Chapter 20
CHAPTER 20
R andy’s heart pounded as he paced back and forth on the porch of Evie’s cottage. He wiped his sweaty palms on his shorts, trying to summon the courage to knock. Tally’s words rang in his mind, urging him to take a chance. But what if he told Evie how he felt and asked her to stay and she still rejected him?
He took a deep breath and raised his hand to knock, then lowered it again. This was ridiculous. He was acting like a nervous teenager. He was a grown man, for Pete’s sake. He should be able to have a simple conversation with a woman he cared about. And he did care about her. A lot.
Before he could change his mind again, he rapped his knuckles against the wooden door. He held his breath as he waited, straining to hear any movement inside. Maybe she wasn’t home. Maybe this was a sign he shouldn’t?—
The door swung open, and there she was, looking unbelievably beautiful even with a smudge of dirt on her cheek. Her eyes widened in surprise, then a flicker of hope crossed her face before her expression turned neutral.
“I… wasn’t expecting you.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat. He cleared it and tried again. “Evie, I… Can we talk? Please?”
She hesitated for a moment. Finally, she nodded and stepped back. “Come in.”
He followed her into the living room, his eyes immediately drawn to the boxes lined up in neat stacks around the room. Other boxes stood open and waiting to be filled. His stomach clenched at the sight.
They stood facing each other, an awkward silence stretching between them. He shoved his hands in his pockets, not sure what to do with them. She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I’m sorry,” they both blurted out at the same time.
He let out a small laugh, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. “Let me go first.” He took a deep breath. “First, I’m sorry for how I reacted when you told me about leaving. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. I should have tried to understand your position better.”
Her expression softened. “And I’m sorry for not fighting harder to stay. For not considering your feelings more.”
They fell silent again, the air between them thick with unspoken words and emotions.
He gathered his courage and took a step closer to her. “I… I don’t want you to go. I know it’s selfish of me to ask, especially with everything that’s happening with the cottage. But I can’t bear the thought of you leaving.”
Her eyes widened. “Randy, I?—”
“Please, let me finish,” he said gently. “I know I hurt you by pushing you away. The truth is, I was scared. My ex-wife left me, and I’ve been afraid to open my heart again. But being with you… it’s made me realize that some things are worth the risk.”
He reached out and took her hand in his. “I can’t promise it’ll be easy. We both have our own baggage to deal with. But I want to try, Evie. I want to see where this could go. Will you stay? Will you give us a chance? Even if everything falls through with the cottage, will you stay?”
He paused and looked deep into her eyes. “Choose me, Evie. Stay for me, stay with me. Choose me.”
Evie stood looking at Randy, unable to tear her gaze away from his face. His eyes were filled with a mix of hope and vulnerability, and she could see the depth of his feelings for her. In that moment, everything became clear. She knew where she belonged, and it was right here, with Randy.
She took a deep breath and said, “I choose you, Randy. I want to stay.”
“Even if things don’t work out with the cottage?”
“Even if that happens. I want to stay on Belle Island with you.”
The words had barely left her lips before she launched herself into his arms. He wrapped them around her, holding her close as if he never wanted to let go. She buried her face in his chest, breathing in his familiar scent, feeling the warmth of his embrace.
“And I choose you, Evie,” he whispered against her, his voice thick with emotion. “I promise we’ll make it work.”
Tears of joy and relief streamed down her face as she clung to him. All the uncertainty and fear that had plagued her melted away in the face of his support and love.
“I’m sorry I ever considered leaving,” she said, pulling back to look into his eyes. “I was just so scared of losing the cottage, of not having a plan. But I realize now that none of that matters as much as being with you.”
He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. “I understand. I’m sorry I couldn’t see it from your perspective before. I was just so afraid of losing you. Of you leaving me.”
She leaned into his touch, relishing the feeling of his rough, calloused hands against her skin. “You won’t lose me. I’m here to stay, no matter what happens with the cottage.”
He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners in the way she loved. “We’ll figure it out together. I promise.”
She nodded, her heart swelling with love and gratitude. She fiercely wanted to stay here in the cottage, but if she couldn’t, at least she would be with Randy, where she belonged.
She looked up at him, her heart swelling with happiness. “Say, how about we open another item from the Christmas box? I think it’s getting a little lonely without us.”
He grinned at her. “Then I think we should open another one.”
They sat on the couch, close together, as she chose another item. “There’s only one left after this one,” she said as she carefully unwrapped the one she’d chosen.
She broke into a smile as she unfolded the paper. It was an old crayon picture she’d drawn when she was just a child. It showed her and Nana—in very rough stick figures—standing on the beach with a pail between them. The lighthouse towered above them—slightly crooked. Her signature was scrawled in the corner. “I can’t believe she kept this all these years.”
“Of course she did. She loved you so very much.” Randy squeezed her hand.
“And I loved her just as much.”