Page 92 of Lovewell Lane

So I added, “If you’re thinking of sticking around. I know it was kind of left in the air. You only rented my place for six months.”

She tilted her head. “Are you asking me to?”

“I’m telling you,” I said. “You can stay with me. If you want.”

Margo didn’t blink. “That’s a big offer.”

“You have to stay!” Tessa said. “We really like having you around. Daddy smiles a lot more, and we get to do fun things together.”

Margo laughed at Tessa’s sweet reasoning before turning back to me. “You sure?”

“I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t sure.”

She was quiet for a beat. “I’ll think about it.”

I nodded, slow and even, like my heart wasn’t already racing at the thought.

“Meet me at the gazebo?” I said. “After all this?”

Her eyes softened. “Yeah,” she said. “Okay.”

“Alright, Tess. We have to get back before Jack gets grumpy and scares everyone away.” Margo gave Tessa another hug before letting her go. I reached for Tessa’s hand and walked away before quickly turning back around. “And Margo?”

Her head raised up to look at me. “Happy birthday.”

She smiled a cheek-splitting grin. I’d told her this morning, but I wanted to be able to say it hundreds of times to her in my life. The thought of being able to tell her that every year was exhilarating.

32

Margo

I wasn’t nervous.

I wascurious.

Which is a different thing.

Totally different.

Okay, maybe I was a little nervous.

The Honey Festival was emptying slowly, the last booths being broken down, string lights still glowing overhead while lightning bugs popped up all around, mirroring the alternating light bulbs. I wiped my hands on my apron for the fifth time and reminded myself I was a grown woman who had survived much scarier things than the man I loved inviting me to a gazebo after sundown.

The gazebo was glowing when I saw it. Warm lights woven through the beams, a few colorful lanterns were hung up, making it even brighter. He was there, of course, leaning against the railing like he had waited there all his life.

“Hey,” he said when he saw me.

“Hey yourself.”

Derek held out a hand, and I took it without hesitation. He pulled me into the center of the gazebo, beneath the lights. His hand didn’t leave mine. Then, he smiled.

Not his teasing one. Not the half-grin he used when he was trying to hide his smile.

This one was different. Slower. Softer.

“Happy Birthday, Margo.”

I blinked. He’d already told me this three times.

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