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“I am so sorry, Weston,” he finally finished, inhaling deeply as the tank clicked within the silence. His eyes remained fixated on mine—no energy left to speak. But he didn’t need to.
I studied him in return as an unspoken understanding passed between us. A mantle transferred from him to me, and the weight on his shoulders seemed to lighten. Tears glistened in his eyes, as I extended my hand to him.
Trembling, he placed his palm in mine and shook it, saying nothing.
Nothing needed to be said. Not anymore since the apology was accepted. Peace settled between him and me. I knew. He knew. That’s all that mattered.
His hand limply fell from mine, and he collapsed back into his recliner. I barely managed to catch him and steady him before he rocked forward and nearly crashed onto the floor from the movement. And he didn’t fight me this time. This time, he let me help him.
His wife exhaled in relief and then plopped herself back in her recliner, smoothing a few wrinkles out in her Christmas sweater. Their home smelled like bread, warm and inviting with a hint of cinnamon and pine trees. A smell that had me smiling in comfort especially now that the air was cleared.
“Sit,” Tenley’s mom gestured at the couch, and my shoulders tensed. So I was at least cleared with her father.
Leaning hesitantly back against the cushions, I held my hat between my hands. My eyes tracked across the room, not quite ready to look directly at her mom. Cute Santa decorations filled every open corner, scattered amongst pictures of their family.
“Where are you taking her again?” her father asked, coughing lightly, and pulling my attention back to the room. The red flannel shook as if caught in a breeze, billowing against his boney frame.
“Jack’s. Got us a reservation for tonight, since with the festival starting tomorrow on the twenty-first, it’s bound to be busy,” I replied. Charlie nodded once, about all he could muster.
“Is your family providing the horse drawn carriage and Santa Sleigh again this year?” Rosemary asked as Tenley quietly returned to the living room and sat down beside me. She could feel the stiffness in the air that had resumed.
I nodded. “Cassidy’s driving the horse drawn sleigh, and my dad is playing Santa, so that’s all covered.”
“And everything at the ranch is fine?” Tenley’s father wheezed, coughing once more. “Tenley filled us in on what happened.”
“I’m a little on edge still, but so far there’s no evidence that anyone except for Carly was involved.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Rosemary replied. I was waiting to hear the sharpness in her words, once again getting on me for something, but she still remained calm. Tenley gently bumped my leg with hers, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I glanced in her direction. She smiled and subtly nodded to the door.
“We should head out. Don’t want to miss our reservation,” I said, catching what she was hinting at. I wanted to leave, as well. Excitement pushed through the apprehension and tumbled within me.
I wanted time alone with Tenley. We hardly had any of that up to this point, and after dinner, I could add in a small walk through the town as they put the finishing touches up for the holiday festival. That would make the simplicity a little more romantic—hopefully making this first date as near to perfect as it could be even though I had screwed up not going all out on the romantic gesture side of things.
“Have fun and be safe! It’s been snowing all day, so the roads will be a bit slick,” Rosemary cautioned, and I pushed myself off of the couch. “Oh, and have her home at a decent hour, do you hear?” she added lightheartedly.
I chuckled and nodded as she stood up from the chair. “Yes, ma’am,” I said, and suddenly her plump figure wrapped me in a hug. I stiffened, shocked. Not only had Tenley’s father offered me an apology, but here was her mom, hugging me.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, not loud enough for anyone to hear. “Truly sorry.” Now her mom, too, and it felt so genuine.
Slowly, I urged myself to relax and gave her a brief, one handed hug in return.
My gaze slipped to Tenley who was biting back a laugh. She hadn’t been able to hear her mom’s apology. Shaking my head, I softly smiled. That was kind of shocking to experience. Once her mom pulled away, I followed Tenley to the doorway. She grabbed her cute, Aztec coat from the rack as I tugged my boots on once more. Once she stuffed her feet in her own pair of boots, I wrapped my hand around the doorknob to open it for my girl.
My gaze slid to Tenley’s, her eyes full of excitement and adoration. I smiled boldly, unable to hold back the amount of desire I felt for this girl. And we were about to spend several hours, uninterrupted, alone. Honestly, there was a part of me still in disbelief that she’d felt the same for me as I did her. I was so utterly smitten with her, and it seemed she wanted me as well. Which, knowing that she’d even had the option of my brother, still surprised me. That’s not to say I wasn’t a catch, he was just, well, Cassidy. But I would do everything in my power to make sure that she never doubted my feelings for her, that she never had a reason to wonder if she’d made the right choice.
“My darling, Tenley,” I whispered without thinking. Her eyes widened. Her chest rising and falling quickly. She’d heard me.
I clenched my jaw, shocked it had come out of my mouth. I wasn’t one to just speak without trying to filter my thoughts, but in this moment I had. With her, I had.
And then, a tender smile slid across her face.
I turned the doorknob, pulling open the door as she went to speak, her eyes flickering to the outdoors.
“Grammy?” she blurted out. Not what I had expected her to say, and her smile quickly turned to shock. Mirroring my own expression.
Chapter 2
Grammy? I thought, bewildered, and followed Tenley’s gaze. Standing in the doorway was this tiny, ninety pound woman with those same sage-green eyes as Tenley. She had to be in her mid-eighties, at least. Only another second of silence passed, and Tenley dashed into her outstretched arms. They jumped up and down, their energy increasing with every bounce.
