Slowly, he twisted his neck and peered over his shoulder. “Should be…”
“Will be,” Whitmore corrected. “Unless, of course, you’ve changed your mind. You were wronged. I can’t say I’d blame you if you turned it down on principle, although I will say it would be stupid on your part. I know you’re smart enough to not let bad feelings stand in the way of doing the right thing.”
“The right thing,” Willie mused as he swung around to once more face the attorney. He studied the man’s bearing, then looked at the radiant smile Hattie wore. “It should be an easy choice, of course.” But it wasn’t.
His gaze moved past Whitmore, past Hattie and the boy in her arms, sweeping over the neat shelves of books, the well-swept floors, the tidy sales counter, and the comfortable chairs and reading tables placed at convenient spots throughout the shop. He drew in a breath, taking in the cheerful atmosphere, the pleasant ambiance of sunlight mixed with the enticing smell of paper, printer’s ink, and leather.
Together, he and Hattie had created this little place of happiness, a place that brought the latest news and information to the community as well as the most-cherished stories from the past. Their little shop had become a popular place for parents and children, and Hattie had dozens of plans for story-telling, reading circles, and book clubs.
To pursue the law now would mean leaving Hattie to run the place on her own.
“Well, Willie, what should I tell the review board?” Whitmore asked.
Hattie responded first. “Tell them he accepts their offer. He’ll be around first thing tomorrow morning to personally thank each member of the committee.”
“Hattie…” Willie stared at his wife. His heart pounded. “What about the shop? You need me here. How would you manage?”
“I’ll find a way. I’ll take someone on if necessary. You’re not going to miss out on this chance. I won’t allow it.”
His heart beat faster still. “You’re sure? What if it proves more than you can handle? I don’t want you to ever look back and regret this choice.”
“No regrets, Willie,” she whispered.
But how could he be sure? “It’s easy enough to say those words, wife, but no one knows the future. You might well come to regret this decision.”
“And if I do, then we’ll talk about it. We’ll find a way to make things work.” Bouncing little Willie and beaming brightly, Hattie reached up to place a hand to her husband’s cheek. “You’ve taught me a lot about life, you know, but there’s one lesson I think you’ve failed to learn. To live with no regrets doesn’t mean a life with no mistakes, Willie. It means living fully, taking risks, daring to follow your dreams.”
* * * *
Late that night as he and Hattie lay close together in bed, he thought again of her words. Of course he would accept the review board’s offer and tomorrow he would, indeed, call upon each member to express his gratitude.
Soon he would hang out his shingle and open his law practice. How well he fared would depend upon himself, his willingness to work hard, and his ability to offer wise, just counsel. It would mark both a beginning and an ending.
No more thoughts of the past. No more looking back at all the mistakes he’d made.
No regrets.
He and Hattie said those words so many times, but in truth Willie had countless regrets. He wished he’d been wise enough to see his father’s failings. He wished he’d been strong enough to face the truth. He wished he’d been compassionate enough to have found forgiveness sooner.
Yet for all the regrets, in the end, what mattered most was not who he had been, nor even who he might become. What mattered was the moment.
All the wrongs had now been forgiven, all the mistakes erased and the painful lines of his life rewritten. Hattie had truly saved his life. Her love had found him, claimed him, and healed him.
He placed a tender kiss on her forehead. She stirred in his arms, and Willie closed his eyes in peaceful slumber.
*The End*
About the Author
Christina Cole fell in love with words at a very young age. She fell in love, too, with the tales of the past her grandfather shared with her…stories of growing up on the Kansas prairies, stories of one-room schoolhouses, horse-drawn wagons, pumping water from the well, and jumping into the old creek on a hot summer’s day. Now, she shares her love of days gone by through the historical romances she writes. She believes in love, and her hope is that her words might inspire others to discover love’s wondrous healing powers.
Christina is married to the love of her life. She lives in the midwest and enjoys spending time with their large, extended family. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her engaged in one of many creative pursuits, including perfumery, herb gardening, cooking, drawing, painting, photography, and handicrafts.
Visit Christina at her blog, Christina Cole Romance, for posts about life, love, and what’s for dinner today.
Christinacoleromance.com
You can also follow her on Twitter @kcchristinacole, and receive updates on her stories from her official author page on Facebook: Christina Cole’s Love Notes.
Other Books by Christina Cole
Irresistible
Happily Ever After
Summertime
The Wrong Woman
From “The Sunset Series”
Book 1 – Not the Marrying Kind
Book 2 – Keeping Faith
Book 3- He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
Secret Cravings Publishing
www.secretcravingspublishing.com
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