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I gave her a disbelieving look. “I don’t think that was it at all.”
“I get that you’re successful, but why would you bid so much money?”
“I want to support Marley and my family, the farm and the business. But I bid on you because I wanted this time with you. It’s worth all the money to have this chance to talk.”
She let out a breath. “If it will help you move on, I’m willing to talk about it.”
I smiled, relaxing for the first time all evening. “First, let’s finish eating.”
She flashed me a smile before eating the coleslaw. “Memories of Friday night dinners at your house were good ones. But your dad was so gruff. I was always worried he’d get tired of seeing me at the table, and he’d tell me it was time to go home.”
I shook my head. “He liked you for me. I think he was worried I’d fall into a bad crowd.”
Holly frowned. “Why would he think that?”
Being here with her tonight reminded me of all the times we’d talked late into the night in the back of my truck, staring up at the stars, and wondering what our future would bring. I never thought she wouldn’t be in it. “He didn’t like that I took all those shop classes. He was worried I wouldn’t make enough money in a career where I’d be using my hands. I think he was picked on growing up because he lived on a farm. He wanted our help on the farm but thought we should go to college and get an office job. He wanted us to have security.”
“All your brothers work with their hands. Emmett makes furniture, Knox runs a landscaping business, and Heath is in construction.”
“He didn’t know that back then. I was the only one who was obsessed with learning a trade in high school. I’m so grateful my shop teacher encouraged me.”
“Your dad wanted the best for you.” Holly’s hands lowered, her chicken forgotten.
I took his concern for what it was; he wanted to make sure I was going down the right path. “I was clear from the beginning that I wanted to live on the farm. I had no desire to leave.”
“I loved that about you. That you were so strong and steady.” Holly’s voice was soft and introspective.
I wanted to ask her why she pushed me away. I remember her father being in and out of her life and how excited she was when he visited. “Even when high-end clients commissioned my work, I didn’t travel to them. If they wanted me, they could come here. I was just confident enough, or maybe grumpy enough, to take that chance. And it paid off.”
Holly smiled softly, the lights reflecting on her face. “You were always so confident. I admired that about you.”
My heart ached. I never wanted her to feel less than. Art was just as important to her.
“I love how your family takes care of each other.”
I sobered. “I think that was a result of our dad dying unexpectedly. It impacted all of us.”
Holly covered my hand with hers. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when it happened.”
“We weren’t together at the time.” I would have welcomed her comfort. I never would have turned her away. She was my one weakness.
Holly smiled sadly. “I wanted to be there for you.”
“I appreciate that.” I turned my hand so I could squeeze hers, then quickly removed it. Being here with her like this was making me think all sorts of irrational thoughts, like couldn’t we just pick up where we left off? Sure, we had history, but couldn’t we work through that?
That wasn’t the point of this evening’s date, so I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind.
We finished eating, and I cleaned up our garbage. “Do you want dessert? Or should we watch the movie?”
“Do we get to pick the movie?” Holly asked.
I stood. “I have no idea. This is all Marley’s creation.”
“Let’s see, then,” Holly said with a smile, and it reminded me of when we were dating. When one smile from her was all it took to have my heart beating faster in my chest. Nothing had changed. She still had that power over me.
But then again, I hadn’t let anyone in over the years. It felt like my heart had always belonged to her.
We made our way over toward the projector. Sure enough, there were several movies in the box next to it.
