger on Jessi’s behalf. His stalwart belief in doing the right thing made him the man he was, and she wouldn’t change him for the world. However, in this instance, a less aggressive approach might yield more positive results.

“Jessi’s mother gave her the impression that you knew about the baby,” Haleigh clarified.

Narrowing his eyes at Cooper, Jebediah said, “I realize that some people in this town don’t think very highly of me, but I assure you, I would never abandon a child that was mine. Not knowingly.”

“But you
were
married, right?” Jessi asked. “Mama said you had a family already when you met her.”

Shame filled his eyes, but he held his newfound daughter’s gaze. “I did. And I have no excuse for my behavior. It was a moment of weakness on my part. One I guess I’m about to pay for.”

Jessi bounded out of her chair. “I didn’t come here for money.”

“Sit down, child. That’s not what I meant.” Jebediah shifted his attention back to the menacing presence at the back of the room. “How much time do I have before this hits the paper?”

“That isn’t up to me,” Cooper said. “Ask your daughter.”

“Wait. What?” Haleigh said, turning in her chair. “Who said anything about putting this in the paper?” Making this news public had never been discussed. This had been about Jessi finding her father, not ruining a man’s life.

“I’m a public figure,” the mayor stated. “This is proof of infidelity on my part. Bigger politicians have been brought down by less.”

Cooper stepped forward to lean on the back of Haleigh’s chair. “Jessi, what do you want to come out of this?”

Looking as if she’d been handed a weight too heavy for her to carry, she said, “I don’t want to bring down anyone. I just wanted to meet my father.”

“And you’ve met him,” Cooper continued. “Do you want to have a relationship with him? If you spend time together, people will wonder how you know each other. This is a small town and secrets aren’t easy to keep.”

Turning to the man behind the desk, Jessi said, “Do you want to get to know me and Emma?”

Hesitant, Jebediah said, “Emma?”

“She’s my little girl. I only had her a month ago.”

Face lighting up like an airport runway, he said, “I have a granddaughter?”

Jessi nodded.

“Yes. I would definitely like to meet her.”

Whoever Jebediah Winkle pretended to be outside this office, Haleigh knew in that moment that, in the end, he was a man with a heart. A heart much bigger than anyone would have guessed.

“I don’t see any reason to get the newspapers involved,” Jessi said to Cooper. “We’ll figure something out.” Looking back to her father, she said, “But what about your wife? What will she say?”

“Let me worry about that.” Jebediah stood and rounded the desk. “I’ll need a couple days to straighten things out, but if you’ll let me know where I can find you, I’ll be in touch.” With the beginnings of a smile, he added, “I’d very much like to meet my granddaughter.”

After jotting Abby’s phone number on a sheet of notepaper, Jessi said, “Can I hug you before I leave?”

Tears sprang to Haleigh’s eyes as father and daughter touched for the first time. As she dabbed at her cheeks, Cooper whispered, “I did not see that coming,” drawing a laugh of relief and total agreement.

When the three of them were back in Cooper’s truck, Jessi said, “Holy cheese balls. I have a dad.”

And for the second time in a matter of days, Haleigh marveled at the unexpected turns life could take. No matter what happened next, she would never again doubt the power of love.

If she didn’t have a heart attack before they reached the front door, Haleigh might actually survive the night.

“Aren’t you going to ring the bell?” Cooper asked as she reached for the doorknob.

“That would be mistake number one,” she answered. “Trust me, I’ve learned the hard way.”

This would be their first family dinner as a couple. She’d offered Cooper several chances to back out, but the poor sap had refused, insisting on stepping into the fray beside her. Such a valiant knight. Stubborn and naive, but valiant.

As they stepped into the foyer, familiar childhood smells assailed her. Lasagna. As in, the one dish her mother actually cooked with her own two hands.

“Mom?” she yelled toward the stairs. “We’re here.”