Page 56 of The Runaway Bride's Vow

She hadn’t been this nervous about showing up for dinner since she’d gotten her nose pierced when she was sixteen. Her father had been very vocal about his displeasure with it. But all of her friends were getting piercings and tattoos. She’d just wanted to fit it.

Her mother had played the peacemaker, and her father had learned to live with it. But he didn’t have to cope with it for long, less than a year. It was a phase for her and had passed quickly.

Today, the stakes were much higher. She had a feeling if they couldn’t repair their relationship today that they’d never be able to do it.

After her long drive, she’d showered and put on fresh jean shorts and a T-shirt. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and fixed her bangs. For the first time in a year, she didn’t put on makeup. She didn’t feel the need here on the farm.

She headed downstairs. She turned the corner and spotted her father. His back was toward her as he stood at the kitchen sink, washing his hands. Her pulse raced as her palms grew damp.

He was wearing a pair of faded jeans and a blue T-shirt. She noticed there was a lot of gray in his hair, far more than the last time she’d seen him. She couldn’t help but wonder if she’d contributed to those gray hairs.

This meeting could go one of two ways. She prayed it would go smoothly. She really had missed her family more than she had realized.

She walked down the hallway to the kitchen. When her father turned off the water, she said, “Hi, Dad.”

He halted, as though her voice had caught him off guard. Without turning around, he reached for the hand towel to dry his hands.

As the silence stretched on, her mother sent her a nervous smile. “I hope you’re hungry.”

The truth was that she didn’t have room in her stomach for food because of the sensation of butterflies fluttering around. When she opened her mouth, she ended up saying, “I’m starved. It smells good.”

Her mother’s smile broadened. “Good. I made green beans, potatoes, and ham. I know it’s one of your favorite meals.” Her words were rushed. “With salad and cornbread.”

So Brooke wasn’t the only one nervous about this reunion. “I can’t wait.”

“Have a seat. I just have to serve up the food.” Her mother picked up a large serving bowl and began to ladle the beans, potatoes, ham and broth into the dish.

Brooke turned her attention back to her father, who appeared to be taking a really long time drying his hands. It was okay. She’d waited more than a year for this moment; she could wait a little longer. And so she stood there until he turned around.

After folding the towel and returning it to the holder, he turned. His face was devoid of expression. She really tried to read in his eyes what he was thinking, but it was like there was a wall up between them.

She was unnerved by his reserve. Her father wasn’t one to hold his emotions at bay. “Your mother says you didn’t get married.”

She shook her head. “It wasn’t the right time.”

“Something wrong with the guy?”

Once more she shook her head. “It wasn’t like that. Logan is a really good guy. He’s the best.”

Her father arched a bushy brow. “You sing his praises, but you didn’t marry him?”

“It was just too fast. And…”

He crossed his arms as he leaned back against the counter. His gaze was laser-focused on her. “And what?”

“Why don’t we sit down?” Her mother placed the food on the table.

Brooke didn’t move, and neither did her father. She needed to get this out there. “I know what it’s like to get dumped at the altar—”

“What?” Her father’s brows scrunched together.

She looked at her mother and then her father. “You know… When Josh dumped me at the wedding.”

Her mother stepped forward. “That’s not what he said. He told us that you ended things.”

She inwardly groaned. Of course, he wouldn’t take responsibility for his actions. Why had she thought him dumping her would be any different? After all, his parents had always catered to him. Nothing had ever been his fault.

She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I might have left town, but I wasn’t the one to end things. I was angry and upset about it for a long time, but now I’m grateful that Josh had the courage to do what I couldn’t bring myself to do. We wouldn’t have been happy together—not in the long run.”

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