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Preston looks out the big window. “Ty, Mellie, and Kase are here.”
The whole crew is here. For us. And that makes me happy and comforted. When you lose someone you love and you feel your world is crumbling, you hang on to whatever you can. And these people have showed up for me since day one.
Ty hands me my keys and lets me know he gave Tootsie a tune-up. I give him a hug and thank him. “You didn’t have to do that.”
He nods, and Mellie hugs me, then holds up two big bags of produce. “I’m going to make you some food if that’s okay.” I nod and follow her to the kitchen and help her unpack the produce. I don’t have the heart to tell her I can’t eat a thing. I’m just so happy she’s here. I’m thankful that everyone is here.
“How are you holding up?” she asks.
“Better than I expected. It helps having all of you around me.” I sniff.
“Oh, don’t cry. You’ll make me cry, and I hate to cry,” she says.
We sit around Preston’s big kitchen table while the kids, Theo, and Pancake play. We pass around platters of food until we all lament that we’re stuffed and couldn’t eat another bite. Then, after more stories and laughter and a few good cries, we eat some more. This goes on until it’s late and Preston says he’s going to take Evelyn back because she’s tired. But she looks happy, and we know she needed this time with all of us today.
Preston kisses me and tells me he’ll be back in a bit.
* * *
“How are things with you and Preston?” Allie asks when Preston leaves.
“They look good together, don’t they?” Beth quips.
“So good.” Mellie smiles.
I smile because I can’t help it and say, “It is good. I love him.” That last part falls out before I realize what I’m saying, and I cup my hand over my mouth.
“Have you toldhimthat?” Beth asks dreamily.
“Not yet. But I will.”
33. preston
Sentimental Lady
Everyone helps clean up,then heads out for the night. When we shut the door, I feel full and happy.
I put my arm around Paige and pull her to me. “I have something to tell you before I go,” she says.
“Where do you think you’re going, Sunshine?” I hold her close.
She looks at me and tilts her head. “Home?”
I nod my head at the bags stacked in the corner. “Mellie packed your bags and brought them over. I need you here with me.”
Her eyes soften, and she hugs me. “You need me?”
“If that isn’t crystal clear, Sunshine, I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure that it is,” I say, looking into her eyes.
“The rest of your life? That’s a long time. Are you sure you want to keep me that long?” she teases.
“I fell in love with you the minute I saw you—full of sass, with your pet raccoon that first day you came to Freedom Valley. You’re everything I didn’t think I deserved.”
A few tears run down her cheeks. I wipe them away with my thumbs. “I love you,” she says.
“I love you, Paige. I want to be with you for every sunset and every sunrise.”
“What if we fight or—”
