Chapter 16
Chloe
I make it back to Valentine in record time, my heart pounding the entire three-hour drive.
It’s almost six in the evening when I pull onto Sweethearts Lane, a name that has a different meaning now.
My hands are shaking on the steering wheel.
I have a speech prepared —fifteen different versions that I practiced out loud in the car— but they all disappear when I see Jonah’s truck in the driveway.
And then I see the rest.
There are lights strung across the porch. Not Christmas lights— white twinkle lights, the kind that look like stars. The flower boxes I noticed that first day, the ones that were empty and snow-covered, are now filled with winter greenery and white roses.
On the porch steps, there’s a trail of white rose petals.
My breath catches.
I park and get out slowly, following the petals up the steps. They lead to the front door, where there’s a note taped to the wood.
I’m coming for you. -J
My hand flies to my mouth.
The door opens before I can knock, and Jonah stands there in jeans and a button-down shirt, car keys in his hand, looking as shocked to see me as I am to see the roses.
“Chloe?” His voice is rough, disbelieving. “Hi…”
I gesture at the lights, the flowers, the keys in his hand. “What is all this?”
“I was going to drive to Billings.” He holds up the keys. “My mom told me where you were. I was coming to stop you from signing that lease.”
We stare at each other for a long moment.
“You were coming for me?” I whisper.
“I told myself I was going to give you space. Let you make your own choice. But I couldn’t.
” He steps onto the porch, and I can see the raw emotion on his face.
“I couldn’t let you go without fighting for you.
Without telling you that I don’t care if you’re scared.
I’m scared too. But I’d rather be scared with you than safe without you. ”
Tears are streaming down my face. “I didn’t sign the lease.”
He freezes. “Okay? What’s that mean?”
“I didn’t sign it. I couldn’t. Because your mom called me and told me I was an idiot for running from the best thing that ever happened to me.”
He chuckles. “She meant well.”
“And she was right.” I take a shaky breath. “I’ve been afraid of getting hurt that I was destroying us. But I’m done being afraid, Jonah.”
“Chloe—”
“Let me finish. Please.” I step closer, and he nods.
“You were right about everything. I wasn’t all in.
I was keeping one foot out the door because I was terrified you’d leave me the way Derek left me.
The way everyone always leaves me. But you’re not everyone.
You’re the man who gets up at four a.m. to make bread.
Who tries his best to read bedtime stories with different voices.
Who looked at a broken woman and saw someone worth fighting for. ”
“You were never broken—”
“I was. And maybe I still am. But you make me want to be whole.” My voice cracks.
“I love you, Jonah. I love you so much it terrifies me. And I know I hurt you. I know I hurt the girls. But if you’ll give me another chance, I promise —no, I swear— I will spend every day proving that I’m all in.
No backup plans. No exit strategy. Just us. ”
He’s staring at me like he’s afraid to believe it. “You turned down the job?”
“I called them from the car. Told them I couldn’t take it because I’m staying in Valentine. Because my home is here. My family is here.” I reach for his hand. “You’re here.”
“What about teaching? The permanent position might not be—”
“Then I’ll substitute. I’ll wait. I don’t care.” I squeeze his hand. “I spent so long chasing a dream that I almost missed the one standing right in front of me. You and those girls, that’s my dream now. That’s all I want.”
Jonah pulls me into his arms so suddenly that I gasp, and then his mouth is on mine, kissing me like he’s been drowning and I’m air. I kiss him back with everything I have, pouring every apology, every promise, every bit of love into it.
When we finally break apart, we’re both crying.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper against his lips. “I’m so sorry for hurting you. For doubting us.”
“I’m sorry too. For giving you an ultimatum instead of fighting for you harder.” He cups my face, his thumbs wiping away my tears. “I was so scared of being hurt again that I pushed you away. Just like you said.”
“Your mom called me out on it. Said we were both idiots.”
He laughs, the sound wet and broken and perfect. “She’s not wrong.”
“So we’re both idiots in love?”
“The best kind of idiots.” He kisses me again, softer this time. “Stay. Please stay.”
“Forever,” I promise. “No more running. No more fear. Just us.”
“Chloe’s here!”
We break apart to find Ava and Mia standing in the doorway, still in their pajamas even though it’s dinnertime, staring at us with identical expressions of joy.
“You came back!” Mia runs onto the porch, crashing into my legs.
“We love you, Chloe.”
I crouch down, pulling them both into a hug. “I promise, I’m staying. I’m so sorry I left. I made a mistake, but I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere ever again.”
“Do you promise-promise?” Mia asks.
“I promise-promise.” I look up at Jonah, who’s watching us with so much love in his eyes that my chest aches. “I love your daddy, and I love you two more than anything in the world. This is my family, and I’m staying.”
Both girls cheer, and then they’re pulling me inside, talking over each other about everything I missed, about the picture they drew for me, about how Daddy burned the bread and Grandma said it was because he was sad.
Carol appears from the kitchen, wiping her eyes. “I told you to drive safe.”
“I did. I promise.” I hug her, and she holds me tight.
“Welcome home, sweetheart,” she whispers.
That night, after the twins are in bed and Carol has gone home, Jonah leads me upstairs to our room —not my old room, but our room— and closes the door.
“I have something for you,” he says, reaching into his nightstand.
He pulls out a small velvet box.
My heart stops. “Jonah—”
“I’m not proposing. At least, not yet.” He opens the box to reveal a delicate silver necklace with a small key pendant.
“But I want you to have this. It’s a key to the house.
To our life. To everything I have.” He takes it out, fastening it around my neck.
“You’re not the nanny, Chloe. You’re not temporary.
You’re mine. Ours. And when you’re ready —when we’re both ready— I’m going to ask you to marry me and make it official. ”
I touch the key, tears spilling over again. “I’m ready now.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” I kiss him, deep and certain. “Ask me.”
He laughs, shaking his head. “Not like this. You deserve something better than me in jeans in our bedroom on a random Tuesday.”
“I don’t want better. I just want you.”
“You have me.” He pulls me closer, his forehead resting against mine. “You’ve always had me. From that first day when you walked in covered in snow and took charge of the flour explosion. I’ve been yours since then.”
“Then I guess we’re both idiots who fell fast.”
“The best kind of idiots,” he repeats, and then he’s kissing me, and we’re falling onto the bed, and everything else falls away.
Later, wrapped in his arms with the key pendant resting against my heart, I finally feel like I’m home.
Really home.
Forever home.