We make our way out of the apartment building and to his car. The ride to the airport is filled with tension, and I know Tucker doesn't want me to go, but he can't make me stay. At a red light, Tucker pulls my hand into his. "Penny, if you need me to come with you…"
I shake my head, stopping him from voicing his heroic gesture. "You're right in the middle of your campaign. I know you need to be in New York. I'll be all right." I squeeze his hand reassuringly. "I'll call you if anything comes up."
"Promise?" he asks with a worried look.
"I promise."
We make it the airport in record time, and Tucker helps me with my luggage. We're standing outside the security gate when Tucker takes my hand in his. He stares at me for a beat before saying, "I want you to know that I want to marry you someday, Penny. Whenever you're ready to come back to New York, I'll be here. Waiting. I'd wait a thousand years for you, Penny Preston."
And then I do something I should have done a long time ago. I kiss Tucker goodbye. I know the moment we part that he felt the shift between us. He kisses me on the cheek and whispers in my ear, "I'll always love you."
I give him one last glance before making my way through the gate. I realize in that moment that I'm not running away from a life I could have. I'm running back home to where I belong.
CHAPTER 26
PENNY
"MAMA, ARE YOU here?" I ask, almost yelling as I burst through the front doors to my parents' house. I almost went straight to the hospital, but my mother never told me anything other than to get back to Alabama as fast as I could.
As I round the corner to the living room, I see my parents sipping coffee as if everything is right in the world. My eyes widen as I see my father look up at me and smile. I rush to him and throw myself into his arms. "What happened? You look completely fine," I say in amazement. I pull back and look into his eyes. "Daddy, what's going on?"
"Your mother…" my father starts.
My mother clears her throat and sets down her coffee cup. "Penelope, I lied to you…again."
My heart almost stops beating as I hear her words. "W-what?" I falter. I stand up slowly, squaring my shoulders, ready for a mouth battle. How could she lie about something as serious as my father's health? Hasn't she learned by now that her lies cause nothing but pain and destruction?
Mom stands and holds up her hands in defense. "I lied, but for a good reason."
"And what reason would that be?" I ask her in total disbelief.
"You were miserable up in New York, Penelope. And it took me a lot of thinking and a lot of arguing with your father to make me realize that you don't want to marry Tucker Hayward. You never wanted anyone other than Colton." She sighs and shakes her head sadly. "I'm sorry I lied to get you here, but this time it was for non-selfish reasons." She throws her hands up in surrender. "Ifinallyget it, Penelope. Okay? I need to stop trying to make you live a life that I want and let you live yours."
Her words slowly sink in. "So…you lied to get me back to here so that I could be with Colton?" When she nods, I frown. "Colton doesn't want me. He ---."
"Things changed while you were gone, Penny," my father interrupts. "Colton started remembering things. In fact, he came here for dinner several times asking questions about you and how you two used to be. And some of the blanks we filled in for him seemed to help with his fragmented memories."
Tears fill my eyes. "He remembers me?"
My father nods. "He doesn't remember everything, but he's getting there. He's making progress."
I press my palm to my chest and feel my heart racing underneath my hand. "He remembers me," I whisper. I look at them both and say, "I'm sorry. I…I have to go. I have to find him."
My parents smile, and that's the last thing I see before I run out the door.
* * * * *
COLTON
I NERVOUSLY SIT on the front porch and tap my fingers against my jeans as the tunePenny Laneruns through my head. If someone would have told me a month ago that Virginia Preston would have conspired with me to get her daughter to come back to Alabama, I would have told that person they were nuts. But her mama just called to say Penny's on her way, and I can't believe our plan actually worked.
I was so afraid that I was too late. Even though Virginia assured me that her daughter wasn't in love with Tucker Hayward, I didn't truly believe it. I've screwed up so many damn times, and I know I'm not even worthy of another chance. But bless the stars, because Penny's comin' home to me.
This is my last chance to make things right. And I'm gonna do everything in my power to make that girl stay with me.
I love her. I was just too damn stubborn and stupid to realize it before. I love her with every single ounce of my heart, body and soul. Penny is it for me.She's my everything.
I stand when I see her parents' car pullin' up the lane.She's here. She's really here.
