Chapter 4
Chapter Four
“ Y ou gonna give me the silent treatment the whole drive?”
Scarlett made a hmph and kept staring out the passenger side window.
“Family is important, kiddo. Your grandparents really want to spend some time with you so they can get to know you better.” He bit his tongue before he could add, even though your mom never has.
That earned him a flat stare.
This visit had been on their schedule for a couple of months, but after all the time spent with her new favorite cousins, going to hang with Bridget’s parents wasn’t exactly at the top of her list. She’d met them before and had gotten on fine with them during the previous supervised visits, but this was the first full week that she’d ever spent with them, and her anxiety over it was manifesting in the form of a whole lot of tween attitude.
“Look, I know you’re not excited. But think about it. They lost your mom, too. You’re a piece of her. Arguably the very best piece, so give them a chance, okay? And if it’s a disaster, I’m only a couple of hours away.”
She folded her arms and blew out a slow breath. “Fine. I’ll give it a chance. I’ll do the thing. But you have to do something for me.”
Declan hit her with a wary side eye. “What’s that?”
“You have to go to the fair tonight.”
He blinked at the unexpected request. “At the Harvest Festival?”
She nodded.
“Without you?”
“Yes.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you need to have some fun.”
Fun wasn’t a part of his vocabulary beyond how it pertained to his kid. He was always too busy being the responsible dad. And while he wouldn’t have been surprised that Scarlett thought he needed more fun in his life, he didn’t think her request was quite that generic.
“Why do I get the feeling it’s more than that?”
That earned him an eye roll. “Okay, fine. I heard through the family grapevine that Livia is going to be working the orchard’s booth at the festival. You need to go talk to her.”
Not letting on that his pulse had jumped at just the mention of her name, Declan played it cool. “What?”
“You heard me. You need to at least tell her what happened. If nothing happens after that, fine. Whatever. You’ve at least resolved the issue. But you never know. It might work out. You owe it to yourself to give this a try.”
Resolve the issue? Who the hell had she been talking to? Had all the women in the family been meeting behind his back to have some kind of intervention?
“You think I have to try this?”
“I know you have to try this, Dad.”
He wasn’t sure how he felt about the idea of his kid playing matchmaker. That was definitely Ari’s influence. She was a notorious romantic who claimed a significant role in the successful matchmaking of all of his sisters, and Declan had been warned that she was likely to set her sights on him if he stuck around long enough. Looked like that was accurate. But he’d been thinking about Livia for weeks now, considering what he’d do if he ran into her. Scarlett wasn’t wrong. He’d come to the conclusion he needed resolution all on his own. Thanks very much. So, in the name of negotiation, he capitulated as he pulled into the driveway of a modest eighties-era two-story ranch. “Fine. I’ll agree to go to the fair tonight and try to talk to her. But it means you have to give this visit with your grandparents a full twenty-four hours. Deal?”
She stuck out her hand to shake. “Deal.”
Barbara and Ed Nicholson stepped out of the house, their faces bright with anticipation. The hands Barbara knit together gave away the nerves, as did the hold Ed had on her shoulder.
“Just remember, they’re nervous, too,” Declan told his daughter.
Scarlett sighed. “Right.”
She might’ve dragged her feet a bit in getting out of the car. But she got out and strode up the walk with him.
“Hello, Scarlett!” There was a desperate edge to Barbara’s enthusiastic greeting. At the sound of it, Scarlett eased closer to him.
Declan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Barbara, Ed, good to see you.” Scarlett wasn’t the only one who felt weird being here. These were his former in-laws. The people who’d raised the woman who’d walked away from her child without a backward glance. But Bridget had walked away from them, too, and he’d long ago recognized that the lack in his ex-wife hadn’t come from her parents.
“Declan. Can we invite you in for a glass of tea?” Barbara asked.
He had less-than-zero desire for tea and pleasantries, but he’d do his due diligence to set his daughter at ease. “Sure. I’ll just get Scarlett’s bag first.”
He retrieved her luggage and followed all of them inside.
Ed narrowed his eyes and stroked his chin. “You tryin’ out a new fashion statement there, Declan? What’s with the glitter?”
Lips pressed together, Declan shot Scarlett some side eye. Despite the trim, he still hadn’t gotten all the glitter out. “That would be courtesy of your granddaughter here, who thought a glitter bomb was an appropriate send-off for Kendrick and Erin.”
