CHAPTER 37
I tug at my simple white blouse, making sure it lays flat against my faded jeans. The marks marring my face and throat have begun their transition from rich violet to a sickly green, a reminder of how far I’ve come in these last few weeks, and with the help of Ms. Lucy’s arnica gel. My hair falls in loose waves down my back, and I’ve kept my makeup minimal, some coverup, a touch of mascara and a swipe of clear lip gloss that adds a subtle shine.
“Mommy, is this okay?” Sophie twirls in my doorway, showing off her new yellow dress with tiny daisies printed all over it. Her hair is secured with a matching yellow ribbon pinned up in a half ponytail.
“You look beautiful, baby girl.” I help her straighten the white cardigan she’s wearing over the dress, fixing the collar. “Are your shoes comfortable?”
She nods enthusiastically, picking up one of her white sandals from the floor and pointing her toes.
“Uh-huh, Gavin helped me buckle them! He did it just right, not too tight!”
Speaking of Gavin, I hear his familiar footsteps coming down the hall. He appears in a light blue button-down shirt that brings out the color in his eyes, paired with dark jeans that fit him perfectly. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off his forearms.
“Are my two favorite girls ready to go?” He leans against the doorframe with that easy confidence of his, and my heart skips at the way he’s looking at me.
Sophie runs to him, her dress fluttering, and he scoops her up effortlessly. “Ready! Can we get ice cream after dinner? Pleeeeease?” She clasps her hands together.
“We’ll see, Soph.” He winks at me over her head. “Why don’t you go grab your coloring purse? Just in case.”
“Okay!” She beams excitedly. She was gifted a tote bag from the nurses during my hospital stay last month and she officially made it her “coloring purse” since she can easily put her coloring books, sticker sheets, crayons and markers in it.
Once she’s down the hall, Gavin walks up to me effortlessly and pulls me into his arms. His cologne wraps around me, woodsy and familiar, a scent I have fallen in love with because of this man. “You look stunning,” he murmurs against my hair, his breath warm against me.
“You clean up pretty nice yourself Dr. Mitchell.” I rest my head against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat through the soft fabric of his shirt.
“Bailey.” His voice is soft, serious, with an undertone I can’t quite place. I look up to meet his eyes, finding them full of emotion. “These past few weeks… having you and Sophie here with me, it’s everything I never knew I needed. I love you both so much.”
Tears prick at my eyes, and I blink them back, not wanting to ruin my mascara. “I love you too. You’ve given us so much more than just a safe place to land. You’ve given us a home.”
His thumb traces along my jawline, tilting my face up to his. My breath catches as his lips meet mine, soft and gentle at first. The kiss deepens, and I melt into him, my fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt. His arms tighten around my waist, pulling me closer, and the world fades away until there’s nothing but the two of us in this perfect moment.
“Ready!” Sophie announces.
And we pull apart. My head rests on his chest again still wrapped in his arms. She comes bounding back into the room, clutching her purse, her whole face is lit up with anticipation.
The drive back into town after an amazing dinner is filled with Sophie telling us about her day with Ms. Lucy, who’d watched her while Gavin was at the clinic, and I was at the flower shop with Mary Beth. She tells us about how she helped get the eggs from the chicken coop, how she helped brush Buttercup’s mane and made her look pretty. It’s when we’re pulling up to the community center instead of Gavins house like I expected I look over at him, one eyebrow raised high, the old brick building glowing warmly in the evening light.
“I thought we were going home?” I glance at him questioningly, noting the slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Small change of plans.” His smile is mysterious as he parks in front of The Grand Oak Room.
“Can we even get inside?” I shift uncertainly as I get out of the truck.
“Trust me.” He helps Sophie out of her car seat with practiced ease, then takes both of our hands in his, his warm fingers intertwining with mine and gives me a squeeze.
I hold onto Gavin’s hand a little tighter as we step through the double doors into the foyer. The soft glow of vintage wall sconces illuminates the polished wooden floors, but what catches my eye immediately is a cluster of colorful balloons floating above the entryway to the main room. My stomach does a little flip.
