Chapter Seventeen #2
They were soon on the road. The sun was shining, and the sky was a vivid blue.
The temperature was in the lower sixties with a breeze.
It was a perfect day. Ally had a feeling it also had a lot to do with the man beside her.
She decided it was a dream kind of day and she settled back into the leather seat and found the smiles just kept coming.
“Jillie’s at Cassie’s house. They should be over for lunch by noon. We have a lot to be thankful for this year.”
“Yes, it’s been quite a year,” she agreed. “So many changes. But most for the good.”
“I know you lost someone you loved. And you had to leave a comfort zone that you knew to come all the way out here. I have to be selfish and say that despite all of that, I’m glad you did come to Destiny.”
“In spite of everything, I have to admit that it was still a year with things to be thankful for. And coming here and meeting your family and Jillie…and you, made it possible to manage it.”
“I’m glad I was included in that list.” He smiled and she returned it. They turned in the entrance and soon were being greeted by Cade who came out to help them carry the desserts.
“I can’t wait until the end of the meal.” He smiled, noting the box labeled with his favorites inside. “Perhaps we should do a taste test beforehand.”
“Don’t you dare touch those desserts,” came a warning voice from the kitchen, which he led them into. Tori was standing keeping an eye on her husband. He sat the boxes down and then nodded to Matt. “We better leave now while we can. When your sister gets that look…”
“I am well acquainted with it, so let’s go,” Matt agreed, and they left the kitchen.
“I’m so glad you could come,” Tori said, giving her a quick hug. “Matt and Jillie were happy when you said you would.”
“I’m grateful to be included.”
“I smell something wonderful,” came the voice approaching down the hall, and then Cassie appeared with a casserole in hand. “The gang has arrived. Let the party begin.”
And it did. Ally couldn’t remember laughing so much in a long time. The food was amazing. And she met Cassie’s husband, Cole, and her stepdaughter, Emmie, who was about the same age as Jillie.
“I wish Rance could have joined us,” Tori said, a wistful smile on her face. “But he’s on some assignment far from here. He called earlier to wish all a happy Thanksgiving.”
“The table is growing and that’s a great sign,” Cassie said looking around at everyone. “I think we should give thanks, each of us, for something.”
“I like that,” Tori said. “I’ll start. I am most thankful for an amazing husband who puts up with me—” a great laugh followed on that note “—and for the gift of a beautiful, healthy son. What more could a person want?”
“I echo on my wife’s thanks for our son and for her gracing my life.
” And the smile he sent her way made Ally melt.
“But I am also thankful for a special visitor who came along and brought an unexpected piece of a missing puzzle in my family. I asked for permission earlier to share this story with you. It is a love story…the kind we all seek. It is happy and it is sad, but it has now come full circle.”
He unfolded the piece of note paper and cleared his throat and began.
“Once upon a time, a young boy and young girl fell in love beneath the peach tree at the springs here on this ranch. But their love could never be. So, the young girl left behind the ring he had given to her and went far away. He searched for her but only to return the thing that would always be hers. With his heart. He married another woman who added riches to this land we stand on today. But his heart was far away in a big city. The years passed. He died. Then the day came when she died also. But she had asked a very special woman to bring her ashes back to the place she left her heart. And this young lady did just that. I realized this story when I saw the ring that my grandfather had given to his one and only love all those years before around the neck of Ally Jones.” All gazes fell on her.
“Ally and I went to the springs, and we have decided that it is fitting to honor those wishes and bring the two hearts together again.” There was silence around the table as people digested the unexpected news. And looks cast Ally’s way once again. But they were kind looks and huge smiles.
“To that end, Ally and I are planning a special moment where that wonderful woman who held my grandfather’s heart so long can be put to rest on their hill.
It will be simple per her request and just the people around this table are invited to join, if you wish.
Thank you, Ally, from the bottom of my heart—and my grandfather’s, I am certain. ”
“Ally, you’re next,” Jillie said. “What are you grateful for?”
“I’m not one to do a lot of speaking, but from my heart, I am thankful for each and every person who opened their arms and hearts and welcomed me into the beauty of Destiny’s River and the warmth and spirit of those who live here.
I am forever grateful to Annie for asking me to come here.
I think she was still guiding me by doing that.
She wanted me to come here and see what she always knew.