As they sat in the living room, Declan relayed the story, with interjections from Scarlett defending herself and Ari. By the end of it, they were all laughing.
The visit took longer than he wanted, but it was worth the delay to see Scarlett’s shoulders relax. When they all rose to walk him out, she caught at his hand and began rapidly signing.
Don’t forget what you promised. Talk to Livia. If you don’t go, Ari will tell me.
With a bland stare, Declan signed back. Keeping tabs on me?
Scarlett matched his stare. “Duh.”
He laughed and pulled her in for a big hug. “Love you, kid. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
“Bye, Daddy.”
Declan held on to that daddy as he got back into the car and started the return trip to Eden’s Ridge. He had two hours to figure out what the hell to say. Over the years, he’d ignored so many chances to go back and do the right thing by Livia, at least in terms of giving her an explanation for what happened. For all he knew, she’d somehow blamed herself for his defection, and that didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t know one way or the other. He’d avoided every opportunity to find out.
It was past time for him to man the hell up and go do the thing. He just hoped that Livia didn’t spit in his face and that she’d give him a chance to explain.
And he hoped like hell he could get the last of the fucking glitter out of his beard before he went.
Livia had to admit that though Eden’s Ridge was only half the size of Wishful—which was saying something about small—they knew how to put on a party. Several blocks of Main Street had been cordoned off for the celebration. Booths were set up from one end to the other, with artists, artisans, and food vendors galore. A stage was set up in the middle with a huge plywood sign announcing the lineup of musicians that would perform. Some bluegrass group had a respectable crowd gathered around the edges at the moment. Carnival rides had been erected in the long, narrow pasture behind the VFW a couple of streets off Main. People were everywhere, smiling, laughing, stuffing their faces with funnel cake and corn dogs and all the deep-fried goodness that went along with a small town festival.
“I can’t believe there’s this kind of crowd on a Monday night.” By this time on any given Monday at home, Livia was already in sweatpants, curled up with a book and a cup of tea.
“This is our biggest tourist week of the year,” Aunt Faye explained. “Kicked off with the Harvest Festival this past weekend and stretches all the way through to next weekend for the Founder’s Day celebration. The biggest crowds are on the weekends, of course, but we still have a lot of events and activities during the week for the locals.”
The orchard booth had seen a steady stream of couples and families picking up apple butter, apple turnovers, and a multitude of other apple-themed wares. Livia had lost track of all the people she’d been introduced to. She appreciated the fact that not everyone knew her here like they did at home. Nobody had preconceived notions about who she was or what she wanted. The idea of that was far more appealing than she’d expected. She’d been considering some kind of change for a while now. Maybe that change could be here. She’d still be surrounded by family.
It’s not family that has you thinking about Eden’s Ridge .
The truth of it had her shifting uneasily behind the table. Her reasons for considering moving here were foolish in the extreme, because underneath it all was a hope that should’ve withered away years ago, based on the memory of a boy she couldn’t forget. A boy who was now a man and no longer here.
You are an idiot.
“I’d say you three young’uns have earned a break,” Uncle Roy announced. “Y’all go on now. We can handle the rest.”
Abbey popped up from her seat with as much speed as her very pregnant belly would allow. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I’m dying to walk around. C’mon, Livia. Let’s go check out the fair.”
“I would like to stretch my legs,” she admitted.
Scooting out from behind the table, Kyle offered an arm to them both. “Ladies.”
Livia waved him off. “There’s not room for us to walk three across. Help your wife.”
Abbey slid her arm through his, tipping her face up for a sweet kiss that had Livia sighing with just a little envy.
Someday .
The three of them entered the throngs of people. Livia hung back a little, following in their wake as they wandered through the stalls. For a while she stayed content browsing the available wares with an eye toward Christmas presents, but it didn’t take long to feel like a third wheel. Abbey and Kyle couldn’t help it. Everything they did called them out as a unit, and Livia wouldn’t really have had it any other way. Abbey looked too happy, and she didn’t begrudge her cousin for a moment.
She did wish she’d remembered a coat. The low seventies of the day had given way to temperatures plunging toward the forties now that the sun had gone down. The mountains were a lot colder than Mississippi at night. Shoving both hands into her jeans pockets, she hunched her shoulders and scanned a display of carved wooden bowls, wondering whether her mom might like one.
