Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Brynn knew she should go to bed. Tomorrow was a workday, and she had an early session at nine. Yet, despite an evening spent stretching through yoga poses and attempting to quiet her mind with meditation, sleep remained elusive. Her thoughts churned ceaselessly, tangled in what-ifs and maybes.
She had resolved to contact Callum tomorrow to see if they could meet and talk. What she would say, however, felt like a labyrinth she couldn’t quite navigate. She had written bullet points—notes scribbled hastily on a scrap of paper—to ensure she wouldn’t lose her way once she was face-to-face with him. Brynn knew herself well enough to fear she’d forget even her own name in his presence.
Her thoughts shifted, as they so often did, to Parker. Was the boy doing okay? Would it be overstepping to ask Callum if she could visit him? She wanted to believe she could still have a place in the boy’s life, even if she and Callum were no longer…
The thought sliced through her, sharp and merciless. She pressed her hand to her chest as though that might ease the ache and blinked hard against the tears threatening to spill.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting her from her spiral. Who could be texting her so late? Picking it up, she stared at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw his name.
Can I please talk to you? It’s really important.
Her breath hitched. Was Parker okay? Panic fluttered in her chest as she typed back quickly. Okay, where are you?
His response came almost instantly. Open the door, and I’ll show you.
Her pulse thundered as she crossed the room, the phone trembling in her grip. When she opened the door, he stood in the soft glow of her porch light, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, his expression a vulnerable mix of uncertainty and hope.
“May I come in?”
She realized too late that she was blocking the doorway. With an awkward sweep of her hand, she stepped aside. “Yes, of course. Come in.”
He entered, his presence filling the room with an energy that made her chest tighten.
“Parker is at home with my parents,” he said before she could ask. “He’s asleep.”
Relief swept through her. “I was going to ask if you minded if I stopped by to see him after work tomorrow.”
“That would be fine,” Callum replied. “But there’s something else I need to discuss with you first.”
“Why don’t we sit?” she offered, motioning to the sofa.
As they settled on opposite ends of the couch, the distance between them felt like miles. Brynn forced herself to meet his gaze, trying to ignore the memories of a time when that space hadn’t existed at all. “What did you want to discuss?”
“Our conversation yesterday,” he began carefully.
“You mean our fight?”
His lips twitched in a faint, rueful smile. “That’s probably more accurate.”
Brynn drew a shaky breath. “I’m actually glad you came. I want to apologize for what I said. I know you love Parker and are doing what you think is best for him. I made assumptions about…about our relationship that clearly weren’t grounded in reality. That’s on me.”
“Brynn.” His voice was soft but insistent as he leaned forward, reaching for her hand.
The warmth of his touch startled her, but she didn’t pull away.
“We have a friendship,” he said. “But what we shared was so much more than that. I love you.”
Her breath caught. She desperately wanted to believe him, but his words from their fight still echoed in her head. “You said clearly there is no us. Those were your exact words.”
She withdrew her hand then, clutching it to her chest as if to shield herself. “Like I said, I read more into things than I should have.”
“I said many things I didn’t mean,” Callum admitted, his voice thick with regret. “And that was one of them. I didn’t think there could be an ‘us’ because of our circumstances—because you’re here, and I would be there. But I’ve realized something, Brynn.”
He shifted closer, closing the distance between them until their knees nearly touched. “I can live without my job, but I can’t live without you.”
Her eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. “What are you saying?”
“You know how I always say you should do what makes you happy? Well, I’ve been happier these past few weeks in Good Hope than I’ve been in years. I can find another job, Brynn.”
Tears spilled over as she let out a shaky laugh. “I could move to Boston. If that’s what it would take for us to be together.”
Callum’s eyes filled with something so tender it took her breath away. “You’d do that for me?” He pulled her into his arms, holding her as if he feared she might disappear.
“Yes, and I just want to say for the record that you’re not irresponsible. In fact, you’re very responsible. ”
He grinned. “And you really do see things clearly and are the empathetic, understanding person I’ve ever known.”
She gave a laugh that sounded like a sob. “I’m sorry for the hurtful things I said.”
“I’m sorry, too. So very sorry.” Callum brushed a kiss across her hair.
“I’ll give my notice at the clinic and?—”
“No, no, no,” Callum interrupted. “We’ll stay here. I’ll find another job. I talked to Anders this evening, and we’re going to figure something out.”
“You want to stay in Good Hope?” she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief and hope.
“Everything I need is here. I have my family. I have my son, and I hope I have you.”
“You have me.”
Callum kissed her softly on the lips. “Then I have everything I need. We have all sorts of support here. It’ll be a good place to raise a family with you.”
“A family?” Ignoring the sudden fluttering in her chest, Brynn spoke teasingly. “Callum Brody, are you proposing?”
“I am.” His expression turned serious. “There’s no other woman I want to spend my life with than you.”
“You know people will say it’s been too long or maybe not long enough.”
“Remember, I’m crazy and impulsive. This is what I do.” He cocked his head. “So, what do you say, Brynn? Will you marry me?”
Brynn thought of the coin she’d dropped into the fountain, hoping for a little bit of Callum’s adventurous spirit in her life. “Yes, on one condition.”
He gently brushed a tendril of hair back from her cheek. “And what would that be?”
“Teach me to wing glide? ”
Callum was still laughing when he closed his mouth over hers in a promise of love and a lifetime of adventures.