And to each of you, my thanks don’t seem enough, but they are heartfelt. ”
“I’m thankful for my dad and all he does for me and others,” Jillie began. “And thankful that Ally and Teddy came to Destiny. I’d be grateful if they would stay forever.”
There were smiles and interesting looks being sent toward Matt.
He was up to the task. “I’m grateful for my daughter, my family, my health, and my community.
And I will echo my daughter in thanking Ally for coming here.
For taking care of Jillie and working to make the school’s festival successful for all the children who go there.
And I hope that this time next year we’re all here around this table and grateful that Ally is still with us. ”
Cassie coughed and took a sip of her tea. Tori winked at him. Cade nodded. Ally seemed locked on a design on the tablecloth. She had to process. And she had to act normally. Whatever that was.
She was truly grateful when Cassie went next, and the rest followed. The atmosphere picked up again with laughter when the desserts were served. Everyone found at least one dessert that was a favorite. Jillie had her favorite pumpkin pie, and she hugged Ally’s neck for remembering.
Ally had the pleasure of sitting in a rocking chair later and getting acquainted with the newest member of the clan.
She only had experience with babies on Sundays at the church in New York where she would help with the infants.
That was the extent of it. But she found Joey was a calm baby and he seemed to have some interest in watching her watching him.
“You are a natural,” Tori said, smiling as she sat nearby.
“He makes me look good,” Ally responded.
“Well, it’s time he gets his dinner and then his nap, or he won’t look good at all.” Tori took him in her arms, and they bid all goodbyes. It was time to head home. Matt was covering the evening so his deputies could be with their families. Jillie was going home with her cousin to Cassie’s again.
Ally gave a final wave to her hosts as she and Matt drove away. It was mostly a silent drive back into town. Matt had put on some music and Ally was okay with that. She had a lot to think about.
Matt walked with her to her front door. She wasn’t sure how that part of the day was going to go. So, she was about to thank him again when he spoke first.
“I hope you didn’t feel that you were put on the spot at dinner. I’m glad though that Cade explained what was going on with his grandfather and Annie. It was indeed a miracle that brought you here the more I think about it. I would like to be there at the ceremony.”
“I’m glad. It would be nice to have you there. And I didn’t feel put on the spot. It was a bit of a surprise maybe, but not in a bad way.”
“Good,” he said, and his hand found hers and she felt such warmth and peace in having hers in his.
“This is uncharted territory for me,” he began.
“I’ve gone on dates before. But nothing of any importance came from them.
I guess I gave up and was irritated by unwanted attention.
Jillie and I got through the years since she lost her mother.
I was afraid of making the wrong choice where she was concerned.
So, I did nothing. And then you crashed into our lives.
” He grinned at his own words. “Quite literally. And it seemed natural…like you fit in without any warning. I still tried to hold that wall in place that had gone up along the way over time. But you just ‘fit’…in so many ways. I guess I’m not very good at saying this but to put it simply I want to date you.
I want to have more time to figure out what you want and if you would even be interested in staying in a small town.
I’m not good at saying what I want to say and you… ”
Ally did what she wanted for the first time in her life totally on impulse.
She went up on tiptoe and silenced his fumbling words with her lips.
And to her surprise and pleasure, Matt took it from there, folding his arms around her and holding her close while his lips took the lead.
And in that moment, there was no solid ground beneath her, her eyes closed and the porch was floating around her—or was she floating around the porch?
The sensation was incredible. And for once she hoped the dream had become an absolute reality.
Matt drew back a little and he had a dazed look about him, but then a slow smile appeared, and his gaze was filled with an incredible light. “I do like how you cut to the bottom line and get to the heart of the matter.”
“I never have done anything like that in my life.”
“I think you should feel free to do it more often…on one condition.”
“One condition?”
“That I get to do the same thing…to move the conversation along when needed.”
“I think that’s only fair.”
His grin was wide and beautiful. “I think I’d better say good night as duty does call. And for once, I would gladly skip it.”
“No, you won’t. That’s not the Matt Parker I know. But you can pick up that conversation at a later date.”
“I like your thinking.” The next kiss was even better than the first. “Good night and sweet dreams.”
He waited until she shut the door behind her, and it locked. She didn’t remember walking up the stairs or anything much after that. But she did dream…and it was the best dream ever.