Page 88 of Wild Love

"We're getting off topic," and then I turned my attention to Marigold. "That's not how Scarlett sees it."

Her forehead wrinkled. "She's so stubborn. She can't see how much we love and care for her. She sees everything we do as a manipulation, a way to get her to stay."

"Are you on my side?" I wanted to make sure, but this entire exchange was unexpected.

Marigold tipped her head to the side. "Do you want her back?"

"I love her." My heart ached with the idea that she was leaving, might never come back, and it was all my fault.

Marigold's shoulders lowered. "We have to show her how much we love her but that we're willing to let her go. Maybeshe'll see how much she misses this place and everything it represents."

"What do you have in mind?" Chance asked.

"We could throw her a going-away party after the play is done. The key is that we have to let her go. Let her do her own thing. Hopefully, she realizes how much she loved it here and decides to come back."

"That's a big if." I wasn't so sure the gamble would pay off. "What if she's gone for years? What if she stays away because of me?"

Chance rubbed his chin. "We have to do more than a going-away party. That's not enough."

The table fell silent for a few seconds while we thought about it.

Finally, I said, "I can talk to Mac about blueprints for my house. I could act as if I'm moving forward with my plans."

Marigold brightened. "Oh, good idea."

"So we show her what she's missing by leaving town—her family, friends, and connection to the community—but without a guilt trip," Chance said thoughtfully.

Marigold grimaced. "I know it's going to be difficult. But I think it's worth a shot."

I shrugged. "Why not? We have nothing to lose."

The waitress stopped by with our food.

"I'm starving. I haven't eaten anything. Once I heard about the theater, I had to talk to Scarlett. But she was impossible." Marigold waved a hand before grabbing her fork and cutting into her pancakes. She took a huge bite. "Mmm. These are amazing."

I did the same with my food. I was hungry, and if we were going to stop the biggest flight risk from running, we needed fuel.

We spent the rest of the week helping Scarlett with the rehearsal and planning her going-away party. Afterward, I tried to decide what my dream house would look like. I took Scarlett's tastes in mind. She'd want a hot tub, a pool, and a soaking tub in the master. Maybe even a room where she could sing and dance.

The thought of her dancing and singing with our kids made my heart ache even more. I had to trust that Marigold was onto something with her idea.

It was Scarlett who'd walked away from me. She thought I was manipulating her, which sucked. I wanted another chance to explain, but she had to be willing to listen. And right now, she wasn't. I didn't have a better idea.

Chance talked to his parents, and they were on board with our plan. The party was scheduled for immediately after the performance on Friday. Marigold said Scarlett was planning to fly to Tennessee on Saturday to start work on the new production.

I hated the idea of letting her get on that plane, but I didn't have a choice. Otherwise, I'd be the man she accused me of being. One who kept her in a cage. I wouldn't do that to her.

Marigold thought Scarlett would miss Telluride this time around. That she'd been part of something bigger than before: the play and our relationship. It was a risk, but I was willing to take it in the absence of any other ideas.

When there was a knock on the door Thursday night, my heart skipped a beat. Was Scarlett finally willing to talk like adults, or was she giving me back my key?

I opened the door with my heart lodged somewhere in my throat. "Scarlett. Come in."

"You wear glasses?"

"When I'm looking at tiny print." I gestured at the dining room table where the blueprints were laid out.

She slipped past me, looking way too good in a white tank and green sweats. Her feet were bare, her toenails painted pink. Her face was clear of makeup, and her hair was piled on her head, the ends slightly damp as if she'd just taken a bath.

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