“I haven’t been honest with the two of you.” Graham was sitting in the Wellings’ living room, and the couple had their rapt attention on him. He’d never been so nervous in all of his life. It felt as though everything depended on this moment, on his ability to convince them to accept Lucy.
He took a calming breath, experiencing a rush of peace when he remembered what his dad had said. His parents were praying. Graham wasn’t fighting this battle on his own.
“I wasn’t even honest with myself about my feelings. I never thought I’d want to remarry. I had a great marriage with Brooke, and I didn’t think that could happen twice. I was content with what I’d had and with being a dad to Mattie. But then Lucy came along.” Graham begged for guidance from God, knowing his next words would wound. “I really didn’t mean to fall in love with her. That wasn’t the plan. But I did. And so did Mattie.”
Silence reigned. Belinda wiped a tear with her fingertip.
“I’m willing to give you back Mattie’s money if it helps. That’s not what Lucy wants. She doesn’t even know that money exists, nor would she care. She might come off young and a bit impetuous, and yes, she’s not like Brooke, but then... Brooke was one of a kind. And so is Lucy. I’m not trying to steal your memories of Brooke from you. I don’t want to hurt you. And I don’t want Mattie to lose you from her life because I want to have a relationship with Lucy.”
Emotion clogged his throat. “Please don’t make me choose between you and Lucy. Mattie needs all of you in her life.”
Belinda snagged a tissue, wiping a now steady stream of tears. “It hurts that you would choose her over us. It feels like losing Brooke all over again.”
Graham got up and moved next to his mother-in-law on the couch. “I don’t want to choose. I want all of you in Mattie’s life and my life. I ache for you as parents. I can’t imagine losing Mattie. Part of the reason I didn’t say anything about Lucy to you earlier is because I didn’t want to hurt you. I’m so sorry. I just can’t keep burying these feelings.”
When Belinda’s hand snaked out slowly to squeeze his, the smallest bit of hope sparked.
“So.” Phillip shifted in his wingback chair, the same pain on Belinda’s face etched on his. “If you and this Lucy have a relationship, you’d still want us in Mattie’s life?”
“Of course. I never considered otherwise. I just thought you disliked Lucy so much that you wouldn’t be in our lives if I remarried.”
“We don’t really know Lucy.” Belinda looked at her husband. “And we just... We were worried that another woman might come in and steal you and Mattie away from us.” Her sob broke him. “And the two of you are all we have left.”
“You’ll always have us. Nothing is going to change that. And once you get to know Lucy, you’ll realize she would never think that way. You’re Mattie’s grandparents. I don’t ever want you to feel shut out of her life. In fact, maybe we can start a better schedule for you with Mattie. A sleepover once a month or something so you’re seeing her consistently.”
She sniffed. “A date night for you and Lucy.”
Graham sighed. He’d thought they were getting somewhere.
“I didn’t mean that how it sounded.” Belinda squeezed his hand again as if the action could communicate what she couldn’t. “I meant, it would be nice for you to have the time with Lucy, especially if she’s walking right into a family instead of starting one on her own.”
That was the closest thing to acceptance Graham had ever heard. Definitely not the response he’d feared or expected. His dad was right. Prayer worked. Without it, this conversation wouldn’t be happening.
“We don’t want the money back.” Phillip leaned forward. “We gave it to you to do as you both saw fit, and we don’t need to know what happens to it. If it’s going to Mattie’s college, that’s great. But—” he shook his head “—I, for one, never need to talk about the money again.”
Graham nodded. “Okay. One more thing.” Phillip and Belinda both tensed. “I’m sorry I never joined the board for Brooke’s charity. I’m willing, if you still want me.”
“Really?” Both of them looked at him wide-eyed.
“I want another connection, another way to prove to you that inviting Lucy into our lives doesn’t mean you’re going to lose Mattie.”
“Or you.” Belinda’s mouth gave in to a slight curve. The first smile Graham had seen from either of them since he’d walked through the door.
“Or me.”
“Of course we want you on the board.” Concern wrinkled Belinda’s brow. “But, Graham, what about this Lucy? Will she ever be able to forgive us? We were horrible to her. We were just hurting so much seeing you move on.”
“I think she’ll understand and forgive you. She’s pretty great that way.” The assurance was partly for them, partly for him. If she didn’t, he was going to be a huge mess. “But, Belinda?”
“Yes?”
“I think the first step toward mending your relationship with Lucy is to stop putting this in front of her name.”
* * *
“They think it was the mango in the sherbet.” Lucy sat in her hospital bed, holding court with Cash and Olivia in the visitor chairs.
Lucy might be a proponent of doing things on her own, but she was going to have to adjust that opinion once again. Everyone should have a sidekick that could fly through traffic fast enough to save their life.
“No mango ever again. It was freaky.” Liv wiped a tear. “On the way to the hospital you got so quiet.” When Olivia sniffled again and more moisture rolled down her cheeks, Cash pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. For some reason this made her laugh through her tears. “I thought I was going to lose you. I didn’t know what to do. Pull over and call an ambulance? Keep driving?”
