On a big breath, he pulled on the door. It didn’t budge. Locked.
Charity yelped and every face turned to stare at him through the glass. The shift was immediate. Charity’s eyes narrowed, Holly stood, her jaw set in an unfriendly line. Willow said something to Grace and, getting a small nod, started toward the door.
He was about to run the gauntlet.
Willow faced him, curiosity simmering in her gaze.
Better than open hostility.
She cracked the door, but stood in the gap. “Calvin.”
“Willow,” he replied.
“It’s a private party,” she pointed out.
“My apologies. I just brought a gift for Grace.”
Willow studied him, then looked behind him. “Not more flowers?”
He really liked Grace’s best friend. Always had. “Something better.” He hoped.
Willow’s eyebrows arched. “Good.” She stepped back, making room. “It’s for you, Grace,” she called out and the others chuckled.
Grace emerged from the center of the group and Cal only had eyes for her. “You’re interrupting an important tradition.”
“My apologies,” he said to the group at large. Then he focused all his attention, love, and hope on Grace. “I know you asked me to go,” he began. “And I know you think I’ve changed into the heartless guy who tries to fix things with a checkbook and a spreadsheet.”
“The flowers were lovely. Thank you.”
The chill in her voice scared him. “You read the card?”
She nodded.
“You should leave, Calvin,” Scarlett said though the words lacked bite.
“I will,” Calvin promised. “In a minute. But first, this is for you, Grace.” He pressed the small album into her hands.
Her fingers brushed over the photo on the front cover. He’d chosen a snapshot of Grace in the gardens during their last date at Duke. He’d taken the picture when she rejoiced over a bank of pink hydrangeas.
“This is why you remembered my favorite flowers.”
He shook his head. “I remember it all, Grace, even without the photos.” He urged her to open the book as he continued. “You brought a sewing machine to college. I remember howyou look when you’re sewing late at night.” Every small, poorly printed photo represented those memories. “I remember how your hand fit perfectly in mine. That first time and every time after. I remember you talking about this town and your family. Your roots and your wings. Yes, I remember your big dream to become your own label, but everything you made for yourself or others had a bit of this town in it. I didn’t see it then, but I can now. I went about it all wrong, but I want you to know I didn’t just show up here to rescue you or change your life. I’m here. I’m staying,” he used the words he’d written on the floral card, “Because I want to be a part of it.”
He sank to one knee as she gaped at him. “Turn to the last page, Grace.”
She gaped at him for a moment, but when she turned the page, he handed her one more photo. It was the picture of the house he’d put an offer on. Though this was all for her, he didn’t mind as her friends crowded closer for a glimpse of the photo.
“That’s for us, if you’ll have me. For me, if you won’t.”
“What about the lease?” Scarlett murmured.
“Hush,” Willow chided.
Grace’s smile flirted with the corner of her mouth and her eyes sparkled with amusement. Everything inside of him seemed to fizz, like a champagne bottle ready to pop.
“I’m not staying due to Levi or the festival. This is all aboutyou. I’m staying because I’m a better man when I’m with you. Because the heart and soul of Brookwell is alive and well because of you.” He reached out, tentatively taking her hand. Her fingers were cold, but she didn’t pull away. “I want to stand with you, right here. And I want to be the man you rely on, the man you come home to every night.”
Standing, he looked around at the other women—the friends who were now her core family. “She pushed me away, with good reason, years ago. And I blamed this town for holding herback. I’ve never been more wrong about anything. Thank you for doing what I couldn’t when I was too young and hurt to understand. Thank you for supporting her when she needed it most.”
