And one blank line that mocked me.
All I had to do was fill in Lincoln’s name. And then I could file this paperwork and be done with it. But here I sat, slumped on the stool, eyes rimmed red, wineglass in one hand, pen in the other, half laughing, half sobbing like the world’s most unhinged maniac.
The only good part of my being left alone was that at least no one could see me like this. Battered. Broken.
Devastated.
“You purposely didn’t think about this for weeks, andnowit’s a priority?” I muttered to myself, swiping the back of my hand under my nose. “Real subtle. A+ emotional avoidance.”
The words I’d written on the paper blurred thanks to my tears.
Steele & Bramble
It was supposed to beStone& Bramble. That was the plan. That had always been the plan. It was something solid. Strong.
Singular.
But now? Now, it wasn’t singular, and it hadn’t been in a while. This place wasn’t just mine anymore.
Or at least, I didn’t want it to be.
But if I filled out both lines and Lincoln didn’t come back…
I swallowed down the lump in my throat and blinked back the tears that refused to quit. It was just a business name. Just paperwork.
So why did it feel like writing his name would crack me wide open? That finalizing a partnership would break me?
The door opened suddenly, a breeze floating in along with it, and I jolted, my wine sloshing dangerously close to the edge. I darted my wide-eyed gaze behind me, heart in my throat at what I’d find?—
My breath caught.
Lincoln stood in the doorway, haloed in the porch light, his eyes landing on me like I was both the stormandthe safe harbor.
“Jesus,” I breathed, heart stuttering in my chest as I wiped a hasty hand under my eyes. Definitely not sobbing into a wineglass over here. “You scared me.”
“Didn’t mean to.” He stepped inside like he belonged here—like he’d never left—and dropped something on the table next to the armchair. “I live here too, remember?”
Though I tried to hold it in with everything I had, I couldn’t stop my chin from wobbling, his words undoing me more than I wanted them to.
“You came back,” I whispered.
“’Course I did.” His voice was soft. Steady. “I’ll always come back, wife.”
Tears blurred my vision again before I could blink them away, and I swallowed back the sob that was threatening to break free. This was ridiculous. I was beingridiculous.
He crossed the room slowly, like I was a skittish animal, and if he moved too fast, I might bolt. He darted his gaze over the mess I’d made on the island before meeting my eyes again. “What’s all this?”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Waved a hand through the air like this wasn’t a big deal. Like I hadn’t had an emotional breakdown because of it. “Joint LLC paperwork. For the farm. I’ve been, um… I’ve been meaning to do it for a while.”
He scanned the paper, his gaze snagging on my name and the blank line below it for the joint owner.
“But I just…” I swallowed, unable to finish the sentence, emotion clogging my throat.
“You just couldn’t yet,” he finished for me.
I lifted a single shoulder in a shrug, my eyes filling again, all my worries and fears flooding back.
“You were scared to go all in.” Cupping my face, he swiped his thumbs across my cheeks, catching my falling tears. “Because if you did, and I didn’t stick around…it would’ve confirmed everything you’re scared of.”
