Page 150 of Traces Of You

“Wait up, Reenie.”

She turned to wait for him at the end of the hall. No one was around.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “Sorry for everything.” She held her hand up when he went to speak. “Even sorry that I keep saying sorry, but it’s all I’ve got today. The next several days, weeks, months, years. I’m going to spend it making sure you have no doubts about me or my feelings toward you. I will never keep you guessing again like that. It’s not right for anyone and only causes pain. That’s my promise to you. I hope you believe me.”

He pulled her close to his side. “I do. Not because I want to, but because I see it. I didn’t see what Lexi was feeling and that’s on me. I could have talked to her and let her down easily if I had.”

“Don’t put that on you,” she said. “I’m sick of us both thinking we are at fault. There are evil people in this world and people who make poor decisions on emotions. Weak or strong ones. Different days, different mindsets. I want a reset if you’llgive it to me. I see my chance at a normal life and I’m going to grab it by the horns and ride it in whatever direction it takes me. I hope you’ll be by my side through it all.”

“I wouldn’t be any other place. I loved you twenty years ago but didn’t know what that meant. It wasn’t nearly as strong as it is now. We’ve made it this far, we can make it through anything.”

There’d be no doubts in his mind. He wouldn’t allow it.

It’d only hide the wonderful trip they’d had and the journey in front of them.

“A wise man once told me he’d always be there for me. I didn’t know what that meant before, but I hoped it’d held true years later.”

“It did,” he said, kissing her forehead.

“Because you keep your promises.”

EPILOGUE

Six Months Later

“Are you warm enough?”Ford asked on Thanksgiving. They were sitting on his parents’ old porch swing in the backyard looking past the land and at the sun setting over the mountains.

Ridgeway Orchards had mountains in the distance from the front and back of their homes. Perfectly located for sunrises and sunsets.

“I am,” she said. “Your big beefy arm is giving me the heat I need.”

She was still living in the cabin, but spending more time at Ford’s place than here.

It was more about having her own space to escape to.

But she didn’t need to have an escape anymore.

She was where she wanted to be.

Where she needed to be.

A fulfilling career at the cafe with Brooke during the week, and managing events and those details for the barn on the weekends or at night.

She still had her online business giving her a separate form of independence so that she didn’t always feel as if she was relying on someone else. Ford even encouraged her to expand on that.

He encouraged her to grow and not depend on him and that was the best form of love there was.

It’d been a busy summer and next year would be crazier as the popularity of the Ridgeway ventures grew.

She’d have a part in it. Not just a part, but a purpose.

Like the man beside her who waited decades for her to find her way back, and gave her the space, time, and unwavering love she needed to finally arrive at this moment.

Oliver and Randy would never bother her again. She’d only been a passing person in their life. The wrong place at the wrong time.

Lexi had been terminated and moved out of the state near her parents, her head hanging down in shame.

There was part of her that hated that Lexi lost the family she’d gained here, but she’d done it to herself.