It’s Leighton who floors me.“We know how much he means to you, even after all this time.He’s the love of your life.People make mistakes.His weren’t unforgivable, but he made those mistakes out of love.Out of his love for you.It’s hard not to forgive a man who breaks his own heart to take care of your sister.”
Well, damn.I take a minute to think about what she’s said.“I believe him when he tells me that he loves me.I felt it.What I’m not sure about is him leaving me again.I wouldn’t survive that,” I confess quietly.
“You would,” Baylor says, assertively.“You would survive it because we’d make sure of it.”
“What she said.”Courtlynn points at the phone.
“The girl in me who fell in love with him wants to jump back in with my eyes closed and hope for the best.The woman that I am now, the one who remembers the heartache, who still feels that pain, is more cautious.”
“Take things at your pace,” Leighton tells me.
Kinzie shakes her phone.“The man who texted me tonight, he’s determined to win his girl back.”
“I say you make him work for it,” Courtlynn pipes up.“Have him show you with his actions.”
“Oh, and don’t tell him that’s what you’re doing,” Baylor adds.
“I’m not going to play games with him,” I tell them.
“That’s not what they’re saying,” Kinzie joins in.“I think what they’re trying to say—correct me if I’m wrong, ladies—is to see how things go.Let his actions speak for themselves.Sure, he can wax all the pretty things from his lips, but does he show up?That’s what we’re looking for.”
“He’s going to show up.That’s who he is.But will he stay?”
“Where else is he going to go, Ellie?”Leighton asks.“His family is here, the woman he loves is here.His mom is sick.He’s not going to leave her.That’s what brought him home.”
“I hate the thought of Mary being sick as the reason we had a chance to reconnect, if that’s what happens.”
“I can see that,” Kinzie says, “but I’d also hedge a bet that Mary James would be tickled pink if she could say she had a hand in getting the two of you stubborn souls back together.”
“So, let’s recap,” Courtlynn says.“You’re not going to run or push him away.You’re going to see how this pans out.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Don’t go all in,” Leighton tells me.“Protect yourself if you must, but you have to throw the guy a bone.Give him the chance to show you.”
“Think of this as something new.You’re both different people now.Take the time to get to know him, and allow yourself to feel whatever it is you feel when you’re with him,” Kinzie says softly.
“Okay.”I nod.“I can do that.”
“Is this what you want?We support you no matter what,” Leighton tells me.
“It’s only ever been Copeland for me.If I could get past this worry that I’ll somehow not be enough for him, then yes, I want him.I’ve always wanted him.”
“You were enough then, and you still are.He left to provide for you.Did he go about it the wrong way?Hell, yes, he did.Were you both young?Also, yes.He didn’t cheat on you or lie to you.He just lost his way.My guess is the man was beside himself with missing you, and when he saw you all smiles with his friends, it crushed his already-broken heart,” Kinzie declares.
“I think she’s right,” Leighton agrees.
“The letters…” I say.
“Who knows what happened to the letters?”Courtlynn says.“Regardless, we all believe that he wrote them, right?”
“I do.”I nod.
“Then, we have to move on from that.That’s the past, and we’re looking toward your future.”
“This is all great and whatnot, but I need to make one more suggestion,” Baylor says.
“What’s that?”I ask.
