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He listened while she shared the details. He admittedly didn’t care for the idea of her leaving. It wasn’t his place to pressure her into doing what he wanted though, so he kept his opinion to himself. It was her life.
“Are you going to join them?” he asked, hoping his concern couldn’t be heard.
“I don’t know. The thought of moving west doesn’t thrill me. Having to start over again. Finding a place to live and looking for a teaching position. Maybe I’m wrong, and everything will fall into place, but—”
“But?”
She shrugged. “I like it here.”
“Did you and Cole discuss the possibility of you staying?”
“We did and he’s leaving it up to me. He wants me to be happy.”
“You could always go out and visit him in California.”
“True.”
He knew she was conflicted, but he wasn’t. He wanted her to stay. With him. “If you do decide to stay, what will that mean for your engagement?”
“It would end. He and Lenny will go on with their lives and I’d go on with mine.”
He turned to her. Drake hadn’t answered Cole’s question about whether he was in love with Valinda, but he was. The possibility of her ending her engagement and being free to court and, yes, marry made him want to yell with joy. But he kept that from his face. The decision still rested with her.
“I haven’t decided yet though, so we’ll see what happens.”
Little Reba was in the kitchen when they returned.
“How’s your sister?” Drake asked.
“So-so. She fell stepping off the streetcar and twisted her ankle very badly. Doctor wants her to stay off it for a few more days. My cousin Renee is going to help out until she’s up and around.”
“Good to hear.”
Reba said, “Your friend Hugh stopped by looking for you. Said to tell you the cars are at your place.”
Drake’s eyes sparkled with glee. “Thank you.” He turned to Valinda. “I have a surprise for you.”
“And it is?”
“A surprise.”
Reba said, “Be careful of those LeVeq surprises, Valinda. Growing up, Beau brought me a surprise once. Turned out to be a two-headed frog.”
Valinda laughed and asked Drake, “Is it a frog?”
“No.” He gave Reba a look.
She laughed, and Drake turned back to Valinda. “Let’s take a ride over to my place and I’ll show you.”
“I’d like to see a two-headed frog.”
He grabbed her hand. “Come on.”
They got back in the buggy. He wondered what she’d think of the cars.
“Is seeing the house you’re building the surprise?”
“No, but the surprise is on my land.”
