Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
I feel like I’m moving through melted marshmallows. Every day is muted, and I can’t get into the spirit.
“Girl, get up. Shower, and stop rotting,” Dar says from the doorway.
I roll over. “Is it already time to go to the airport?”
“Yes.” Moving into the bedroom, she opens the curtains. Light streaks through the window, and I squint, holding up an arm.
“This is ridiculous. You can’t just marinate in your sadness like a depression roast.”
“A what?” I laugh despite myself.
She shook her head. “You know what I mean. I’m sorry things ended so badly.”
“He wouldn’t even hear me out, Dara.” I sit up.
“He was hurt, too. We all saw his face.” Her lips turn down. “Maybe taking time isn’t the worst thing you could do.”
“Yeah.” I run a hand over my face. “Let me hop in the shower. If I show up with you at the airport looking like this, Brie will never let me live it down.”
“I’m going to visit your mom while you pull yourself together.” She fixes me with a glare that would make any mother proud.
“Yes, Ms. Dara.”
She tosses a small pillow at me. I bat it away laughing. Dragging my heavy limbs to the bathroom, I start up the shower. Stripping down, I step in and grab my African net. Lathering up the coarse cloth, I scrub down, closing my eyes. I try to keep my mind blank.
Rehashing the events that led me here hasn’t helped so far. I put up a wall between myself and Korren. Brie is coming back. That’s reason enough to celebrate. Enjoying the hot water, I steam up the white-tiled space. The sharp scent of mint and eucalyptus helps me come to life.
Drying off, I dress in black leggings and a cozy, oversized black sweater with thumbholes. It’ll do.
I join everyone in the living room.
“I can’t wait to see you girls all together again. Friendship like yours is hard to come by,” Mom says from her blue La-Z-Boy with tiny white polka dots.
“We’re going to stop by and see her new shop, so expect me late.”
“Take your time. It’s good to see you getting out for something other than work,” Dad chimes in.
When your dad wants you to stay out late, you know you’ve been in a noticeable funk.
Bundled up outside, I follow Dara to her car.
I climb into the passenger side, happy to be along for the ride.
The airport is about an hour and a half away.
The wheels on the road and the music playing on the radio help me relax.
I’m dozing when a car horn blares behind us.
“What the hell?” Dar mumbles.
I jerk in my seat. Turning, I look over my shoulder and squint at the black vehicle that seems to be gaining on us. They continue to lay on the horn, gesturing for us to pull over.
“Fuck that noise,” Dar whispers, hitting the gas. I clutch the oh shit handle above my head.
The vehicle pulls to the left, and I scream.
“You’ve got to be kidding me?” I whisper, shaking.
“Who did I piss off?” she asks.
The car comes into view, and I’m relieved and stunned to see a harried-looking Korren.
“Is that Korren?” She exhales. “What is he doing?”
“Something has to be wrong. God. Is it my parents? Why wouldn’t they call me?” Tears blur my vision. Heart in my throat I remember my mother’s call about Dad’s stroke.
He gestures for her to pull onto the side of the road.
This time we comply. She parks and bile creeps up in my throat. Hands shaking, I unbuckle my seatbelt and step out into the cold. He hops out of his car and runs to me.
“Don’t go.”
“Huh?” My mind won’t let me process his words.
“Don’t get on that plane.” He opens the door and kneels on the ground in front of me, clutching my hands.
I shake my head. He kisses my hands.
“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you before. You aren’t the only one who fears being hurt. But I love you. I don’t want to do life without you.”
“I. Who said I was leaving?” I narrow my gaze trying to make sense of his words.
“The guys said Dar was taking you to the airport.” He leans over to peer at Dar.
“Oh my God. Assholes,” I whisper. A relieved laugh escapes me.
“Wait. Did they lie?” He searches my face carefully.
“No. We’re going to pick up Brie. Wait. You love me? You came for me?” I stare at him, slack jawed.
“Yes.” He nods.
Tears blur my vision. “I love you too. I want to do this the right way. I love you, Korren, more than I’ve ever loved anyone.
I can make a home here. But I can’t have one without you.
