“Absolutely. The only reason I remember the diorama is because it’s still in my closet.”
“And why haven’t you pitched it?”
“Because it’s cool.” The pain in her chest got worse. “When Adam and I first started talking, he said I was probably attracted to him because I was on the rebound from Sean and he was handy.”
“Obviously he doesn’t think that anymore.”
“He doesn’t, but what if he was right?”
“You know he’s not.”
“Do I?”
“You care about him. If you had a rebound relationship, he’d be the last person you’d choose.”
“Yeah, I guess.” Her throat felt clogged up, but swallowing didn’t help much. “Well, maybe he knows what he’s doing, but I don’t. I’ve never felt like this. I can’t think straight and I’m… I’m scared.”
Her mom scooted closer and took her hand, enclosing it in both of hers. “It is scary when you want someone so much. Your brain is a jumbled mess and you feel like you’re heading for a cliff but you can’t stop running toward it.”
She nodded and swallowed again.
“First of all, Adam is a good man. I’ve known him as long as you have and I guarantee he would never knowingly hurt you.”
“I believe that.” Her voice was husky.
“Second of all, I’ve been where you are.”
“With Dad?”
“Yes.”
“How did you deal with it?”
“I talked to my brain and told it to calm down, because the alarms going off made me want to throw up. Then I got quiet and listened to my gut and my heart.”
“And?”
“I took a very deep breath and said yes to your dad.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Adam showed up at the Bridger Foundation office the next morning prepared to tackle the budget first and his personal project later. But his mom shooed him out, saying he needed to rearrange his priorities.
By ten he’d finished the card. He still wasn’t much of an artist, and his rendition of a moose wouldn’t win any prizes, but his handwriting onI love you the moose-thad improved.
At age eight, he’d left it at that, but this time he’d boldly gone to the heart of the matter, literally. He’d addedWill you be my valentine?in red surrounded by hearts.
And now, because they were adults, instead of signing itYour friend Adam, he wroteYour horny friend Adam, which was certainly true and also referencedBeauty and the Beast.At the last minute he’d added a P.S.I’ve changed my mind about the diorama. I want it. And you.
Making the card had jump-started an entire reel of memories. Tracy’s bedroom had been painted blue, she’d named her stuffed moose Hermie and her mom had made delicious lemonade. While fetching that lemonade, he might have announced his intention to marry her daughter, but he wasn’t sure if he’d said it out loud.
He needed a stuffed moose for the bag, one with a cute sign attached. Did Hermie still exist? If not, he’d scour the shops in town for a stand-in. He had a theme going.
A quick text exchange with Carrie confirmed Hermie was still in residence. She gave him permission to use the key under the mat to kidnap the moose. Tracy’s bedroom was still blue. He checked the closet.
The diorama didn’t look bad at all. Dusty, like she’d said, but intact. It had to mean something that she’d kept it all this time.
He used a ribbon and a hole punch to attach a sign to the moose.Give the cowboy a chance. He adores you. Hermie rode shotgun on the drive into town to pick up a bag, tissue paper and a package of conversation candy hearts. He’d given her some of those twenty-two years ago, too.
