A new buyer? Well, what had she expected? And for the life of her, she couldn’t think why she hadn’t offered to buy it again once Dad had pledged to not tear it down.
Because she loved him. Because she didn’t want him to tell her no again.
But here she was, Wednesday before the wedding, heading to Hearts Bend because Annalise had sent an all hands on deck message and Cami had replied with a Yes, ma’am.
She took the day off and prayed all the way down I-65. As she eased up the inn’s long driveway, the gravel popped under her tires. She parked in the shade next to Annalise’s Volkswagen and headed off to find her sister, pausing when she passed an electrician’s truck.
What was going on? A delivery truck drove past her and parked by the kitchen door.
From inside, Myrtle May could be heard directing traffic.
“Over there, Ted. Careful now, don’t scratch the hardwoods. We just had them polished.”
Making her way around to the front door with a floral wreath hung in the center, Cami found Annalise at the front desk, iPad in hand, going over something with Ben. They stood under Mama’s painting.
Cami hung back, waiting for them to finish, and gazed at the image on the wall. She painted it for you, Dad had said.
But when she’d asked why, he’d simply said, In due time.
She took in the pastoral scene with green trees and a field flooded with golden light. Then the couple on the bench.
Can we jump into the painting? Ben had once asked.
If only they could. Cami shifted her gaze to him. Dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt, hat with the bill in back, he was tan, relaxed, and smiling. He’d been gorgeous before, but in this moment, he was heart stopping.
“Finally!” Annalise gave Cami a quick hug. “What took you so long?”
“You only texted two hours ago.”
Annalise’s phone rang and she stepped away. “Caterer,” she whispered. “Nicole, give me good news.”
Ben smiled. “She’s really been scrambling since the kitchen is torn apart. I think we can get the refrigerator up and running in time for the wedding, and Tina over at Ella’s volunteered her ovens if we needed. But Vicki had to invite her to the wedding.” Ben stepped a little closer. “How’ve you been? How’s Indy?”
“I’m not going. Gave the project to someone else. Dad and I had the heart-to-heart we’ve needed to have for fifteen years, and neither one of us wanted me to go. What about you? Aren’t you needed in Sydney?”
“I resigned.”
“What? Ben, why?”
“If I told you it was the miracle of antique doorknobs in a tin bucket, would you believe me?”
Cami laughed. “Oddly enough, yes.”
“Look, Cami, I’m so sorry about that phone call.” When he reached for her hand, her heart gave a happy thump against her chest. “I realized I had some resentment toward my folks for dropping me off here and never coming back for me even though they said they would. When I saw the environmental surveyors and they said they were prepping to tear this place down, I thought you’d broken your promise to me.”
“It’s SOP with Akron. We do surveys with every property. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”
“But I blamed you, and that’s what your dad did to you when your mom died.”
“Goodness,” she said, brushing away tears. “I feel like a leaky faucet these days.” She raised her gaze to his. “I’m sorry about Dean, and really, for the last week of silence. I should’ve called.”
“No, I should’ve called. I flew off the handle, said things that were uncalled for. I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” She didn’t resist when he pulled her into a hug. In his arms, her world was right again.
When he released her, he said, “I have a surprise. Come on.”
He led her outside and down the garden path. When his hand brushed hers, the excitement and tingles from the Fourth of July returned.
