Page 41 of Lovewell Lane (Honeyfield Dreamers #1)

Margo

I wasn’t nervous.

I was curious .

Which is a different thing.

Totally different.

Okay, maybe I was a little nervous.

The Honey Festival was emptying slowly, the last booths being broken down, string lights still glowing overhead while lightning bugs popped up all around, mirroring the alternating light bulbs.

I wiped my hands on my apron for the fifth time and reminded myself I was a grown woman who had survived much scarier things than the man I loved inviting me to a gazebo after sundown.

The gazebo was glowing when I saw it. Warm lights woven through the beams, a few colorful lanterns were hung up, making it even brighter. He was there, of course, leaning against the railing like he had waited there all his life.

“Hey,” he said when he saw me.

“Hey yourself.”

Derek held out a hand, and I took it without hesitation. He pulled me into the center of the gazebo, beneath the lights. His hand didn’t leave mine. Then, he smiled.

Not his teasing one. Not the half-grin he used when he was trying to hide his smile.

This one was different. Slower. Softer.

“Happy Birthday, Margo.”

I blinked. He’d already told me this three times.

“No way,” I said, like I’d somehow forgotten. “That’s today, huh?”

He pulled me closer until my hands met his chest, and then his arms were around my waist and his chin dipped just slightly to meet my gaze.

“I’m really proud of you,” he said.

I rolled my eyes despite feeling my cheeks heat up. “Don’t start—”

“I mean it. You made this whole thing happen. Everyone loved it. Tessa loved it. You helped everyone in this town when you didn’t need to.”

“It wasn’t a big deal,” I murmured. “Everyone chipped in. I just didn’t want it to fall apart.”

“You didn’t let it.” He paused. “And I didn’t want the day to end without telling you something.”

I froze.

His thumb brushed the side of my wrist, slow and steady.

“I love you, Margo.”

He said it so plainly, it knocked the breath right out of me.

All my life I’d waited to hear those words and have someone actually mean it.

I wanted to belong. I’d found Honeyfield, and this place was already feeling a lot like home.

But it wasn’t because of the charming little town. It was the people here.

“I love you too, Derek.”

He let out an exhale of relief. His forehead pressed to mine gently and I brushed our noses together, savoring his nervousness. I would never get tired of seeing him flustered around me. It was so endearing. And I held a lot of pride in being the only person to knock him off balance in that way.

“Who knew Derek Weston could be a romantic,” I whispered teasingly.

“I’m doing my best.”

“It was great,” I admitted. “This day is perfect.”

“Don’t worry.” He grinned. “I’ll make fun of you tomorrow to balance it out.”

We stood there under the lights for a long time. Just us. And the possibility of everything that came next.

-

Derek threw open his front door to reveal balloons that I was sure I’d seen at the Festival.

“Surprise!” Everyone yelled.

I held a hand over my chest before turning to Derek with my mouth gaping. “What is this?”

“Your birthday,” he said. He pulled out a Polaroid camera and snapped a picture of my shocked face.

Tessa ran over and grabbed my hand. “We have cake. I think you made it, but we added candles to make it pretty for your birthday.”

I walked over, stupefied but following Tessa’s lead, to see Lila and Scarlet by the kitchen island. They stood next to a cake that had suspiciously gone missing earlier at the Festival with candles lit on top of it.

“Twenty seven, for your twenty-seventh birthday,” Scarlet said with a wry smile. She leaned in closer to whisper, “All his idea by the way, he’s a total gem.”

I laughed under my breath while everyone started singing.

I’d always been one of those people that hated birthdays.

They never met my expectations. And not only that, it was a reminder that another year had passed without getting any closer to actually achieving anything.

But this year, I felt like I had everything I needed. Right in this kitchen.

I smiled wide while the full room of people sang to me. Tessa squeezed my hand tight as I leaned down to blow out the candles in one fell swoop. My wish was for every birthday to be like this. And as I looked around at the room, I was sure it would come true.

“Happy birthday!” Tessa yelled in the empty room.

I did my best to choke down my tears, not wanting to get too emotional. “Thank you, guys. Really, best birthday ever,” I laughed through the emotions trying to bubble out of my throat.

Scarlet wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. “Let’s eat cake!”

