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I nodded. “Sounds good.”
“I’ll pick her up,” Trinity offered immediately.
“Perfect,” the doctor said, then asked to see the nurse outside, leaving me with Thomas and Trinity to find out exactly what had happened.
* * *
Two days passed rather quickly. I’d had no symptoms of a concussion, just a dull headache, which the doctor was sure would pass with time. He gave me some medication and discharged me into Trinity’s care. I now sat in the front seat of Trinity’s car, holding the vase full of red roses on my lap. Trinity carefully pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward Willow Valley.
“I’m so glad you are okay. I was so upset and worried when Ethan called and told us. I almost dragged Thomas out of bed to drive me out to the hospital, even though there was nothing we could have done.”
I looked at my best friend. “How did he even find me?” I asked.
“Funny thing, he called me the night you had gone out there. Apparently, he had tried to come and see you but returned home when he found out you’d gone. Yet around nine he called me at the store and asked me if I’d heard from you. I didn’t give his worry any thought. I knew you were upset with him. I figured perhaps you just needed some time.”
I nodded. “And?”
“Well, I guess he went to see if you were home after we had gotten off the phone and you weren’t. He then went to the shop. I guess the worry got the best of him, so he just drove off toward Cedar Landing. That’s when he found you, just about ten minutes outside of Cedar Landing.”
“You mean he drove all that way in that storm?”
Trinity nodded. “He did. He told me he had a feeling you were in some sort of trouble.”
“He left me these too,” I said, looking at the flowers.
“He did.” She smiled. “He was at the hospital the next morning when I arrived. He was a mess. He’s been over at our place for the past three days, working with Thomas in the shop to keep himself busy.”
I frowned. “What about his new place?” I asked, looking at my best friend. “He just moved in. Shouldn’t he be unpacking?”
She smiled. “Well, I asked him the same thing. He told me it could wait. That it didn’t really mean much now. You were all that mattered.”
Tears clouded my eyes. “But…he said all those things to me.”
“I know he did. He knows it too. He’s been talking to Thomas a lot.”
I sat there thinking about what Trinity had just said. “Trinity, I feel that I’ve messed up.”
“It’s okay, you’re allowed to mess up. Love isn’t supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to be messy. I think, when you are ready, that you two need to talk and figure things out, but, Peggy, just know the man is a mess.”
As Trinity drove toward Willow Valley, I rested my head back against the seat and looked down at the roses I held on my lap. Red roses, everyone knew, meant love. Did that mean that Ethan really did love me? I let out a breath. I couldn’t wait to get back home.
ETHAN
I stood just outside of Peggy’s home, Thomas standing beside me. We’d just picked up a load of lumber from the hardware store and I’d asked that he drop me at Peggy’s. She’d been home for a few days now, and I couldn’t wait any longer to see her.
“Did you want me to wait?” he asked, as we both stood looking over at her small house.
“No. If she kicks me to the curb, I’ll just come and get my truck and know that it’s over.” I shrugged.
“Don’t be ridiculous, you can call me. I’ll come back.” He joked, “I’m not the one mad at you. Go get her.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
“Just call the shop if you need a lift!” Thomas yelled out as I crossed the street. I turned and waved to my friend and prayed I didn’t need to call him to come and get me.
I walked over to the door, brought my hand up, and knocked. Then I stood back, waiting for Peggy to answer. It had been a few minutes, and I was about to knock again when the door slowly opened, and Peggy peeked out. She said nothing. She just softly smiled and opened the door a little farther, enough for me to step inside.
“How are you feeling?” I questioned.
