by Jo McNally
“You mean the woman who’s left him twice now?” His mother sniffed. “You told me yourself she flew to Greensboro this morning. Whenever things get too hot, she takes off. My son deserves better.”
“Your son won’t find any better.” Father Joe joined the conversation. “And Helen was right. You’re wasting whatever life you have left by tryin’ to control it. That’s not how life works. The more you try to shape the future, the more elusive it becomes. What’s the saying? Man plans and God laughs?” Joe lifted a shoulder. “Not to be cruel, but if that’s true, God could be laughin’ at you, Mrs. Cooper. Your efforts are wasted on trying to change whatever He has in store. Far better to enjoy what happiness you can share with those you love in the here and now than fret over what might happen tomorrow.”
Iris tapped her cane on the porch floor next to her chair. “Hear, hear, Father Joe. You think I planned on being a single mother with a money pit of an inn to run all those years ago? And here I am, happy as a clam.”
Cecile Manning giggled. “As happy as a clam about to be steamed and eaten, maybe.” She rolled her eyes when Iris flipped her middle finger in Cecile’s direction. “I get your point, Iris. You survived and thrived. Just like Connie did.”
Connie thought for a moment before answering. “I think I’m just getting to the thriving part, but yes.” She gave Owen’s mother a meaningful look. “Thanks to Lucy and Owen. Lucy got my business back on track and forced me out of my...melancholy.” Cecile did a fake cough and said what sounded like bitchiness. Connie ignored her. “And Owen got my house looking nice again. He helped me feel in control of my own life.”
Helen patted Faye Cooper’s shoulder again before sitting back. “That’s the only thing we can control.”
His mother didn’t answer, but he had a feeling she’d listened to at least some of it. He didn’t expect her to change her stripes after one brief conversation It was up to her to decide if she was going to take any of the advice she’d been given.
Meanwhile, all this talk of here and now had him thinking of his own dilemma. Keeping Lucy in his life. Right now, she was in North Carolina. So what was he doing sitting here?
“I need to go after Lucy.”
It seemed so logical. To his surprise, he was the only one who thought so. Everyone else cried out “No!”
He looked around the faces in confusion. He knew why his mother didn’t want him to go, but...he looked at Connie.
“I thought you said we belonged together? Don’t you want her back?”
The older woman’s eyes narrowed on him. “And how are you going to make that happen? You going to drag her back to Rendezvous Falls single-handedly? Were you not listening just now?”
Cecile nodded. “You can’t control her or persuade her to be where she doesn’t want to be or love who she doesn’t want to love.” She gave him a soft look. “To be clear, I’m quite sure she loves you. But it’s not up to you to win her. She has to choose her own life. You just...” She paused, and Iris finished the sentence.
“You just have to do what Lena told you a few weeks ago. Be the man she deserves.”
Father Joe added his thoughts. “And be patient, lad. Trust the future instead of tryin’ so hard to bend it t’your will.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“OKAY, THIS IS WEIRD.” Nikki Taggart held her glass up for the bartender to refill. “Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?”
Lucy didn’t answer, but her sister, Kris, didn’t hesitate. “It’s a little weird. This is where it started. Or ended. Which was it, Luce?”
The three women were sitting at the same bar where Lucy’s bachelorette party had happened. It was much quieter tonight. For one thing, it was a weeknight. And there was no music playing. Instead, there were groups of people gathered at tables in the far corner playing trivia.
“Maybe both?” Lucy finally answered. “Something ended. Something started.”
“The funny thing is, it was the same thing.” Nikki held up her glass. “You and Owen ended. And now you and Owen are starting.”
Lucy arched a brow at her friend. “Oh, are we?”
“Give me a break. You know you are. That man, dumbass though he may be, loves you. You complete him.” Nikki leaned forward, hand over her heart. “And you love him, too. He had you at hello.”
