Page 59 of The Runaway Bride's Vow

Clara leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “I only know one thing and that’s she loves you a lot, and she wanted to make you happy.”

“But, I didn’t say we had to get married right away.” When Clara arched a brow, he asked, “What? I didn’t.”

“You might not have insisted on it, but you were quick to jump on the date and insist you two could make it work if you both wanted it enough.”

“I did?” The question was more rhetorical than anything else. He rubbed the back of his neck again as he searched his memory.

It took him a moment to summon the recollection. And then it hit him like a sledgehammer. He had said those words. He had persuaded her into a quick wedding.

He groaned. “I did say it. But I didn’t mean it had to be then or never. I was just excited. I never thought I’d want to get married again.” He got to his feet and paced. “Do you really think she believed if she didn’t marry me then—that if she said she wanted to delay the ceremony—that I would call off our engagement?”

Clara shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know.”

Of course, she didn’t. The only person who could answer any of these questions was on a farm somewhere in Iowa—far, far away.

Clara’s phone buzzed. “I’m sorry. It’s time for my next appointment.”

“Of course. Thank you for seeing me. I appreciate it.”

She got to her feet. “I’m sorry this is so hard. I hope you two find your way back to each other.”

“I don’t know.” It was the honest truth. He still cared about Brooke, but he didn’t know if he could trust her ever again.

“Just give it some time. I’ve seen a lot of couples come through that door, and you two were made for each other.”

He thanked her for listening and made his exit All the while, he replayed their conversation and the fact he might have played a part in Brooke’s skipping out on their wedding.

There was so much to catch up on.

Brooke had spent the morning helping her mother can green beans. She still kept the root cellar well-stocked just like Brooke’s grandmother had done. While they worked, they talked.

Her mother filled her in on who married who and who had passed away. It was amazing how much had happened in their small town over the past year.

Later in the afternoon, Brooke changed her clothes and headed into town. It was time she saw her sister. This reunion would likely be even more tense than having to face her father.

She had a complicated relationship with her sister. Candi was older than her and always thought she knew what was best for Brooke. And of course she often rejected her sister’s ideas—sometimes just because her sister had come up with the idea.

In fact, it was her sister who first set her up with Josh back in high school. Brooke had resisted the idea but finally gave in and went on a double date with her sister and her sister’s now-husband. It was one of the few times she realized Candi hadn’t had such a bad idea.

Her sister was now a teller at the only bank in town. And according to her mother, Candi was done with work at four o’clock. In her eagerness to see her sister again, Brooke arrived in town fifteen minutes early.

She parked at the end of Main Street and decided to stroll to the other side of the small town. This would give her a chance to take in the changes that had happened since she’d left. She didn’t want any of it to change. She loved her hometown, even if she no longer lived there.

As she made her way past one block, she was relieved to find everything as she recalled it. Some of the locals had done a double-take when they saw her. Some waved. Others pretended like they hadn’t seen her. Truly nothing had changed. It was still the same gossipy town it had always been. And she had just given them lots to talk about.

She paused in front of the chocolate shop and inhaled deeply. Mmm… This place definitely hadn’t changed. She gazed in the storefront window at the delicious display of gift boxes of chocolates. She was tempted to go inside and buy some, but she figured by the time she made it back to her car, it would all melt in this stifling heat.

With the greatest regret, she turned. Her head was down as she was about to check the time on her phone when she ran into someone. Embarrassment warmed her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“Brooke?”

The all-too familiar male voice had her jerking her head upward. Her gaze met sky-blue eyes. Josh.

She smothered a groan. He was the last person she wanted to run into, but on second thought, maybe this was a good thing. By the time she headed back to California she would have cleared the air with everyone.

“Hello, Josh.” Honestly, she didn’t know what to say to him. She could accuse him of turning the tables on her and letting the town think she was the one who walked out on him at the altar. She hesitated.

“I… I didn’t know you were back in town.”

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