Chapter Five #2
Shep's gaze held mine. "Comet's the new foal. Born this morning—Christmas Eve baby." He paused. "You want to come out to the ranch? Meet her?"
The invitation meant more than seeing a horse. I could see it in the way he waited for my answer.
"I'd love to," I said softly.
His smile could've lit the whole sanctuary. "In the morning then. After you've had Christmas with Mee-Maw."
"In the morning."
Shep looked at his parents. Some silent communication passed between them, and his mother nodded. "Why don't you boys take Dash to get cookies? We'll meet you there."
One of his brothers—Shane or Dusty—scooped Dash up. "Come on, little man. Let's raid the dessert table."
"But—"
"You can talk to Miss Flannery more in a minute," Shep said firmly. "Go with Uncle Shane now."
Dash went reluctantly, waving over his uncle's shoulder. The Starrs headed toward the fellowship hall, leaving us alone in the emptying sanctuary.
"Hey," Shep said.
"Hi."
We stood there, neither moving. Candles being extinguished one by one. Christmas tree lights twinkling.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly. "That dress—"
"Thanks." I smoothed my hands over the velvet. "I almost didn't wear it."
"I'm glad you did."
Silence stretched between us. Someone laughed in the hallway. Footsteps echoed.
"Can we talk?" Shep asked. "Somewhere private?"
I nodded, not trusting my voice.
He gestured toward the hallway leading to Sunday school classrooms. We walked in silence, his hand hovering near my lower back but not touching. He opened a door to an empty classroom—construction paper Christmas trees on the walls, tiny chairs in a circle, the lingering scent of crayons.
The door clicked shut.
"I've been thinking about what you said this morning," Shep started.
My hands went cold. Here it came. The gentle letdown.
"I know," I said quickly. "And you're right. We don't have to make it complicated. Last night was—" I searched for words that wouldn't break me. "It was special. For me. But I understand if—"
"Flannery." He stepped closer. "Stop."
"Stop what?"
"Stop deciding what I'm going to say." His hand came up to cup my cheek, thumb brushing my cheekbone the same way it had this morning, last night, in all those moments between. "You've been doing that. Putting words in my mouth."
"I'm trying to make it easier," I whispered. "For both of us."
"Easier how?"
"By not making you say that last night was one night. That you're a single dad with responsibilities and I'm the librarian who works at the sex shop and we got caught up in the moment but it doesn't mean anything."
His expression shifted—surprise, then frustration. "Is that what you think?"
"I don't know what to think." The words tumbled out. "You haven't texted. And I keep replaying this morning, how I cut you off before you could—" The words came out raw, honest in a way that scared me. "Before you could let me down easy."
"Let you down?" He went still. "Flannery, I was trying to tell you that last night changed things for me, sweetheart."
My knees went weak.
"What?"
"You said we didn't have to make it complicated, and I was trying to say it's already complicated because I've fallen for you.
" His other hand came up to frame my face.
"I've been falling for you for months. Every Thursday at Story Time, watching you with those kids—and my son.
The way you light up talking about books.
How kind you are, how smart, how beautiful. "
"But you didn't reach out—"
"Because I didn't know if you wanted me to." His thumb traced my bottom lip. "You pulled away this morning. Said it didn't have to mean anything. I thought you regretted it."
"I could never regret it." The truth rang through me. "It was the best night of my life. But I couldn't imagine someone like you wanting someone like me for more than one night."
"Someone like me?" He shook his head. "Flannery, I'm a divorced rancher with a four-year-old. I haven't dated in years. Half the women in this town think I'm too serious, too boring, too focused on work and being a dad."
"You're not boring."
"You're brilliant and heading for bigger things than Mistletoe Ridge." His voice dropped. "I'm the one who can't believe you'd want someone like me."
Like two people in a Jane Austen novel, both convinced they're beneath the other's notice.
"This is ridiculous," I said.
"What is?"
"Both of us thinking we're not good enough." I reached up to cover his hands with mine. "I've fallen for you too. For months. I didn't think you'd ever see me as more than the shy girl who quotes Dr. Seuss."
He grinned, slow and warm. "I see you, Flannery Green. All of you. And I want to do this right. Take you on real dates. Show everyone we're together—if you want that."
"Real dates?"
"Dinner at Billy Bob's. Movies at the Starlight. Holding hands on Main Street." His grin widened. "Which means there'll be gossip. The whole town will talk."
"I don't care about gossip."
"You sure? Because dating me means dating a package deal. Me and Dash, and my family, and ranch life, and a four-year-old who already thinks you hung the moon."
"I adore Dash," I said. "And I want this. Want you. Want to see where it goes."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
He kissed me then—soft and sweet, a promise. Not the desperate heat of last night, but the beginning of a story instead of one chapter.
When we broke apart, my face hurt from smiling.
"We should get to the reception," I said. "Before people notice we're gone."
"Let them notice." But his fingers laced through mine, his palm warm and work-roughened against mine, thumb brushing my knuckles in steady rhythm. "Ready to make it official?"
My pulse hammered in my ears. Going out there hand in hand meant everyone would know. Mee-Maw, the church ladies, Mrs. Yates and Mrs. Tucker. Everyone we knew and loved.
I thought about what Mee-Maw had said. About being brave enough to find out if something was real.
Taking a deep breath, I looked into the eyes of the man I’d given myself to—body and heart—and smiled.
"I'm ready.”
We walked out hand in hand.
This Christmas, I'd found my miracle. Not just Shep, but the courage to believe I was worthy—of love, joy, a future full of promise. Tomorrow was Christmas, and a whole new year waited just around the corner.
I couldn’t wait to embrace whatever came next.