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ChapterTwenty-Eight
Chloe stayedhome for the next five days, happy to devote all her time to taking care of Leo, who got more restless and energized with each passing day. She hadn't seen Decker since he'd shared donuts with them on Saturday, but he'd texted her a few times to make sure Leo was okay.
On Wednesday, Leo's grandparents arrived, and they had a very happy reunion. She'd told them about Leo's illness, although she had downplayed the terror of Friday night's rush to the hospital. Since Leo was back to normal, she was okay to send him off with his grandparents. He was tired of being in the house, and she needed to get back into the world, too.
She'd had a lot of time to think the past few days, and as she got into her car and drove into town, she felt like she was seeing everything in a new light. She checked in at the restaurant first. Marian and the rest of her staff were busy but not overwhelmed. After filling everyone in on Leo's condition, she went into the back and up the stairs to see if Decker was home. There was no answer at his door, and his truck was not in the lot, so she headed to the rental house.
She parked behind his truck, then got out and went into the house, thinking about how much had changed in the last few weeks since she'd first met Decker here. The living and dining rooms were empty, the floors were done, the ceiling repaired and painted, showing no sign of the previous damage, and the walls also boasted a new coat of paint.
Hearing someone moving around upstairs, she went up the steps and down the hall. As she entered the master bedroom, she saw Decker come out of the closet with a small box in his hands.
He looked at her in surprise. "Chloe. I didn't hear you come in."
"The house looks amazing."
"It's getting there."
"What's in the box?" she asked curiously.
"The letters Eleanor wrote me."
"Did you read them?"
"Yes. They're very sweet. She told me some things about my dad I didn't know. Nothing bad, just a few personal stories. She didn't know him that well. She also told me a little more about Hank, how he'd been a military man, how he had his own demons to fight, his own shame to carry. I didn't take a lot of time to go through them, but I'll take them home and read them again, I'm sure."
She was happy that he seemed more at peace with his past. "For a man who doesn't like baggage, you're not going to be traveling as light as you once did," she couldn't help pointing out.
"That's true," he conceded. "How's Leo?"
"He's good now. His grandparents arrived today, and they're going to keep him overnight at their rental home. He's excited about having a sleepover. He's tired of being in our house."
"I'm sure you're ready for a break, too, and you probably want an update on everything that has been done here and still needs to be done. I know you wanted to stage the house for photos. And I think we're there. The house is ready for a new start."
"That's good, and I want to hear everything, but not right now." She licked her lips, stalling as she searched for the right words.
"What do you want to say Chloe?" he asked.
"I'm ready for a new start, too," she replied. "I've been home the last five days with a lot of time to think about my life and about you. I'm wondering how you would feel if Leo and I came out to Los Angeles for a while. See if we like the city. See if we might want to stay there—with you." Her heart thudded against her chest. She was taking a huge risk in assuming that Decker would want her to follow him home. Maybe all he'd wanted was a fling. When he didn't say anything right away, she jumped back in. "But we don't have to do that if it's too much. This was fun, and maybe it's just over. If that's the case, it's okay. I just wanted you to know that I'm not stuck here. I can leave. Leo is little. He'll adjust wherever he is." She stopped and blew out a breath. "You really need to talk now."
Decker set the box on the floor and then stepped forward, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You're willing to leave Whisper Lake for me?" he asked, his gaze searching hers. "Your whole life is here. Everyone you love is here."
"Not everyone. Not you. I love you, Decker. I don't want you to leave without knowing that." She drew in another breath. "And I don't want to lose you. Maybe I'm presuming too much, and you're ready to leave, ready to be done with whatever this was, but—"
He cut her off with a sharp shake of his head. "I am not ready to be done with you, Chloe. I love you, too."
"You do?" she asked in wonder. "You really don't have to say it."
"I'm not just saying it because you said it first. I've been thinking about it for a while. I've just never been in love before, and it took me a while to realize what I was feeling, why I was so wrecked when you called a halt to everything. I couldn't imagine never seeing you again."
She felt immensely relieved and very happy. "Then can we try to make it work?"
"What would you do in LA?"
"I could work in a restaurant; I have a lot of experience. I've always wanted to live by the beach. It's warm there all-year-round, right? It would be nice not to shovel snow in the winter. But all I care about is the fact that you're there. I have some money saved up. I can pay my own way." She paused, knowing that it wasn’t as simple as she was making it sound. "But I'll be upending Leo's life, setting expectations, so I have to know that you're serious about trying to make things work. It's a lot to ask when we haven't dated that long. But while I'm okay with risking my heart, I'm risking Leo's, too. And you know how much he loves you, Decker."
"I love him, too." His gaze grew more serious. "I don't want you to come to LA, Chloe."
"You don't?" Her heart turned over. "But I thought you just said…"
