Ty folded and unfolded his shirt before throwing it in the pile with the rest. His suitcase lay open empty. He sighed as he sat back letting himself fall onto his bed. He brought his hands up to his face to cover his eyes. After a minute or so he sat up again realizing he couldn't procrastinate anymore. He settled on a few shirts, hoodies and a couple jeans before closing the suitcase and setting it on the floor. When he got to the bottom of the stairs he was met with Jack's gaze. "Hi Jack." He said almost as if he was going to get into trouble.
"All set?" He asked.
"Yeah, I think so. I'm not sure why I'm nervous."
Jack grabbed the suitcase and carried it to the house. "I can't believe I'm saying this but Amy's been ready for hours." He laughed.
Ty was suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Jack. I just...I want this to go right."
"And it will." He placed his hand on the younger man's shoulder. Turning toward the house as he heard Amy's voice.
"Thanks for offering to let me stay in the guest room." Ty said almost nervous.
"Of course. You're mom will be better out here for privacy." He smiled at the man who had grown on him.
"I hope her flight was okay. Maybe we should have flown out there instead." Ty rambled off.
Amy smiled and tried to hid her laugh. "Come on let's go. It's a little late to change your mind." Jack smirked in agreement.
"Are you sure? It's only been a couple weeks since your accident. Maybe it's too much to ask." Ty said turning to Jack.
"He has a point." Amy added.
"You are both made for each other. There is no need to be nervous." He turned to look at Ty including him in the conversation.
"We can put this off." Ty said.
"He's right, Ty. Besides much like you he's too stubborn to admit anything." Amy said smiling at him.
"Hey! I am not stubborn."
"Ty your mother will be happy to see you."
Ty nodded trying to convince himself of that. Telling her they were engaged was exciting. It was just all the rest that came with it. She had liked Amy when they met but he wasn't the settling down type. And he was sure his mother would have words about that as she wasn't either despite getting married twice herself. But that just made the fact marriage was terrible even more true in her mind.
Amy touching his hand brought him out of his thoughts. Her warm smile easing the stress.
When the plane landed they were greeted by Lily shouting and waving. Ty tightened his grip on Amy's hand as a sign of reassurance. Ty's nerves were back again as his mother got closer. Suddenly feeling like he couldn't breathe and for the first time Amy's presence did little to calm him. His flight or fight instincts had kicked in and he was fighting himself desperately not to turn and run leaving Amy to deal with his mother. "Hi, Ty." She said a warm smile on her face. And just like that his nerves were gone as quickly as they came.
"Hi, mom." He gave her a big hug.
Amy was lost in her own thoughts as she accepted the hug from Lily. It felt like not that long ago she was sharing news of her engagement to Caleb. "Hi, Lily. How was the flight?" She smiled.
"Good."
"I'm so happy your here." Ty said hugging his mom again. It was then that Amy's diamond ring hit the light and Lily gasped.
Ty's breath caught in his throat as him mom stepped to the side to get closer to Amy.
"Oh my... Let me see it." She grabbed Amy's hand forcing her to drop her luggage. "I am so happy for you both."
"You are?" Ty couldn't help it the words escaping his mouth.
Amy shot him a glance.
"Yes, Ty." She smiled over at Ty behind Amy.
"I'm so glad you are happy." Amy hugged Lily both fighting tears.
"Okay, enough of this let's go home." Lily said as Ty grabbed her bag.
Amy and Ty exchanged glances. Amy was full of pride. Feeling relieved that went so well. But Ty couldn't feel happy. He couldn't explain the feeling in his gut. The way his mother reached wasn't what he was expecting sure but this reaction was weird. So unlike his mother. It worried him. There was no way she was happy. And it was clear she was hiding behind her emotions.
Amy rolled her eyes at Ty as they followed Lily in a sea of people towards the parking area. It was going to be a long weekend.
"Hi dad." Amy greeted Tim as he came in through the door. "Hi Miranda." She said reaching around her dad to hug her.
"Hi sweetie." She smiled.
"How was the drive?" Amy asked.
"Long but don't ask." Tim said sighing as he sat in a kitchen chair.
Amy eyed Miranda who just shrugged. "Where's Shane?"
"Oh, he had to see the horses."
"Where's Ty's mom?" Tim asked.
