Chapter 11
After the disastrous conversation on the ferry and another summary rejection, Cal isolated himself in the apartment.
He’d learned enough about Grace’s schedule to avoid any awkward interactions.
Although she wanted him gone, he wasn’t about to give up.
Not on the work or the woman. He managed his meetings through video calls, courted another sponsor into a hefty commitment to the music festival, and otherwise let her continue believing he was one dimensional: totally career focused.
Because whenever he had a minute to think, all he heard was her voice: I want you to leave, Calvin.
The words echoed in his mind, sharper than any boardroom rejection he’d ever faced.
So much for opening a vein and taking the first big step. She might as well have pulled the ladder right out from under him. This was worse, somehow, than the last time she told him to stay away. He’d given her nearly a decade then, but he wouldn’t repeat that mistake.
He looked down at his hands—hands that were used to signing contracts and shaking on multi-million dollar deals—and saw they were trembling. He wasn’t the smart and crafty marketing executive right now. He was just the lonely kid who had been told, once again, that he didn’t belong.
But he did.
Down deep he knew they were meant to be together. He recognized she was scared. Hell, so was he. Honoring her wishes when they were younger had been like living half a life. He wanted to be whole.
How in the hell was he going to prove they were made for each other now?
As far as he knew, she hadn’t even seen his latest campaign ideas for the festival. Feedback from others around town was favorable, even enthusiastic. From Grace, only silence.
Apparently, he’d have to get her reaction at next month’s meeting.
His phone had been blowing up all day with notifications, requests, and opportunities. With a flick of his thumb, he silenced them all.
It was way too early to call it a day, but Cal didn’t care. He needed to get outside and soak up some sunshine and fresh air and let his mind wander. Pocketing his keys and his phone, he headed out to the beach.
Grace expected him to pack his bags and skulk back to his penthouse, proving her theory that he was merely a high-powered player.
She claimed he didn’t know her, but wasn’t she doing the same thing?
Believing that wealth was now his core identity, a barrier that made him incapable of understanding the quiet, steady pulse of the town she loved.
“You’re wrong, Grace,” he whispered, his footsteps echoing on the weathered boardwalk that protected the dunes. “You’re so damn wrong.”
He’d been wrong as well, assuming she’d rented out the apartment due to a financial crisis. Believing she felt trapped here just because he felt as if the town had stolen her away from him.
His mistakes had done more than annoy her.
He’d created doubt and fed into those natural fears.
She might not need a rescuer, but he believed she needed stability and security, just like he did.
She needed an anchor, someone to count on and have her back, whether her dreams kept her here or carried her into new adventures.
His mind started spinning, but not with the typical marketing campaign numbers. He was thinking about the peach preserves, visitor flows, and dancing with Grace instead of watching her dance with someone else.
There was only one way to show her he wanted to be here. He had to get involved. The small change that made Mrs. Higgins happy was a good first step, but there was so much more to do.
Words hadn’t worked so far. It was time to act.
He drafted an email to his team in New York and redistributed assignments, assuring them they’d discuss the details at the next full meeting.
Then he emailed the real estate agent who’d handled the rental agreement.
If he was going to be the man Grace was willing to trust and believe in, he had to make some changes.
Thanks to Levi, his firm and net worth would last him three lifetimes.
Probably more. But he refused to waste another decade living without Grace in his life.
It was time to invest in himself outside of his business ventures. It was time to stand with her in Brookwell.
He was staying. Not as a part-time consultant, but as a full-time resident. He paused, waiting for the dread and frustration he’d always felt when he thought of Brookwell to creep in. It didn’t. He’d blamed the town for taking Grace away from him when he’d simply been too scared to face his fears.
Now, though, excitement reigned. He would show her that their worlds could not only coexist but thrive. His heart had never been in some lofty skyscraper; it was always right here in a cozy sundrenched beach town.
With her.
