Chapter 20
Ian couldn’t wait around any longer, so he put on the suit Nick Borado had guaranteed would bring him good luck, cleaned the snow off his truck, and drove to Mimi’s.
The roads weren’t horrible, but they weren’t good either.
If this kept up, someone would have to clear Katie’s driveway.
He remembered seeing a snowblower in the back of the garage near a stack of pots and a wheelbarrow.
Did the thing even run? Maybe Jack usually plowed the driveway for her, and she didn’t use the snowblower.
Who knew? He could definitely picture Katie bundled in snow gear, clearing the area, but… maybe not.
There was a lot he didn’t know about her…
a lot he’d like to find out if she’d give him the opportunity.
No doubt if the town knew what was going on, there’d be bets on whether or not Katie Layton would show up today.
Would the odds be in his favor, or would the consensus feel he didn’t deserve her, even if she was carrying his baby?
Well, he didn’t deserve her, but that didn’t change his determination to fight for a chance to show her they could be a family, find real happiness—if she’d only open her heart one more time.
Ian stepped out of the truck, made his way toward the front door of the bed and breakfast. He hadn’t reached the first step when the door flung open, and Mimi greeted him in a black pantsuit with red piping on the collar and sleeves. “My, my, don’t you look handsome.”
“Hey, Mimi.” He stepped inside, shrugged out of his coat, and dusted the snow from his hair.
“Quite impressive.”
He glanced up to find her smiling at him. “Thanks. It’s not too much?” He pointed to the tie and suit. He hadn’t worn a tie since the day his father insisted a tie was a necessary part of business.
“Of course not.” She shook her salt-and-pepper head until her red-ball earrings bounced. “I’d say it’s just right, especially for the occasion.”
The occasion. Ian checked his watch, calculated the time left before Katie showed—or didn’t.
“All will be well. You’ll see.”
“I wish I could be as confident as you are right now, but from where I’m standing, it’s all a gamble. It could be the best or the worst decision I’ve ever made.”
She patted his hand, spoke in a soft voice.
“Life is a gamble. You take a risk, and you hope it turns out, but you never really know, do you? But if you do nothing and you risk nothing, then what? Your life is empty, your dreams lackluster, your future stalled.” More hand patting, more wisdom.
“I’ve seen worse, and I know right now you find that hard to believe, but it’s true.
Give her a chance and give yourselves a chance to see what you can be together. ”
Ian swiped at his forehead, clung to her words.
“I hope you’re right. There are so many things I wish I could undo…
make different choices…be more truthful…
” His voice cracked when he shared what lay in his heart.
“I never wanted to hurt her, and I really believed I was protecting her. But now? I’m not sure she’ll ever see it that way or understand. ”
“Where there’s love, there’s forgiveness. You must believe that.”
Love? He loved Katie, but could she ever love him? Ian struggled to put sound to words, so he merely nodded.
“Come now. Let’s get you warmed up while we wait for them.
” Mimi led him into the sitting room, gestured toward the couch, and disappeared down the hall.
He hadn’t been in the Heart Sent before, but he’d heard a lot about it; from the tales of star-crossed lovers who’d ended up in photograph albums to the incredible woman who ran the place.
Mimi Pendergrass was a kind soul with conviction and strength who never gave up, even though she’d known her own share of sadness.
The husband and son who died too soon, the daughter she didn’t speak to for years.
Through it all, word had it she clung to the belief that life would get better, and that she was destined to help others in ways she hadn’t been able to help her own family.
Ian opened a photograph album, flipped through the pages, and recognized several of Magdalena’s couples.
Nate and Christine Desantro, Nick and Delilah Borado, Law and Ava Carlisle, Max and Grace Ruhland.
He homed in on Max and Grace, the way they looked at one another, her hand on his chest, the smile…
That was love…that was what Ian wanted. That—
“How about a beer?” Mimi held a glass in one hand and a bottle of beer in the other. “Nick Borado tells me you prefer this over scotch or bourbon.”
“Sure.” Ian reached for the bottle, passed on the glass. “Thanks.”
“I do enjoy a bourbon now and again. It reminds me of my husband.” She picked up her glass from the coffee table, clinked it with his beer bottle. “Wishing you years of joy.”
“Cheers.” Ian unscrewed the cap, took a long pull on his beer. “I’m working my way through these albums. I’m guessing you had a hand in getting these couples together?”
