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“I’ve missed you too, Seth.” I could still be honest about my feelings towards him. He’d been my great love, and I’d been his. But we were in different places now, both figuratively and literally. And he’d stayed gone intentionally for a decade.
“I don’t live far from here, Kayla.” He said this as if he’d read my mind.
“Where do you live?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Knoxville.”
His answer nearly knocked me over. “You mean you live only a couple of hours away and haven’t been back even once since you left?”
“I thought I was doing the right thing by staying away—until I got a call from an associate telling me about the renovation at the school and how they were looking for a historical contractor. It was like a huge punch in the gut for me. The idea of returning here to restore a place that meant so much to me and maybe seeing you again was like a stick of dynamite. It reminded me of how great it was between us.”
I could hear the hollow pain in his voice, and I closed my eyes, fighting the tears that escaped from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. “Why are you doing this, Seth? Nothing can come of it now.”
“Can’t it?”
“No. And I can’t believe you would put us both through this. I’ve got a great life here.
“I’m sorry, Kayla. I’d just hoped maybe we could try again.”
“I can’t put myself through that again. Please don’t ask me to.” I spun around, turned my back to him, and climbed up in Daddy’s truck, willing him to leave. My cold hands clenched the steering wheel, but my cheeks were on fire. How dare he come back here and suggest we try again? How ridiculous. There was a gulf of time and hurt between us. Too much to even consider such an irresponsible idea. Plus, there was no way I would let myself be vulnerable to Seth ever again. One great heartbreak in my life was one too many.
I heard his engine start and saw him pull away in my rearview mirror, and I breathed a ragged sigh. I hadn’t allowed myself even to consider that Seth still loved me. Or was he just trying to recapture what was long dead? Even though we’d had something extraordinary as teens, it didn’t translate ten years later. Life had come along and changed everything.
* * *
Now he’d gone and done it. Seth could’ve kicked himself for his stupidity. He’d gotten caught up in the moment staring at Kayla like a sad puppy dog. Yes, he’d come back to do a job, but if he was honest, he’d leaped at the opportunity to see her again. Nothing in his life, not any of his professional accomplishments, had ever given him the same indescribable feeling as staring at Kayla Doyle. Kissing her. Holding her close. She’d been his one true love, and he’d blown it.
Maybe he could win her back. It would be a battle against her stellar defenses, but now that he’d begun to consider a second chance with Kayla, the idea took hold. He was here, and so was she. It would be his last opportunity to mend the line with her.
His list of regrets where she was concerned was long. Every time he’d tried to return to Cherry Creek, something had gotten in the way. Now that he was finally back, Seth realized how foolish he’d been to stay away for so many years and how he should’ve fought harder for a life with Kayla. She had blossomed into a gorgeous, independent woman, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Not the girl she was but the woman she’d become.
Despite her pushing him away, he was sure she still felt something for him too. Hopefully, it was the same something as him because now that he’d rediscovered her, he didn’t think he’d be able to do as she asked and let her go again.
Maybe she wasn’t yet ready to let down her guard where he was concerned, but he wouldn’t give up—not until he’d lost all hope. He’d nearly married a few years ago. Jennifer had been a lovely woman, and they’d enjoyed each other’s company for almost a year. He’d proposed, and they’d begun planning a wedding, but the more time they spent together, the more Seth felt like something was missing—now he realized it was Kayla. He’d finally broken off the engagement as it was unfair and unkind even to consider marrying someone unless one was completely committed for life.
Even though she'd insisted on the engagement, Seth had felt awful for inadvertently stringing Jennifer along. It hadn’t ended well, and that still stung a little.
Now that he’d confirmed what he’d always suspected regarding his true feelings for Kayla, he planned to woo her with all his might. Yes, it might seem a little creepy if he turned up everywhere she was, but his intentions were the very best. He had work to do, but he’d make time for Kayla. Now that he’d spilled his feelings to her, it would give her time to think about what he’d said.
The renovation of Cherry Creek Academy was going smoothly so far. Before he’d begun the work, his team had extensively researched the original structure. Every piece of hardware, every window, and the many architectural elements had been photographed and cataloged. He’d ordered what needed replacing custom-made. Some of it was done onsite by craftsmen. These subcontractors were the very best he’d found at restoring historical elements of old buildings. Of course, things could change at any moment, so he prepared for the worst, including snow.
He burrowed down into his jacket. The cold was coming fast, and they’d probably get some on the ground in a day or two, according to the latest weather forecast.
Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, so he’d given his crew the day off. Most of them lived in the Knoxville area and would leave this afternoon to head home to their families for the weekend, giving Seth a few days to spend with Kayla. Not that she had the same plan, but he would do his best at dinner tomorrow. She’d run him off in a huff but hadn’t uninvited him, which was a positive sign.
His holiday offense would begin tomorrow to win Kayla back. But first, he had a few things to do.
ChapterSeven
“The dressing is so good,Kayla. Can I get the recipe?” Sierra asked. “I can’t believe I don’t have it already.”
Since Sierra’s grandparents had passed away two years ago, only months apart from each other, she’d attended our Thanksgiving dinner. She always brought something to add to the feast. Today, she’d made her grandmother’s pumpkin pie with pecan streusel topping, which was to die for. “Only if you share Meme’s pie recipe.”
“Deal.”
I had brined the two large turkeys all night in large stock pots in the diner’s refrigerator. Daddy and I had gotten up super early to roast them in heavy oven bags with onions, celery, and seasonings in the enormous ovens at the diner. Nobody made a turkey like Daddy. The tricky part was transferring the very hot, roasted birds to his house once they were done. One currently graced the center of the table, with the other waiting in the warm oven for when it was needed.
A group of twenty or so had shown up. Some were students without transportation home for the holidays, and others were residents with little to no family to speak of. Most arrived with a side, dessert, or flowers for the table. The amount of food we had was incredible. “Here’s to the Doyle family for feeding us stragglers.” Dave Burton, the manager at the convenience store in town, raised a glass. He’d lost his wife a few years ago in a car accident.
