Her eyes pleaded with mine. “How do I know you won’t get scared again?”
“I’ll definitely get scared. I’m terrified now, to be completely honest, but that’s because I have something to lose.” I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, cupping her head in my hands, not even caring that we were getting soaked. “Since Carrie died, I felt like I didn’t really belong anywhere, but you and Grace make me feel like I have a home again. You’ve both given me a second chance to live the life I always wanted. I may not always get it right. I may not show up perfectly, but I’m not going anywhere.” I gazed into her eyes and saw my whole world. “I’m in love with you, Ella, and I’ll spend the rest of my life showing you if you’ll let me.”
She placed her hands on my chest, and for a moment, I felt all would be right in the world.
Her hands dropped to her sides, and her gaze fell to her feet, taking my heart along with it. “I don’t know if I can.”
She could have kicked me in the stomach and it would have hurt less. “Oh… I understand. It’s okay. I… I get it.” I swallowed hard and withdrew my hands. “I understand.”
Her eyes rose to meet mine, and a slight smile stretched across her face. “You see, I’ve already promised myself to Bradley Cooper, and I don’t know how he’d feel about playing second fiddle to another man.”
Slowly, her words registered in my mind, and I felt my heart beating hard against the walls of my chest. “I think he could be bribed.” I closed the distance between us and kissed her, wrapping her in my arms as the rain fell in sheets around us.
“I love you too,” Ella said, breaking our kiss. She looked down and tugged at her dress that was practically shrink-wrapped to her body. “I got my Nicholas Sparks moment!”
“Who’s that?” I asked, wiping the water from my face. “Is that another actor I don’t know?”
She laughed and kissed me softly. “Don’t worry. There will be many more movie nights ahead where I can teach you everything you need to know.”
Derek and Grace cheered from where they stood beneath the awning of the restaurant.
Grace squealed and ran toward us, and I enveloped her and Ella in my arms. “I love you both so much.” As I kissed the top of Grace’s head, I was overcome with emotion. Those feelings that had overwhelmed me before came rushing back. The waves nipped at my heels, but this time I wasn’t afraid.
Because I knew there would never be a storm we couldn’t weather together.
Thirty-Three
Ella
Three months later…
“I promisethere’s nothing to be nervous about,” Cash said as he pulled the SUV into Richard and Delilah’s driveway.
I exhaled sharply, bouncing my knee. Being stuck in a car for hours had done little to calm my anxiety. “I really hope they like me.”
“They’re going to love you,” Cash insisted.
“Delilah said that between me and Cash she already feels like she knows you,” Grace piped up from the back seat.
Bradley Cooper gave a yip of approval from Sam’s lap.
Grace was finished with school for the semester, so after spending some extra time with my mom, we’d decided to take a road trip to Charleston. The bakery was fully staffed which afforded me the ability to take a few days off to enjoy some time together. We even stopped for a night in Gatlinburg to see the Christmas lights and give us all a break from being in the car.
“It’d be impossible not to love you,” Sam said in his adorable British accent. “You’re sensational.”
“Did you hear that?” I nudged Cash with my elbow. “I’m sensational.”
“You are,” he agreed. “And I know Delilah and Richard will think so too.” He pulled to a stop and parked the car. “Ready?”
I squeezed his hand. “Let’s do it.”
We got out of the car and unloaded the few gifts we’d brought along with our luggage, rolling our suitcases up the walk as Bradley Cooper scampered ahead to the front porch.
I held my breath as Cash rang the doorbell. A few seconds later, the cutest little older couple I’d ever seen flung open the door.
“There they are,” the man who I knew to be Richard greeted us. “Get on in here.” He pulled Cash into his embrace while Delilah found her way to me.
“Ella, sweetheart.” She enveloped me in her arms. “It’s so good to see you. I’ve been waiting a long time to hug your neck. How was the trip?”
