Will huffed at the steering wheel. The least he could do was apologize again. He knew she was troubled, and he knew how important it was for her to have peace and stability. It was something he wanted as well.
The heating started to pump out of the air vents, warming his fingers. He glanced at the tight hold he had with the wheel, then loosened his grip and inhaled deeply.
‘Okay, Willard. What advice would you give to a mate right about now?’
He mulled it over as a gust of wind blew a nearby shrub, catching his eye.
‘Go tell her you’re sorry. Tell her you love her. Show her what you did for her. Lay it all on the line. Today.’
It seemed like good advice, and definitely what he would offer, so why were his knees rattling as much as the bush outside?
Will bit his bottom lip and breathed out a quiet laugh.
Oh, you silly bugger.
With that, he turned the wheel and headed straight for the farmhouse. One way or another he would find out where his next destination would be. He just hoped Ginny was part of the journey.
* * *
The old farmhouse looked about as rustic as it could get, and Will knew immediately she would need help fixing up the place.
He sat at the end of the drive for a bit, assessing her new home. The Henshaws were at the front of his mind, and he could almost hear them cheering him on.
Pulling out his phone, he did a quick check online for their hotel. Perhaps if he could see it one more time, it would help shift his butt down the driveway.
Nothing came up, which was strange. Surely their hotel would be advertised.
‘Oh, what am I doing?’
A sudden desire to see Ginny took over his foot, causing it to press down on the accelerator and get the vehicle moving to where it was supposed to be.
Ginny opened the front door and stepped onto the porch before he’d even had a chance to turn off the engine.
Will tentatively got out of the truck.
‘I was wondering when you would drive down,’ she said, hands on hips. ‘Sat up the top long enough.’
Will realized his mouth was sagging, so snapped it shut.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ she asked.
‘Actually, I have got words to say, thank you.’
Ginny tipped her chin up. ‘Let’s hear them then.’
It wasn’t quite how he expected the conversation to start, but here he was.
‘I’m sorry for having the biggest gob in Britain. And I’m sorry I hurt you. It was never my intention. Alice and I were talking, and the way the conversation was going, it suggested she knew about you and your mum. I was wrong. And I’m truly sorry. You’ll never know how much.’ He waited, but she didn’t speak.
Part two. Say the next bit. Go on.
Will took a calming breath. ‘I love you, Ginny Dean, with all my heart, and I want you to know that too.’
Her arms loosened, so did his chest.
‘And there’s one more thing.’ He motioned to his truck. ‘But it means taking a short ride with me. You up for that?’
It seemed like forever until she moved towards the front door to lock up.