"She's staying in the loft. Ty's getting her settled." Amy was nervous. Meeting the parents wasn't something she had to worry about with Caleb. He was emancipated and didn't have a relationship with them.
"I'm going to check on Shane." Miranda said as she left the back door.
"Did you two get into a fight?" Amy asked now concerned. She didn't need anymore drama.
"No, not really."
"What does that mean?" But her dad didn't budge to divulge any information. He jumped up. "Please be nice tonight. Ty's nervous enough." She said as he headed further into the house.
Amy met Ty in the driveway near the barn. "What was that back at the airport?" She asked him slightly concerned.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he tried to continue to the house.
"You know what I mean. You acted all weird. Like your mom being happy for us didn't make you happy."
"I'm not happy." He admitted causing Amy's jaw to drop slightly. She hasn't expected him to make that comment. "Amy...that's not what I meant. I'm happy to be engaged just not the attention." He paused still watching Amy's expression. "Let's get to the house."
"Your mom was happy right?" She questioned now fear evident in her voice. After all Ty knew his mother best. Maybe she was lying.
"Yes she was." He sighed. "Look that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
Ty sighed again and glanced at the house. "Can we not do this now?"
"I am not going into that house until we settle this." Her hands now on her hips staring at him. "You asked your mom all shocked."
"She just has a tendency to be..." He trailed off. Amy eyed him. "She's just I don't know Amy. You don't know her like I do."
Amy sighed now bitting her bottom lip. "You expected her to be upset?"
"I don't know, maybe."
"And now she's ambushed with this dinner she had no idea was about our engagement."
"Amy..." Ty started buy didn't know what to say.
She half smiled at him as she walked away. "I don't know what you expect me to say, Ty." She looked over her shoulder stopping. "My dad and Miranda has some kind of fight on the drive and the tension is noticeable. So I guess we'll fit right in."
"Amy, please? This has nothing to do with you." He shouted after her.
"It feels like it does."
"I love you. I am proud of you. I don't care what anyone else thinks. I expected my mother to complain I was too young." He grabbed her hands.
"You were thinking she would approve?"
"I was sure she'd say I was like my father and shouldn't be getting this nice girl wrapped up in my drama."
Amy forced a small smile. "Is that way she thinks or you?" She forced him to meet her gaze. "I don't know your father. But I know you are a wonder, hard working person who would do anything for those you love. Please don't put yourself down for your past mistakes." She squeezed his hands smiling at him.
"I love you." Ty whispered.
Amy glances at Ty across the dinner table her nerves getting the best of her. Ty smiled at her and it claimed her. Jack brought the roast chicken in on a platter setting it in front of him. Amy smiled at him as he spoke.
"Thank you all for coming to celebrate Amy and Ty's engagement. I am so proud of how far both of them has come individually and together." He smiled at Ty. "When Ty first arrived here I wasn't sure he would make a very good ranch hand. But he proved me wrong. And maybe Amy too. Who at one point asked me to send him back." Everyone chuckled. "Sorry, Amy."
"It's alright Grandpa."
"I'll have to be honest I agreed with her. But I found out he had defended my granddaughter at a party. He has always had such a caring nature and need to help others. I am glad I changed my mind about you." Ty smiled.
"Thank you, grandpa." Amy said feeling tears come to her eyes. "I did ask him to send Ty back but only because my boyfriend dumped me because of Ty's actions. I was also in a really rough place. I couldn't see a world without mom. And Ty had been a reminder of that. In fact she is who agreed to the probation program. And I am sure glad she did." Her voice cracking as she finished. Ty smiled at her but wished he was sitting beside her to grab her hand. "Lily I want you to meet my grandfather, Jack who basically raised me." Jack nodded. "This is my dad, Tim and his girlfriend Miranda. And their son and my brother, Shane. I also have an older sister who lives in Vancouver. She has a newborn so couldn't make it for the dinner. And believe me she's really upset about it." Jack laughed. "And this is my grandmother, Lisa." Lily nodded at everyone feeling a little overwhelmed.
"I think what Amy is saying is that we are a mixed up mess of a family but we love each other anyway." Jack said before carving the chicken. Ty looked over at Amy proudly. He still didn't know how to got so lucky to find someone as amazing as Amy.