Chapter 16 Allie
ALLIE
Allie’s heart pounded as Ash drove them back to Lawrence Farm.
She had returned her glove to her hand when they left the park, but she could still feel the pretty little ring around her finger.
It was amazing that Ash had a ring created just for her, and even more surprising that he had known exactly what kind of design she would love. She couldn’t have come up with something that was more her if she had designed it herself.
How can he know me so well, so quickly?
But she knew the answer to that was Maya, of course. The little girl had clearly talked about Allie’s favorite things when she was at home.
She’s really listening in class, Allie realized, feeling a burst of warm pride at the idea that she’d been able to help the little girl concentrate enough to report back to her father every day.
“What are you smiling about?” Ash asked quietly as he rolled down the window to cross the covered bridge.
“Oh, I was thinking about Maya,” she told him honestly. “If she helped you know enough about me to design this ring, then she’s doing better with her focus than I imagined.”
“She adores you,” Ash said quietly. “She pays attention to everything about you.”
Allie beamed, it felt so good to hear those words.
But what about you, Ash?
She wasn’t sure where the question came from, but once she heard it in her mind, she couldn’t seem to let it go.
It was silly, of course. He’d told her that he encouraged the fake engagement as an excuse to get to know her better.
She could at least do him the courtesy of believing him.
And just because he offered to let her keep the ring didn’t mean he was trying to buy her affections.
He clearly had some kind of feelings for her.
Maybe in time he would adore her as much as his daughter did.
He turned the truck in the drive for the farm and she smiled at the comforting sight of her home. There were plenty of mysteries in the world, but this was one place where she always knew she was loved and accepted for exactly who she was.
Ash helped her out of the truck once it was parked, and they headed up to the front door, hand in hand once again.
Her pulse thrummed as they climbed the steps to the porch. He wanted to kiss her again and she knew it.
But something told her to keep walking, to get safely inside and think things through tonight before anything else happened.
To his credit, Ash didn’t protest, he simply opened the door for her.
“Shoes,” her mom whispered from the living room.
Allie smiled and slipped out of her boots as well as her coat and gloves before heading into the living room.
“Oh,” she sighed happily at the cozy sight before her as Ash followed her in.
Maya was asleep with her head on Allie’s mom’s lap, with Allie’s childhood copy of Twas the Night Before Christmas on the coffee table in front of them.
Allie’s dad sat in his favorite chair by the fireplace with a mug of tea in his hands. And Tripp was in the old rocking chair, his eyes on the fire.
“Did you two have fun?” her mom asked quietly.
“Hello, Ash,” her dad said.
“We did have fun,” Allie told them.
“Oh my goodness, what’s that?” her mom asked, gesturing to Allie’s hand.
The little diamond twinkled and winked in the firelight like it was laughing, and Allie moved closer to her mom, holding her hand out so she could examine it.
“That’s really lovely,” Mom said approvingly to Ash. “And it suits her.”
“Thank you,” Ash said. “Maya helped.”
“Of course she did,” Mom said fondly, gazing down at the little girl in her lap.
“Let’s have a look,” Dad said.
Allie obediently moved to him and held out her hand.
She noticed that Tripp hadn’t even looked up.
“Spoiled already,” her dad said, but he winked and smiled so she would know he was only teasing. “I wouldn’t have it any other way for you, my only daughter.”
His voice was a little gruff on that last remark and Allie’s heart tugged with guilt.
I wish it were real. Maybe it will be eventually…
“Are you two heading into town for the fun tomorrow?” Mom asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” Ash said. “Allie let me know about everything tonight, and I think Maya and I are going to love it.”
“We’ll be there too,” Dad put in. “And we’d be glad to watch her if you two want to do some shopping for the little lady at any point.”
“Thanks so much,” Ash said, brightening. “That’s a great idea, actually. We just might take you up on that.”
“Hope you do, son,” Dad said.
Allie couldn’t help glancing over at Ash. She was surprised to see that he looked visibly moved at her father’s words, even though they were spoken so casually.
“Well, we don’t want to overstay our welcome, and tomorrow’s a big day,” Ash said, moving to scoop Maya up. “Hey, pumpkin. You don’t have to wake up.”
“I don’t want to go,” Maya whimpered, not even opening her eyes. “I want to keep playing with Tripp.”
“I’ll see you later, sweetheart,” Tripp whispered to her, finally looking up from the fire to smile at Maya.
“We’re going to see everyone again tomorrow,” Ash murmured to her. “Won’t that be great?”
