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Wow.
I hadn’t expected all that Forrest had shared for several reasons.
First, it seemed he had it all figured out, and he didn’t even need to take long to really think about any of it. But the biggest surprise about all that he’d shared was that nothing he had indicated wanting to do was something unique to the town. Sure, the specific places Forrest might have wanted to take me could have only been found in Steel Ridge, but I was sure I could find a deli or a coffee and doughnut shop in just about any town.
“You’d take me to the places that are owned by people you know,” I declared.
Nodding, Forrest confirmed, “Yes.”
“Wow,” I marveled. “I never would have imagined a response like that. I mean, I love your answer, but I had been expecting you to tell me about some tourist attraction in the town, something like I imagine people would say about this ski resort if they talked about Scarlet Valley.”
Forrest shrugged as he lifted his hand and placed it on my leg, just above where the ice was resting on my ankle. I wanted to focus on the way that felt, but I had to put my effort into concentrating on what he was saying. “I can’t say I disagree with you. It’s just that, well, I guess I should answer your other question about why I would choose to live in Steel Ridge over anywhere else in the world. You asked about what was there that added to the allure. I’m not sure everyone else would feel the same about their hometown as I do about mine, but for me, Steel Ridge is home. It’ll always be home. I’d never leave a place I considered home. Steel Ridge isn’t just the place I live and work. It’s also the place that has all of the people I love, my family and friends. I couldn’t imagine picking up and moving away from any of that.”
A painful ache hit the center of my chest.
I had expected Forrest was going to tell me about some landmark or attraction that made Steel Ridge the place he wanted to live. I never imagined he’d indicate his reason for wanting to stay where he was had everything to do with the people who were there.
“That’s beautiful,” I rasped.
Noting my emotions were getting the best of me, Forrest offered a reassuring squeeze on my leg. I could no longer ignore the way it made me feel to have his hand on me. I liked it a lot, and it was safe to say that while I enjoyed it, it also left me feeling terrified.
It wasn’t that I felt unsafe, or that I believed Forrest would harm me in some way. It was merely that I’d promised myself I was going to proceed with caution in certain areas of my life right now, and Forrest wasn’t exactly making it easy on me.
If I wasn’t already lost in the thoughts I had about where my mind and heart were in this thing with Forrest, what he said next didn’t make it any easier.
“I know it probably seems to you like I’ve said something grand, but I haven’t. It’s just honest. With work, particularly when I was traveling with My Violent Heart on their tour, I got a glimpse into what it would be like to be away from home for so long. Fortunately, I knew my work was temporary, and there was an end date in sight, because I missed my family tremendously. My parents have my sister and me over for dinner every other week, and when I was away for work, I missed having that.”
If only…
I couldn’t begin to imagine what it would be like to have that kind of relationship with a single person in my life, let alone having it with both family and friends. Forrest was a lucky man, and I was glad he found himself appreciative of the quality time he had with the people who mattered most to him, even if I was a little envious at the same time.
I wondered how it felt to experience love in the way Forrest did with his family. To know there was time spent every other week with his parents and his sister.
God, I would have given anything for that.
“You’re very lucky, Forest. And I’m glad you live in a place you love with people who mean the world to you,” I said softly.
He smiled at me, but there was something lingering in his gaze. It was almost as though he had questions of his own for me. I wasn’t the kind of woman who’d offer up information about myself without being asked, but if Forrest was curious, I’d certainly enlighten him.
“Trust me, I know just how lucky I am. But I have to admit, my curiosity has been piqued, Daisy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guess I’m just wondering if you asked me that question because you had some grand plans about where you’d live if money was of no concern,” he replied. “I can only assume you’ve given some thought to this very thing already.”
Unable to resist, I laughed at the irony of it all. “That’s just it. It’s not the money that’s the concern. It’s finding the location. I’m currently in the process of trying to figure it out. That’s why I wound up here. I did a bit of research, thought this sounded like a great place, and decided to visit. If I’m honest, I’m thinking that Scarlet Valley could easily be in the running for the top spot.”
Forrest didn’t seem to catch on fully to what I’d just said.
Though it was obvious he heard me, I don’t think he realized I was actually in the process of finding a new place to live. In all fairness, I guess it was reasonable for him to assume I was merely doing some traveling, seeking that place that was just a step above the rest, if for no other reason than to find a place like Scarlet Valley had become for him. A refuge when a break in everyday life was necessary.
It became clear that was precisely the case when he spoke. “I’d be lying if I said I disagreed. Sure, I’m attached to Steel Ridge, but Scarlet Valley is a close second. Plus, there’s not just the obvious that makes Scarlet Valley what it is. The location is great, too. I mean, you’ve got the town of Landing bordering this, and you know what’s in Landing, don’t you?”
Until he mentioned it, I hadn’t even considered it.
But now that Forrest had brought it up, I couldn’t ignore it.
My eyes widened with surprise and delight.