The warm weight of fabric draped over her shoulders.
“Oh, thanks, I—” She looked up, expecting to see that Kyle had unearthed a coat somewhere. But it wasn’t her cousin-in-law.
Air clogged in her lungs.
He was broader than he had been at eighteen, his jaw more square beneath the close-cropped sandy beard. But she knew him. Knew the familiar hazel eyes and the slightly crooked grin. And just the sight of him had all that hope she’d tried to lock away, fighting to burst free.
“Declan. You’re here.” It was, perhaps, a foolish thing to say. But the moment had taken on the hazy quality of a dream or a spell, and she didn’t quite trust her own eyes. Had she summoned him out of her own nostalgia?
“Better late than never.”
That felt significant somehow. But before she could think why, their little bubble was broken.
“Ah, you made it. Great.” Kyle stepped up, offering a hand and pulling Declan in for one of those back-thumping man hugs. “Good to see you, bro.”
Declan nodded. “Back atcha. Abbey, you’re looking well. I’m sorry we didn’t manage to connect at the wedding last weekend.”
Abbey sent him a speaking glance. “Well, you’re here now. That’s the important thing.” She looped her arm back through Kyle’s. “We’re gonna let you two catch up.”
Panic skittered through Livia. They couldn’t just leave her here with him. But before she could get her brain back online to say so, they were gone, and she was on her own, save for the craftswoman watching from the back of the booth. Livia had no idea what to think or even what to say. What was the protocol when you came face to face with your first love? The one who’d walked away without a word?
Declan spoke first, hunching his shoulders a little as he shoved his hands into his own pockets in a gesture that screamed nerves. “Hey.”
Somehow, knowing he was off-kilter too made her feel an iota calmer. “Hey.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed. “I can’t begin to tell you how good it is to see you.”
She found herself clutching at the lapels of the jacket he’d draped over her shoulders. If not for the feel of it wrapped around her, she might’ve reached out and tried to touch him, to verify he was flesh and blood and not a mirage. But the warmth of the leather was proof enough. Beneath the scent of old leather, she detected a hint of something that might’ve been cedar, and she had to resist the urge to turn her nose into the shoulder to take a better whiff.
Declan was staring at her, and she realized she had to actually respond. What had he said? That it was really good to see her. “Likewise. How have you been?” It was the most benign question she could manage under the circumstances.
He huffed a laugh. “I don’t even know how to answer that.” Darting a glance at the booth’s attendant, he jerked his head. “Walk with me?”
What else could she say? “Okay.”
She fell into step with him, aware of his proximity like a magnet to metal. Once he would’ve put his arm around her, and she’d have slid her hand into his back pocket. But they’d been separated by more than years and miles. She felt all of them as they made their way down the street, between stalls.
“Life is kind of in flux, at the moment,” he admitted. “I’ve… been thinking about you. A lot.”
“Really?” She knew she sounded skeptical. How could she not? If that were the case, why hadn’t he said something, done something back when they still meant something to each other? She wasn’t at all sure she wanted to hear the answer.
Declan dipped his head, staring at the ground for a long moment. “Listen, I… There are things I need to say.”
Wary now, she glanced at him through lowered lashes. “About?”
He straightened, meeting her gaze head on. “You. Us. I handled things badly back when. As in… not at all. You deserved a lot better than that, and I just want you to know I’m sorry for hurting you.”
Livia blinked, absorbing the statement. Much as she’d wanted an apology all these years, she hadn’t really expected to get one. And she didn’t know what to do with this one. She fell back on manners. “I appreciate that.”
He rocked back on his heels, shoving his hands back into his pockets, hesitating. “I’d… like to tell you what happened. If you’re willing to listen.”
For years she’d resisted the urge to chase down answers, terrified of what they might be. And here he was, offering them freely. Was the satisfaction of her curiosity worth the prospective pain?
“One ride on the Ferris wheel,” he urged. “If you don’t want to see me after that, I totally get it.”
The Ferris wheel. Where they’d had their first kiss. Her pulse jumped. Was that significant? Or did he just want her as a captive audience for the duration of his tale?
The truth shall set you free. She didn’t know if it would or not, but she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to find out.
“Okay.”