Rebecca raised her eyebrows. She’d only spoken her feelings on that matter to one person.
“I overheard you, at your sister’s house,” Levi continued, a pained expression on his face. “I’d just arrived and was about to knock when I heard you tell Eleanor that it felt as if I was keeping my distance from you.”
“Oh.” It was all Rebecca could think to say.
“I . . . I owe you an apology for that. Sometimes I don’t know how to react, and it’s easiest to walk away. And the time I spend riding the farm . . . that’s . . .” He shook his head as if he wanted to say more, but cut himself off.
He looked so vulnerable at that moment that the only thing Rebecca could think to do was to reach out and take his hand. His fingers closed around hers and he gave her a grateful smile.
She drew up all her courage and spoke. “I was afraid you were having second thoughts about us. About me.”
“No, never.” He said it with such conviction that Rebecca was certain that it was the truth.
He ran his thumb over the back of her hand. The movement both sent shivers up Rebecca’s skin and set her at ease.
“I thought perhaps that you didn’t care for me at all, and that you only offered to marry me out of pity or some obligation you thought you owed your brother.” It felt odd saying her deepest, darkest fears out loud, but now that the words hung between them, Rebecca felt she could finally breathe again.
“The obligation was what brought me to the depot that day you arrived, but from the moment I laid eyes on you and watched you with your children, I knew I was no longer acting out of respect to Edward’s memory.” Levi raised his other hand, gently resting his fingers against her cheek.
“You did?” Her words were breathy. It was a wonder she could speak at all, considering how such a soft caress could send jolts of lightning through her entire body.
“I did.” Levi paused, his hazel eyes darkening to brown in the growing twilight. They searched her face, and for a half a second, it looked as if he wanted to dart away. But he swallowed and gave her a smile. “I know I’m not perfect, and I’m still learning with the children, but I care for you, Rebecca. More than I realized when we stood in the church together for our wedding.”
Rebecca thought her heart would stop at that declaration. She wasn’t merely a burden to him. She was something more. “I care for you too, Levi.”
The biggest smile she’d ever seen him give split his face at that moment, and he cupped her cheek with his palm. Without thinking, she took a small step closer to him, leaving barely any room between them.
He gazed down at her, one strong hand holding hers and the other resting against her face. For the first time in so long, she felt wanted.
Possibly even loved.
And all she wanted him to do was to kiss her.
His eyes traced hers, as if he were trying to read her thoughts.Now, she thought, wishing he could hear her.
But just as she thought she might have succeeded, the barn door opened. Levi dropped his hands and took a step back, clearing his throat. Rebecca grabbed hold of the table to steady herself as the cold from outside swirled around her, snuffing out any thoughts of kissing.
“I came to see if you needed help.” Gwynnie stood there uncertainly, her arms wrapped around herself. “Your supper is getting cold.”
Levi awkwardly rubbed a hand over the stubble on his chin, while Rebecca was grateful for the darkness that hid her blush. “We were just about to come in,” she said to her daughter. “Levi wanted to show me this beautiful table he made for my birthday.” She stepped aside to show Gwynnie.
The girl smiled and crossed the space to see the table better. “It’s perfect. Now we can all sit at the table for meals. Thank you, Levi.”
And before Levi could react, Gwynnie had turned and flung her arms around him.
Rebecca stifled a giggle as he awkwardly patted Gwynnie’s back. “You’re welcome,” he said gruffly. But he smiled over the top of Gwynnie’s head toward Rebecca.
Her heart melted. And she knew for certain that she’d made the right decision. Levi was a good man, a good husband, and he was figuring out how to be a father too.
Gwynnie led the way back inside. They followed, and Rebecca reached out her hand toward her husband. He took it, and they strode back to the house.
She could face anything, she thought, as long as she had this man by her side. She couldn’t wait to tell Eleanor how things had turned around.