“What’s going on?” I whisper to Gavin, feeling a familiar tightness creeping into my chest. It’s not the overwhelming panic I used to feel, just a hum of anxiety that comes with unexpected situations.
“Balloons! Can I have one?” Sophie points at the cluster.
“In a minute, Lil Bit,” Gavin says, giving my hand another reassuring squeeze. “Ready to go in?”
I take a deep breath, centering myself the way Ms. Lucy taught me. “I guess so.”
We round the corner, and suddenly the room erupts.
“SURPRISE!”
I flinch backward, my free hand flying to my chest. The room is packed. Ms. Lucy stands front and center with Mary Beth beside her, both beaming. Molly waves from near a long table covered with food. There must be at least a hundred people here, faces I recognize from the diner, the flower shop, the veterinary clinic. Some I’ve only seen in passing on Main Street.
“Oh my god,” I breathe, feeling my cheeks flush hot. “What is this?”
“It’s a welcome home party,” Gavin murmurs close to my ear. “This town wanted to properly welcome you and Sophie.”
Sophie clutches my leg, suddenly shy with all the attention, but her eyes are wide with wonder at the decorations, streamers hanging from the ceiling, a banner reading “Welcome Bailey & Sophie!” in bright, cheerful letters.
Ms. Lucy approaches, arms outstretched. “There’s our girls! We figured it was high time we made it official. Y’all are part of our little community.”
I’m overwhelmed, blinking back tears as I scan the room full of smiling faces. These people barely know me, yet here they are, celebrating us like we’re something special. Like we belong.
“Hello girls!” Mary Beth calls out, her silver-streaked hair styled elegantly for the occasion. She’s standing with Molly and Will along with Tommy by his side, who immediately spots Sophie and waves excitedly.
“Tommy!” She squeals with delight but looks up at me first. “Can I go play?”
I nod, watching as she runs to her best friend.
I spot the teenager from the ice cream shop along with the whole staff too, I see Beau from the coffee shop laughing and talking with Nurse Sam.
The room is decorated beautifully, with tables laden with food and a hand-painted banner that reads “Welcome Home Bailey & Sophie!”
Flowers from Magnolia Blooms create stunning centerpieces in mason jars wrapped with ribbon, there’s even an ice cream bar tucked in a corner where multiple kids and teens are waiting for their cups.
I lean into Gavin as people start mingling around us. “The whole town did this?” My voice catches, still processing the scene before me.
“Everyone pitched in. Ms. Lucy organized it, but the moment people heard about it, they wanted to help.” His arm slides around my waist, anchoring me. “Mary Beth brought the flowers, and Molly and Will supplied coffee and hot chocolate for the kids. Even Mr. Locke helped with the space.”
“I don’t know what to say.” The words come out barely above a whisper.
“You don’t have to say anything.” He presses a kiss to my temple. “Just enjoy it.”
Before I can respond, Molly breaks away from her group and rushes toward me, her copper hair swinging. She wraps me in a tight hug that nearly knocks the wind out of me.
“Bailey, I’m so glad you’re okay.” Her voice trembles slightly as she pulls back, hands gripping my shoulders. “When I heard what happened…” She shakes her head, eyes glistening. “We were all so worried.”
“I’m okay.” I reach up and squeeze her hand, grateful for her concern. “Really. Thanks to everyone here.”
“Well, you’re stuck with us now.” She grins, then turns to Gavin. “Hey, Will needs your opinion on something about that new rescue horse.”
“Do you mind?” Gavin asks me.
“Go ahead,” I say.
As Gavin heads off with Molly, Mary Beth approaches, her eyes twinkling behind her glasses. She’s wearing a flowing floral dress that matches the cheerful arrangements dotting the room.
“Those centerpieces are gorgeous.” I gesture to the nearest table. “The ribbon detail is perfect.”
“Oh, those were your designs, honey. I just followed your sketches.” She links her arm through mine, leading me toward a quieter corner. “Which is actually something I wanted to discuss with you.”
My heart skips. “Oh?”
“I’ve been running Magnolia Blooms for thirty-five years now.” She pats my hand. “And lately, I’ve been thinking about slowing down, maybe spending more time with my grandkids in Austin.”
“But the shop-” I start.
