Chapter Nineteen
End of June
Monday afternoon, a month later, June was in her office trying to focus on the Zoom meeting she was having with Carson Weston.
It had been a strange month. Dylan and she had texted daily, talking about their work and life in general.
They’d discussed movies and music and their favorite books.
She’d discovered the cowboy loved thrillers and crime stories, genres she steered clear of, but what they had in common was that he also enjoyed the classics.
To Kill a Mockingbird, was one of his favorite books.
Apparently, he had a few editions of it.
He’d dutifully watched some of the rom-coms she’d recommended, and she’d steeled herself to watch some of his film suggestions.
He’d sent her a link to the song they’d heard at the picnic and danced to at the ball in The Graff.
She’d cried as she listened to it, remembering every moment she’d spent in Dylan’s arms.
She’d found herself checking her phone every so often during the day to make sure she didn’t miss any of his texts. Over the last week, though, she hadn’t heard from him at all.
“… think it can work?” Carson’s words finally registered.
“Yes,” she nodded. “I really love the idea of using your photographs capturing the different seasons,” she said.
“Great, I was hoping you’d say that.”
For another few moments she explained the rest of the process until the book would be released.
“So whenever you’re ready, you can send me what you have, I can’t wait to work on your book.”
“Will do. How does it feel being back in Seattle?”
“Fine, thanks. I’m very excited about my children’s story and Willow’s illustrations. I’m really looking forward to having a copy of the book in my hand.”
“And how are you?” Carson asked, a slight smile on his face.
“Still missing Marietta, but I’m okay. How is everyone?”
He grinned. “Everyone is fine, except for Dylan.”
Her heart stopped. “What’s wrong?”
“He misses you.”
Sighing, she tossed her hair over her shoulder. “I miss all of you too.”
“Has he mentioned that Arlene told us about the fight our dad had with Uncle Jackson?”
She shook her head. “No, we’ve talked about movies and music, but he hasn’t mentioned that.”
“I don’t think knowing what happened back then actually changes anything for us. Somehow, though, since Arlene told us what happened, Dylan and I find it easier to talk about the past.”
She wanted to ask what Arlene had told them, but it wasn’t really her place, and if Dylan hadn’t mentioned it, he obviously didn’t think it was important for her to know about it. “I’m glad Arlene has talked about it.”
Looking very uncomfortable, Carson rubbed his neck. “I’m going to ask you something very personal.”
“Ask away.”
“Do you have feelings for my brother?”
It was on the tip of her tongue to give her usual flip answer, telling him she had no idea what love was, but in that moment an image of Dylan flashed in front of her.
Her heart burst wide open, and she finally knew why she’d been so restless.
For a moment she could see him so clearly, her heart ached.
“Yes,” she exhaled, “I haven’t been certain what I feel, but now that you’ve asked, the answer is yes, I love him. It’s so easy to be around him, he accepts me as I am. He even likes my freckles. But he’s not interested in anything permanent, remember? I haven’t even heard from him this past week.”
As a sound in Carson’s background reached her ears, he turned his head to look at something or someone behind him. “How long have you been standing there?”
June inhaled sharply. It couldn’t be Dylan, could it? The butterflies in her tummy woke up.
“Long enough to hear you asking June whether she has feelings for me.” It was Dylan’s voice. “What the hell, man?”
Grinning, Carson got up. “Well, someone had to get this thing going seeing as you’re just moping around.”
For a moment June stared at the empty chair, her heart pounding like a drum, the butterflies going crazy.
Carson was still talking. “If you’re too dumb to ask the obvious questions, someone else has to.”
The next moment, Dylan’s face filled the screen of her laptop. Exhaling slowly, she looked her fill. Oh, how she’d missed him. It took her another second to realize he wasn’t looking happy. In fact, he was seriously ticked off.
Sighing, she rubbed her face. “I’m sorry you heard that, and I know you don’t feel the same way …”
“Why the hell can’t you tell me how you feel, but you can talk to my brother about it?” he just about bellowed.
“Because I’ve just realized I love you!” she cried out. Gulping back the tears, she wiped her eyes. “I know it’s not what you want, I know—”
“Damn it, June, I love you too!” he just about shouted.
“I love everything about you! I love your smile, your freckles, your hair, your body, I love how you light up around kids, I love how you care about everyone around you. I love being with you, I love watching you, and I love, love, love making love to you.”
“I’m outta here!” Carson cried out before a door was slammed shut.
For a moment June stared at Dylan. He’d obviously just returned from work. His hair was standing on end, his face was dirty, but those blue eyes blazed with a light she’d never seen before. Could it be true?
“Tell me again,” she said. “Without shouting.”
For another moment he frowned before a beautiful grin nearly split his face in two.
“I haven’t texted this past week because I’ve been trying to understand why I can’t go a day without talking to you.
I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to figure this out, but when I heard your voice just now, my heart literally leaped up in my body, and I just knew.
I’ve told you about my childhood. I was scared I wouldn’t know how to love someone, but then I met you and the love was just there.
It has taken me a while to understand what my heart already knew the moment I saw you.