Everyone dove in for a slice. I wasn’t sure how anyone had room left to eat after spending all day at the Festival, but I wasn’t going to turn down a piece of raspberry lemon cake. Derek made sure I got my slice first before cutting a piece for everyone else.

We all made our way to the living room since no one wanted to stand any longer after working all day long. The couch was full as I made my way over, so Derek pulled me into his lap. I gasped a little and made eye contact to make sure he was okay with this. He just smirked and pulled me closer.

I smiled into my cake and tried to remember a time that I’d ever been this happy. We all shared stories of the day, laughed, drank a few beers, and when it was time for Tessa to go to bed, Derek asked if I wanted to join.

“Do you want Margo to do bedtime with us tonight?” I watched him ask Tessa.

She nodded sleepily. “Yes!”

The three of us made our way upstairs, the noise of our friends and family slowly fading the further away we got. Tessa walked to her dresser to get pajamas as I waited in the hall with Derek for her to get changed.

“Thank you,” I whispered to him. “For everything. I can’t believe you were able to plan a party while dealing with the Honey Festival.”

He shrugged. “It was important. I’ve decided that I make time for the things that are important now. Even if it takes away from work.”

I leaned up to kiss his cheek. “I’d love to stay here. If that’s still okay with you.”

“Of course it is, baby.” He cupped my chin and rubbed his thumb against my cheek. “I’d love to have you here all the time. Tessa would too.”

“You think?”

He shot me a look. It was a stupid question, I’ll admit. “She’ll be stoked.” He took a deep breath in. “But you have to be sure, if you’re moving in here. I know you understand how serious it is, I just need to say it out loud.”

I did understand. There was no world in which I would ever leave Derek or Tessa. This wasn’t some new adventure or thrill. Living here with them was my dream. My life. I wanted to continue building it with the two of them alongside me.

“I’m sure.” I grabbed his hands in mine. “This is my home. I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”

He nodded and his lips curved into a genuine smile before he leaned in and brushed his lips against mine. “Gross, Daddy,” Tessa said from the doorway.

We pulled back with a jerk. “Sorry, Tessa,” I breathed.

Derek cringed. “Sorry, honey. Should we do a bedtime story?”

“I want to read this one.” Tessa held out a book for Derek. He looked at it and snorted.

I looked over his shoulder to read the book’s title. ‘Love Makes a Family’. At least she could read the room.

The three of us sat side by side in her bed with Tessa in the middle.

Derek read the book to us while Tessa scooted closer to snuggle into my side.

When he was done reading, Tessa moved to lay down in the bed.

I wasn’t sure how the usual operations of bedtime worked, but Derek didn’t move from his spot, so neither did I.

“Any ques—” Derek started.

“Why were you guys kissing?” Tessa asked.

I let out a little chuckle while Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. I admired the lines next to his eyes before answering for him. “We care about each other.”

“Do you love each other?” Tessa asked.

I decided to let Derek take this one. He glanced at me before looking back at Tessa. “Yes, we do. And we love you very much, too. You know that, right?”

“Yes, Daddy,” she said with exasperation. “You say it all the time.”

“Just making sure,” he muttered before smoothing down her hair. “Margo and I have been talking. How would you feel if she stayed in the house with us? For longer than just a few days.”

Tessa looked at me with a big smile. Her feet kicked under the blanket, and I laughed at her uncontained excitement. “Does that mean we can have dinner together? And breakfast? And Margo can braid my hair in the morning.”

I laughed and patted her hand. “We can do all of those things. I might not be here for every breakfast because I have to open the restaurant, but I can be home for every dinner if that would make you happy.”

“It would,” she said. She seemed pleased with her negotiation skills.

“Okay,” Derek said. “I think that’s enough excitement for one day.”

We both stood up and made our way to the door. “Goodnight, Tessa,” I whispered.

“Goodnight, Margo. Goodnight, Daddy.”

My heart tightened at the sound of her sweet voice wishing us both goodnight. I grabbed Derek’s hand for comfort and squeezed. He looked down at me, and I nearly fell apart at the sight of tears welling up in his eyes.

“Sweet dreams, honey,” Derek said.

We closed the door together and stood in the hallway. I wrapped my arms around him and clung to him. He rubbed my back with a firm hand and held me tight. I was so damn lucky. Dreaming of having this kind of family, this kind of love, was always a far-fetched idea.

Now that I had it, I would never let go.