She nodded. “If you agree to a few conditions.”
He turned her hand over, bent down, and kissed her palm. “Darlin’, you can have whatever you want.”
“You may not say that after hearing them.”
“Hit me with ’em. I can take it,” he teased.
“First, I want it in writing that I don’t have to do fundraising.”
“Agreed.”
“And I want it made clear to the board, staff, volunteers, heck the man in the moon, that we’re equals. Neither of us is the other’s boss.”
He chuckled. “Deal. We’ll make sure it’s specified on the org chart.”
“This last one isn’t for the board. It’s between you and me. If this doesn’t work, if either of us isn’t happy working together, or living in Service, we’ll revisit moving.”
“If you ever want to move, we’re outta here. No questions asked.”
Owen pulled his phone out of his pocket and they discussed the case he’d outlined supporting his plan to restructure the agency. As they talked, she realized the worries she’d carried that if she didn’t prove herself worthy, if she didn’t give all she had, no one would love her, disappeared. An image of a future with Owen crystalized in her mind. All she had to do was reach out and grab the brass ring glittering before her.
“This sounds solid,” she said.
He paused and leaned toward her. His hand trembled when he reached out to cover hers. “Before I go to the board, are you sure about this?”
“I’ve never been sure of a decision before this one.”
She smiled, but her eyes grew heavy. She closed them for a minute, unable to believe fate and Owen had given her another chance at happiness.
He kissed her forehead. “Get some rest.”
“But there’s more we need to talk about—”
He placed his fingers over her lips halting her. “You’re slurring your words. Don’t worry. We’ve got time to figure it all out.”
“You’ll be here when I wake up?”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m in for the long haul.”
*
Two days laterwhen Owen arrived at the hospital to take Carly home, he reconsidered his plan for the day. When he’d told her he was in for the long haul, he’d meant it, and he’d spent the last couple days figuring out what that meant.
The Texas summer sun beat down on him and he pulled his Stetson lower on his forehead to shield his eyes as he strolled toward the building. He smiled, thinking about where his life had been when he’d arrived in Service, and marveled at the blessings that had come from the worst tragedy of his life. His only regret was that Landon wasn’t here.
Miss you, pal. But then I always will.
The familiar guilt over being alive and so damned happy when Landon was dead sprouted inside Owen. As he neared the hospital front door, a cardinal flew past his face. Its bright red feathers damn near brushed his nose on its way to land in a tree to his right. The red bird’s rhythmicwheet,wheetsong swirled around Owen, calling to him in an odd way, and a voice popped into his head, as clear as the last time he’d spoken to his best friend.
Stop that guilt shit. There’s no reason for it. All I ask is that you keep an eye on Addie for me.
It’s a promise, pal. You don’t have to worry about that.
Owen’s pain and guilt started receding, and minutes later when he arrived in Carly’s room, he found her dressed in the jeans and loose-fitting T-shirt he’d brought her yesterday, her right arm bandaged and in a sling. How fragile she still appeared slammed into him, leaving him almost weak. He pinched the bridge of his nose, knowing he could spend the rest of his life and never repay the universe for this gift. If things had gone differently with Dylan that night they could’ve lost each other. No, he wouldn’t think about it. Instead, gratitude over the damn fine job her guardian angel and the Lord had done protecting her flowed through him.
“You ready to go?” he said as he joined her, kissing her lightly on the lips, his heart fuller than he ever remembered.
She shook her head. “I can’t leave looking like this.”