“Not all of them, but some.” Her laughter swirled about him, made him join in.
“I only provided the opportunity to what was already there. Attraction happens whether we want it to or not.” She raised her glass, saluted him.
“And love? We can try to deny it, but doing so only makes us sad and miserable.” One more sip, and then she pointed at the album he’d been perusing.
“See how many couples you recognize while I check on a few things in the kitchen.”
Ian flipped through the first album as he drank his beer, picked up the second, and was halfway through when the front door opened, and Jack Finnegan’s gruff voice filled the air. “Whew! It’s nasty out there.”
“Oh, Jack. You’ve seen worse.” Ian pictured Dolly’s raised eyebrow and tilted head as she spoke to her husband of several decades.
That was one of the things he really liked about Dolly; she didn’t back down from a situation or a problem, no matter how challenging.
And Ian would bet his next car that the most challenging situation was the man she’d married.
“Yeah, yeah, but dang it all, I’m not a young buck anymore. I prefer staying inside with my slippers and my remote control when it’s snowing like we’re in one of them snow globes.”
Tsk tsk. “You’re just being ornery because you stayed up too late last night watching that ridiculous fishing show.”
“Fly-rod fishing ain’t ridiculous.”
“Hmmph. I’ll bet if Nate had called and needed your help, you would have run to that truck and never thought about a little snow.”
“Don’t matter because Nate didn’t call.” Big sigh and a gruff, “I had to get dressed up, too. I just hope this weather ain’t a sign of things to come.”
“Hush, Jack Finnegan. Besides, I do think it’s a sign.” Dolly lowered her voice, but not low enough to keep Ian from hearing the rest. “Meant-to-be. Destiny. Just like our Pete. If that boy could find his slice of heaven, anybody can.”
“You always were one to look for the sun after the rain.” The old man’s voice held a gentle tone, one he didn’t often show.
No doubt, Dolly knew how to handle her husband.
Ian placed his beer on the coffee table and stood.
Dolly and Jack were talking as though Katie weren’t there.
Had she decided she wasn’t going to marry him, no matter what? Maybe she–
“Dolly, can you fix my hair? I think a pin slipped out.”
She came! Relief spread through him, pinged his heart.
He’d take it, even if she didn’t look at him…
didn’t talk to him…didn’t say anything other than “I do.” He would take it because she came.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, wished he’d taken the risk when he invested in her company, and told her the truth about everything, especially how he’d never gotten over her.
Ian was about to step into the hallway when Mimi appeared, tossed him a smile and a knowing look before she turned away. “Let’s all come into the sitting room and warm up a few minutes. Can I get anyone a drink?”
“I’ll take a shot. Maybe two.” This from Jack, who sounded like he needed both.
Tsk tsk from Dolly. “Wine would be lovely.”
“I have the perfect white wine for you, Dolly.”
And then she spoke again, the only voice he wanted to hear. “A cup of tea would be wonderful.” Pause and a hesitant, “Anything decaffeinated.”
“I have just the thing for you.” Mimi’s voice filled with emotion as she gestured to the sitting room. “Why don’t you join Ian while I get the drinks?” She disappeared into the kitchen and seconds later, Jack and Dolly Finnegan entered the room.
“Ian.” Jack shook his hand, made a face. “Did Harry put you in that?” His gaze narrowed on the suit, slid to the striped tie and shiny shoes. A shake of his head and a laugh. “That outfit’s got Harry Blacksworth’s name all over it.”
Ian fought the heat creeping from his neck to his cheeks. “Wrong on that one, Jack. This is all Nick Borado. He calls it his lucky suit.”
Another laugh, this one louder, and darn if the old man didn’t show teeth this time. “You had to borrow a suit for your own wedding? Wouldn’t your old man have a fit about that?”
Dolly edged out her husband, opened her arms, and hugged Ian.
“Don’t listen to him, dear. You look very handsome, and why wouldn’t you wear something from the Borado family since they own a clothing line?
” She shot a look at her husband as if to warn him he better stop with the comments or she’d toss a few at him.
“Thanks, Dolly.”
“Of course, dear. If you wore jeans and a T-shirt or something less dressed up, Jack wouldn’t be happy, and he’d have a thing or three to say about that.”
Jack didn’t deny it, but the scowl said he’d been caught. “I need a whiskey. Probably three.”