I grinned and leaned towards him. His lips parted as he breathed me in. We finished the perfect night with the perfect kiss. It was sweet and earnest at the same time and left me wanting more. I reached my arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He pressed his lips onto my forehead. “Thank you for tonight,” Scott whispered against my hair.
I looked into his eyes and grinned. “It was amazing. I’m glad I changed my rules.” I bit my bottom lip and his eyes dropped to my lips once more. He grinned, but then stepped back.
“You better go in or I won’t let you go for a while.” I felt thefire in his gaze.
I chuckled. “Thanks for the date.” I turned the doorknob.
“Anytime . . . like any time.”
I sighed and leaned into the door as I opened it behind me and stepped through.
“I told you it was a date,” Nan hollered as I shut the door.
Chapter Twenty-Three
MARISSA
“Look Marissa, honey.”Nan sat on my bed, waking me up with a show of her hand, which now held a ring with a square diamond on it. “I’m getting married!” She clapped beside me as I sat up.
It had been a week since my date with Scott and it felt like yesterday and forever at the same time. Bert got home a few days ago after visiting his grown children, but I had been so focused on things with Scott that I had hardly noticed his return. Nan pushed her hand closer to me.
“What? Wait. When did this happen?” I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. I had stayed up too late texting Scott.
Nan giggled and pulled me into a hug. “Bert proposed last night. He had white roses and everything.” She looked down at her hand with swollen knuckles and sunspots, staring at the ring that now glittered on her finger.
“Wow. You’re engaged!” I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. I’d always imagined that if I had to live my life one day without Nan, it would be because she died, not because she gotmarried. “Does it seem fast? You have only been dating a few months . . .”
“Oh honey, at my age, I could die in a month.” She reached down and squeezed my hand.
My chest tightened at the thought of Nan leaving. Then I would be alone. And what would happen to Nan if Bert died? He was pushing early eighties. This was all happening faster than I had imagined. Would he take care of her? I had watched him fawn over her, and then laughed as she tried to learn to text so she could message him. I had to admit, she seemed happier than ever.
“Are you sure this is what you want?” I looked down at her soft hand on top of mine.
“Oh my sweet Mar.” She reached up and cupped my cheek. “I know you’ve been scared of love and people leaving you behind ever since your parents died.” I closed my eyes and leaned into her touch. She waited for me to look at her again. “Trust me, my dear, you get far more from love than what it takes when it’s gone.”
Gone.My chest hollowed. I was better off having loved Nan and my parents. I could see that. But it was still.
“The love I shared with your grandpa was fleeting, but it gave me your mom, and your parents love gave me you.” Nan pulled me into a hug, and she rested her frail head on my shoulder.
“Yes, but what about when it leaves?” I whispered, voicing my fear. I was going to end up alone.
“Love doesn’t leave.” She patted my back. “It grows, and it changes. It’s always there, a whisper of happy memories and shared kisses. I've never regretted loving. It has blessed me to love and to be loved by many.” She pulled out of our hug and looked at me. “And it has blessed you too.”
I thought of my scars inside and out. “But it can hurt.”
“It only hurts because you care, which is far better than the alternative. Which is to not love, or care for anyone. Living life in a shell of existence is no way to live.”
I thought about how I had opened up to Scott, and aboutfacing my fear of running the B&B. I even met Carol there for breakfast yesterday and we had talked about her memories of my mom growing up. It had been scary but good. Maybe Nan was right. Maybe love was worth the risk.
But this wedding wasn’t my choice or about me. It was Nan’s. “Does he make you happy?”
A wide smile split her face. “He does. I'm thrilled. He makes me laugh, and it feels like I'm a teenager again instead of a decrepit old lady.” She chuckled.
She knew the risks as much as I did. If she was happy, I would be happy for her. Even if it pulled her away from me. I leaned my head against hers. Her white wispy hair tickled my cheek, and I let out a deep breath. “I’m happy for you, Nan.” She looked at her ring, rubbing it with her thumb.
“I've lived a full life, Mar, but even now I can still find such happiness. Life is a gift.” Nan patted my leg and leaned her rounded back away from me. “Now, I know you’re planning on running off on a trip to Europe, but you have to be back for my wedding.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” I kissed the top of her head. Wow . . . Nan was getting married.
