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“Yeah. She died of cancer some years back,” she tells me. “My parents were already divorced, but amicable for the sake of me and Patrick.”
“Were you close with your mom?”
“Very. We had our difficulties, like most mothers and daughters, but when she got sick, we put our differences behind us. When she died, a part of my heart went with her. Losing a parent is so hard. Nobody tells you about the little things, you know? You don’t think about it until they’re gone. I can never text her. Call her up and ask her for Grandma’s scone recipe. Recall those vacations where we were relaxed and happy. Tell her I love her…” she trails off.
I pull her to my side. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
She shakes her head, wiping a few stray tears. “I don’t speak about it much. It’s too difficult. It’s why I’ve made an effort to connect with Linda and not be a stranger in their lives. Life’s hard, Gray. It doesn’t matter how much money you have in the bank, or what prestigious job you have, or what awards you receive. All that matters is time. It’s our most precious commodity. After my mom passed, I threw myself into college and getting my degree. I wanted to impress my father and make him proud of me.”
“I’m sure that he is very proud of you.”
“He still often treats me like I don’t know stuff,” she sighs. “Because all the lawyers before me were men. My brother chose the medical field, at least he stuck up to my father when he wanted him to practice law. No one would dare dictate to Patrick.”
“But you studied law for your father’s sake, or because you really love doing it?”
She looks out onto the creek and I watch her pretty face, deep in thought. “At first, I did it for him. I wanted to prove I can do everything my brother can. Don't get me wrong, my dad isn't a bad man, or a terrible father, but in the past he used to be set in his ways, always giving Patrick the accolades and barely mentioning mine. Over the years, I just got used to it.”
“That sucks he recognized your brother and not you. I’m sure he is proud of you and all you’ve achieved. Like a lot of men his age, he probably finds it hard to communicate how he feels,” I say, hoping to make her feel better. “My dad isn't great at expressing his emotions, either.”
“I know it’s no excuse, but I think you’re right. Patrick is the distant one and I think dad sees that now.”
”I’m not sugar coating it. But he wouldn’t be so quick to let you take over the business.”
She smiles softly, looking out over the valley. “You’re right,” she whispers. “Gosh. It’s so peaceful here.”
That feeling of content hits me and I know it’s her. She’s the one.
It’s like a warm blanket of rightness surrounding me. Where I just feel happy in my heart and can be who I am, I don’t have to try to be anything I’m not.
It’s been her from the beginning.
Ever since I first laid eyes on her at Casa Cipriani. The woo-woo stuff Georgia always talks about does have some merit. Of all places, Hartley showed up here?
It’s fate, that’s what it is.
I put an arm around her shoulder and she wraps her arms around me as we stand and stare out at the scenery. The sun setting in the sky, leaving a slick of orange and pink haze behind as dusk weaves its way through the trees.
This is where my heart is. It will always be here, no matter what.
“Coyote Run,” I tell her. “In all its glory.”
31
Hartley
All week I’ve been on cloud nine. Ever since we took the drive out to Coyote Run, everything changed inside of me.
For the first time in my life, I saw my future.
I didn’t miss when Gray was explaining where everything would go on the property; he said we more than once.
The idea of living there with him feels perfect to me. My heart grows thinking of raising a family and living a happy, peaceful life. The fact I’ve never really considered it until I met Gray is a shock in itself. I always thought I was a city girl who appreciated breaks away in the country, but wouldn’t live there. Now all I crave is going out to the farm and have Gray take me on another picnic.
I try not to swoon when I think back to us laying down in the back of his truck, making out like teenagers as we ate cheese and bread, drinking wine until we laughed so hard, our stomachs hurt.
I’m happy that I make Gray laugh. He’s so serious in his everyday life that I feel enormous relief when he’s able to be himself.
But today I have to visit him at the distillery. We got a reply from Keira’s lawyer.