“Is exactly why I wanted to talk to you.” She turns to face me fully. “You’ve got a natural talent, Bailey. The way you connect with customers, your eye for design… I’d love to discuss the possibility of you taking over when I retire.”
The room seems to tilt slightly. “Me? But I’ve only been working there a few months, if that.”
“Sometimes a few months is all it takes to know.” She gives me a warm smile. “No pressure, just think about it. We can talk about the details later.”
Before I can formulate a response, Mr. Locke and Mr. Henry approach, both dressed in their Sunday best despite it being a Thursday evening.
“There’s our newest resident!” Mr. Locke’s voice booms warmly. “How are you settling in?”
“Everything’s wonderful.” I manage to find my voice. “I can’t believe you all did this.”
“Small towns take care of their own.” Mr. Henry adjusts his bowtie. “And you and that precious little girl of yours, well, you’re one of us now.”
Mr. Henry launches into a story about his first days in Pine Grove, his hands gesturing animatedly. “You should’ve seen this place forty years ago. Main Street was just a dirt road, if you can believe it.”
“Oh, here we go again.” Mr. Locke rolls his eyes good-naturedly. “Don’t get him started on the great sidewalk debate of ‘83.”
“That was a legitimate concern!” Mr. Henry protests. “Some folks wanted those fancy stamped concrete patterns, but I said-”
“Plain concrete would last longer,” Mr. Locke finishes with him, clearly having heard this tale many times before.
I can’t help but laugh at their friendly bickering. My eyes drift across the room, landing on the ice cream station where Sophie sits perched on a chair next to Tommy. They’re both concentrating intensely on decorating their ice cream sundaes with sprinkles. Gavin stands behind them as he chats with Ms. Lucy. She’s showing Sophie how to drizzle chocolate sauce in a perfect zig zag pattern.
“And you know what?” Mr. Henry’s voice draws my attention back. “Those sidewalks are still holding up just fine.”
“Unlike your memory,” Mr. Locke quips. “It was ‘82, not ’83.”
“Now listen here…” Mr. Henry wags his finger, but his eyes twinkle with mischief.
The warmth of their conversation wraps around me. It’s so different from the tense, walking-on-eggshells atmosphere I’d grown accustomed to. Here, people joke and tease with genuine affection. They argue about silly things like sidewalk installations from forty years ago instead of…I push away the darker memories, focusing instead on Sophie’s smile as she begins eating her sundae.
“Bailey, dear,” Mr. Locke says, “you simply must tell Henry here about those lovely window displays you’ve been doing at the flower shop. Maybe it’ll finally inspire him to spruce up that hardware store window of his.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my displays,” Mr. Henry huffs. “Tools are practical things. They don’t need fancy arrangements.”
I laugh, feeling more at ease with their playful banter. “Mr. Henry, I could stop by sometime and add a few low-maintenance plants to your window display. Maybe some succulents? They’re practically indestructible, even for someone with an, um, practical mindset.”
“See?” Mr. Locke elbows his friend. “The girl knows what she’s talking about.”
Mr. Henry strokes his chin, considering. “Well, I suppose a little green wouldn’t hurt. As long as they don’t need much fussing over.”
A warm hand touches the small of my back, and I startle, turning to find Gavin beside me. “Sorry to interrupt, but a certain little lady is asking for her mama.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen.” I smile at the two men who wave me off with friendly nods.
As we weave through the crowd, Gavin’s hand stays steady on my back, grounding me. “You doing okay?” His voice is low, meant just for me. “I know this is a lot.”
I appreciate that he asks. The old instinct to say ‘I’m fine’ rises up, but I push it away. “I’m a little overwhelmed,” I admit, glancing up at him. “But I’m okay. Really okay, not pretending-to-be-okay okay.”
His hand rubs up and down my back. “We can leave whenever you want. Just say the word.”
“No, I want to stay.” I lean into him slightly as we walk. “It’s overwhelming in a good way. Like when you step into the sun after being in the dark too long, it takes a minute for your eyes to adjust, but you don’t want to go back inside.”
He pulls me closer, pressing a kiss to my temple. “Whatever you want Bailey.”
