Stay (Love In Montana Book 5)

Anastasia gasped as tears fell from her eyes. “Why are you crying, Annie? Aren’t you happy to belong to me?” He asked eagerly. She caught his hand in her own tightly as if not wanting to let go.

“These are happy tears, Blue. Of course, I’m happy, not for just myself but for our little baby, growing inside me,” she whispered. Ryder was stunned and he just sat dumbfounded, gazing at her. Did he hear her correctly? Did it mean that she was pregnant with his baby?

“Our baby? Are you pregnant?” He asked at last, gazing at her expectantly. Anastasia nodded, wiping her tears away. 

“Yes, I’m four weeks pregnant,” she told him. Ryder’s eyes filled with tears of happiness.

“Why didn’t you tell me before? I’m hurt, Annie. You know this means the world to me,” he cried, as a teardrop fell, trickling down his cheek. Anastasia felt guilty and leaned across and hugged him close. 

“I was staying at the hospital with aunt Vida. When she was released, I returned home and was about to call you when granny Daisy gave me the news of your wedding to Hailey,” said Anastasia. 

“Then you should have fought for me. You should have returned to Fordsville for a day and claimed me already. After all, if not for us, already for our baby. Why didn’t you, Annie?” demanded Ryder agitatedly. He wiped his eyes and gazed at her, waiting for her answer. 

“I didn’t want to burden you with a responsibility without knowing whether you wanted it or not. I didn’t want to come in the way of your happiness,” said Anastasia in a small voice. 

“After all the years I’ve stuck to you, don’t you know me at all? I’m a simple guy with no demands. I might have been a player in my younger days but u left everything, the day I met you. No one knows that better than you. I’ve pursued you for the last five years, going out of my way. I’m hurt that you don’t trust my feelings for you,” sighed Ryder. 

“I’m sorry, Blue. I admit that I should have fought for you,” said Anastasia, touching his cheek and forcing him to look at her. 

“Good, that’s like my girl. I’ll drop you off at the heliport now. After Ryan’s wedding, I’ll join you in LA. Let’s see how we can plan our wedding,” he told her. Anastasia’s face brightened up with a happy smile and she pulled him into her arms but he seemed to have other plans. He released her and looked into her eyes. 

“You’re forgetting something, Annie,” he reminded her.

“What? I’ve packed everything,” she said, looking clueless.

“What about my kiss?” he asked, already dipping his head to grab one. Anastasia sighed with pleasure when his lips claimed her in a passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. The kiss held so much longing and hunger that both lost track of time. Anastasia kissed him back with equal hunger, their hands trying to pull each other closer. 

“I missed you, Annie,” he gasped when he finally released her mouth. 

“I missed you too,” said Anastasia, recapturing his lips again. Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from the pilot. Ryder released her and she checked her phone. “Oh my God! I must have missed the flight,” she said.

She accepted the call and spoke to the pilot. Then disconnecting the call she turned to Ryder looking stressed. “He wants me to reach in ten minutes or else it will be tomorrow morning,” said Anastasia. Ryder started the car and steered it back onto the road. 

“Don’t worry. I’ll reach you in ten minutes,” he promised. So in seven minutes, he dropped her off at the heliport, unloaded her luggage for her. After ensuring that she was fine on-board, he left to return back to Ryan’s house. He just couldn’t wait for the wedding to be over. He would have to talk to his parents about his plans for Anastasia and moving away to LA. He would also have to inform them about Anastasia’s pregnancy. However, by the time he returned, a late night party was being held. He had no interest in taking part in the singing and dancing and sat down to share a drink or two with his brothers. 

“Where were you all the time? Did you get to meet Anastasia?” asked Ryan. Ryder nodded but didn’t spill any other details. It was his wedding coming up in a few days and he didn’t want to burden him with his own problems. However, there was no escaping his family. 

“I met her for a little while before she left for LA. I’ll fly over to talk to her after your wedding,” said Ryder.

“Did you get to clear up your misunderstanding or not?” asked Rhett.

“Yes, bro. Everything’s fine now,” Ryder told him. 

“That’s great news. So we should expect your wedding to come up next, right?” asked Sawyer. 

“Hmm, maybe bro. I’ll have to talk to mom and dad first,” said Ryder. 

The next day, Ryder drove over to Anson’s house and helped him with the last minute packing up. He returned the car as it had been sold as well. “What about the house? Are you selling that as well?” asked Ryder. 

“No, no. This is dad’s house. He doesn’t want to sell it at all,” said Anson. “I’ll just lock it up and leave. So are you coming down to LA?” Asked Anson eagerly.

“Yes, bro. Annie and I have cleared all our misunderstandings. After my twin’s wedding, I’ll join you both there,” said Ryder. 

“That’s good news indeed,” said Anson. Later he left for the airport and Ryder returned back to Ryan’s house. 

In the evening, he found the perfect opportunity to talk to his parents. They listened to him intently.

“This is very good news indeed, Ryder. We love Anastasia more than Hailey. Anastasia has always bonded with us more than Hailey ever did. I’m glad that you’re marrying her. As for moving to LA is concerned, that’s your personal decision. Do what makes you happy. Ryder. That’s all that matters,” said his mom. 

“Yes, I agree with your mom. We just want you to be happy and nicely settled, in life and in your career,” said his dad. 

“Thanks, mom and dad. You guys are the best. Well, I have another good news to give you,” said Ryder excitedly. 

“Please don’t create suspense, Ryder. Tell us already,” said his mom who hates surprises.

“Annie is four weeks pregnant with our baby,” he blurted out. His mom gasped and tears of happiness crept into her eyes.

“Congratulations, son. This is good news indeed. So have you planned your wedding yet? When do you want to get married?” asked his dad.

“I’ll first have a talk with Anastasia, Anson and their aunt Vida and then decide, dad,” said Ryder. 

“Fine, keep us updated,” said his dad. 

“And give us some time to prepare, please,” said his mom. Ryder grinned at her and hugged her close.

“I will, mom,” he promised. 

The pre-wedding parties didn’t interest him much but for Ryan’s sake, he helped and attended everything. The days went by as his twin geared up for his wedding day. He helped him to the best of his abilities, after all that’s what twins were there for. To have each other’s backs and be there together through thick and thin. 

“How am I looking, Ryde? Is the tie straight?” asked a nervous Ryan as they all got ready in one of the rooms of their hotel, The Imperial, where the wedding was taking place. 

“Perfectly straight but where’s your boutonniere?” Asked Ryder. 

“Aunt Kathy handed me a box of boutonniere’s just now,” gasped Ryan, getting worked up. 

“Relax, I’ll look for it,” said Ryder. After a few minutes he returned with it. It seemed as if the kids had taken it away to play with the flowers. Rhett fixed the rosebud and fern boutonniere to Ryan’s lapels. When they were all ready, they marched out to get Ryan wedded to Georgia. The wedding ceremony, the reception went by smoothly with the whole family standing by them like a rock. Ryder was relaxed since he had already spoken to his parents and got their approval. He had packed his stuff and booked his flight to LA. 

After the reception party was over, he picked up his luggage and left for the airport. At last he was able to do what his heart desired. At last he had been able to do what he had been planning for so long. Excitement coursed through his body at the prospect of uniting with the love of his life forever. He had taken the address of Anastasia’s house from Anson. Two days back, Anastasia had called him to inform him that aunt Vida had been brought back home. 

Ryder reached LA, in the late afternoon. He took a cab to reach Aunt Vida’s mansion. 

As he was about to reach, all his confidence and excitement gave way to apprehension. How would Vida Slovene react to him?