I love you, June. I know your work and life is in Seattle and mine is here and I don’t know how all of this will work, but I’m sure we’ll think of something. ”
Touching the screen, she traced the outline of his face.
“I’ve told you about my past, so I have no map to help me figure out what love and family really are, but when I’m with you, I …
I believe I’m where I’m supposed to be. For the first time in my life, I feel that I belong, that I’ve come home. ” The last words were a mere whisper.
Dylan cleared his throat. “I don’t know much about it either, but you and I? We’ll figure it out, together. Arlene has told us what she knows about the fight my dad and her husband had.”
“I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“There isn’t really much to tell. Turns out the fight was about Arlene.
Both brothers were in love with her. My mom found out about it only after she married my dad.
Carson and I have spoken about it since we’ve heard.
I think the reason she behaved as she did was because she’d felt that she was his second choice.
We’ll probably never know whether that was true. ”
“Oh, how very sad. I wish I was with you now.”
“Let me talk to Hayden, I should be able to visit over the weekend.”
“That would be perfect. I can’t wait to see you.”
They were still making plans when Carson returned.
“Okay, I have to go,” Dylan said, “but I’ll text you about the weekend, okay? I love you!”
“I love you too!”
She was still smiling as they ended the call. Jumping up, she did a happy dance. Abby. Oh, she can’t wait to tell her friend.
Abby answered on the first ring.
“I love Dylan!” June laughed.
“Of course you do. You light up every time you talk about him. Tell me?”
Abby listened until June ran out of breath.
“So, what now?” Abby asked.
“I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. His work is on a ranch outside Marietta, and my work is here.”
“You know that isn’t true. What you do, you can do from anywhere.”
“Barry has been so good to me, I don’t—”
“You’re not quitting your job, just moving to another town. This is the twenty-first century. People work from anywhere in the world.”
“I don’t know, Abs. It’s not as if we’re getting married. I could probably rent a place for a while and see how it goes …”
“June, stop!” Abby groaned. “You’re keeping a back door open, if I’m not mistaken.
Like you, I don’t really have an idea what love really means, but I do know that it’s one of those all-or-nothing situations.
You can’t half-ass love someone! If you love him, talk to Barry, return to Marietta, and get your man. ”
When they ended the call a few minutes later, June sat down again and stared at her computer. Could she do that? Take the risk, return to Marietta and get her man as Abby put it?
*
Dylan was still smiling when he stepped into the kitchen on Tuesday morning.
He’d just been on the phone with June. She was on her way to work so there wasn’t time for a long chat, but he was walking on air after hearing her voice, after listening to her telling him she loves him.
He couldn’t image ever getting tired of hearing that.
Everyone around the table was grinning as he entered. Of course, Carson would’ve told them—this was what happened in this family. The one he was fortunate enough to be a part of.
He slapped Carson on the back as he pulled out his chair. “You told them?”
Before he could sit down, all the women were around him. “Of course he did!” Laura cried out, hugging him.
Rose was next. “I’m so happy for you.”
Ellie’s eyes were bright with tears. “Wonderful news.”
Willow gave him a long look before she hugged him too. “You haven’t asked her yet, have you?”
Dylan frowned. “Ask her what?”
“To marry you!” everyone else cried out.
Dylan shook his head. He hadn’t even thought about asking her, they were still trying to figure things out. “She’s in Seattle, I’m here. Besides, I don’t even know if she wants to get married.”
“You won’t know if you don’t ask her,” Willow said. “So how do you think this will work? She’s in Seattle and you’re here and you’ll what? Visit one another every other weekend?”
Getting more uncomfortable by the minute, Dylan sat down. “We haven’t figured out everything yet, but that is a possibility.”
“Leave the poor guy,” Hunter said. “He’s still processing.”
“Okay, I just want to say one more thing,” Willow smiled.
Shaking his head, Dylan looked at his cousin. “Just one?”
“In Bozeman, there’s a beautiful jewelry shop. If you tell the very nice lady who works there what June looks like, she’ll show you the perfect ring. Ask Hunter.”
“It’ll actually be great if someone is going to Bozeman sometime this week,” Hayden said, not looking up from his food. “One of the tractors is down and we couldn’t get the part we need at our hardware store in Marietta.”
“I’ll go,” Dylan said. “For the part, I don’t know about … about …”
“Getting a ring?” Rose grinned.
Dylan got up. “Text me what you need, Hayden, please?” Whistling for Daisy, he left. A ring for June? Was getting married even something she would consider?
His mind went back to the conversation June had with his brother last night as he opened the door of his truck and waited for Daisy to jump in before he got in behind the wheel.
June had mentioned he didn’t want anything permanent, but surely, she knew everything had changed now that he’d told her he loved her? He couldn’t think of anything he wanted more than permanence with June.
Two pings on his phone brought him back. One was a text from Hayden, telling him what to get in Bozeman and the other was a name and address from Willow. For the jewelry store.
Grinning, he started his truck. “Well, Daisy girl, looks like you and I have some shopping to do in Bozeman.”