In the blink of an eye, Ella’s face morphed into a scowl. “That jerk, Tommy. He bet me I wasn’t brave enough to go into the woods by myself.”
“Well, you sure showed him,” I said dryly, standing and guiding Ella in the direction of the school, tucking her into my side. “It’s a good thing he didn’t bet you that you couldn’t find your way out yourself, ’cause you would’ve lost that one.”
Ella ducked her head sheepishly, and then she beamed up at me. “But I did what you taught me!” She gestured to her hat and the sweater she wore outside her coat.
I looked down at my niece, a smile on my face. I wasn’t sure I’d ever stop smiling today. “I know you did. Just like we talked about.” I squeezed the little hand on which I currently had a death grip. “I’m proud of you.”
“I knew you’d find me.”
“Oh yeah? How’d you know that?”
Ella stared up at me with love and so much admiration in her gaze, it nearly knocked me right on my ass. “Because I can always count on you.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
MAC
I would relivethis day for the rest of my life. Both the good and the bad. Finding out Ella was missing and the nerve-racking hours that followed were some of the worst in my entire life. But so many other moments throughout the day overshadowed them in their goodness.
Like seeing Rory’s face when her eyes had first landed on Ella and witnessing the pure joy and relief that had swept over her features. Or accepting bone-crushing hugs from my sister and our momma. Or getting more pats on the back than I could count, the townsfolk looking at me with something I couldn’t remember ever being on the receiving end of—pride and admiration.
“I knew you could do this, sweetheart,” Momma said, her eyes shining with something I hadn’t ever been able to put a name to before. It practically poured out of her, the same look she’d bestowed upon me throughout my life, but usually without the accompanying praise. Like at the hospital, and in our dining room when I’d agreed to take over at town hall, and dozens of other times in my life. “As soon as they told me you were leadin’ the rescue, I took my first deep breath. I knew you wouldn’t let us down. You never do.”
I huffed out a disbelieving laugh. “I… ’Course I do.”
Momma tipped her head to the side, her brows pinched. “What on earth do you mean?”
“Well, Momma…” I said, my tone matter-of-fact. This wasn’t exactly the time or the place to get into it, but my failures also weren’t a secret, especially within our family. “You don’t have to blow smoke up my butt, even if everyone’s makin’ me the hero today.”
“Youarethe hero today.”
I brushed off the praise and continued as if she hadn’t said a word. “You don’t have to pretend you and Daddy haven’t been disappointed in my…choices.”
“Why in the world would you think that?”
“Why—” I shook my head, fumbling with the words until they suddenly poured out of me. “Whywouldn’tI? The first Haven to fail college?—”
“Mac,” Momma said, her tone sweetly reprimanding. “You and I both know college wasn’t ever gonna hold you. You weren’t made for it.”
“Made for success, you mean?”
“Hush, now.” She reached for my hand and squeezed. “Made forordinary. All four of you are as different as each of the seasons, but you have similarities. Rory and Will thrived at college because they both flourish by seein’ their accomplishments on paper. You and Nat never had time for any of that. You’re both doers, Mac. And you’re doin’.”
I furrowed my brows, suddenly seeing my life through a whole new lens at my mother’s words. “But what about when I was spendin’ my timedoin’ while bein’ a bartender at the place Daddy never wanted here to begin with?”
Momma cocked her head to the side. “You mean while bein’ an integral part of helpin’ your future brother-in-law establish a successful business?”
That…wasn’t exactly how I saw it.
“Well, how about when I ‘flit off,’” I said, air quoting a phrase my daddy loved to use, “for weeks on end and run outta town?”
Raising an eyebrow, Momma asked, “You mean when you’re helpin’ those kids who are so much less fortunate than you’ve ever been a day in your life?”
“Wha—” My jaw dropped open as I stared at my mom with wide eyes. “How’d you know about that? Did Will tell you?”
“Oh, please, like I need your sister to tell me anything. You girls never give me enough credit. There isn’t much y’all’ve done that I don’t know about—including that dent in our car when you were seventeen,” she added with a raised brow.
You could’ve blown me over with a well-timed breeze. I just stared at my mom, having no idea what to say.
