He nodded. “And lost the fight. I’m so worn out. Everything hurts. But your kisses? It’s like I don’t care about the fire or the pain or all these years of confusion and frustration. I just need you, Mabel.”
He tugged her close, his hands moving down her sides. As she jostled to get as close to him as she possibly could, his fingers skimmed the bottle of sand that hung from the chain around her neck.
Trapping it under her shirt with his fist, he met her gaze. “What’s this? Can I see it?”
She nodded, her heart pounding. If kissing him was vulnerable, letting him see this charm from so long ago meant baring her whole soul to him.
He carefully slid a finger along the chain, starting at the back of her neck and coming around until just underneath the neck of her shirt. He then pulled on the chain until the bottle popped up.
“Wow. Is it sand?” He peered at it, gently cupping it in one hand.
“It’s from that day. You know? The ditch?”
He gasped and met her eyes. “You saved the sand I threw at you?”
She felt her cheeks burn. “It’s lame. I made this after my mom passed away. I know.” She shrugged. “It felt significant somehow, and then wearing it became a habit.”
“I’m…my mind is blown. I love it.” Dropping it gently against her middle, he took her face in his hands and kissed her again.
“I love you, Mabel.”
Her voice was raw and worn. “I love you too, Zane.”
Finally. Just saying it after all this time made her limbs and heart—everything in her—feel free.
“Can I use your restroom?” She asked, cringing. “It’s just that when I decided I had to come see you, I rushed out so fast that I didn’t go first. So…”
“Uh, sure.” He laughed.
“I’m in the process of installing a new sink in the main bathroom, so you’ll need to use the one off my bedroom.” He grinned then trainedhis gaze on the floor. “I better make sure none of my boxers are lying around willy-nilly back there.”
“There weren’t any lying around last night.”
At his shocked expression, she held up a palm. “We’re going to be as honest as possible, right? I wasn’t going tonottell you I already had a quick peek of your bedroom while I was here with Styles.”
He laughed again and pressed his lips together, like he wanted to say something but wasn’t sure he should.
“What?” she asked. “A woman’s got to know some things before she…commits…to a man.”
“Mabel Joan? Are you committing yourself to me?”
She chuckled. “That sounds sort of like I’m going to a mental hospital, but yes. I want to. I want to be with you always, Zane. I always have.”
He claimed her with his mouth, taking in her neck and collarbone and throat, kissing and nibbling. After a while, she pushed away so she could look at him, at her love. The connection between them was soul-deep and beautiful.
After such a long journey, that was exactly how it was meant to be.
Epilogue
The Next Spring
Zane tapped the envelope on the dashboard of his truck, Betsy. He was an impatient man; he’d always known that. It was something he was trying to work on. But if Mabel didn’t come out through the door of his father’s office soon, he might have to go in there and get her. Or open the envelope and sneak a peek at its contents himself.
He turned on the radio to the Garth Brooks Sirius station, leaning back and closing his eyes when he heard one of his favorite songs. He sang some of the words in a low voice and thought again about his own unanswered prayers.
For the longest time, he’d hoped Mabel could be his. But ever since they finally became honest with each other and worked things out, he kept having the feeling that things had turned out much better than if his prayers had been answered in the way he’d originally wanted.
As it were, their long years of separation had been a training ground. And it had been a necessary one for them. They’d learned so much that now they were ready to step into their new life together in the best waypossible.
