Chapter 53
The flower beds on the street are in full bloom and I didn’t realize just how much I needed spring to arrive. Lily has confirmed on more than one occasion that I’m a grumpy old lady since Noah left.
I shouldn’t be grumpy. Rachel called me just yesterday to say that the editor she recently pitched is interested in my book. They’re working out the final details, but she might have sold my debut novel.
And yet. I’m not sure I feel as excited as I should.
Maybe Noah had it right. It’s just not that big of a deal.
When the door to the store opens, an older lady shuffles through with a box in her arms. Lily hurries toward the door to help her.
“Oh, thank you. I guess I thought since the box isn’t heavy, I wouldn’t have a hard time walking in,” the woman laughs.
“Can I take it for you?” Lily asks.
“Actually, I’m looking for an Emma Reynolds.”
Lily looks up at me and so does the woman. There is something hauntingly familiar about her, but I can’t pinpoint what it is.
She starts toward the counter, the large box still in her arms, but then stops and looks at Noah’s picture. A smile widens on her face as she looks at him. She lets out a little noise as if she’s satisfied with his face or the book. I’m just not sure.
“You’re Emma?” she asks as she sets the box on the counter.
“I am.”
“I’m Beatrice, but my friends call me Bea,” she says, darting her hand out in my direction.
“It’s nice to meet you, Beatrice.”
“Nope, I said my friends call me Bea. That would include you,” she confirms.
I exchange a quick glance with Lily who is grinning from behind the woman.
“Well, Bea, what brings you in?” I ask.
“I just bought the new antique store down the street. I love antiques. Don’t you?”
“I suppose they have some appeal.”
“Oh, the stories those old things can tell. Do you know I once opened a dresser drawer and found a thousand dollars?” She places her hand on her chest. “A thousand dollars. It was taped to the bottom of the drawer and there was a liner in the drawer. Talk about a find,” she laughs.
“I’d say that makes antiquing more fun.”
“It sure does.” She pushes the box in my direction. “I brought these for you. I was told you liked them.”
“You brought something for me?” I ask.
“Take a look.”
Again, I exchange a look with Lily and she moves closer to the counter.
Carefully, I open the folds of the box that Bea has set on the counter. My trembling fingers go straight to my lips when I see three Cabbage Patch dolls inside.
Tears instantly fill my eyes when I look up from the box.
“Why would someone want you to have creepy dolls?” Lily asks, looking into the box.
“You think they’re creepy?” Bea asks as I pull out the first doll with yellow yarn braids.
“Creepy as hell,” Lily replies and Bea chuckles.
As I study the doll the first tear falls. “Bea, how did you know I liked dolls—these dolls?”
“Well my son told me of course,” she says.
I drop the doll back into the box and draw in a shaky breath.
“Em, what’s going on?” Lily is now moving around the counter to my side.
I shake my head. “You said you just bought the store?” I ask Bea.
“Yes. We’ve been looking for some purpose in life, and when he said he’d seen the cutest store ever and thought we should move and open it, well, I couldn’t help myself. Then, we visited, found a cute house, and when I came in and saw your cute store, I was a goner.”
Lily grabs my arm as if she’s trying to grasp the conversation.
“When were you in the store?” I ask.
Bea gives it some thought. “I suppose it was a month ago. A cute young lady helped me out. I bought a few Jennifer Zeppelin books. My son said you and he shared a love of her books.”
That has me gasping again, but a laugh squeaks out.
Lily reaches her hand out and covers Bea’s hand on the counter. “Bea, who is your son?”
Bea doesn’t answer. She just looks up at me and smiles. “He wouldn’t have let me leave the city without him,” she says and now I burst into tears.
“Noah?” Lily asks now taking my shoulders and turning me toward her.
“He says he has a great chili recipe he’s going to try out. It’ll be ready by the time you get home,” Bea says, the smile wide on her face.
“Noah is here?” Lily asks and Bea nods.
“He was miserable. Nearly as miserable as when he lost Abby. He started packing up his apartment the minute he left this place. And now we’re all here,” Bea explains.
Lily reaches for a tissue on the counter and hands it to me. “Go. Go now. God, don’t wait until we close tonight. Go!”
Wiping my eyes I begin to laugh, but the tears don’t dry up. Everything inside of me feels as if it’s going to burst, but in the very best way.
“You’re good if I go?” I ask Lily.
“Don’t fucking worry about me. Go,” she says nearly pushing me out the door.
I pull her to me and hug her tightly. Then, I hurry around the counter and pull in Bea and do the same.
“Welcome to town. Congratulations on your new business. I love your son,” I blurt out the last part. “I love him.”
Bea laughs and cups my face in her hands. “Oh, honey, I know. Now go, and take those creepy ass dolls with you.”
I’m mindful of the road. It’s steep. It’s bumpy.
It rained two nights ago and there are still small ruts that are filled with water.
But, if I can keep my wits about me, at the end of this long and bumpy road is the man that I love.
The man I can’t stop thinking about. The man I turned away and now he’s here.
Not only is he here, he moved his family here.
He’s here!
The house has that warm glow to it, even with the sun headed toward the backs of the mountains, the house breathes warmth.
I pull into the driveway and put up the garage door, laughing when I realize he had the code to the garage door and not once did I think to change it after he left town.
Hurrying to turn off the car and climb from my seat, I nearly choke myself with the seatbelt when I yank against it.
Finally free, I open the door and pull the box from the passenger seat.
That’s when the door opens to the house and Noah stands there like the god I always saw him as. The light behind him illuminating him in all his glory. His hair is longer. His beard is full. He’s barefooted in my house and holding two glasses of wine.
“Lily thinks these dolls are creepy,” I say and my voice cracks slightly.
“They are creepy,” he says.
“You’re here,” I say slowly walking toward him, perhaps afraid that he will evaporate and I’ll realize this is just a dream.
“I’m here.”
“Your mother is here,” I laugh, but the sound is wet.
“So is my father,” he confirms.
I keep moving, but I don’t seem to be getting any closer to him.
Noah steps into the garage, still holding a glass in each hand.
I readjust the box in my arms. “You’re here to stay?”
“I was wrong. I don’t belong in New York. I don’t like the noise, the people, or the bustle. Imagine how much less broody I would have been if I’d have figured that out a long time ago.”
I laugh again, and this time I drop the box between us at our feet.
“I love you, Emma. I couldn’t be away from you,” he says handing me one of the glasses of wine.
“I love you. I’ve been broody since you left.”
He chuckles. “Well then, everyone will appreciate it that we’re back together.”
I have to touch him, so I push the box out of the way with my foot and move to him, wrapping my free arm around his neck and he pulls me to him with his free hand on my waist. Our mouths come together and there is an electricity that buzzes through us that has my heart racing and my blood pumping.
“Can I stay here?” he asks. “As in, stay for good?”
“I’d be so disappointed if you didn’t.”
“We can make our own happily ever after.”
“It starts now,” I say and step back from him.
Noah watches me as I hand him the glass of wine in my hand and open the box with the dolls. From inside I pull out the brown Kraft bag that says Pack-a-Punch on it.
“What is that?” he asks.
I move to him again and plant another warm kiss on his mouth. “Mrs. Packer was eavesdropping and she sends her love,” I say, opening the bag and showing him the brownie inside, as well as the newest Jennifer Zeppelin book.