Page 123 of Leaf Well Enough Alone

“No, I’m—I’m?—”

All of a sudden, I was aware of Candace snoring softly beside me and mymother gazing at me in concern. Mac was eating popcorn and watching Ian and me, not the movie on the screen.

Overcome, I stood on shaky legs and made my way outside, dropping heavily onto the top step of the back porch. I didn’t know why this was hitting me so hard. Ian’s love and devotion weren’t a secret. We were making a life together. I knew he was it for me.

But there was just something about seeing something of mine, from before—before we’d been anything to one another. A piece of me I didn’t even know I’d lost, that he’d kept this whole time, as a memento.

Less than a minute later, the back door opened and closed quietly. I knew it was Ian. I recognized the sound of his bare feet on the wooden planks. For some reason, that knowledge made me want to cry.

“I’m not upset,” I said before he’d settled fully beside me. “I just had to leave. My feelings were too big for that couch, that room, and all those people in it.”

I reached for Ian’s hand and laced our fingers together. “It’s just ... all this time?”

He smiled, shy and a little embarrassed, then confirmed, “All this time.”

“I was so mean to you,” I groaned, burying my face in our joined hands.

Ian laughed. “You weren’t ... mean. You had high expectations. And you weren’t impressed by me.” He tried to steal his hand back and peel the fingers away from my eyes. Laughing harder now, he said, “I had to grow on you. It’s not your fault I fell in love with you right off the bat.”

“Oh my God, Ian. I feel likesuchan asshole.” Mortification threatened to swallow me whole. I’d given this man such a hard time. I’d questioned his motives again and again. When all along?—

“Stop,” he coaxed, both dimples on full display. “Remember when I told you, I’d rather have one person who really knew me than have all the fans in the world just assume they did. All I’ve ever wanted was a love that developed over time, something meaningful, something true. And that’s what we have. You grew to love me, and I know it’s real. I know I earned it.”

To him, it was that simple. And I guess it was. He didn’t want the easy way. He never had.

“I’m going to miss you so much when you leave,” I confessed, my voice just loud enough to get the words out. Any louder and my throat would have closed up.

“I know,” he said, smiling gently. “I’m going to miss you, too. But I’m coming back. I’llkeepcoming back. And, if it works out with the farm and your family, you can come with me the next time I go. And then one day, I won’t leave anymore. You’ll be my wife, and I’ll be your husband. Georgie will still be ours, and we’ll be home. For good.”

I nodded. The tears that had been swimming in my eyes since I’d stepped outside finally fell. Ian leaned in, kissing them away.

“I love you,” I whispered.

He grinned. “I love you, too. Now, can we go back inside and watch my movie so you can tell me how great it is and what a gifted actor I am?”

I laughed. “Okay. Okay. Sorry.”

Ian stood and held out a hand to help me up.

My eyes fell briefly to the elastic hair tie on Ian’s wrist. Warmth filled me up, the knowledge that I’d found something special. A love I’d almost missed, out of sheer stubbornness.

Grateful, I slipped my hand into Ian’s waiting one, then yelped happily as he tugged me into his arms.

I’d spend the rest of my life working to let Ian know he’d found a family in me. I’d make sure he never questioned where he belonged. And if he ever lost his way, all he needed to do was follow the path home.