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“That’s nothing big. You’re still wearing his ring.” Della pointed to Natalie’s hand.
She hadn’t taken the ring off since Sam had placed it on her hand on Tuesday. Without it, she thought her hand would look naked, feel naked. And that maybe the magic would wear off, and Sam wouldn’t be the man she had fallen in love with. “I think we just need to get back among people who know us both. My dad is all for it, but what if everyone else thinks it’s weird?”
“They won’t,” Della assured her. “And even if they do, it doesn’t matter. Not if you love him.”
CHAPTER17
They endedup getting a late start at leaving. But Sam loved that Natalie had been able to have supper with her mom. The couple had not brought their girls on the trip, so it had been just the four of them. Della told them stories about growing up and when she had come back to town to start a law practice. Max was always quick with a comment but willing to let his wife do most of the talking. Which was perfect because it was Della that Natalie was most interested in.
Natalie told them about many of the events from her childhood and teen years. Many of the stories she told he had never heard before. Not all showed her in the greatest light upon retelling, but Natalie told them anyway. He wondered how much was in the video that she had left, but knowing Patrick, it was long and detailed.
He noticed that as she got to her later teen years and beyond, the stories were shorter, and there were far fewer. She had even skipped over the accident and the year following completely. If the older couple realized it, they didn’t comment.
As he locked his parents’ cabin, he watched her hug her mom, with Della holding on a little longer with each hug the two exchanged. From a distance, they were opposites, but Sam could tell they were related by the little things: hand motions and actions that neither of them probably noticed.
He had been a little nervous that Natalie would be mad at him for inviting them over, especially without asking her. When Patrick had called him and said that Della wanted to see her, to explain, Sam knew Natalie needed to hear what the woman had to say. Whether it was that she wanted a relationship with Natalie or not, Natalie needed to hear it from the woman herself. It had been his idea for the surprise visit, feeling it would be easier on her nerves. She had a tendency to overthink things and jump to the wrong conclusion.
After the hug and then another for the road, he loaded Natalie into the car to head west and then north the next day. With promises to call soon, the cars headed out in opposite directions. After a few miles of Natalie sitting in silence, he wanted her to not get lost in the emotions. “Feeling better now?”
“Yes. I should have stayed in Birch Cove.” She admitted.
“You went with your gut. It was maybe better this way. You got some one-on-one time with her. That might not have happened in Birch Cove with all your aunts around.”
His words made her smile because suddenly she had aunts. She had a big family. “You might be right. One day I want to go back and really meet them all. Even Zephyr.” She looked out the window.
Sam wondered if the two women had a connection being so close in age. Della had informed them that Zephyr was an author Natalie was a fan of but Sam had never heard of. Natalie had been excited about the idea she was related to the woman, even if she couldn’t tell anyone because Zephyr preferred that people didn’t know. “I hope we can get back also. They’re nice people.” He looked at the road.
“Yes, they are.” She looked at the road ahead of them. “I think she helped me with some of the accident stuff.”
“I didn’t think you even talked about it.” He was surprised.
“We didn’t. She told me about giving me up and not wanting to, but she couldn’t stop it from happening. It was like it had to happen. Like the accident—it happened, and I couldn’t stop it. I still can’t stop it. It happened, and I just have to learn to live with that.” Natalie sighed.
“Can you live with it?” he asked.
“I won’t know until I talk to Hazel. I want us both to get past it. I know we both still have a lot of issues because of it.”
He liked that she wanted to include Hazel in her journey of healing. He hoped the other woman was willing to walk it. Grabbing her hand, he held it before asking, “How about us? Are you nervous to get back?
“Yes and no. I don’t want to be talked about, but I want to get back to a normal life and make sure you still like me when I forget to do laundry. I hate laundry.” Smiling at him, she squeezed his hand.
“I don’t think that will be an issue—the laundry part. I think it’ll take a week for you to decide you want to move in with me.” He took her hand in his. She was still wearing his ring, and he didn’t ask her about it. He wanted her to wear it, to be his.
“Confidence, Sullivan.” She giggled.
“I have confidence in us, Natalie.” He kissed the back of her hand, loving that she was happy, relaxed. So different from what she had been just days before when they had traveled this road the other way.
As the miles went by, silence filled the car once more. Should he have said that about them? Was he being pushy about them being a couple? It had only been a week since he took her home from her wedding. Was he being overconfident in the relationship? It had been years since he was even in a long-term relationship. Why was he so sure this one was the one that was going to make it? What was it about Natalie that made him sure they were going to make it?
But no matter how much or how little time he had known her, he was sure she was the one. When he realized it, he didn’t know. It had been slow coming over the week, just little things here and there. But in total, he was in love with her. Every bit of her.
Glancing over, he saw she was looking at her phone. Her black hair was pinned up in a loose bun today, leaving her neck exposed. He had kissed that neck already today, many times, but wanted to do it again.
The hours slipped by easily as they made small talk, and soon, they were pulling into his parents’ driveway. His mother had assured him it was okay that they stayed with them overnight. He wondered if she would pull out picture books again and ask if they needed separate bedrooms. This time they would not.
Sue Sullivan rushed out when the car stopped and ushered Natalie into the house, leaving Sam to get the luggage. There was no doubt who the guest of honor was today. While walking through the house, his mother directed him to bring them to the guest bedroom then join them in the living room. Entering the room, he set her bag on the bed and turned to leave. But his father was blocking him from leaving.
“You both can stay in this room if you want.” Steve nodded at his suitcase.
