“Time for some tough love, though. Get dressed.” Avery flung some clothes atme.
“Okay, I’mmoving.”
After a quick shower, dress, and primp, we were out the door and headed for thecenter.
When we pulled into the lot, I noticed someone had removed the garland from the front porch. “Where did the decorationsgo?”
Avery parked the car. “I’m notsure.”
We headed to the building with boxes of decorations in hand, but at the front door, there was asign.
Plumbing issue and flood caused relocation of Christmas Eve party. Please go to 455 ChestnutRun.
“That’s Kevin’s place,” Imumbled.
“Guess he gave the center permission while he’s out of town. Are you okaygoing?”
I straightened and cleared my throat. “I am. There’s no way I would let the patients down after all their hard work. I hope some of the decorations they made were moved over,too.”
We loaded the boxes back into the car, and Avery zipped through town and out the other side to the massive white home. Cars were parked on the grass, driveway, and aroundback.
I couldn’t help but look for Kevin’s truck, but it wasn’t in the driveway. “Looks like the entire town’shere.”
“You know how Magnolia Corners is. If there is a call for help, everyone comes running.” Avery shoved a box into my arms, and we headedinside.
My stomach tightened at the familiar aroma of sawdust and leather. Added to the normal smell were cinnamon, pine, and roasted nuts. It was an olfactory playground of a hometownChristmas.
“Hey, beautiful.” The deep sound of Kevin’s voice took hold and paralyzed me where I stood. I dropped the box with a loud bang at my feet. Everyone inside—Mr. Shelton, therapists, all the clients from the center, Sadie, Joe, and Kaley—looked atme.
“What’s going on?” I asked, trying to sound casual. But even after all the time I’d spent with Kevin, he still had the same effect onme.
He laced his fingers between mine and led me to the Christmas tree that sat by the fire. All the decorations had been deconstructed and put back togetherhere.
“How?Why?”
He took both my hands and faced me. “When I saw that man slip a ring on yourfinger—”
“Ididn’t—”
“Let me say this, please.” He cleared his throat, and I noticed his hands were shaking. I squeezed themtight.
He took a deep breath. “When I saw that happen, I felt like I did the day Joe was injured and the day I almost hit Avery with my truck. Pain shot through my heart, and I thought I would never be able to breathe again. The thought of losing you was too much. That’s when Iknew.”
He licked his lips and shiftedfeet.
“Knew what?” Iasked.
“That I couldn’t let you go without afight.”
Sighs echoed around theroom.
“It scared me”—he took in a quick, stuttered breath—“the thought of feeling that kind of pain again, so I wanted torun.”
I opened my mouth, but words didn’t form. A fog of fear and doubt swirled in my head. “I don’t want to stop you. No matter how I feel about you, I don’t want to hold you back from your dreams. If you want to go back to school, then you shouldgo.”
He closed his eyes for a moment and then opened them again. “You’re my dreams. The idea of restoring this place side by side with you, working at the rehab center, coming home with you at night and never letting you go is what I want. You’re my Ms. Bennet, but if I have this wrong and you belong in another world, then go. Marry Edward if he makes you happy. All I want for you is for you to follow your heart. But before I could let you go, I knew I had to tell you thetruth.”
I scanned the people around the room. Their eyes were transfixed onus.
