Page 17 of Wrapped Up with the Mountain Man
"Probably at the old ski patrol cabin. He's been spending a lot of time there lately, fixing things that don't need fixing."
Of course.Our cabin.
"Helen? Before I go... has he mentioned me at all?"
Helen hesitates, then reaches under the counter and pulls out a worn piece of paper. "Jake found this in his truck last week. Fell out of his wallet."
I unfold it, my breath catching. It's a job listing for Mountain View Elementary School. The position I just accepted. The listing is worn soft from handling, with notes scribbled in the margins.
"He's been carrying this around?" I whisper.
"For weeks, according to Jake. Been researching schools near here, looking into teaching programs." Helen's eyes are kind. "That man's been planning a way to follow you, honey. He's just too stubborn to admit it."
Hope blooms in my chest, warm and terrifying. "Thank you."
The drive to the cabin feels like the longest of my life. What if he doesn't want to see me? What if too much time has passed? What if I've misunderstood everything?
But then the cabin comes into view. It’s small and perfect, smoke curling from the chimney, warm light glowing from the windows. Tannon's truck sits in the same spot where he parked it that magical Christmas Eve.
I sit in my car for a moment, gathering courage, then force myself to walk to the door. My knock echoes in the quiet evening air.
Footsteps approach, pause. The door opens slowly.
Tannon stands there, and my heart breaks at the sight of him. He's thinner, shadows under his eyes, beard slightly unkempt. He looks like a man who hasn't been sleeping well.
"Dove." He speaks like he doesn’t believe his eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to ask you a question," I say, my voice shaking but determined. "And to tell you something."
He steps aside to let me in, and I'm immediately flooded with memories. The smell of wood smoke, the handmade furniture, the braided rug where we fell in love.
"What did you come to ask me?" he says quietly.
I turn to face him, this man who holds my heart even though he let me walk away. "I came to ask why you didn't fight for me."
He flinches like I've hit him. "Dove."
"You told me you loved me. You made love to me like I was the most important thing in the world. Then you watched me get in that car and didn't say a word to stop me."
"You had a job. A career. Those kids needed you."
"Those kids have their parents now. Their parents who finally learned how to be present because I threatened to quit if they didn't." I step closer. "I didn't need that job, Tannon. I needed you. And you let me go."
"I thought it was best for us."
"For who?" My voice breaks. "Because these past two months have been hell. I've been sleepwalking through someone else's life, dreaming about a cabin in the mountains and a man who was too scared to fight for what we had."
He runs his hands through his hair, pain etched across his features. "I was terrified of holding you back. Of being selfish. You could have anyone, Dove. Someone with education, with prospects. Someone who could give you the life you deserve."
"The life I deserve?" I shake my head. "You want to know what I deserve? I deserve someone who thinks I'm worth fighting for. Someone who doesn't make decisions about my life without asking what I want."
"Whatdoyou want?" he asks quietly.
I reach into my purse and pull out a folded contract. "I want to show you this first."
He takes it, his eyes scanning the letterhead. "Mountain View Elementary School?"
"I got the job. Second grade, starting after spring break." I watch his face carefully. "It's only two hours from here."
