Stepping back, I wipe my eyes and look up at him. “Youweregood to me. Until you weren’t. I miss my nice guy. I know you hated being called that, but he’s the man I fell in love with. The guy I needed, and then he was just gone. I’m scared to get my hopes up in case I lose him again.”
“You won’t. You won’t lose him, Brynlee. That guy who hurt you is gone. Far, far away, and he’s never comin’ back. I want to be the nice guy you loved. It’s the only thing in the world I want right now. To be the man you love. The one who opens doors and brings you wildflowers. The one who worships you.”
“I need a little time before we jump right back into things. We jumped fast the first time, and I can’t help wondering if that’s what broke us. Why you couldn’t trust me.”
His hands take mine. “I do trust you. But we can take it slow. I just need the chance to show you I’m goin’ to deliver everythin’ I promise. You loved me for who I am, and I had no reason to be insecure with you. I just didn’t know how to recognize it until now.”
“Where do we go from here?”
“Let’s start with the gifts I have for you.”
Here we go again. Just like all the guys before him. Maybe things won’t be different.
Chapter Thirty-One
Rhett
Brynlee sits on the couch as I walk out carrying three boxes and a bag. Her eyes widen when she sees me. “This is too much, Rhett.”
“There’s more, actually. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. You have to open the shorter box first, otherwise the rest won’t make much sense,” I say and sit next to her.
She looks apprehensive, and I’ve never had so much anxiety giving a gift to anyone in my life. But the moment she opens the box, her hesitation turns into confusion. “You made me a scrapbook?”
“Technically, Mom made you the scrapbook because I have zero artistic talent. But I got everythin’ she put in it.”
A curious smile appears as she opens it, and I breathe a small sigh of relief. “What is this?”
“It’s a collection of information and pictures of your family. You said you want to learn about your grandparents. I started talkin’ to people, and I got stories about them. Them and your pops. Then I went to Fox Trot Valley and asked around about your mom and her family. Those are in there, too, because I didn’t think you knew too much about them.”
Her hands turn the pages gingerly, and her lip quivers. She’s never looked more beautiful. “You put a picture of me winning Miss Ohio in here?”
“That was, um, a picture your pops sent Dr. Mackle. They were friends, and I was pretty sure you didn’t know he kept tabs on you. He was proud of you. I have another book of things he sent Mackle for you to look at, too.”
She looks up with glistening eyes. “This is the most thoughtful thing anyone’s ever done for me. This had to take so much time.”
“I had a lot of time on my hands,” I say. “And I wanted to make sure you had all of this regardless of whether you stayed here or not. Everyone should know about their family.”
“Rhett, I don’t know what to say.”
Thank God! She likes it!“Hold that thought and open the big box. Be careful, though. It’s breakable.”
Her hands shake, and she opens it. “China?”
“It was your Grandma Kathleen’s. It’s not valuable, but it’s been in her family for at least four generations that I could find.I’m sorry I couldn’t find more information on her side. Her family passed away young.”
“Where did you get this?” she asks with a gasp and lifts a piece to examine it in the light. It’s an off-white plate with intricate gold designs on it.
“Let’s circle back to that after you open the rest.”
Brynlee shakes her head but smiles widely as she unwraps a small jewelry box. “Pearls?”
“They’re the first expensive present Jensen gave Kathleen once they turned a profit on the farm.”
“What?”
“Now, open the bag.”
Gently removing the tissue paper, she pulls out a large quilt. “Are these baby clothes?”
