18. Chapter Eighteen #2
That thought settles in my stomach like a pile of rocks, right beside the next thought—what do I do with the bakery if she doesn’t want any part of it either? I’m making decisions again without consulting with her. I need to stop that. It’s part of what got us in this mess in the first place.
The best I can do at this point is send her a message that I need to talk about some things once I get to the house.
The drive across town and into the outskirts is a little slow given the Saturday morning bustle, but it’s a good time to think about things.
Veronica is perfectly capable of handling her end of the project, no doubt about that.
She’s not going to need me to put my two cents in for a while.
If Luna wants me to move to Chatswain City, I’ll have to sell the house.
As for the bakery…Yeah, this is definitely why I should learn to discuss things with Luna before diving in.
I turn down the narrow road that leads to the two-story farmhouse I’ve owned for months, but haven’t even spent a single night in. I can’t, not without Luna. When I pull up to the house, my breath catches.
Luna’s car is parked in the small paved drive beside the garage. She’s not in it, so I can only assume she’s inside or has wandered around to the back. I did give her a key, after all. I’m not sure why I’m surprised to find her here, especially since she said she’d be back in town today.
There I go, making assumptions again instead of getting out of the car and asking her.
I summon a little bravery, because if I’m honest, I’m not sure how this is going to go.
I’ve made my parents an offer without consulting with Luna.
One can argue that I did tell her I’d buy it for her, but there is every reason to believe she didn’t think I actually meant it.
I climb the front porch steps and check the door.
It’s unlocked, so I push it open and step inside.
Luna isn’t in the immediate area, so I wander around a little.
She’s nowhere to be found downstairs. I head up and check the first few rooms before following the hallway to the last bedroom.
It’s smaller than the others and gets astonishing amounts of sunlight all day.
To me, it was the most logical place to make Luna a studio.
She could paint, draw, whatever she wants in natural light.
The door creaks because I haven’t had a chance to fix all the little dings and dents that come along with owning a century-old home. All I’ve been able to do is hire some contractors here and there to fix the major issues.
I find her staring out the window. It overlooks the driveway, so she must know I’m here. Still, she doesn’t turn around or say anything. I can’t decide if I should speak, ruin this slice of quiet she’s made herself, or keep my fat mouth shut.
She makes the decision for me. “What is this room?” Her dark hair swishes over her shoulders when she turns her head, and I see she’s been crying.
“Luna, what’s wrong?” I cross the room and she meets me halfway.
“What is this room, Rafe?”
I look around, sure the easels and storage bins with art supplies explain the intent of the room.
“Uh…a studio? I haven’t gotten around to unpacking and organizing everything, so maybe it doesn’t seem like it.
There’s so much light, I thought you’d like it.
” I’m still looking around the room when she grasps my chin and forces me to look down at her.
“I mean, I thought you would…before the breakup, I mean.”
“Yes,” she says.
“Yes? You like it?”
“Yes, I will marry you. I will move back home, live in this house with you, and raise a dozen little Thomas kids.”
“Oh gosh, a dozen? Can we agree on half a dozen and go from there?” I wrap my arm around her waist and bring her closer.
She giggles. “I don’t care. As many as we can, as long as you’re their father.”
I can’t contain my smile. It aches at the corners of my mouth, begging to burst free.
“I love you so much, Luna. I want everything you just said, but are you sure? We can find a house closer to Chatswain so you don’t have to drive so far for work.
Can you even do that? It’s easily an hour and a half without traffic and—”
“Rafe…” She presses her fingers to my lips, stemming my train wreck. “Your mother called me.”
“Wait, what’s going on?” I’m not sure when my mother called or what she discussed with Luna, but I’m beginning to think maybe I’m the one who is out of the loop.
“They felt compelled to call me to ensure that I really am as committed to you and the bakery as you made it sound when you offered to buy it.”
“Listen, I tried to call you. I definitely wanted to talk to you about this before going all in. I’m sure they are just worried I can’t—”
She giggles. “I know, I know. It isn’t that they think you’re a child or something, but there’s a lot that goes into running that business. You know that. They didn’t want to set us up for failure, especially if our relationship isn’t solid.”
“Okay. And…what did you tell them?”
“We discussed my goals, things I want, and they offered their full support for whatever I choose. The museum means a lot to me, but the exhibit is almost ready to open. Once it’s done, I have a choice. I either move on to the next project or shift my focus to something else I love.”
