Chapter Twelve #2
“Exactly,” Royce said, going silent for a moment. Marshall could see his brother-in-law process his thoughts. “I’ve existed on the outskirts of people’s lives for a very long time. It can be a lonely place even in a crowd.”
The words cut through him. Forever grateful for AA, Marshall knew what looking for support meant. What it was like to find someone reliable. As he chewed on Royce’s words, his eyes instinctively drifted toward where Tally stood, chatting in a small circle of people.
Royce clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m lucky I found Naomi. Because sometimes support isn’t about having twenty people to talk to. It’s about having one right person who really gets you.”
The scientist strode off, melting into the crowd, making Marshall wonder for a moment if the guy had intended to give him romantic advice, or if his timing had been a matter of luck. A little bit of Christmas cheer where he’d least expected it.
Because his brother-in-law had a point.
A knowing rose in his chest as he gazed at Tally.
She had been there for him, since that first day she’d jumped in his pool to rescue his dog.
She’d supported him and really listened to him.
Yet he’d turned her away. Sure, he wished she’d told him everything sooner, but no one was perfect.
Damn ironic that he, of all people, would forget that for a single minute.
He needed to show her how important she was to him. Hell, how much he loved her.
He just hoped he wasn’t too late.
Sixteen hours ago, Tally had moved through the Steele-Mikkelson charity event in a daze. Even now, she remembered the night in flashes of dreamlike images and feelings. Marshall’s face, his distance, her regret.
Her own regret over not having found a way to be honest with him sooner.
This morning, she found solace in the routine of the hospital.
Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and her contract working for the Steeles would come to a close.
She still needed to make one more trip back to Marshall’s house to pack and clear out before the family’s holiday, and she dreaded that with a deep, slicing grief.
For now, she would remain here in the moment.
Present. Focused on baby Erica in her arms. Gently rocking the sweet girl back and forth as hospital staff milled about checking charts.
One of her favorite nurses waved at Tally, green eyes bright in spite of having to work over the holidays, in spite of the critically ill children all around.
The nurse wore scrubs patterned with tiny wreaths.
A silver tinsel tree was parked in a corner.
Little touches to make the next few days more bearable for the families.
The infant in her arms neared sleep. Her eyes fluttered shut. Tally smiled down at her charge, blinking back tears for fear the relatives might see them.
From the corner of her eye, a movement caught her attention. Not the normal traffic of nurses and doctors. Something else. Through the large window, she saw familiar broad shoulders approaching the nurses’ station.
Marshall.
What was he doing here? No matter, he stole her breath in his simple red plaid shirt and jeans, wide belt buckle gleaming. Then she noticed he carried a large box filled with ornately wrapped gifts.
The staff clustered around him, their tired expressions replaced with smiles as he pulled out presents for staff, parents and children.
Did she dare hope he’d done this for her?
And even if he hadn’t, the kind of man who would make this thoughtful gesture was a person of honor, integrity.
A man worth fighting for. Her eyes filled with tears.
Rising from the rocker, Tally lowered the sleeping infant into the bassinet.
Touching the infant’s little hand, her heart swelled.
She thought of her own child preparing for Christmas, a life she honored by being here even knowing she would carry the ache of loss forever.
Marshall carried burdens of his own, and rather than letting them break him, he tackled them head-on every day. She admired him for that.
She turned back to the window. Pace and pulse quickening as her eyes fell on Marshall. He stood, waiting. Their eyes met. Connected.
Hope churning inside her, she passed through the door.
“Hello, Tally, care to take a walk?” He extended an arm.
She noticed his cast was gone. She took his arm and walked beside him, the warmth of him familiar and welcome after their estrangement. She’d missed him, so very much.
Words failed her as they meandered, winding their way through the hospital until they came upon a small meditation garden.
The enclosed structure allowed sunlight to stream through, lighting the rock path winding through flowering plants.
Sprawling greenery filled the space with summer in winter, a fountain spewing in the center with a soothing shoosh of water.
And as luck would have it, the space was empty, giving them privacy to talk.
He guided her to a bench and sat beside her. “I appreciate your talking to me.”
“I appreciate what you did for the children—for the families and staff, too.” The image of him passing out gifts still filled her mind and heart. “That was so thoughtful of you.”
Writing a check was easy. Showing up was harder.
He took her hand in his, his thumb stroking along the inside of her wrist. “It’s my Christmas gift to you—along with my apology.”
That he’d chosen something he knew would make her happy touched her all the more.
She flipped her hand in his, linking their fingers, taking hope from the warmth in his eyes. “If anyone should apologize, it’s me.”
“Thank you, but no.” He pressed a finger to her lips. “I should have never let things go this long without talking to you. I shut you out, and that was wrong.”
“I shouldn’t have lied to you,” she insisted.
“And I shouldn’t have lost my temper.”
It was about more than that, and she couldn’t shy away from it. “I should have told you about my father. You had every right to be upset.”
“What happened with your father was an accident,” he said with unmistakable certainty, his gaze steady and strong. “He paid a high price for his feelings of guilt... So did you.”
“Your family paid a much higher price.”
His hold tightened on hers. “Life isn’t easy. Having you in my life has taught me I can’t isolate myself. That’s no way to honor my mother’s memory. And it certainly hasn’t taken away the pain of losing them. Having you here made me realize I should be opening my life, not closing it off.”
His words touched her with hope, for him as much as for her. She liked the idea of this amazing man rejoining the world with all he had to offer.
She slid her hands to cup his face. “You credit me with too much.”
“You don’t credit yourself with enough.” He covered her hands with his. “But I want to be around, in your life, to tell you every day just how damn special you are.”
Her heartbeat skittered faster, her breath catching with surprise and more of that heady sensation of hope.
“That easily, you forgive me?”
He rested his forehead against hers. “Yes, and I hope you’ll forgive me.”
His scent, his nearness, soothed an ache in her that went far beyond the past few unhappy weeks. He eased her soul in a deeper way than that, filling her with a sense of rightness.
“Of course I do.”
His eyes filled with something that looked remarkably like love.
“And what if I said I want us to continue seeing each other? Because the thought of letting you go is driving me insane.” He clasped her shoulders, his touch stirring her the way it always had, and more.
“Tally, I’m falling head over heels in love with you. ”
Joy filled her to overflowing, just like that garden fountain. It seemed to spill right out of her along with a few happy tears.
“I’m so very glad to hear that, because I’m right there with you.” Happiness curled deep inside her, like it was ready to stay for a long, long time. “I’ve never felt this way before, never expected to find someone like you.”
“I’m far from perfect. You know my history.” His eyes went somber.
“We’re all far from perfect. And as long as you’ll be open with me, we can face things together.” She angled closer, sealing her mouth to his, holding, relishing the privacy but wishing they had more.
And they would, a prospect that filled her with passion and promise.
Easing back, Marshall stroked her hair from her face with reverent hands. “Move in with me. Help me build the family ranch back to the place full of life it used to be.”
She sank into his arms, and into their future. “I can’t think of anything that would bring me more joy.”