Chapter 27
Brant had told her he loved her. Twice.
Argh, and she’d been so stupid. So…so…closed-minded. Like her mother. She’d learned a lot from her talk with her dad: the value of being honest and up-front and the need for trust—that five-letter word Brant kept throwing out there.
Her parents hadn’t been honest and open…nor had she. Not even with herself.
That would start today with a phone call to her mother, the hardest she’d ever made. Curled up on her sofa with Bubbles sprawled beside her, she picked up her cell.
Her mother answered on the first ring. “Hi, sweetie. I hadn’t expected to hear from you tonight. How’s my favorite daughter?”
“You mean your only daughter.”
“Yes, that one.”
“She’s a little confused, Mom. Dad and I had a long talk today.” Steeling herself, she shared the discussion with her mother.
Complete silence met her on the other end.
“Mom?”
“Everything he said was true. Will you hear my side of the story?”
“Please.”
Her mother spilled it all, held nothing back. When she finished, she said, “I made two huge mistakes. The first was asking your father to leave. I compounded that by not telling you the truth, letting him shoulder the blame. The longer I waited, the more impossible it became to make things right—with him and with you. I made the same mistake he’d made, the one I destroyed our marriage over.”
After a few quiet sniffles, her mother said, “I still love the man. I ruined three lives, didn’t I?”
“You put a really big dent in mine, but the real damage was to you and Dad.” She took a deep breath. “Have you ever thought about calling him, telling him how you feel?”
“Only every day, but it’s too late.”
“I don’t think so. Promise me you’ll call him.”
“He won’t talk to me, honey.”
“You might be surprised. I have to go. There’s something really important I need to do. And Mom, let me know what Dad says, okay?”
“I will. I love you, Molly.”
“Love you, too.”
Molly hung up more than a tad shaky. That had been rough.
She tossed her phone on the coffee table. Okay, so much for her parents’ love life. Now for her own.
“He did say he loved me, Bubbles.” She ran a hand over her cat’s silky back. “But does he still love me? If he meant it, then yes. True love doesn’t come and go that quickly.”
Still, she bit her lip.
* * *
The bay door was open, so she stuck her head inside. Brant stood in the middle of what looked like a giant metal jigsaw puzzle.
“What are those?”
“Some of our tools. I’m trying to organize them.” Hands on his hips, he asked, “You want something?”
Oh, did she ever. Deciding not to tip her hand yet, she shrugged. “I was driving by and thought I’d stop.”
“Why?”
Okay, this might be harder than she’d imagined. “Actually, I came to thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“My dad and I had a long-postponed talk. I know you were behind that, so yes, thanks.”
“No big deal.”
“I disagree.” She held up a U.S. Postal Service box. “This was outside.”
“Toss it on the desk in my office.”
“You don’t want to open it now? See what it is?”
“It’s probably the hardware for our rack. They forgot to send it with the other parts.”
“Oh. See you later, then.”
“Yeah.”
She took one step into the office and faltered. There was no furniture yet, but he’d put up molding and a chair rail in a rich cream to match the top portion of the wall. And below the chair rail? Soft brown.
Tears welled in her eyes, eyes the same shade as the wall.
Brant came up behind her. His voice harsh, he said, “I followed your advice. Every morning, when I open that door, I’ll see you here. Not sure that’s such a good thing anymore.”
She turned. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything.” He stared at her a long minute. “I need to get back to work.”
She’d been dismissed.
Laying the box on the corner of the desk, she left.
Molly sat in her kitchen with a cup of tea, feeling sorry for herself. Outside, twilight deepened and streetlights came on. She’d done what she could.
Obviously, it hadn’t been enough.
When she heard the pounding on her door, both she and Bubbles jumped. She raced down the stairs and opened the door to Brant. Since the evening had cooled, he’d worn his leather jacket. Something about it and those close-fitting jeans always made her heart hammer against her ribs.
Without invitation, he slid past her and headed upstairs. “My turn to stop by to say thanks. You’ll never believe what was in that package today.”
She held her breath.
“My tickets to the Falcons’ games. Tyrone came through.”
“How can that be?”
He laughed. “Gotcha.”
Then he sobered. “Mol, when I opened that box and saw your list…You framed it and gave it to me.”
“I did.”
“Your last line of defense.”
Molly breathed a sigh of relief. She’d known he would understand. By handing her list to him, she’d left herself totally vulnerable. It was the biggest risk she’d ever taken.
He took her hand in his. “Did I ever share my philosophy on marriage with you?”
“Marriage?” She could barely breathe. “No, you didn’t.”
“I’ll do it now, then. As far as I’m concerned, marriage is a one-and-done deal. It’s a forever commitment.”
“I agree. Totally.”
“Good. I’ve also discovered recently that the woman I marry must love babies.”
“I do.”
“I know.” Staring into her eyes, he dropped to one knee right there in her hallway, her hand still in his. “I want you, Molly Stiles. I want us. I want to make a baby with you. Two or three or four babies. You decide. I love you, and I want to spend my life with you.”
She stared at him, speechless.
“Come on, Molly. Tell me yes. Say you’ll marry me. I’ll never give you reason to doubt me, and I promise I’ll stay with you forever…and then some.”
“Oh, Brant, I love you.”
“But will you marry me?”
“Yes. Absolutely, positively yes.”
“Now, or do I have to wait three years?”
“Tonight, if that’s what you want.”
With a laugh, he stood, picked her up, and spun in a circle with her. “Every day won’t be perfect.”
“That would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it?”
“I hadn’t planned to do this tonight, Mol, so I don’t have a ring for you.” Removing his grandfather’s, he held it up. “Grandma Wylder gave this to Grandpa on their wedding day. It was given and worn in love,” he explained as he slipped it on her thumb, then folded her fingers around it. “Until I can get you another, this will have to do.” As they kissed, Bubbles crept from around the corner to wind in and out of their legs.
“Even Bubbles approves,” Molly murmured before pulling her soon-to-be-husband in for a long, hot kiss.