Page 39 of Falling for Ezra Thomas
I want him more than I want my own clinic. More than I want to be a doctor. More than anything. And I think that’s my answer.
When he comes home, I’ll tell him that I’m hopelessly in love with him, I want to be his wife, and I’ll go with him wherever he goes. Even if it is far away. Even if it means leaping into faith with my hands over my eyes, blind and clueless.
Trust God…and all that it entails.
I breathe a sigh of relief then remember that I still don’t have a job outside of working at Sweet and Salty, which worries me a lot less now, but I still might need to dosomethingfor work even if I do follow Ezra all around the world. While I ponder, I doodle another little bumblebee and it hits me…hard.
I’ve never been more relaxed than I was when I was at the cabin. Reading, doodling bees, enjoying homemaking. I look at my little bee and my thoughts swarm even more until I can’t contain my excitement.
“Oh, my gosh,” I whisper and pull my phone from my pocket. The first person I dial is Emma, Lev’s girlfriend, who is a literature major with dreams of writing her own books one day. As it’s ringing, I add Luna for a three-way call.
“Hello?” Emma says just as Luna chimes in.
“Hey, it’s Lorelai. I’ve got you on a three-way call because I have a crazy idea, and I wonder if you two might want in on it.”
“I’m listening,” Luna says.
“What if we design and write a series of children’s books together? The three of us?” I ask, knowing it’s an insane, off the wall, out of nowhere idea. It’s nothing like veterinary medicine. Except…it sort of will be. “I was thinking about a series about a little girl who wants to grow up to be a veterinarian, and she…”
As I pitch the idea to my friends, my heart lightens. Maybe all I can draw are bumblebees, and maybe I can’t write a book wortha lick, but I’ve got ideas. With Emma and Luna, I’m positive we can do this.
“I’m in,” Emma says. “I love it. It will be absolutely adorable.”
“Me too. And if your bumblebees are any indication, I think you’ll be drawing other animals in no time,” Luna adds.
By the time our conversation ends and the late afternoon guests start lining up at the counter, I have a pretty good idea what I want for my life. I want to be an author and illustrator of children’s books about little girls who have big dreams.
And I want to be Ezra Thomas’ wife.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ezra
I can’t believe Isurvived basic training, but at the same time it feels like the time flew by. Olson has already left and headed home for the short break we get between now and our official duty assignments. And then…we wait. Wondering if I’ll be selected for RASP will drive me crazy, but in the meantime I get a little time off to attend my brother’s wedding and, if I don’t chicken out, propose to Lorelai.
“I tried to tell your mother not to go overboard, but I can’t promise there won’t be a major homecoming party for you.” Dad glances at me in the passenger seat for the hundredth time as if he doesn’t recognize me.
“It’s okay. I sort of expected it.” I run my hand over my short hair, still getting used to not having a mop of a mess up there. I never could figure out how to style it, but I suppose now it’s pretty easy. Just wash and go.
“I can’t get used to you with such short hair. And the uniform. And you’re…bulkier.” Dad chuckles and looks over at me oncemore. “You look the same but different. How does that happen in a few months?”
“Hours upon hours of training. I’m glad to be home for a few days. It’ll be nice to eat something home-cooked. Probably shouldn’t eat too many cinnamon rolls though.”
Dad laughs again and turns onto the main road leading into Coldstone Creek. It’s quiet in the little town, but tomorrow is the big day for Beck and Vivien. The timing worked out perfectly, which was a huge load off my back. The idea of missing my twin’s wedding made me sick.
A few people stop on the sidewalk and wave, but most mind their own business. When we pass Sweet and Salty, it finally feels like home again. I crack the window and let the aroma of baked goods wash over me.
“I missed that smell,” I admit. “Did Aunt Tress have any issues making the wedding cake?”
Dad shrugs. “How should I know? That’s not my area of expertise.”
“True.” I chuckle and try not to leap out of my skin when he turns onto the familiar road leading to my parents’ house. The one I grew up in. The one I’ve missed since I’ve been gone even though technically I don’t live there anymore. I’ve lived in the town house for a few years, but this house will always be home.
“You ready? I also can’t promise your mother won’t tackle you.”
I grin and wave him off. There isn’t anything about returning to Coldstone Creek that I didn’t prepare for. A party, Mom tackling me in a big hug, my brothers taking turns picking on me about my hair. I even prepared for Vivien to ask her usual hundred questions. But nothing…nothing…no amount of preparation in the world, could have prepared me for pulling into the driveway and finding Lorelai Mays standing in a yellow sundress with my dog on a leash, smiling in front of half thetown, who crowd around her as if there is some invisible barrier they can’t cross.
When Dad parks and I get out of the car, I realize there is a barrier. It’s respect, and they respect Lorelai enough to let her be the first one to greet me home.
