He smirks at her. “Yeah, so?”
“Get used to it, El.” Piper nabs a cookie as Nana sets the plate down. “They’re gonna be like this all the time.”
Nana’s special guy, Clint, who we’ve all fallen in love with already, presses a kiss to her cheek. “It’s these Texas women. Hard to resist.”
Watching Nana blush and wave him off fills me with all kinds of warm feelings and imaginings. I tilt my face toward Wade, trying to picture us at their age. Will we still feel like this about each other?
He meets my gaze, then kisses my nose. “We’ll be even better.”
This beautiful bear of a man…reading my mind again. I pinch his side before standing up. He grabs my hand in an attempt to pull me back down, but I manage to evade him.
Nana gives me a small nod—the go-ahead.
My breath is shaky as I take the three slim boxes from under the tree, handing one to Piper, Ellie, and then Wade.
He holds the bright green and red wrapped box in his hands. “Don’t we usually wait until the evening?”
“Nana and I have something extra special for you this year, and we want you to open them now.” I return to my spot next to him, leaving him plenty of room to unfold the documents.
The rustle of wrapping and tissue paper fills the room, accompanying the crackle of the fire. Studying all three of their faces as they unfold the plans we had drawn and absorb what they’re holding is probably the most exhilarating and trepidating thing I’ve ever experienced.
Piper is the first one to gasp. She holds her hand to her mouth, darting her shocked gaze between Nana and me.
“No way.” Ellie’s voice drips with disbelief.
But it’s Wade’s reaction I’m anticipating the most. He keeps scanning the top page, which gives the complete picture of the transformation we’re planning. I referenced my old binder with all the plans I had wanted to make for my parents’ place when I had the idea of turning it into a venue for weddings, vacations, and weekend events, so all we had to do was put a plan together and hire an architect to bring my ideas to life.
Wade carefully folds the papers and places them on the table. He stares into the fireplace, making it difficult to read what he’s thinking, but his silence feels heavy.
But I know what’s going through his mind. That I’m sacrificing us for an old dream, and I’m pretty sure he’s not saying it because he’s afraid he’ll wind up being the one to crush it this time.
He stands and leaves the room, heading toward the door leading to the back porch.
Nana gives me a small smile. “Maybe give him a few minutes to absorb it.”
A long sigh seeps out of Ellie. “He can be so stubborn sometimes.”
Piper gives me a knowing look. “There’s more to it than that, El.”
Clint makes a tutting sound. “Want me to talk to him? Help him see this is a good thing for all of you?”
As much as I appreciate his heart on this, I know I’m the only one who can help Wade see past the early hurdles of my idea. “Thanks, Clint, but I think he needs to hear it from me.”
He nods as he reaches for Nana’s hand. “It’s not like we won’t be here on occasion to help out. Just not in the beginning.” He plants a kiss on her fingers. “We have some exploring of our own to do first.”
Nana beams at him. I love seeing her so happy, and I want that too, for Wade and me.
I rise from the couch, running nervous hands down my thighs. “I’ll go talk to him.”
When I walk out onto the deck, Wade’s leaning on the railing overlooking the lawn and the dock by the lake. I run my hand up his back, letting him know I’m here. His warmth strengthens me, as I hope my presence will for him.
“Wade, we can make this work. Once we have everything in place and things start moving, I can go back and forth. And you travel so much of the season as it is. I can come for visits and drive to nearby games. Then, in the summer, we can be together. Here.”
He turns his head, staring at me over his shoulder. “Is this really what you want?”
“Yes. You know this was always my dream.” I run my fingers along the side of his head, loving the feel of his auburn strands. He’s let his beard and hair grow in more for the second half of the season, and it suits him.
He drops his gaze. “I know, I just thought you were happy in Sarabella. With me.”
