Page 134

Seeing his house at the end of the road, I knew I’d soon find out which one he chose.

But when I pulled up to the front, I realized his truck wasn’t in the driveway.

My heart sank, but I stupidly got out of my car anyway, walking to the front door and banging right below that stupid sign. No matter how long I knocked, he didn’t answer.

He wasn’t home, and my mind had a million fears about where he could be.

I backed up against the door, fighting tears, and slid down to sit. All of a sudden, I was eighteen again, finding the guy I loved with another woman, ready to tell him yes to his marriage proposal because I’d finally gotten over the fear of forever.

And then I saw headlights coming down the road.

My heart, my battered heart, leapt with hope. Hoping it was him and not someone else coming back home.

I strained my eyes to see if it was, and eventually his truck came into view.

I scrambled up from the ground, already walking to meet him in the driveway. He hopped out of the truck, its engine still running, and said, “Maggie. Oh my gosh, are you okay?” He gently touched the lump on my forehead, and I winced.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Gage threw a baseball at my head.”

“He WHAT?” Rhett said.

“It doesn’t matter.” I reached into my pocket, pulling out the folded check for ten thousand dollars. “Gage gave me the money I need to buy the salon. I’m staying. Rhett, I’m staying in Cottonwood Falls!”

He grinned big, picking me up and spinning me around. When he set me down, he said, “That’s amazing, but I kind of already beat him to it.”

My eyebrows drew together. “What?”

“After you left, I went to Rhonda’s place and bought the salon.”

“You have that much money?” I asked.

“I don’t think you realize how much it takes to buy a hundred acres of land.”

I let out a tearful laugh. “Rhett, why did you do that?”

He shook his head at me, brushing my hair away from my forehead. “Maggie, I know you thought owning that land was my dream. But it was never about the land. My real dream was the life I’d get to share with you there.”

Overcome with emotion, I fell into his arms, letting him hold me as I cried it out.

“Maggie, it’s okay,” he breathed, brushing my hair down my back. “We’re together now.”

I pulled back, wiping my eyes. “I’m so sorry. I think I was just worried that what happened back then would happen again and...”

He shook his head, holding me. “You know I never showed you what was in my garage.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Follow me.” He reached into his pickup, turning it off, then held my hand as we walked to his garage. He let go of me for a second to slide the door up, and when I saw what was inside, my jaw dropped.

The entire garage was lined with wire art pieces, everything from wall décor to yard decorations and even wind chimes.

“This is what Lola was picking up that day,” he explained, following me inside the garage. “When you started rooming with Cam, I saw Dina in the grocery store and she mentioned that she’d taken you both to the thrift store in Austin and how much you loved it. I got this crazy idea that maybe you could have a piece of me in your home even if I couldn’t be there. So I made trips once a month to the thrift stores Dina mentioned with new pieces I’d made, hoping you’d find them. Hoping you’d have a piece of me.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks. “You did that for me?”

I nodded. “Mags, I meant it when I said it was always you.”