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Chapter forty-four

Evie

RHETT: Good luck today honey. Your gonna do grate I love you

I reread Rhett’s message for the thousandth time. The typos tell me he took the time to type it out himself instead of dictating, and that just makes it so much more meaningful. Every day, he somehow manages to make me feel beyond loved, beyond cherished, in the littlest of ways that are no less significant than some grand gesture would be.

From voice memos and selfies to a surprise flower bouquet waiting for me when I arrived at my rental two days ago, he’s making sure I know how much he loves me.

It doesn’t make me miss him any less, however. Even Ruthie has taken to pacing the small furnished apartment we’re staying in, whining as she obviously wonders where he is. She slept on the bed beside me last night, and while there was some comfort in having her next to me, I wish it was Rhett.

But today is the first day of my new job. And the halls of Dogwood Cove elementary are full of the sounds of children laughing and chattering, teachers greeting students, and all the happy, noisy chaos of an elementary school full of bright minds.

My schedule today is light. All I have to do is pop into the classrooms to introduce myself and lay eyes on the children that will make up the bulk of my caseload for the year. There’s a staff meeting after school, and then I’m free for the evening.

“Hey Evie.” Reid sticks his head into my office just as I’m finishing hanging a string of lights on the wall.

“Hi.”

He leans against the door frame and looks at what I’ve done to the space. “This is awesome, very welcoming.” He gives me a grin. “Wanted to check in, see how you’re doing, but also see if you had a chance to touch base with Jackson?”

Right, the town veterinarian, one of Reid’s friends. I swear, it seems everyone knows everyone around here. “I’ve got an appointment with him next week for Ruthie’s checkup. Thanks for the recommendation.”

“Of course.” He pushes off the door and turns to give a high five to a kid who’s walking past. “See what he thinks about Ruthie becoming a therapy dog. He’s a good judge of animals, and I think the kids would love having her around.”

My mouth falls open in shock. “Really? You’d be open to that?” When I brought up the idea of a therapy dog as a future resource in my interview, I hadn’t been thinking of Ruthie specifically. She’s still so young and rambunctious. To say nothing of the fact that I figured I’d have to prove myself as a professional before attempting to add that in.

“Yeah, definitely. It’s a solid idea. But we need Jackson’s approval, and she’d have to go through training, I’m guessing. Keep me posted, okay?”

I nod eagerly. “I will. Thank you.”

Reid leaves and I sink into my office chair. How does this job keep getting better? The only thing missing is a six-foot-something baseball player with soft brown hair who gives the best hugs in the world.

Glancing at the clock, I see I have a few minutes before I’m due in the kindergarten class for the next round of students that are coming in for their gradual entry. Picking up my phone, I send a text to Rhett.

EVIE: Guess what! The school wants me to see if Ruthie would make a good therapy dog. That means she could come to school with me and help support the kids!

I’m not expecting a reply, since if I remember the schedule correctly, he’s got practice today and a game tomorrow night. But to my surprise, he replies almost immediately.

RHETT: She’d be awesome at that can’t talk right now love you

EVIE: Love you too!!!!

I set my phone down, my cheeks hurting from the wide smile on my face. Hopefully he doesn’t get in trouble for dictating a quick message at practice.

The rest of my first day flies by, and before I know it, I’m saying goodbye to my new coworkers after our staff meeting.

I’ve just closed my office door when I overhear two voices from down the hall.

“You know who that is, right?”

“He’s from the Tridents, isn’t he?”

No way.

I pick up my pace until I’m almost running toward the front doors. I push them open and there he is, casually leaning against his truck, holding an enormous bouquet of flowers. There’s a massive smile on his face as he opens his arms wide just in time for me to crash into him.

“You’re here? How are you here!” I say, hugging his neck tightly, breathing him in. “Oh my God, you’re here!”

“Of course I am. I couldn’t miss my girl’s first day.” His voice is thick with emotion as he holds me, my feet dangling off the ground.

Eventually, he sets me down, only to take his free hand and cup my chin, bending to kiss me.

A throat clearing behind us makes me step back, and it’s then I realize I was basically mauling my boyfriend in the school parking lot.

Crap.

“All the students are gone, but still, we need to keep things professional at work, Evie.” Thankfully, Reid’s voice is more amused than condemning.

I’m red with embarrassment when I turn around, but then Rhett reaches one hand out from behind me. “Sorry ’bout that. Won’t happen again, promise. Just wanted to surprise Evie. I’m Rhett.”

“Reid. And I know who you are. Good game last night.” Reid shakes his hand then looks back at me. “Have a good evening, Evie. Rhett, nice to meet you.”

Once he’s gone, I turn back to Rhett and drop my forehead to his chest. “Oh my God. That was mortifying.”

Rhett’s deep chuckle is comforting, as is the hand he runs up and down my back. “Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.”

My head lifts. “Don’t apologize, I was just as much to blame. I still can’t believe you’re here. Don’t you have practice?”

He presses a swift kiss on my forehead. “Coach let me skip it to be here today. I gotta go back for the game tomorrow, though.” Holding the door to his truck open, he gestures at me to get in. “I’ll bring you back for your car tomorrow on my way to the ferry.”

I can’t stop staring at him as he pulls out of the parking lot. He’s really here. For me. He skipped practice for me. “I love you,” I blurt out. “Like, so much.”

Rhett glances at me with a soft smile, his hand coming to rest on my thigh. “I love you, too.”

I point out where to turn, but instead of listening, Rhett drives straight. “No, you have to turn back there,” I protest, only getting a squeeze of my thigh in response. Then he turns in the opposite direction from where my apartment is at the next intersection. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

A couple of minutes later, we pull up in front of an adorable little house with an honest-to-God white picket fence. The house itself is pale blue, with darker blue shutters, a tidy yard with a flower bed, and a wreath on the front door.

Most importantly, there’s a “For Sale” sign out front.

Rhett parks right next to the sign and turns off his truck .

“What are we doing here?” I ask, my head bouncing back and forth between looking at him and looking at the house. “Rhett?”

“Do you wanna take a look inside?”

“I want you to tell me why we’re here.”

He just laughs. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Maybe it is, but I’m scared to say it. What if I’m wrong, and the ridiculously happy kernel of hope bouncing around in my chest is crushed.

Rhett reaches over and runs his thumb over my lips, freeing the bottom one I hadn’t realized I was chewing on. “I was thinkin’, if you like this place, you could stay here, not in that rental. That way, Ruthie gets a yard to play in, and there’s space for family to come visit.”

“I can’t afford to buy a house,” I whisper, still not daring to let myself believe this is happening.

“But I can.” He smiles softly. “And I want to.”

“Here?”

“If this is where you are, then yes. I know I’ve got to finish my contract with the Tridents, but maybe then, I don’t try to sign another. There’s more to my life than just baseball now. There’s you. And I want a future with you. A home, a family, all of it.”

Love, happiness, joy, it all slams into me in waves that have me laughing and crying and scrambling to undo my seat belt so I can hug him.

“Oh my God. Oh my God! Rhett!” I kiss him over and over as he pulls me into his lap right there in front of our future home.

Eventually, he pulls his head back, his eyes dancing with excitement. “So that’s a yes to takin’ a look inside? ”

“That’s a yes to everything. To a future, to a home, a family, everything, as long as it’s with you.”

“There’s no one else for me, Evie. You’re my girl. Forever.” He leans back in for another kiss.

“Forever sounds good to me.”