Chapter Thirty-Five
Kendall
Me: I have to go out to my parents’ for dinner. I’m not sure what’s going on, but they texted me and said they wanted to talk.
Jude: Do you want me to come meet you out there?
Me: Really? That would be great. That way, I’ll have some backup.
I took a breath, letting it out as I glanced around, watching Travis gallop through the snow. He bounced high on his three legs, almost as if he was trying to overcompensate for the missing one.
Jude: Should I pick you up?
Me: You have to pick me up anyway. You dropped me off this morning, Jude.
Jude: I think I should drop you off every morning.
Me: Really?
Jude: Yeah, because that means I spent the night with you the night before.
I blushed all over, smiling as I typed out my reply.
Me: Well, that works for me. And Travis.
Jude: For the love of a dog. I’m dropping off some donuts for the fam, and then I’ll pick you up. Does that work?
Me: Perfect. Can I have a donut?
Jude: You can have the whole dozen if you want, Kendall.
Me: Really?
Jude: Kendall, haven’t you figured out yet that I’d give you the world? If the world for the moment involves a dozen donuts, they’re yours.
My heart flipped in my chest, my belly tingled, and my eyes pricked with tears.
Me: I don’t need a dozen donuts. I have to watch my weight as it is.
Jude: I love every inch of every curve on your body.
Me: I’ll just take two, and you should take two for yourself as well.
Jude: I’ll have to check the box. All I said was variety, but I know your favorite is the blueberry cake donuts.
Me: Of course, you know my favorite.
Jude: You’re my favorite.
“Oh, my God,” I muttered to myself, a giddy smile stretched across my face. I felt like a teenage girl with the worst kind of crush.
The funny part was, Jude had been my crush. But back in high school, I’d been worried about my brother and my parents and the whole world. I’d never really been able to just have fun and have a crush like this. I had the crush now, but I also had Jude.
I called Travis over and walked him into the barn to feed him in the supply room. Not much later, Jude picked me up and we drove into town for dinner at my parents’ house.
“Hey, if you have donuts, you must have been in town,” I pointed out when we were halfway there.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You didn’t have to make an extra trip for me tonight.”
Jude glanced over, the look in his eyes sending my belly into wild flips.
“Kendall, I wanted to. I was already there earlier because I did a sightseeing flight today that started and ended at the airport in Willow Brook. Because where else would that happen?”
“Good point. It’s a beautiful day for that.” I peered out the window.
The sun was starting to set, and the mountains were bathed in the silvery gold of a late winter sun, with pink and purple mingling in the sky. It was nice and clear.
“Of course, no bears to see because they’re hibernating, but still beautiful,” Jude commented.
“Do people actually ask about seeing bears in the winter?” I couldn’t help but ask.
“Of course they do, and I explain that they’re hibernating. I’ve told Elsa we’re going to have to assign her to do educational lectures with the guests, so she covers all of this for us.”
I giggled. “She might like that.”
Jude grinned over at me, sending my belly into another wild flip. “She might, but she’s busy.”
I started to get nervous as we got closer to my parents’ house.
“Do you know what this is about?” Jude asked. “And, do your parents know I’m coming with you?”
“Yeah, I texted them. I’m worried it’s something about Blake. He’s been awfully quiet ever since the thing last week.”
“The thing being when he went to a brewery and then wised up before he did anything stupid?” Jude prompted.
I didn’t even try to hide my sigh, letting it out in a gust. “Yeah.”
“Have you heard much from your parents? Are they talking about this at all?”
“Jude, they never talk about any of this unless I force the issue, or Blake forces the issue by getting a DUI in the middle of the night and losing his car again.”
Jude reached over, catching my hand and kissing the back of it before holding it close to his chest. “It’s okay.”
“What’s okay?” I prompted.
“You can’t protect your brother from everything. Or your parents. You’ve been holding it together for your family since I’ve known you.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but I knew he was right. I snapped my mouth shut.
Jude glanced over, his smile warm and understanding. “It’s one of the reasons I love you.”
“What is?”
“That you want to take care of your family. I’m just saying it’s okay to let it go sometimes.”
“Old habits die hard and all that,” I said softly.
“Tell me about it,” Jude said dryly. “Oh, you’re not going to believe this.”
“What?”
“Lincoln’s coming home.”
“Well, yeah, you mentioned that,” I said carefully.
“It’s a deal. He’s going to be here in two weeks.”
“Yay!” I exclaimed, squeezing Jude’s hand in joy. “Jude, I know you’re excited.”
“Oh, I am. I am,” he said slowly. “He’s told me it’s a for sure thing, but to be honest, I won’t believe it until I see it.”
“He wouldn’t say he was coming home for sure if he wasn’t for sure coming home,” I pointed out.
“I know, but…” He paused, giving his head a shake. “He’s already told Mom, so that makes it kind of real.”