Page 135 of All This Time

“All ready for us?” Fletcher asks my father.

“Yup. Rhonan is on his way too.”

My eyes bounce back and forth between Fletcher and my dad. “What is going on?”

Chuckling, my father says, “Fletcher has a gift for us.”

“Us?”

My father grabs my hand and leads me to the tasting room. “I know you’ve been bothering me to replace the popcorn cart that we use for movie nights,” he starts, “But you and I both know why I haven’t wanted to.” He opens the door and holds it so Fletcher and I can walk through. “Getting rid of the old one felt like throwing away a piece of your mother.” My eyes start to sting with tears. “But Fletcher came to me with an idea, and it made me feel more at peace about upgrading the equipment.”

I glance over at Fletcher where he’s standing away from us with his hands shoved in his pockets, but a look of appreciation in his eyes.

When I look back toward my dad, he’s standing in front of a brand-new popcorn cart—shiny, top of the line, and much bigger than the old one. Whirling back to Fletcher, I say, “You bought us a new popcorn cart?”

“I did.”

“But the old one is still here too.” My dad points to the far corner by the windows, where the original cart stands, only there’s a plaque mounted to it now.

My feet carry me over there, and when I read the plaque, my eyes fill with tears.

In loving memory of

Elizabeth Hart

Wife, Mother, and Visionary

Hart Winery—her dream,her legacy.

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say as I turn around and meet Fletcher’s eyes through my tear-filled vision.

“Did what?” Rhonan’s voice cuts through the moment as he pulls the front door open and steps inside, still in his sheriff’s uniform.

My dad shows Rhonan the new cart and the memorial for the old one as I make my way across the room to the man I can’t deny my feelings for any longer.

“Thank you,” I whisper, wanting to reach up and pull his mouth to mine, but knowing this is not the time, nor the place.

“Just so you know, I’ve lost count of how many thank you’s you’ve given me now.”

Laughing through my tears, I swipe under my eyes in an attempt to dry my face. “This is… You made…”

Cupping the side of my face, he says, “Your mom was part of my life too, angel. And I understand how hard it is to let go of someone.”

God, this man.

How could I ever have doubted what exists between us?

How can I possibly walk away from him again, even though I know going forward is not going to be without its own challenges?

“Fletcher.” Rhonan crosses the room just as Fletcher drops his hand from my face. My brother throws his arms around his friend. “This really means a lot, man.”

“I’m happy you guys love it.” Fletcher’s phone rings, cutting through the heaviness in the room. “Shit, I need to take this,” he says, answering the call and stepping outside.

“Well, now that you guys have seen our new gadget, I’m gonna put it away.” My father pushes the new popcorn cart down the hall that leads to the offices. Rhonan and I watch him before I turn and find my brother arching a brow at me.

“What?”

“Is something going on between you and Fletcher?”