Page 52 of Sweet Surprises

CHARLOTTE

Afew minutes later, Charlotte sat nervously in the passenger seat of her own car, trying to keep her eyes on the scenery outside, instead of letting herself gaze at the big man beside her.

Tag had obviously showered after working today. His dark hair was damp, and the light scent of pine and spice filled her senses. It was all she could do to stop herself from leaning closer to him to soak it in.

“You didn’t have to come out before dinner,” she said, her nerves causing her to want to chatter, even though Tag wasn’t exactly big on small talk.

“You told me you were done,” he said simply.

It was true, she had texted him that she was getting the kids, as usual. But she hadn’t been able to resist adding that her project at the shop was finished.

“You wanted to see it right away,” she said, smiling at the idea that he’d only been out on the porch pacing because he was excited too.

“You’ve been over there all week,” he said, the corner of his mouth tugging up.

“Well, I really hope you like it,” she said, her stomach twisting a little at the thought of him being unhappy with what she had done.

“If not, at least I got to drive this thing again,” he said, really smiling this time.

“You like it, huh?” she asked.

“This was my dream car when I was in high school,” he told her. “Same year and everything, I had a poster of it on my wall.”

“Why don’t you have one?” she asked.

“We got married young,” he said, shrugging. “It’s not exactly practical to put car seats in one of these things.”

“It’s probably workable,” Charlotte guessed. “But I get what you mean. Besides, you both wanted to live on a farm. You probably just wanted a truck. It’s so much more practical.”

“She didn’t want to live on a farm,” he said softly. “I think she wanted more.”

Charlotte thought about life on the farm. As far as she could see, it had everything—the animals, the creamery, the shop in town, a big extended family. A person could lose themselves in all that, and never be bored or lonely again.

“What do you mean, more?” she asked.

“She did all that theater stuff,” he murmured. “Like Olivia’s doing now, except that she really loved it. She did community theater too, and she was so good. If we hadn’t gotten married, maybe she would have gone to New York or something, followed her dreams.”

“Wow,” Charlotte said, taking it in. “But she got to be here with you, and be Chance and Olivia’s mom. I’ll bet that made her really happy.”

He let out a silent huff of a chuckle, his mouth pulling into a half smile.

“What?” she asked.

“That’s what she used to tell me,” he said, shaking his head.

“Did it ever occur to you that she meant it?” she asked.

“She loved us,” he said. “I know that. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t want other things too.”

Charlotte nodded and sat with that information for a moment, wondering if the woman she had never met, but who had raised two incredible children, might have been able to love them and at the same time wish she could be somewhere else.

Her heart ached at the idea that Tag lived with this question. And at the same time, she felt so much closer to him, and she was grateful for it. His emotions were normally so closed off, but he’d just opened up enough to let her see a glimpse of something that truly hurt him.

Before she had time to say anything else about it, they were driving into the little village.

Some of the shops were already closing up for the day, but people were still everywhere, carrying bags and packages, and stopping to chat with each other before hurrying home with their groceries and gifts.

“This car belonged to my dad,” she said, feeling like it was necessary, but not sure exactly why. “It was his dream car too, and he bought it when he and my mom first got married. He used to fiddle around with it when he had free time, but he never did get to finish fixing it up all the way. I had the rest of the work done in a shop after he passed. Every time I drive it, I think about him, and I wish he could be here too.”

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