Kris shook her head. “I don’t think it was at hello, but not long after. There’s something just a little caveman about him chasing after you, but in the hottest possible way. It’s like something out of one of those bodice rippers Mom reads.”
Nikki straightened, taking offense. “Bodice rippers? Excuse me, but they aren’t called that anymore. They’re romance novels, and cavemen alphas are not the norm anymore. But Owen was so sweet about it...he’s more of a cinnamon roll hero.”
“You read that stuff?” Kris shrugged. “I couldn’t get past all the heaving and gasping and swollen manhoods.”
The bartender, a young man in his early twenties, moved quickly to the far end of the bar. Lucy bumped her sister’s shoulder. “Nice work, Kris. You scared the bartender.”
“Scarred is more like it,” Nikki snorted. “Poor kid has never heard that word, because it’s from some 1990s romance novel. Remind me to send you something more current to read, Kris. You don’t know what you’re missing. A cinnamon roll is a guy who might be a little crusty on the outside—like a hardened military veteran, but he’s all sweet and soft on the inside. Like a man who’d download a phone app in order to win the heart of the woman he loves.”
“But he didn’t chase me back to North Carolina.” She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“Please,” Kris said. “You’ve only been here two days, and you’re going back north tomorrow. Do you really expect him to trail you everywhere you go?” She shook her head. “Creeper alert.”
“No, but...” She had expected to turn around and see Owen after she got here. Instead, he’d sent a quick text saying he hoped she accomplished whatever she needed to in Greensboro. That he was there if she wanted to talk. There. Not here. “His parents came home. I figured he’d be with them.”
She’d seen his parents yesterday at the nursery. She’d stopped by to talk to his cousin Lori. The Coopers pulled in just as she was leaving. Faye had given a reluctant wave and gone inside, but Edward had walked over to greet her warmly.
“Owen drove us to the airport last night.” He’d watched for her reaction, but she stayed silent. “He showed me around Rendezvous Falls while we were there. It’s a nice little town.” She’d only nodded. “He says there was an opportunity for a landscaping business there. I’m always open to expansion.”
“What? A landscaping business in New York?”
“It was just something he mentioned. As we were driving around looking at...places.”
She’d tried to get him to tell her more, but he was playfully coy. Two words she never dreamed she’d use in relation to Ed Cooper.
The bartender approached the three women cautiously, probably trying to determine the topic of conversation first. Lucy covered her glass as a sign she was finished. She was driving the other two, so she’d stop with this one. She pointed to the menu and ordered a plate of nachos.
When the plate arrived, Kris scooped up a pile of toppings on a chip.
“Mom said you had a good talk this morning.”
“Yeah, I guess. The most important thing is we talked. I met Jeff What’s-his-name and managed to carry on a few minutes of civil conversation with my mother’s lover.”
“Ew. Don’t call him that.” Kris grimaced. “Even if it’s true, it’s gross. He’s not a bad guy.”
“He had an affair with a married woman.” Lucy pointed out. “He’s no saint.”
“I never crowned him with sainthood. Or Mom, for that matter. But what’s done is done. He adores Mom and she seems happy.” Kris flippe
d her hair back. “You have to admit she laughs more now.”
“Hmm.” Lucy took a bite of the nachos. “What about Dad’s happiness?”
Kris shrugged. “To be honest, he was more upset about you leaving than he was about Mom leaving.”
That’s what her father had told her two days ago. He said he’d been bracing for a divorce for a few years now, but he’d never once expected his daughter to be a runaway bride. But he’d told her he was proud of her. Proud. He said she’d been right to demand what she deserved, even if she had waited until the last minute.
Nikki gave Lucy’s shoulder a nudge. “So have you completed your apology tour?”
“That’s not...” She grimaced. “Yeah, I guess that is what I’m doing. I didn’t talk to Owen’s mom, but I think that can wait. Considering she didn’t convince him to come back with her, she’s probably not too happy right now.”