Cash wrapped an arm around Olivia, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m thankful you’re both okay since I’m sure you weren’t exactly obeying traffic laws.”
“For reals, McCowboy. What would you do without a wonderful sister-in-law like me? Your life would be incomplete.”
The comment earned a grin from him and a groan from her sister.
“You’re definitely feeling better.”
“I am, especially since I slept a bit.”
“Speaking of sleeping, did you have any visitors while we were getting coffee?”
Lucy ignored the pang of disappointment. It wasn’t as if she’d sent the text she’d written on her phone earlier.
I need you shouldn’t have to be said twice.
“Nope. No visitors.”
Olivia and Cash shared a look Lucy couldn’t decipher. “Give it time, Liv.” Lucy didn’t understand Cash’s comment, but she let it slide.
“What are you two still doing here anyway?” She made a shooing motion. “It’s late. You don’t need to wait for me.”
“We can stay,” Olivia protested.
“Absolutely not.”
“What happens when they discharge you?”
“Leave me a set of keys. I feel fine and I can drive myself home.”
Cash shrugged. “We do have two vehicles here.” He stood and tugged Olivia up with him. “Come on. Lucy’s right. She’s fine. You heard it straight from the doctor. And I’m guessing you’re about as emotionally exhausted right now as can be.”
Olivia covered a yawn. “Not true. I’m a rock.”
“Yep. You are.” He grinned, and the way he looked at her sister made Lucy fight a rush of emotion.
“Okay, enough sap, you two. Have you forgotten I recently had my heart broken? Get out of here before you mess me up again.”
They came over and gave her hugs, and once they’d gone, Lucy snuggled under the light blanket on her bed. For a moment earlier, when she’d woken up, she’d been positive that she could smell Graham. That he’d been here.
Maybe the medicine had messed with her mind.
Now Lucy felt completely fine and wanted to get out of the hospital. But since the ER moved at a snail’s pace, she assumed she had a wait on her hands.
“Did someone order a doctor?” Graham peeked into her room.
“Hey.” Lucy sat up against her pillows. Those mad-at-him/please-kiss-me feelings came rushing back. “What are you doing here?”
“Technically, I am your doctor.”
“No, you’re not.”
“You worked in my office, Lucy. I think that counts as close enough to a patient.”
Oh. How disappointing. He’d come to see her because he was Graham and he was noble. He was right to come, though, because they had to learn to be friends again and function around each other. Especially if Lucy planned to stay in this town.
And due to the news she’d found out this week—that the owner of the dance school she worked at wanted to sell the business within the next few years—that possibility was getting more and more definite.
Lucy could do this. She could get through a conversation with Graham. Then the next one had to be easier.
“I know I’m not exactly your favorite person right now, but I figured these were extenuating circumstances.” Instead of sitting in a chair, he perched on the edge of her bed. Her pulse started drumming like crazy at his close proximity and the fact that she hadn’t inhaled him in almost a week.
When his hand found hers and held on, the machine monitoring Lucy’s heart betrayed her, broadcasting her body’s reaction to his touch.
“How are you feeling?”
“Much better.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” His hand switched from cradling hers to entwining fingers. “Lucy, I love you.”
Her mouth slacked open and her throat closed off again. A rush of goose bumps spread across her skin, but she tamped down any excitement at hearing those words from him.
Love wasn’t enough.
Not with how the Wellings felt about her, and Graham bargaining over her.
“Phillip and Belinda are going to apologize to you. They were upset about me moving on because it made them feel like they were losing Brooke all over again. They thought us being in a relationship would take me and Mattie away from them.”
Indignation straightened her spine. “I would never do that.”
“I know. That’s what I told them.”
“And they...accepted that?”
He nodded slowly, and something close to hope started flapping wings in her chest. Lucy shoved it down again. He’d hurt her. How could she just forget about that?
“Lucy, I’m sorry I made a deal with the Wellings and didn’t tell you what was really going on. I was so busy denying my feelings for you I didn’t even realize what I’d done.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, fingers lingering against her cheek and wreaking havoc on her emotions. “Until it was too late.”
It’s not too late.
Yes, it is.
The thoughts warred as Liv’s advice came rushing back.
Forgive him.
Lucy could have everything she wanted. Or none of it.
Graham’s hold on her hand loosened, his shoulders wearing the same hurt she felt coursing through her. Was he going to leave?
Panic rose up, screaming for attention. How could she even consider letting him go? She might not want to need anyone, but she needed this man.
“You hurt me, Hollywood.”
Regret clung to his features. “I know. And I’m so sorry. I never want you to feel like that again. The things that make you you are exactly what I love about you. I’ll do anything I can to make it up to you. To prove how I really feel about you.”
Anything.
Ideas started forming.
“Like another road trip? That purse I wanted?”
