“Nope.”Ian looked away, wished Harry weren’t so perceptive.“I’m not sure she’ll show up.Maybe this is all a mistake, and I should leave her alone and hope my parents do the right thing.”
“You’re going to trust your old man?”Harry slapped a hand on the table.“Bad idea.He’s slippery, and from what I’ve heard, he likes power and control.”
“You’re not wrong there.”His father’s threats all those years ago had torn Ian and Katie apart…
“You’re just trying to protect what’s yours, right?Make sure the baby gets what he or she’s entitled to…?”
“Right.”The tone in Harry’s voice said he had more to say but wasn’t sure how to say it.Ian blew out a breath, fixed his gaze on the man whom people claimed could repair broken hearts and relationships.“Out with it, Harry.What do you want to tell me?”
“From where I’m sitting, you’re not just trying to protect this baby’s financial future by marrying Katie.”He tilted his head, studied Ian.“You’re moping around like you can’t figure out the next move in this chess game.How about I spell it out for you?Youwantto marry her because you love her, period.But you don’t know if she feels the same way, and even if she does, you’re not sure she’ll admit it.That’s called a conundrum, and I know that because I’ve been there a time or two myself.”
Ian crossed his arms over his chest, stared at the man who’d pretty much nailed it.“Is there a point to this, Harry?Or are you just trying to annoy me with your analysis?”
The man laughed.“There is a point.You love her.Take the lead and let her know.No holding back, no playing it safe.Do that, and she’ll see how right you are together.”
20
Ian couldn’t wait around any longer, so he put on the suit Nick Borado had guaranteed would bring him good luck, cleaned the snow off his truck, and drove to Mimi’s.The roads weren’t horrible, but they weren’t good either.If this kept up, someone would have to clear Katie’s driveway.He remembered seeing a snowblower in the back of the garage near a stack of pots and a wheelbarrow.Did the thing even run?Maybe Jack usually plowed the driveway for her, and she didn’t use the snowblower.Who knew?He could definitely picture Katie bundled in snow gear, clearing the area, but… maybe not.
There was a lot he didn’t know about her…a lot he’d like to find out if she’d give him the opportunity.No doubt if the town knew what was going on, there’d be bets on whether or not Katie Layton would show up today.Would the odds be in his favor, or would the consensus feel he didn’t deserve her, even if she was carrying his baby?
Well, he didn’t deserve her, but that didn’t change his determination to fight for a chance to show her they could be a family, find real happiness—if she’d only open her heart one more time.
Ian stepped out of the truck, made his way toward the front door of the bed and breakfast.He hadn’t reached the first step when the door flung open, and Mimi greeted him in a black pantsuit with red piping on the collar and sleeves.“My, my, don’t you look handsome.”
“Hey, Mimi.”He stepped inside, shrugged out of his coat, and dusted the snow from his hair.
“Quite impressive.”
He glanced up to find her smiling at him.“Thanks.It’s not too much?”He pointed to the tie and suit.He hadn’t worn a tie since the day his father insisted a tie was a necessary part of business.
“Of course not.”She shook her salt-and-pepper head until her red-ball earrings bounced.“I’d say it’s just right, especially for the occasion.”
The occasion.Ian checked his watch, calculated the time left before Katie showed—or didn’t.
“All will be well.You’ll see.”
“I wish I could be as confident as you are right now, but from where I’m standing, it’s all a gamble.It could be the best or the worst decision I’ve ever made.”
She patted his hand, spoke in a soft voice.“Life is a gamble.You take a risk, and you hope it turns out, but you never really know, do you?But if you do nothing and you risk nothing, then what?Your life is empty, your dreams lackluster, your future stalled.”More hand patting, more wisdom.“I’ve seen worse, and I know right now you find that hard to believe, but it’s true.Give her a chance and give yourselves a chance to see what you can be together.”
Ian swiped at his forehead, clung to her words.“I hope you’re right.There are so many things I wish I could undo…make different choices…be more truthful…” His voice cracked when he shared what lay in his heart.“I never wanted to hurt her, and I really believed I was protecting her.But now?I’m not sure she’ll ever see it that way or understand.”
“Where there’s love, there’s forgiveness.You must believe that.”
Love?He loved Katie, but could she ever love him?Ian struggled to put sound to words, so he merely nodded.
“Come now.Let’s get you warmed up while we wait for them.”Mimi led him into the sitting room, gestured toward the couch, and disappeared down the hall.He hadn’t been in the Heart Sent before, but he’d heard a lot about it; from the tales of star-crossed lovers who’d ended up in photograph albums to the incredible woman who ran the place.Mimi Pendergrass was a kind soul with conviction and strength who never gave up, even though she’d known her own share of sadness.The husband and son who died too soon, the daughter she didn’t speak to for years.Through it all, word had it she clung to the belief that life would get better, and that she was destined to help others in ways she hadn’t been able to help her own family.
Ian opened a photograph album, flipped through the pages, and recognized several of Magdalena’s couples.Nate and Christine Desantro, Nick and Delilah Borado, Law and Ava Carlisle, Max and Grace Ruhland.He homed in on Max and Grace, the way they looked at one another, her hand on his chest, the smile…
Thatwas love…that was what Ian wanted.That?—
“How about a beer?”Mimi held a glass in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other.“Nick Borado tells me you prefer this over scotch or bourbon.”
“Sure.”Ian reached for the bottle, passed on the glass.“Thanks.”
“I do enjoy a bourbon now and again.It reminds me of my husband.”She picked up her glass from the coffee table, clinked it with his beer bottle.“Wishing you years of joy.”
