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Was I serious about him? Or would I walk away if things got tough? “He wants me to have dinner with his family this weekend.”
“That’s good, isn’t it?”
My nose scrunched. “I worry it’s too soon. That everyone will be wary of us.”
“All you can do is take things one day at a time.”
I needed to forgive myself and take things slowly. “I can do that.”
Mom leaned forward. “Now tell me about the kiln.”
I launched into my efforts over the last day, my thoughts on what I was doing wrong and how I could improve. I couldn’t wait to be in the workshop again. I knew Talon wanted to spend time together, but I had a deadline with Marley. I wanted her to have at least one new design before her next class aired.
I stayed late at my mom’s, afraid of what Talon would have to say after eating dinner with his family. What if Emmett already talked to everyone, and they didn’t approve of us spending time together?
At home, I sketched some new ideas for the kiln and packed up Marley’s ornaments. I’d drop them off at the inn the next day.
I was surprised when Talon called late.
I answered the call. “Hey, is everything okay?”
“I just wanted to hear your voice. You’re not coming back tonight?”
“I needed to pack up Marley’s ornaments. And I drew a few new ideas for the kiln. I think I figured out why it wasn’t working.”
“That’s a great feeling.”
I smiled, loving our connection over creating art. “There’s nothing better.” Except maybe being in Talon’s arms.
I wanted to be at Talon’s, but I needed some time and space to get my head around our past and everything that was happening now. If I stayed with him, I wouldn’t have time to process anything. “Emmett seemed upset that I was spending time with you.”
“He’ll get over it,” Talon said dismissively.
I wasn’t as confident as Talon. And what would his mother think? She’d want to protect Talon, too. “I don’t want to jeopardize my working relationship with your family.”
“How would you jeopardize anything?”
Anxiety caused my stomach to feel off. “If they don’t want us to date. If they’re worried about you getting hurt.”
“As long as we’re honest with each other, neither of us will get hurt. You have nothing to worry about. My family has always loved you.”
I wasn’t so sure about that. They couldn’t have liked how I ended things. They’d want to protect him. But I’d listen to my mom’s advice to forgive myself, and I hoped everyone else would, too. I wasn’t an eighteen-year-old anymore. I’d grown up. I wouldn’t walk away from Talon again. Or at least I didn’t want to.
“Are you coming over to work tomorrow?” Talon asked, his tone hopeful.
“I need to drop the ornaments at the inn, and then I’ll be over.”
“Good. I have a few things to work on tonight, so I’ll let you go.”
I felt a pinch of guilt that I’d been occupying so much of his time. “Night, Talon.”
“Night.”
As I clicked off the call, it reminded me of the many times we’d talked late at night when we were teens, getting to know each other, and just enjoying the sound of each other’s voices. We’d always understood each other in a way other kids didn’t.
Recalling the conversation with my mom, I allowed myself to think about what it would be like to truly let go of the past, to forgive myself for my mistakes. Would Talon be on board with that? Because the future I saw with him was limitless.
We could work and create together. We could live together in his cabin. I even allowed myself to imagine a child or two. It was something I hadn’t let myself think about since I lost our baby. I wondered if I forgave myself, if it would help.
