"Wait. Sorry, Austin, we'll come back to this conversation in a minute," Cora turns back to Red, her gaze curious. "Why do you say you won't ever be in this predicament? You're the second person to say somethin' like that to me today and I think you're wrong for shuttin’ off the possibility of ever findin' love again. Let me also note that you’re the last one on the ranch whohasn’theard the Call.”
Red’s bushy salt and pepper brows lift. “‘I won't be hearin' it, and I don’t want to. I've already had a life with my soulmate, and it may've been cut short, but there's no way I'll get a second shot–or a secondOne.”
“Says who?” Rhett asks.
“Saysme. Anna was everythin’ I could’ve ever wanted. She gave me Wyatt and because of that, I'll always have a piece of her with me, and I’m OK with that. I'm holdin' on tight to him and cherishin’ the memories we made together. I've got the land, I've got my son, I've got all of y’all. That’s all I need.”
Cora frowns and gives Rhett a concerned look. He shakes his head and they have another 'only they'll know' conversation with their eyes and nothing else.
Red turns back to me. "This thing with you and Char, it's different. She's not a stranger who has been brought to town. She's your best friend–then and now. You two had somethin’ special and you’ve still got it now. If anythin’, it seems strong this time around.”
"I’m worried that Spring Haven won't be enough for her,” I confess.
“Spring Haven… oryou?” Red shoots back without missing a beat. “Because I will not hesitate in callin’ you an idiot if it’s thelatter. As for Charlie bein’ happy in Spring Haven, I think you’re missin’ one important thing.”
“And what’s that?” I ask.
"All these places she's traveled, all these people she's met and things she's done, they don't mean as much to her as bein’ home does. Wanna know why?”
"Cause Mags and Greg are here. Me too now. It's her home. She can take all her trainin’ and experience and give back to the hospital and community here. Yeah, I get that." I feel the weight of Rhett, Cora, and Red's gazes and turn to look at all of them. "What?
“No, Austin.Youare here.You. Mags told me that every time she called home she asked about you. She kepttabs, Austin. That’s not someone who has gotten past a schoolgirl crush. That’s a woman who followed almost all of her dreams by leavin’ town and travellin’, studyin’, and livin’ life.”
“Yeah…”
"She’s back home to work on makin’ her last dream come true," Cora continues.
I stare at her, eyes wide, unable to speak, unable to get past the idea that Mountain’s Call aside, Charlie came back to town…for me.
“She’s my dream too. Outside of this ranch, she’s the only other thing I’ve ever wanted,” I whisper, my heart pounding and that damn itch burning now.
“Then stop thinkin’ you’re not enough. ‘Cause if that’s right, then obviously you don’t see Charlie’s dreams as bein’ important,” Rhett replies, challenging me to argue with him.
“Oooh, that’s a good one, Cowboy,” Cora says, snuggling into my brother’s side.
That’s when Red wades in again. "The way I see it, you’re the only one that thinks you have nothin' to offer. You've obviously missed the memo. The only thing Charlie Gallagher wants is you, and knowin' the man you are, the one we can always rely on to be there and who always wants the best for everyone he cares about, maybe you need to see that you don't have to offer Charlie anythin' other than yourself.Or…”
“Or?” I say, scratching my arms now.Am I reacting to somethin’ again?
"You could just open your eyes and realize that you don't have to offer anyone anythin’, 'cause you do it without even tryin'. It's who you are. For you, it's as easy as breathin’. Just like lovin' Charlie."
"Stop tryin' to impress her with fancy restaurants and worryin' about what she’ll say about the Call when you tell her. Just appreciate and enjoy the fact that Charlie is your reward. Everythin’ you have now, the man you are, this ranch, thislife,that’sall she wants and needs. I may be breakin' girl code or whatever, but I think you need to hear it. That's all she wants, Austin. Just you, and whatever comes with that." Cora stares at me, knowing she's given me something to think about.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice a little rough. “She’s it for me too, you know?”
“Then don’t screw it up by thinkin’ everythin’ you’ve got to offer is not enough. It’s time for you to open your eyesandyour mind and let her show you.”
“How?”
Cora slides off the stool and rounds the island, stopping in front of me and resting her hands on my shoulders. “Think about where you’d take her if you could have a first date do-over. And do that.”
"A do-over?" I ask as my mind starts racing with ideas.
"Yep." She nods. "If you weren't tryin’ so hard to prove somethin’’, where would you go? Do somethin’youwant to do that you think she'd like. She knows who you are, and she wants that man. All you've gotta do now is give her a piece of you that nobody else has orhashad.”
“She already has that. She’s owned my heart since she was sixteen.”
That’s when Cora turns to Rhett and smiles. “Your brother just made me swoon.”