His low chuckle warmed her from the toes up, and the heart monitor started giving away her every emotion again.
“Can you turn that thing off?”
Graham did something to the machine and the screen went blank.
“That was so not like you, breaking rules, turning things off that are supposed to be on.”
He just grinned and sat back on the edge of the bed. “I won’t do anything to mess with you being okay. I kind of have a thing for you.”
“You do?”
“Yep. And I wonder if you noticed I said I love you.” His head tilted. “I didn’t hear a response to that, though I know for certain you said you loved me once before.”
“That conversation was a week ago.” She tried desperately to keep her lips from curving. “So much has changed since then.”
His eyes narrowed. “Still counts as good for me. I’m holding you to it.”
“You’re awfully demanding.” His lips were dropping to hers, and she was having a hard time concentrating on anything else.
“And somehow, even in a hospital bed, you’re beautiful.”
He kissed her.
It was a good thing her heart monitor had been turned off. His kiss was gentle—almost reverent. He memorized her face with his lips, and Lucy fell into the knowledge that something had changed between them. Now, along with the tingling current that always ebbed, there was also a strength. A sense that she was safe. She’d never known before what it felt like to have everything she wanted within reach.
Good night. She couldn’t give in that easily. Lucy placed her hands on his chest and pushed, but he gave her only a few inches of space.
“Do you think this is some kind of done deal or something?”
His mouth curved, causing her stomach to tap-dance. “Yep.”
“Well, it’s not.”
“Okay.” He stood and started disconnecting wires and cords.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting you out of here.”
She clutched the blanket. He couldn’t do that, could he?
“By the way, are you in pajamas?”
“Yeah. I was wearing them when the reaction happened.”
“Why?”
“I was wallowing.”
His brow furrowed. “I’m sorry if you were wallowing because of me. I’m sorry I didn’t talk to the Wellings earlier, that I didn’t fight for you. For us. Although, I’m not sure that conversation would have gone so well without an extreme amount of prayer. I’m still in shock that it did. Isn’t it funny how we ask God for something and then we’re surprised when He answers us?”
Recognition of that truth settled in her soul. “I do that all the time.” This. This was why she needed to ask God to handle things instead of trying to do everything on her own. She’d wanted this, but God had made this happen. Not her. She’d always thought she had to do everything on her own. But when that got stripped away from her, she’d found the God she’d been missing. The one who didn’t need her to be in charge. The one who, turned out, already had everything under control.
Graham continued to mess with all of the stuff connected to her. Removed her IV.
“Don’t I need that?”
“Nope. You’re not even getting medicine through it anymore.”
“Then why am I here?”
“You won’t be for long.”
Suddenly she was being lifted from the bed. Graham was cradling her, carrying her out of the ER.
“Tight security around here. I’m being abducted and no one even blinks.”
“I don’t think anyone would be upset to find out your future husband—who’s a doctor—is taking you. Plus...” His grin turned sheepish. “I checked with the doctor before I came in to see you and got all of your paperwork. You’re fine. And I already got you an EpiPen.”
Of course he had.
Did he just say future husband?
Giddiness threaded through her. “Who says I’m marrying you?”
“I do.”
Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and Lucy had to admit, she was enjoying the ride. “You’d better check your sources. Last I heard, a man usually asks a woman to marry him. He doesn’t demand it caveman style. What makes you think I’m going to marry you, anyway?”
“This.” He slid her down until her feet touched the ground, one hand holding her against him, one wrapped into her hair. He kissed her until she could hardly stand before pulling back. “And the fact that I love you and you love me, and when you’re done being snarky, you’re going to admit it.”
“Oh.” Her voice was as wobbly as her legs. She slipped her hands behind his neck, pulling him down for another kiss. “I do love you. You’re easy to love.”
Too soon, he inched back again, sliding his hands to her shoulders. His evergreen eyes were filled with so much love she considered heading back to her hospital bed for a hit of oxygen.
“Lucy, will you marry me and Mattie? We have this big hole that only you can fill. We need you.”
Her stupid eyes were leaking. “I knew you were for me. I just didn’t know if I was going to get to keep you.”
“Keep me. Please. I’m a mess without you.”
“Yes.” She touched his face, wondering over the fact that she was being proposed to in a hospital hallway and she couldn’t envision a more romantic scenario. “I’d wanted to fix this. To make sure the Wellings’ relationship was back on track with Mattie. But you and God fixed it instead of me.”
“God gets all the credit. There’s no other explanation for how that conversation went so well.” His hands slid down her arms, warmth seeping through her long-sleeved T-shirt. “And I thought I had to save everyone, that everything rested on my shoulders. But then you came along and saved me and Mattie when we didn’t even know we needed it.”
“My heart is beating all wild again.”
He scooped her back into his arms. “It’s because you love me. But just to be safe, I’d better carry you out of here.”
Lucy looked up at the man she wanted for forever and let go of a contented sigh.
Being rescued wasn’t such a bad thing after all.