“I’m not leaving, Grace,” he said to the apartment. “I’m just getting started.”
When the real estate agent confirmed she had time to meet today, Cal headed out. His new plan didn’t involve a spreadsheet, but it would need a lot of hydrangeas, a public venue, and a willingness to commit to everything the future might hold.
His first stop was Island Bloomers.
Walking through the open door, he smiled at the woman behind the counter. Molly, according to the embroidery on her apron.
“Can I help you, sir?” She eyed him with friendly curiosity. “You’re Mr. Lynwood, right?”
He didn’t bother asking how she knew. “Call me Cal.”
The woman nodded. “Molly. Pleased to meet you.”
She spoke as if she meant it and Cal’s shoulders relaxed. “I need a bouquet,” he began. “Not roses. No lilies either. She prefers pink hydrangeas and purple delphinium.”
Molly’s eyebrows shot up. “Grace’s favorites. Please don’t tell me there’s a problem in the apartment over the Belle.”
“No.” Calvin didn’t even flinch at the highly-efficient gossip grapevine. “The apartment’s fine, but I need to make up for lost time with the landlady.”
Molly grinned. “We’re happy to help with that. What’s the budget?”
He tossed out a number and she nodded with confidence. “For pick up or delivery?”
He hesitated. Which method made the biggest impact? “Umm.” Maybe he needed that spreadsheet after all.
“We’ll deliver,” Molly decided for him. “She’s hosting a Galentine’s event at the boutique this evening for her book club.”
He’d forgotten it was almost Valentine’s Day. “Is there a calendar app for town events I should know about?” he asked.
She laughed as she rang him up. “There’s a reason we leave the door open. That way all the news just floats in,” she teased. “Your flowers will be delivered by mid-afternoon.” She pointed to a rack of note cards. “I’ll take the card whenever you’re ready.”
He chose a card with a border of hearts and after a moment, he wrote out a short message and tucked it into the envelope. He sealed it before handing it to Molly. “Thanks.”
With that task complete, he crossed the street to the Palmetto Perk where the real estate agent would join him. He had a house to find. One he could turn into a home filled with Grace’s style and warmth.
After hours of house hunting, he tiptoed up the stairs to the apartment to clean up, change clothes, and finalize one more surprise before crashing the party downstairs.
Searching for property had worn him out and he’d nearly given up when they found the exact right place. He’d made an unusually urgent offer, despite the Realtor’s warning that Grace should see it first.
But that wasn’t the point.
He would make the house his actual permanent home if she turned him away again tonight. And he could afford to rent it out, or sell it for a loss if she didn’t see the same value in it that he did.
Though he had to keep believing it would work out.
That hope buoyed him as he set a timer for an hour and crafted the best gift he could in that time frame with the limited resources he had available. Fortunately, the drug store on the island not only had a photo print service, but delivery too.
Once he was ready, the small scrapbook in his hands, he headed down the stairs. He was ready to go the distance to break down those protective walls around Grace’s heart. He wanted the honor of protecting her from today forward.
That kiss assured him the physical chemistry was as strong as ever. She said she loved him enough to let him go. He had to believe she loved him enough to let him stay.
He paused before walking around to the front door, hearing music and voices though he couldn’t pick out any words. Grace would be surrounded by her friends—the women who had held her together through some of the most challenging days of her life.
That was fine. He figured he’d have to convince them of his forever-intentions as well.
At the door, his courage almost faltered. Through the glass, he saw the women gathered in a loose circle around Grace. She looked pale, her shoulders slumped in a way that made his heart heavy. Willow was whispering something to her, and Charity was leaning in, resting a hand on Grace’s knee.
On a big breath, he pulled on the door. It didn’t budge. Locked.
Charity yelped and every face turned to stare at him through the glass. The shift was immediate. Charity’s eyes narrowed, Holly stood, her jaw set in an unfriendly line. Willow said something to Grace and, getting a small nod, started toward the door.
