“Yeah. But today is your day. Want us to chase him off?” Kinley offered.
“No!” Laurel gripped Kinley’s arm tighter to keep her from charging ahead. “I’m not letting my best friends get trampled by a disgruntled moose. Foranyreason.” She stared back at Ed, wishing he could use words. But even if he could, would the moose tell her something insightful likenotto sign the papers, or would he ask her for more of that sugary warm liquid he’d lapped up off the ground last week? Maybe he was a matchmaker, maybe he was a new coffee addict. Impossible to know for sure.
The women stood on the opposite sidewalk, watching the moose as a truck drove between them. Ed didn’t move a single hoof, but he sniffed at a decorative pot of forget-me-nots beside the entrance as if he had all day. The only way to the door was to go through him, and that wasn’t an option.
These things don’t just happen.
Laurel dropped her gaze to her wedding ring she hadn’t been able to take off. “I ruined my second chance with him and didn’t even know it,” she said to her friends, glancing occasionally at the unmoving moose. “I took him for granted, and he won’t forgive me this time. I have no one to blame but myself for how everything crashed and burned. That’s why I have to sign now. He deserves to put this all behind him and move on.”
“Or you could wait a day and tryingtalkingto the man,” Kinley suggested.
“I second Kinley’s idea,” Ava agreed.
Why is it so hard for me to spit out the truth to Chase?She’d been mulling that question around, mostly in the twilight hours when she was tending to Melly or tossing and turning in her bed. What was she really afraid of, especially now that she’d blown everything? “I don’t want to disappoint him,” she finally said to her friends.
“Tell Ed that,” Kinley muttered.
“Better yet, tellChasethat,” Ava said.
“He won’t want to talk to me.”
Kinley nudged her with her elbow until Laurel looked over and saw Chase rushing toward them. Her heart stopped in her chest, hoping and praying this was the happy ending she craved so desperately.
Chapter Fifteen
Chase
Chase was about to holler at Laurel not to sign the papers when he spotted the moose blocking the door to Jenkins Law Office, seemingly without a care in the world as nearby tourists bravely—or stupidly, in his true opinion—raised their cell phone cameras. “Want to tell me this isn’t fate?” he said to Laurel when he reached her.
“I haven’t signed.”
He let out a laugh. “I guessed that.”
“We’ve got to get back to work,” Kinley said, yanking Ava away with her. “We’ll see you both for Taco Tuesday at Warren’s tomorrow. Lots of wedding plans to go over! Laurel can fill you all in about the pink ties.”
“Pink ties?”
“Her wedding, not mine,” Ava said, stumbling over her feet before she allowed Kinley to lead her away. He gave her a nod that it was okay to leave them, then focused completely on Laurel.
“I can’t have kids,” Laurel blurted.
Holding up the brochure that had curiously ended up in his work binder, he said, “I guessed that. Why didn’t you tell me?” He wanted to reach for her hand, but he was still hurt by her secrets and the decisions she’d made for them without consulting him.
“You can still have kids. It didn’t seem fair to take that away from you. I tried to tell you so many times.” She looked across the street as Ed sauntered toward a couple of foolish tourists who waited until the last possible second to get out of his way and avoid being charged. “You deserve someone who can give you what you want.”
He pinned her with his gaze. “What I want isyou.”
“But Chase, I can’t—”
“I’m hurt that you took away my choice. I wish you’d come to me. Been honest with me from day one and let me decide for myself. I can tell you with absolute certainty I would’ve picked you. What happened feels so unfair, but it happened to both of us. You’re not alone in this. You’ve never been alone. It’syouI want. We’ll figure out the rest. But absolutely no more secrets and no leaving. Being married means we work through everything together.”
She stared at the ground for a few beats, reaching her fingertips for his, then looked back up at him. “Okay. No more secrets.”
“And no leaving. That part’s equally important.”
“I’m staying here, I promise.”
He wanted to kiss her, but the startled screams across the street stopped him. Ed had turned back because the same pair who’d gotten too close to him the first time were set on pushing their luck again. “Are you kidding me?” he muttered.
