Chapter 23
twenty-three
IAN
When I’d left Kirby Falls six weeks ago, the landscape had just been starting to come to life.
There had been buds on the apple trees, tiny bits of green that hinted at what was to come.
The tulips that Georgie and Joan had planted had barely been peeking out of the ground, daffodils blooming everywhere around the rental house, along with the purple lily magnolia trees.
Now, though, early May was a riot of color. So much so, it was hard to take it in all at once. I’d thought the mountains were beautiful in winter, but I had trouble remembering that in the face of all this green.
Darren had texted me where to find them.
It was early afternoon, and Joan and Georgie were next to the wildflower field in the distance. It felt like a sign. The place where I’d given up and collapsed in the dirt six months ago, dramatic and out of breath. The place where Joan had found me.
A lot could change in half a year.
“What are they doing?” I asked Darren when I came to stand beside him.
“They’ve been following those turkeys around for thirty minutes.”
And sure enough, when Joan stepped sideways, an adult turkey and a handful of tiny turkey babies came into view.
My nephew was beside himself with excitement. He bounced on his toes, clinging to Joan’s hand and tugging her closer and closer. But Joan didn’t seem to mind. She grinned down at Georgie, urging him to crouch low in the grass and not get too near the wildlife.
I thought I could watch those two, like this, every day for the rest of my life.
“I’ll go walk with Georgie,” Darren said. “Give you and Ms. Judd time to talk.”
“Thanks, Darren.”
We approached quietly, but Joan still turned. I caught the surprise and the flash of happiness she couldn’t hide. And for the first time in weeks, I felt myself settle.
I scooped Georgie up in a hug and spun him around, so relieved to feel his little arms clinging to me. We’d come a long way, too, me and this kid.
“Did you see the turkeys?” he asked, blue eyes bright with excitement. “Joanie said I can’t have one because they’re wild and their mama would miss them too much, but we’ve been watching them all day.”
“I did see them.”
“Maybe, you can show me, little man,” Darren offered.
My nephew squirmed to be let down and hurried over to take Darren’s big hand. “Okay!”
Joan stood next to me as we watched them creep after the meandering birds.
“You should have—”
She broke off with an oof as I pulled her into a crushing hug.
“I missed you so much,” I confessed into the smooth skin of her neck.
Her arms locked tightly around my waist. “I missed you, too.”
I leaned back and smoothed some of her dark hair behind her ears. Her arms stayed where they were.
“I would have picked you up from the airport,” she complained.
Joan was not a person who liked surprises. She preferred making plans and showing up for people.
“I know.”
I hadn’t needed a ride. But I wasn’t ready to mention that I’d gone to a dealership directly after touching down and bought a car, one that would stay here, in Kirby Falls.
Swallowing, I noted Georgie up ahead. I didn’t want to be interrupted for this next part.
“Can we talk about what happens next?” I asked. “We’ve both been avoiding it, I think. But I wanted to run something by you and see how you felt about it.”
Joan’s gaze searched my face before she nodded slowly.
“I would really like to make Kirby Falls my home base. Ideally, I’d make one movie a year.
I want to direct at some point. Eventually, I’d love to write, and I can do that from here.
I want Georgie to go to school in Kirby Falls.
I want him to make friends with kids his own age.
I don’t want him to ever wonder if he’s loved or accepted or understood.
It’ll just be a given because he’s surrounded by people who care about him.
I want a life with you, Joan. Sunday dinners with your family.
A chicken coop in our backyard. I want to make you coffee every morning and go running together. ”
I managed a lungful of air despite my racing heart. “I should have told you all of this before LA. But I didn’t want to scare you off. I didn’t want to be too much. I was worried I’d worn out my welcome.”
Joan’s hands were fisted in my tee shirt, and I wanted to assure her I wasn’t going anywhere.
“I thought,” she began, “I thought you might get back to your real life and remember how much you missed it.”
I smiled. “I got back to my old life and couldn’t stop remembering you.”
Joan’s chin wobbled uncertainly. I pressed my thumb there to shore it up.
“I know I wasn’t born in Kirby Falls,” I told her. “It’ll never be home for me, the way it is for you. You have so many memories here, so much history. But if I start now, we could have a good life together. If you wanted that.”
“It is home,” Joan insisted. “For you and George. There’s no minimum, no requirements to make it your own. You fit here. And I’ll always want you.”
“You’re here. That’s all Georgie and I really need.”
“Did you talk to him about all this?” Joan wondered. “Does he want to stay?”
“Joanie. That kid loves you so much. Nothing would make him happier than being right here with you.”
“Then stay,” she whispered, tugging my body flush to hers. “Leave when you need to, but come back home to me.”
Her lips found mine, warm and welcoming. The hands clenched in the fabric at my sides loosened and smoothed around to my back.
After so much time and distance, I was starved for her touch, eager for her affection. So, I reached low and gripped her thighs, boosting her up. Joan’s legs wrapped around my waist on instinct, and I held her close.
I’d known this place was special from the moment I arrived. But Kirby Falls wouldn’t be home without the woman in my arms. Without that little boy running through the fields. Without the acceptance and joy I’d found here.
Home was what we made for ourselves, built and maintained with love. And I was never going to take that for granted.
Suddenly, Joan’s mouth broke away from mine.
Before I could protest or draw her bottom lip between my teeth, she said, “I love you, too. I should have told you that. I should have never made you wonder or question it. I love you so much, Ian. There are probably people out there who’d be better for you.
Who’d be easy and agreeable, who’d slot themselves effortlessly into your life. But no one will love you the way I do.”
I smiled, relieved and elated, overwhelmed and comforted. She was right. No one would be as dedicated, as loyal, as fiercely loving as the woman before me. It was an honor to be hers, and I’d spend the rest of my life making sure I earned all that devotion and returned it many times over.
My fingers stroked a path up and down her spine, and I nodded. “I know. And I promise, I’ll never make you regret it. I love you, Joanie.”
Her hands cupped my face, and I knew we were grinning at each other like idiots. But I didn’t care. I was right where I belonged.
“Besides,” I said seriously. “We have a goat together. I would never abandon my kid.”
“Oh my God,” Joan groaned, dropping her forehead to my shoulder.
“Get it? My kid. Do you get it?”
I could feel her body shaking with laughter, and I held her a little tighter. Thinking, I’d never let go.