He was about to run the gauntlet.
Willow faced him, curiosity simmering in her gaze.
Better than open hostility.
She cracked the door, but stood in the gap. “Calvin.”
“Willow,” he replied.
“It’s a private party,” she pointed out.
“My apologies. I just brought a gift for Grace.”
Willow studied him, then looked behind him. “Not more flowers?”
He really liked Grace’s best friend. Always had. “Something better.” He hoped.
Willow’s eyebrows arched. “Good.” She stepped back, making room. “It’s for you, Grace,” she called out and the others chuckled.
Grace emerged from the center of the group and Cal only had eyes for her. “You’re interrupting an important tradition.”
“My apologies,” he said to the group at large. Then he focused all his attention, love, and hope on Grace. “I know you asked me to go,” he began. “And I know you think I’ve changed into the heartless guy who tries to fix things with a checkbook and a spreadsheet.”
“The flowers were lovely. Thank you.”
The chill in her voice scared him. “You read the card?”
She nodded.
“You should leave, Calvin,” Scarlett said though the words lacked bite.
“I will,” Calvin promised. “In a minute. But first, this is for you, Grace.” He pressed the small album into her hands.
Her fingers brushed over the photo on the front cover. He’d chosen a snapshot of Grace in the gardens during their last date at Duke. He’d taken the picture when she rejoiced over a bank of pink hydrangeas.
“This is why you remembered my favorite flowers.”
He shook his head. “I remember it all, Grace, even without the photos.” He urged her to open the book as he continued.
“You brought a sewing machine to college. I remember how you look when you’re sewing late at night.
” Every small, poorly printed photo represented those memories.
“I remember how your hand fit perfectly in mine. That first time and every time after. I remember you talking about this town and your family. Your roots and your wings. Yes, I remember your big dream to become your own label, but everything you made for yourself or others had a bit of this town in it. I didn’t see it then, but I can now.
I went about it all wrong, but I want you to know I didn’t just show up here to rescue you or change your life.
I’m here. I’m staying,” he used the words he’d written on the floral card, “Because I want to be a part of it.”
He sank to one knee as she gaped at him. “Turn to the last page, Grace.”
She gaped at him for a moment, but when she turned the page, he handed her one more photo. It was the picture of the house he’d put an offer on. Though this was all for her, he didn’t mind as her friends crowded closer for a glimpse of the photo.
“That’s for us, if you’ll have me. For me, if you won’t.”
“What about the lease?” Scarlett murmured.
“Hush,” Willow chided.
Grace’s smile flirted with the corner of her mouth and her eyes sparkled with amusement. Everything inside of him seemed to fizz, like a champagne bottle ready to pop.
“I’m not staying due to Levi or the festival.
This is all about you. I’m staying because I’m a better man when I’m with you.
Because the heart and soul of Brookwell is alive and well because of you.
” He reached out, tentatively taking her hand.
Her fingers were cold, but she didn’t pull away.
“I want to stand with you, right here. And I want to be the man you rely on, the man you come home to every night.”
Standing, he looked around at the other women—the friends who were now her core family.
“She pushed me away, with good reason, years ago. And I blamed this town for holding her back. I’ve never been more wrong about anything.
Thank you for doing what I couldn’t when I was too young and hurt to understand.
Thank you for supporting her when she needed it most.”
Grace was crying now, the tears silent and shimmering in the shop’s soft light. Her friends were no longer looking at him with suspicion. Willow was smiling, and Charity was wiping her own eyes.
“You’re staying?” Grace asked, her voice trembling along with the photo in her hands.
“Yes. I’m home,” he whispered. “With you, if you’ll have me.”
The air snapped with anticipation and time seemed to stop as he waited for her response.
“Yes,” she whispered.
When Grace pressed the photo album to her chest and stepped into his arms, Cal knew that he’d finally found the only demographic that truly mattered. Population: Two.