“And I love you.”

He knew she meant it, but something in her eyes seemed off. Deciding that he needed to talk to her more and ease her fears, he clicked unmute as he watched her go into the bathroom with the phone to her ear. He didn’t know what sent her to rush to the bathroom, but he was sure it wasn’t to call the airline.

Letting out a long breath, he said, “Ma, we are gonna see what we can do. I’ll let you know.”

“Okay, baby, I love you and congratulations. I know how much she means to you.”

Karson’s chest ached with love for his mother as he nodded. “She does. Thanks, Ma. I’ll call you.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

He had no doubt. Hanging up the phone, he got out of bed to follow Lacey into the bathroom. He found her leaning against the sink, the phone against her shoulder and, as he expected, her eyes were full of tears. When one slid down her sweet cheek, he took her hips in his hands, pulling her against him.

“What’s wrong, baby?” he asked, holding her close.

She shook her head. “Nothing, give me a minute— Yes, I need to change our flight from Chicago, Illinois, to Mosinee, Wisconsin, please. Yes, can we leave out to Chicago same day? The following morning will be fine. Yes, thank you, charge the Visa on the account. Yes, thank you, goodbye,” she said, hanging up the phone. She then said, “Okay, so we leave out a little earlier, and we have to stay the night with your mom, but it’s no big deal, I think.”

“Tell me what’s wrong,” he demanded.

“Are you even listening to me?”

He nodded. “I heard every word, but I want to know why you are crying.”

Her lip quivered and she looked away, but as quickly as she tried to hide her face, he cupped it, holding her so that he could look in her eyes. “Don’t hide from me,” he said sternly. “I spent the last nine years imagining your face, and now that you are my wife, I don’t want you to ever hide from me.”

Tears rolled down her face and over his hands as her lips continued to quiver. “I’m so excited to meet your family, I am. But they are so happy to meet me, and that’s not the case for you. My family hates you, but yet, you still love me, want to be with me and everything when I can’t offer you what you are offering me from your family.”

Her eyes locked with his, and he could see the pain and stress this was causing. Moving his thumb to catch her tears, he took in a deep breath. “Lacey, you don’t have to offer me anything but your heart. I don’t need your family; I need you.”

“I know, but I just want it to be good the way I know it will be with your family. I mean, they already like me and they haven’t even met me.”

“Because you are amazing.”

“Karson,” she whined, her mouth curving a bit but then it fell. He tipped her face up and met her gaze. She was lying to him and he couldn’t believe it. Didn’t she know that he saw through her when she tried to lie? He could still remember the first time she had tried to lie to him. It was after he had been stalking her for almost a week, begging her to date him. She didn’t want anything to do with him, or at least that was what she told herself and him. Truth was, she wanted him but she was scared, and that was fine, he could ease her fears. He still remembered the way she looked him in the eye as her mouth formed each lie, telling him to stay away. He didn’t listen, obviously. He had one thing on his mind, and that was to love Lacey for the rest of his life.

And just like that moment, he knew that she was lying to him now. He didn’t know why, but he had every intention of finding out and then doing whatever needed to be done to fix it. She only lied when she was scared, and she had no reason to be scared. Not when he was in her corner, loving her with every bit of his heart and soul.

“This isn’t about your family liking me; we both know that won’t ever happen. What’s wrong?” he demanded, and like he knew she would, the tears came faster down her cheeks. He bundled her up in his arms, kissing her temple and whispered, “Tell me, baby. Let me fix it.”

She shuddered against him, wrapping her arms around him as she cried into his neck. Kissing her cheek, he nuzzled his nose in her neck, his stomach churning at the sound of her sobs. Holding onto him tightly, she took in a deep breath and then whispered, “I’m scared.”

His stomach dropped as his heart broke in his chest. He knew this had to do with her family, and he wished that he could fix it. The only problem was he didn’t know how. How did he make people like him when they had spent the last nine years keeping them apart? It seemed unlikely that he would succeed, but when those two words left her sweet mouth, he knew he had no other option but to try.

Lacey didn’t want to cry.

She wanted to be happy. She was married to the man of her dreams, his family was excited to meet her, and they were starting a life together, but all she could think about were the texts and voice mails from her family.

Rachel: Where the hell are you? Are you okay?

Rachel: you’re worrying me. Did Karson hurt you?

Rachel: are you alive?

Rachel: this isn’t funny. I went to your apartment and you’re not there! What is going on? You have an hour to call me or text me because before I tell Grady.

Rachel: only thirty minutes left. Please, Lace, I’m worried.

Rachel: okay, this is insane. I’m calling Grady.

Grady: Hey, what’s going on? Rachel is freaking out.