I swallow and try to be patient, but I’m desperate. She already said yes. She’s going to be my wife, but everything else is still open for discussion. Or maybe it isn’t. I can’t tell yet.
“They wanted to make sure you wouldn’t be stuck running it alone. They want to bring us in as partners, remain investors in the business, and slowly transfer rights to us once we have our feet under us.”
“Wait…you mean…you’re going to leave the museum? Luna, it’s literally the reason you left Coldstone Creek. I’m not asking you to quit, not at all. I can find someone to manage Sweet and Salty for us, and you can still have everything you want.”
She laughs again. “Funny thing about getting what you want? Sometimes you find out it isn’t actually what you need.
I love that bakery, and God’s timing is never wrong.
They decided to sell it at the exact time we needed it to be available.
I want to move home. I miss my parents, I miss your family, and more than anything, I miss the future I thought about so many times over the years. ”
I’m speechless. I’d been ready to pack up so she could follow her dream, but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the complete turnaround that brought us here. In our home. Planning to buy Sweet and Salty.
“Are you absolutely sure?” I ask, still dumbfounded.
“I am. I’m actually thinking of talking to Mayor Kilmer about a small museum for Coldstone Creek. It’s something that would take years to plan if the people vote for it, but I could help on the side. What about you? You have a business already. What are you thinking where that’s concerned?”
I breathe deeply and glance out the window, only now seeing how beautiful the view is when you look past the front drive. Acres upon acres of rolling hills and wide-open spaces. It’s perfect.
“You remember I told you about working with Veronica?” Luna nods.
“Well, right now the game is in her hands for about a month before it comes back to me for my part. I have some time to help you get moved back once your work is done at the museum. After that, you know I can work from home. We can keep Miss Rose at the bakery, obviously, and I guess we’d have to hire some people to help you.
I doubt Mom and Dad will dump us without help. ”
“Of course not. I’m all in full-time. Like I said, I can advise on the museum if it’s even a possibility. With summer coming, I’m sure we can hire some teens to work part-time until we find more full-time help.”
“Look at us planning things together. It’s not so hard after all,” I tease.
“Who would have thought?” She laughs. “I love this house and our new life waiting for us, even if some things are still up in the air. We can work them out, especially with our families.”
Fortunately, we have two very supportive families who, for better or worse, will probably never stay out of our business—personal or otherwise.
“Uh, I’m going out on a limb and assume my aunt and uncle were on board with this? After all, they have kids too.”
“Ha, no one else wants to be saddled with the responsibility of taking on the epic establishment they created. We’re the only ones crazy enough to try.”
“It is kind of crazy. We went from broken up and on different life paths to engaged, owning a home, and buying a business in about a week.” I’m laying it all out there now, making sure she understands everything she’s getting herself into.
Speaking it aloud so she’s sure to try every part of it on for size before buying the whole package.
She beams even brighter and wraps her arms around my neck. “And I’ve never been more excited about anything in my life. This is what I always wanted, Rafe.”
“To own Sweet and Salty?” I tease.
“No, but it does have a deal-sweetening aspect to it, for sure. Shall we head over and tell them the good news? That we accept?” Her eyes widen and I know for sure, without any doubt, that this truly is what she wants.
She’s my girl, and I know what that look means.
She’s happy, satisfied, completely at ease.
I lean down and kiss her, gently pressing my lips to hers for a heartbeat before gathering her in a hug. “I’m so glad you decided to come to Ireland. And yes, let’s go tell them the good news and see what we’ve gotten ourselves into.”
“All good things, Rafe. We’re on the right track again, together.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the ring box I gave her. “Shall we make it official?”
I take the box and start to kneel, but she grasps my elbow. “I already said yes, remember?”
“But I didn’t technically propose. Not properly, anyway.”
Her eyes soften and she sighs with deep contentment. “Yes you did, Rafe. So many ways, so many times the past week. And every single time, in my heart, I said yes.”
I pull the ring from the box and slide it on her finger, finalizing plans we’ve been making since we were little more than kids.
The diamond catches the sunlight and sends a brilliant rainbow across the opposite wall.
Luna falls into my arms again, and for a little while, there is nothing more we want than to stare out the window of our home… together.