We reach the table where Sophie sits between Tommy and Ms. Lucy, her face lighting up when she sees me. “Mama! Look what I made!” She proudly gestures to her sundae, which is more toppings than ice cream at this point.
“Wow, baby, that looks amazing!”
“Here, try some!” She carefully scoops up a bite with her spoon, making sure to get a bit of everything, vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, rainbow sprinkles, and what looks like crushed Oreos.
“Thank you, sweetie.” I accept the offered bite, making an exaggerated “Mmm” sound that makes her giggle.
“Tommy helped me pick the toppings,” she announces, beaming at her friend who’s working on his own creation.
Ms. Lucy watches them with fond amusement. “These two are quite the ice cream connoisseurs. They’ve been giving me very detailed instructions on proper sundae assembly.”
“The sprinkles have to go on last,” Sophie explains seriously.
“And you can’t put too much chocolate sauce,” Tommy adds. “Or it makes everything swim.”
“Very important rules,” Gavin agrees. “I’ll have to remember those next time.”
Sophie offers him a bite too, which he accepts with the same enthusiasm I showed. The simple moment hits me hard. My daughter, sharing her ice cream, surrounded by people who care about us, feeling safe enough to just be a kid.
“Mama?” Sophie’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. “Are you sad again?”
I touch my cheek, surprised to find it damp. “No, baby I’m happy.” I quickly wipe them away, but not before catching Ms. Lucy’s knowing look.
“Sometimes our hearts get so full of happy that it spills out our eyes,” she says, winking at Sophie. “Isn’t that right, Gavin?”
Gavin clears his throat, and I notice his eyes look a bit misty too. “That’s exactly right, Ms. Lucy.”
“Can I go show Tommy the balloons?” Sophie asks, already sliding off her chair.
“Stay where we can see you,” I remind her, watching as the two children head toward the balloon cluster.
Ms. Lucy pats my hand. “You know, I’ve been in this town longer than most folks can remember. Seen people come and go, watched families grow, witnessed all sorts of changes. But sometimes, someone comes along and it’s like they were always meant to be here, just waiting for the right moment to find their way home.”
“I never thought I’d find this,” I confess quietly. “A place where Sophie could just be a normal kid, where I could…” I trail off, watching my daughter point excitedly at a purple balloon while Tommy reaches for a blue one.
“Where you could just be yourself?” She finishes.
I nod, not trusting my voice.
“Well, you have.” She stands, smoothing her dress. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I believe Mr. Henry is trying to convince everyone that his hardware store window doesn’t need updating, and I simply can’t let him win that argument.”
As she walks away, Gavin moves closer to me and we watch Sophie and Tommy playing, their laughter mixing with the general hum of conversation and music in the room.
“Mary Beth offered me the flower shop,” I say suddenly, still processing the conversation from earlier.
Gavin’s arm tightens slightly. “Yeah?”
“She wants to retire, spend more time with her grandkids.” I turn to look at him. “She thinks I could run it.”
“Of course you could.” There’s no hesitation in his voice. “You’re amazing with the customers, your designs are beautiful, and you have a natural business sense. The question is, do you want to?”
I look around the room, at all these people who’ve welcomed us so completely. I look at Sophie, who’s now playing the same game of “keepy uppy” that they played at her birthday party. At the life we’re building here, piece by piece.
“I think I do,” I whisper. “I really think I do.”
“Then that’s what matters.” He kisses my temple again, a gesture that’s become so familiar and comforting. “Whatever you decide, I’m right here with you.”
I take another look around the room. Mr. Henry and Ms. Lucy are indeed engaged in what appears to be a spirited debate about window displays, with Mr. Locke playing referee. Mary Beth is showing Molly something on her phone, probably pictures of her grandkids. The ice cream station has a new group of attendees creating their masterpieces.
It hits me at that moment, this isn’t just a welcome party. It’s a beginning. These people, this town, they’re not just being nice to the newcomers. They’re investing in us, making space for us in their lives, their businesses, their future.
And I feel something settle deep in my bones. This is what home feels like. This is what family means. And for the first time in a very long time, I’m not afraid of tomorrow. The weight of constant fear lifts just a little more with each step I take toward my future.