“You have to admit,” Nikki said, “it’s ironic that you’re here and he’s in New York.”
Kris leaned forward to see Nikki. “But they’ll both be in New York tomorrow afternoon. Then we’ll find out what’s going to happen. Or not happen. But I’m guessing it’s gonna happen.”
Nikki agreed. “My grandmother says he’s planning something big.” She clapped her hand over her mouth. “Oh, hell... I don’t think I was supposed to say anything!”
“Bigger than rebuilding my car? Bigger than almost killing me with a cat?”
Bigger than making her fall in love with him all over again?
Nikki’s smile faded. “I honestly don’t know, but act surprised.” She quickly changed the subject. “So did you find the closure you needed here?”
“Yes. If nothing else, I’m not just a runaway anymore. I left. But I came back and faced the music.” She started ticking things off on her fingers. “Apologized to everyone. Offered to pay for the bridesmaids’ dresses.” Luckily for her wallet, no one had taken her up on the offer. “Made peace with Mom and Dad. Met Mom’s friend, What’s-His-Name...”
“Jeff!” Kris groaned. “His name is Jeff.”
“I talked to the Coopers. At least with one of them. Not my fault Faye walked away. I apologized to the church pastor. So I guess that’s closure. My friend Piper...”
Nikki raised her glass in a toast. “That’s my sister-in-law!”
“Yes. And she’s great. She told me I needed to face down my fears. Owen sort of told me the same thing. That’s why I have an appointment with a therapist next week. I might need a little help on that front.” She sat back, knowing she was finally doing something instead of fretting about doing something. “The funny thing is, once I got back here I realized I didn’t fear anyone as much as I’d feared my own complacency. I’m the one who let myself get pushed around. I just waited too long to do something about it.”
“Part of that is my fault.” Kris frowned. “You were just a kid when I got sick. You grew up thinking your job was to make everyone else’s life easier.” She grabbed Lucy’s hand. “And you did, sweetie. You were really good at taking care of us. But now it’s your turn. Claim your time, sis.”
The two sisters stared at each other for a moment. Lucy smiled, her mouth trembling.
“Claim my time. I like the sound of that.”
* * *
PIPER PICKED UP LUCY from the airport, but she’d been steadfast during the drive back to Rendezvous Falls that she was not talking about whatever Owen might have planned. Instead, she talked about the happy news that Evie Hudson was pregnant. Mark and Evie were going to move in with his grandmother in her large lakefront home, not far from Connie’s less grand cottage. Piper said Connie and her friends, and even her son David, thought that between Lucy working at the shop and someone helping maintain her home, Connie would be able to stay in her cottage for a lot longer.
Owen was waiting for her on the front porch of the yellow house when Piper dropped her off. He stood when she got out of the car, watching silently as she walked toward him. She stopped at the bottom of the steps.
“You’re still here,” she said to him, her mind blank of anything more clever to say.
He leaned his hip on the porch rail, his arms folded on his chest.
“Where else would I be?”
“Home in Greensboro?”
“My home’s not in Greensboro.”
She started to smile, and he returned it. She wasn’t feeling as cautious anymore. She’d spent the whole flight home thinking about what claiming her time would look like.
“My home’s not there, either. So...what do we do now?”
“Maybe build a home together?”
She tipped her head and propped her hand under her chin in mocking thoughtfulness. “That’s an interesting idea.” She looked up at him coyly. “Do you think there’s an app that would tell us how to do that?”
Owen put his hands on his chest and staggered back. “Ouch. That hurt.” Then he grew serious. “You forgive me for that?”
She walked up the steps and moved into the embrace he offered, laying her head against his solid chest.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever stop wondering why you’d trust anyone who calls themselves Dr. Find-Love for relationship advice. But I believe your intentions were good. And let’s face it, I made mistakes, too. I was as big a fool as you were, not trusting anyone. At least you trusted Dr. Find-Love.” They stood silently, his head resting on hers. This was where she belonged. “I forgive you, Owen. And I love you.”
