Chapter Twenty-One

A key turned in the lock.

Finally. Chase rubbed a hand down his face and took a seat on a step halfway up the staircase. A gamut of emotions rushed through him. At least he could stop worrying she might never come back.

The front door opened slowly, and Jessie stepped inside. She looked up, meeting his gaze.

“I saw the headlights when you pulled in,” he said quietly. “You okay?”

Barlow left his place on the steps to move to her side as she slipped out of her coat and boots.

“Yes, I just went for a drive.”

He hesitated, measuring her for a moment. “Long drive.”

“Sorry.” She patted the dog’s head. “I wanted some time away. To think.”

Thinking was what he’d been doing, too. Lots of it. He had decisions to make, so did Jessie. And some of their options weren’t good ones. He gestured toward the empty space beside him on the wide step.

She sat down and folded her hands together. “We need to talk.”

He nodded reluctantly. The dark circles under her eyes tore at his insides. She looked distraught, tired, maybe even a little broken. Because of what he’d done. It was all he could do to keep from slipping an arm around her and pulling her close. But it was too soon. They weren’t there yet. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you about Jonas. I had to think about the girls, and I just didn’t see any other way.”

“It’s okay. Honestly.”

“No, it’s not,” he insisted. “I felt like I couldn’t tell you, but still, I know it hurts. I regret that. The girls are your nieces, too. Every bit as much as they are mine. I didn’t feel good about keeping that from you.”

“Your responsibility was to keep Charlotte’s secret, especially from me, Jonas’ sister. I can see that now.” Her words faltered. “I shouldn’t have blamed you for something you couldn’t fix.”

He swiped a hand across his forehead. “Jessie—”

“No, hear me out. I need you to understand.” She turned to him, her voice tinged with emotion. “This complicated mess originates with our siblings. Your sister, my brother. None of this was our fault. They are the ones who made poor choices. They did. Not you. Not me. Don’t you see? Our hearts can break for them, but we can’t make their decisions. We can’t change them. We’re stuck in the midst of it. I know I created the problem with Jade, but that’s taken care of. And we are not to blame for the rest of this turmoil.”

He stared at her for a long moment, allowing the depth of her words to sink in.

Not to blame? The guilt he’d lugged around all these years could somehow be set aside?

“You think Charlotte is going to be Charlotte, no matter how much I try to change her?”

“Could she change you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “No.” A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Clouds were parting. A burden, lifting. “She couldn’t.”

Jessie raised both hands to her heart. “Sometimes there’s no right or wrong, black or white. There’s just this vast gray area we try to weave our way through. You tried to help your sister, to keep her out of trouble, to guide her, advise her. You did what you thought best. That’s all you could do. But she’s going to live the way she wants. So is Jonas. Now, there are these two adorable little girls to love. I know you didn’t plan on raising twin babies, but here they are. They need you. And we both love them. And I believe some of the best things that happen in life are the surprises along the way.”

“I’m glad I have the girls, but I’m so tired of this guilt. Charlotte wouldn’t grow up and settle down, no matter what I did, what anyone said,” he admitted, raking a hand through his hair. “Now, those babies don’t have their mom, even after I tried so hard to change her.”

“But you couldn’t change the path of her choosing. It wasn’t in your power to do so.” Her soft hand touched his cheek. “Charlotte is an adult. Even your parents couldn’t control her. And remember, she’s your sister, not your daughter. You didn’t raise her. It wasn’t all on you.”

Chase nodded. Her words made sense. He slid an arm around her easily, naturally, pulling her close. “Thank you.” He brushed her forehead with a kiss as the weight on his chest lifted.

“I know how much your sister means to you. And I love that about you.” Her mouth crinkled into a sad smile. “I’m sorry I was so angry. You were just protecting Charlotte and the babies.”

“It doesn’t matter.” But uncertainty nagged at him. “Jessie, honey, I need you to be sure.” She needed to understand what she was signing on for. “You have a choice to make. Walk away now and live a quiet, sane life with this baby, just the two of you. Or, stay with me, and we’ve got three kids out of the starting gate. Charlotte could come back. Your brother could learn the truth and show up at our door. Who knows what will happen?” He paused, hating the words that needed to be said as he weighed their futures in the balance. His. Hers. Together. Alone. “Leaving now, before things get messier, is your only chance at freedom.”

She pulled away, bewilderment in her startled green gaze. “But, Chase…”

“Just hear me out, Jess.” He had to give her that chance at freedom, didn’t he? The last thing he wanted was for her to feel trapped. “You can still set up an office in Old Man Taylor’s house.”

“No, no, I can’t. Somebody else already bought it.”

“Someone did.” He hesitated. “Me.”

A frown creased her brow. “But why?”

