Crouching down, he touched the cold stone as he waited for the ache to subside.“I’m supposed to talk to you,” he finally got out.“Not sure what to say, though.”
He fell silent again and waited.A gust of wind swept over the graveyard, nearly taking his hat with it.“Oh, you want me to talk?”With a sigh, he sat down next to the grave.“Maybe it will be easier to talk to you than to anyone else.You see, there is this gorgeous woman…” This time the wind sent his hat flying.
Chuckling, Becket got up to fetch it.“Okay, so you are listening.”And leaning against Walker’s grave, he told him about how guilty he’d felt that he hadn’t been paying attention on the night of the accident, how he’d been trying to fill Walker’s shoes as well, told him about his fear about making the wrong decision and told him about his worry about the rest of the family.
“And about Ellie,” he finally said.As he mentioned her name, one word popped into his head.She’d used it twice earlier: heart.He’d stolen her heart, she’d said, and he’d broken her heart.
Her heart.If he’d stolen her heart and had broken her heart, that must mean she felt something for him.
For another minute he stood there, his hand on the cold marble of his brother’s grave.As the wind died down, the turmoil in his mind finally settled.His heart opened up and he knew.“I love her,” he muttered as the last pieces of the puzzle came together.
Of course he loved her.Why the hell had it taken him so long to figure this out?It was so obvious.He couldn’t envisage his life without her.What was more, he didn’t want to.She’d stolen his heart while he was still trying his lines on her, idiot that he’d been.
Somehow, he had to convince her he loved her.She’d been hurt, physically but also emotionally, and she didn’t think she was worthy of love.
For another moment, he looked down at his brother’s grave.He knew now what he had to do.
“Thanks, bro—I now understand why Hayden and Willow said I should talk to you.”
*
By five o’clockFriday night everyone was tired.Ellie had made her bed and had hung the curtains in her bedroom.The rest would have to wait.On Saturdays her shop was only open until one and her Sunday… well, Sunday was now wide open.
“Rose has done a pretty impressive job downstairs,” Arlene said.“Willow, Laura and I have unpacked most of the boxes that the movers put in the garage.The only two boxes left are the ones that have ‘Grandma’ written on them.”
“Don’t worry about those, I’ll get to them eventually.Thank you for everything you’ve done.There was no way I could’ve accomplished so much on my own in one afternoon.”Ellie said as she hugged everyone in turn.“And thanks for the food, Arlene.I promise to cook all of you a dinner soon.”
“Oh, and I found this in the garage,” Vivian said, pointing toward the cat tree scratching post with activity center standing next to the front door.It was the one Ellie had bought in Bozeman the day she and Becket had been there.
“Thanks,” Ellie said.“I’d forgotten I put it there.I have to find out whether Cooper still has the ginger cat he’s mentioned.”
“It was fun helping you,” Annie said.“You have a lovely house, Ellie.We are all so glad you’ve decided to stay in Marietta for a while.”
“I want to know about you and Becket,” Laura said.“Please talk to us.”
Ellie shrugged.“There isn’t much to talk about.He’s moved on, like I knew he would.It hurts, but I’m sure I’ll get over it in time.”
“You sure you’re not jumping to conclusions?”Willow asked.“I’ve never seen my brother look at anyone else the way he looks at you.”
Arlene touched Ellie’s arm.“He may not know it yet, but he’s head over heels in love with you.”
Sighing, Ellie hugged herself.“He had a date with another woman today and he didn’t tell me.”
“Talk to him,” Annie said.“You don’t know why he met her.”
Ellie shook her head.“Why didn’t he tell me about the meeting?I want to believe in him, but…”
Willow turned away.“You should.We’re on our way.Maybe you should rereadNorth and Southagain and think about what we discussed on Tuesday.About jumping to wrong conclusions about other people.Oh, and I’m texting you a link.Have a good look at it.”
“There’s still food left,” Arlene said as they walked toward the front door.“And a bottle of wine.”She winked.
“Thanks, Arlene—you’ve all been so kind and helpful today.”
As they all walked out on the porch, a truck approached and parked on the driveway.Ellie’s heart kicked her in the ribs, but it was Cooper who got out of the vehicle.
“Hi, Coop!”Willow said as he walked toward them with a basket and a bag in his hands.“What have you got there?”
“Ellie wanted a cat.”He smiled.