His arms tightened briefly, his lips brushed her hair.
“Good.” He took a deep breath and released it slowly, his body relaxing against hers as if he’d just heard the best news of his life. She smiled and snuggled closer. His hand slid under her top, brushing against the small of her back.
“I missed you, Luce. Did you do what you needed to do in Greensboro?”
“Yes.”
“I thought about following you.”
She hesitated. “I think you’ve done enough of that, don’t you?”
He put two fingers under her chin and lifted it until she was looking straight at him.
“If you understand only one thing in your life, Lucy—understand this.” His eyes were dark with emotion. “I would follow you to the ends of the earth and back if I had to. If that’s what it takes to keep you in my life, I will follow you forever...” The corner of his mouth twitched. “But, as Dr. Find-Love says, not in a creepy way.” She laughed, and he continued. “The only reason I didn’t follow you this time was that some very smart people told me to trust the future. I knew in my heart that you’d be back.”
“Is that your grand gesture? That you’re staying in Rendezvous Falls? I think I’d already guessed that.”
He chuckled. “Someone squealed on me.” He released her and led her back down the steps, away from the house. “I’m not so vain to think me staying here is the greatest gift I could give you.”
“It’s a pretty big deal, Owen.” It was everything. He was staying. “Your parents are okay with it?”
He shrugged. “Dad is. Mom...not so much. But she’ll adjust. Or not. Her choice.” He looked back at her. “That sounded bad. I want Mom to be okay with it. I hope she will be. But it really is up to her. Dad says he’s going to work on her. After all, he needs to keep his newest business partner happy.”
“Your cousin Lori?”
“Nope. Me.”
They were almost to his Bronco. She dug in her heels and pulled her hand out of his. Her first thought was that meant Owen was going back to Greensboro. But no. He said he was staying. She remembered what Edward Cooper hinted at.
“You’re his partner? How will that work?”
Owen opened the passenger door. “So whoever gave up that I had a surprise for you didn’t know what it was, eh? Hop in. I want to show you something.”
He turned up Main Street
and on up the hill toward Luke and Whitney’s place. A surprise party? No, that didn’t sound like Owen. His expression was that of a little boy who’d just done something fabulous and couldn’t wait to show it off. She half expected him to shout “look at this big bug I found in the mud!”
But he didn’t say a word. Not even when he drove past the entrance to the winery. After another mile or so, he slowed the truck. There was a farm on the hillside, with a cheerful blue farmhouse with white shutters and a broad front porch. The house overlooked a small pond. Beyond the house was an old red barn and some other outbuildings. The whole place was tidy and pretty, especially with the afternoon sunshine hitting it. She had no idea why Owen was slowing down for it. Was he proving he couldn’t get lost in Rendezvous Falls? Or was he lost now?
Owen pulled into the long driveway and stopped next to the For Sale sign. He turned off the ignition.
“Okay...” Lucy looked around. “I’m trying to see what this is, but...”
Owen rested his hands on the steering wheel, then rested his chin on his hands. “What this is...is a farm. It’s where I got that damn kitten.”
She chuckled. “Please tell me you’re not giving me another cat.”
“Nope.”
“Then what...”
“See that metal pole barn?” He nodded toward it. “I figure I can keep a couple pieces of equipment in there. Backhoes. Bobcats. Mowers.” He nodded at the big barn. “That will be great storage for mulch and gardening soil.” He looked toward her. “And maybe even a horse or two. Some goats. Chickens. Whatever you want and aren’t allergic to.”
“What I want?” She looked at the farm. It was pretty. She could imagine baskets of flowers hanging on the porch. Children running in the yard. Whoa...was this some magical place that allowed people to see the future? She blinked, and it was just a well-kept farm again. A farm that was for sale. A grand gesture.
“Oh, God, Owen. Tell me you didn’t buy this place.”