“I couldn’t let anyone else buy it out from under you while you were coming to my rescue with the twins. It didn’t seem fair. If you want it, I think it will make a nice law office for you. Milo’s been working on it, fixing up some things. If you don’t want it, I’ll sell it.”

Jessie’s heart turned over in dread. Chase was making it so easy for her to go. Is that what he wants? A way out?

“But, that’s…” She searched for the right words. “That’s not what I want. Not anymore.”

She’d thought, hoped, they’d have forever in their future. Jessie hugged her arms to her middle. Had she been wrong about this man? Could it be she’d misjudged his feelings? But when she met his gaze again, she saw the same love shining there she felt in her own heart. “Chase?”

His expression stilled. Reaching out, he gently traced the edge of her jawline with a warm thumb. “Or stay with me? We could set up the Taylor property for your law practice in town when the babies are older. But I think being my wife and mother to three children will keep you busy enough for a while. Don’t you?”

“Oh, yes!” She couldn’t help the cry of sheer joy that burst from her. “Yes!”

He pulled her close, drawing her into the circle of his arms and enveloping her with a sweet sense of belonging like she’d never known.

“You moved back to Montana to come home, to find meaning in your life.” His mouth curved with tenderness. “Come home to me, Jessie. Find meaning here in the family we build together.”

A bottomless sense of peace and contentment washed over her. A lifetime with this man was exactly what she wanted. Now and forever. “I love you, Chase.”

“I love you, too.” A smile ruffled his mouth. “Marry me?”

“Absolutely,” she whispered, meeting him halfway in a kiss warm with the promise of all their tomorrows. “I love you so, so much.”

An easy smile played at the corners of his lips as he winked. “Wait here. I have something perfect for this occasion.” He stood, took the steps, two at a time, and disappeared down the upstairs hallway.

Please don’t wake up, sweet babies. I’d love a bit more time alone with your uncle, if you don’t mind. She shifted excitedly and drummed her fingers against one knee. What was he up to? Was his proposal tonight planned, or had it surprised him as much as it had her?

Then Chase reappeared at the top of the stairs. He quickly and quietly rejoined her on the step as his familiar half-smile sent Jessie’s heart skittering. He possessed a renewed air of confidence or approval, as though he was quite proud of himself about something. But what?

He opened his hand, and there in his palm was a delicate antique ring—a diamond nestled between two smaller emeralds. “For you.”

“Chase?” She gasped in wonder as he slipped the sparkling engagement ring onto her finger. “It’s…it’s beautiful. Exquisitely so.”

“It belonged to my mother,” he said quietly. “She told me it would be the perfect ring for the woman I love.” His gaze met hers. “How did she know it would match your eyes?”

How I love this man. She drew his face to hers and, in an instant of boldness, kissed him, savoring every moment of their lingering exchange. His mouth, warm and moist, grazed her temple with a final touch as she caught her breath. “I love this ring,” she whispered. Then Jessie pulled away enough to extend her hand and admire the treasured heirloom. “And I think I love your mother.”

Chase chuckled. “She would have loved you, too. And the babies. All of them.” He tugged her close, his lips moving gently against her hair. “We need to find a good name pretty soon. Got anything in mind?”

“If it’s a girl, definitely something from the floral department to go with Daisy and Poppy. I was thinking… Maybe…” She hesitated, not at all sure of his response. “Violet?”

For a long moment, he looked at her, amazement in his eyes. “Perfect.”

Good. She nodded, happy that he agreed. “I think so, too.”

He took her hand in his and grazed her fingers with a kiss. “Birdie will be so pleased.”

“I hope so. But what if we have a boy? What did you say your uncle’s name was? The one who ran the lumber yard?”

“Dalton. I’ve always liked that name.”

“Me, too. Very much.” She patted her waistline. “Of course, we have a little time before we need to decide.”

“I want this baby to be ours, Jess,” he said emphatically. “I want to adopt, if we can arrange it.”

“Oh…” She took a breath of utter astonishment as her hand covered her heart. “Thank you,” she whispered and pressed her lips to his stubbly cheek. “Thank you for wanting that. How can we be blessed with all this love? So much it scares me sometimes.”

“Scares you, eh?” One corner of his mouth tugged into an irresistible smile that sent a delightful shiver through her. “Too much to risk it?”

“Not a chance, cowboy. I’m here to stay.” She grinned. “How about a Valentine’s Day wedding?”

“A birthday for the girls and a wedding? We don’t have to share everything with them, you know. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

“Completely. Totally. Sure.” Jessie slid her arm through his and brushed a kiss against his shoulder. She’d found the dream she’d been searching for, right back here where she started. The heart of Montana. A life filled with purpose, with meaning, with Chase, and the children.

“It will be the most perfect Valentine’s Day. Ever.”