” I cup his face. “I meant what I said. As it was, I couldn’t become the best version of myself.
Not until I confronted my limiting beliefs and issues with my father.
Then I could be free to create a new dream. One I want you to be a part of.”
“Don’t cry, Pepper. I hate it.” He wipes my tears away with his thumbs.
“We can figure this out.”
I place a hand on his chest.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you. The second I saw your face; it was a kick to the chest. Nothing sobered me like life stretching out in front of me, bleak, lonely, and quite frankly, boring.”
“I told you I’d wear you down, Pepper.” He grins cockily. “Admit you like the sunshine you tease me about.”
“Once I realized you would share it with me, I grew to crave it.”
He pulls his body to mine. “You have your own brand of magic, Phil. I want to see you do more of what makes you happy. Life is too short to do anything else. I’ve never seen you as happy as you are when you’re in your element.”
“Guys, I love you, and this is wonderful, but we’re on the side of the highway, and Brie is still coming into town,” Dar speaks from beside her car.
We turn to her and burst into laughter.
“Sorry,” I say bashfully.
“So we’re together now because you both realize you were being idiots and are far better as a couple?” She asks.
“You’re killing my romantic plans,”
“Oh, so terrifying us on the road wasn’t your goal?” I ask.
“Give me one minute.” He gives me puppy-dog eyes.
“Phil, Go.” I look at Dara, who’s grinning.
Korren runs to his car parked crookedly on the side of the road. He fumbles with the back door as I step out.
“What are you doing?” I call.
He grunts. I watch, stunned, as he pulls out my fully painted Victorian dollhouse.
The pale lavender walls are accented with white shutters.
Tiny flower boxes line the windows on the bottom floor.
My heart thuds in my chest. He decorated it perfectly.
How did he know? God he must’ve talked to Story or Dar.
They saw my Vision board and he brought it to life.
“I was going to give you this at Christmas and grovel, try to earn your favor back.”
I look from the dollhouse to him. Tiny lights flicker in the window.
“But I couldn’t stand to waste more time.”
He swallows hard, and meets my gaze. “I had the girls smuggle your vision board to me. I tried to match all your notes. Every detail I could. Because what you want matters to me, and I needed you to know I can listen. Even when I’m being a stubborn ass.”
I laugh through the tears running down my face.
“I know I screwed this up,” he says. “But this—” His voice cracks. “This is the home you said you always wanted. And if you’ll let me… I want to build the real one together.”
Dara mutters, “Oh, he nailed it.”
“I can’t believe you did this?” I walk forward, feeling like I’m in a movie. I gasp when I spot the figurine. He made me stand beside a new one that looks just like him.
“How?” I run my hand over the pale lavender exterior. He remembered everything I told him about what I wanted in a home.
“Your dad helped.” He laughs. His eyes crinkle, and I know I’m looking at the man who’s going to be my husband one day.
“I want permanent. No more walking away.”
“No,” I agree.
He looks over at Dar. “I know your friends are important to you. I won’t hijack this reunion, but I will wait for you in Reel Haven when you get back.”
“I love you.” I laugh, excited to say it.
“I love you too.” We kiss gently.
“Sorry to scare you, Dar.”
“Hey, it was for a good cause. You hurt her again, though; we’re going to have a problem.”
“I accept that.” He steps back.
“See you soon?”
“Yeah,” I beam. Floating on air, I make my way back to the car. The yearning to be with him, paired with the knowledge that he’ll be waiting, fills the empty crater our breakup left in my heart.
Inside the car, I can’t stop smiling.
Dar pulls back onto the road. “Brie is going to be so pissed she missed this.”
I laugh. “Yeah, she is.”
“He’s a keeper.”
“More than that, he’s the one, Dar. I’m not going to be stupid enough to let him get away again.”
“My baby is in love with someone worthy of her greatness. Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Me neither.”
Maybe there is magic in Chance Falls. A little sprinkling of otherworldliness that moves energy around in mysterious ways. I came here under a dark cloud, and now the road ahead is sunny and full of potential. It was worth the pain that brought me to the start of my happy ever after.