“Mmm,” Maya hummed, snuggling into his neck as he carried her to the door and slid his feet back into his boots.
“Don’t bother bundling up again,” Ash said, stopping at the door and turning to Allie. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Text me the details.”
“Okay,” Allie said, feeling a little sorry now that she hadn’t let him kiss her before.
What is it about a man carrying a child?
He leaned down with Maya in his arms and pressed a kiss to the crown of Allie’s head before heading out into the cold with his daughter.
“Want a snack?” Tripp asked as she turned back, his voice seeming crisp and loud in the hush of the house.
“Sure,” she told him before poking her head into the living room. “We’re getting a snack, do you two want anything?”
“No, no, we’re heading to bed, honey,” her mom said. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“Don’t worry,” Allie said. “I couldn’t if I wanted to.”
“We know that’s true,” her dad said, chuckling.
Allie was famous for falling asleep at family get-togethers from time to time. She was such an early riser for school that an early bedtime was a must.
Tripp was already in the kitchen when she headed down the hall past generations of family photos to join him.
He was filling one of Mom’s glass mixing bowls with cereal, with two bananas on the counter beside him.
Allie resisted asking him how he could eat half a box of cereal in one sitting, knowing he would just tease her for her indoor work.
Instead, she grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and sat at the table, watching him prepare his snack.
“Is it a real diamond?” he asked as he peeled the first banana.
“Yes,” she admitted.
He stopped what he was doing to look over at her, concern in his normally mischievous gaze.
“Allie,” he said. “You know you have to be careful of the kind of man who would put a diamond on a woman’s finger as a joke.”
“It isn’t a joke,” she said, feeling the inadequacy of her words as soon as they were out of her mouth. “And besides, he said he wants to get to know me better.”
“Oh yeah?” Tripp asked. “And what did he mean by that?”
Her brother’s eyes were flashing with anger now, and she tried not to feel offended at what he was implying.
“Nothing bad,” she said right away. “Just that he wants us to see if there could be something real between us.”
“We’ll see about that,” Tripp growled. “I’ll be keeping a sharp eye on him.”
“And on Maya too, right?” Allie teased him.
“She’s a sweetheart,” Tripp said protectively. “One more reason to be careful, Allie.”
“I will,” she told him solemnly. “I promise.”
“I’m holding you to that,” he told her.
She nodded and took a bite of her apple as he cut up his bananas and added milk to his enormous bowl of cereal.
The sweetness of the apple burst in her mouth, making her think of crisp fall evenings and walks in the orchard.
Will I be walking in the orchard with Ash and Maya next fall?
Tripp came over to join her, and he began devouring his snack at a remarkable speed.
She couldn’t help smiling at the sight.
“What?” he asked.
“Oh nothing,” she told him. “You work outside all day. You deserve a good snack.”
“Yeah, I do,” he said, smiling at her with his mouth full in the way that used to make her wallop him over the head when she was younger.
“Close your mouth, Tripp,” she scolded him.
He just laughed at her and drank the rest of the milk out of the bowl.
She wondered suddenly if he would be doing this in his own kitchen one day. Each Lawrence kid had a house on the property that their parents were holding for them. She and Tripp were the last two left.
What if he’s out before I am?
As much as he loved to tease her, she adored her older brother. And he made it feel normal to live with her parents.
“You okay, champ?” Tripp asked her, placing down his bowl and wiping his milk mustache with the back of his hand.
“I’m fine, big brother,” she said. “I love you, that’s all.”
“Love you too,” he told her. “Get some sleep. And keep your eyes open, baby sis. I can’t have you getting hurt.”
“I will,” she promised him, touched at the note of husky sincerity in his voice.
He nodded to her, and she put her apple core in the compost bin before heading upstairs.
She stepped into her room, feeling more energetic than she usually did at night. It was probably just the wild day she’d had.
She changed into her warmest pajamas and headed into the bathroom to tidy up.
Slipping the ring off her finger to wash her hands and face, she noticed something on the inside of the setting.
She held it up to the light and drew in a breath.
Once upon a time & happily ever after…
She had told her students that every great fairy tale had a once upon a time and a happily ever after.
But seeing it engraved inside the engagement ring Ash had put on her finger… it felt like magic.
It’s just something Maya shared with him, she reminded herself. It’s not fate or magic.
But she couldn’t stop the fluttering of her heart, or the way the words seemed to whisper in her ear as she lay down to sleep.