43. Summer
Summer
The house was quiet as I sipped my decaf.
It was too late for regular coffee. Reese had taken Nate to his parents’ place for a final before-the-grandkids-start-school sleepover.
He’d been chatting about it all day. He and Thomas were planning to sleep outside under the stars.
I loved that a simple night outside with his best friend/sort-of-cousin felt like an exciting adventure.
As for me, I was happy to have a lot less excitement in my life.
Weeks went by after what became known in the Haven family as “The Big Timber Incident.” And every day brought an increasing sense of peace.
Mayhem had no more interest in me and Nate.
I was open to maintaining contact with my mother, but her world couldn’t touch me anymore.
The weight of fear and uncertainty had lifted, and we could finally move forward.
For the first time in my life, I felt free.
Free and loved. It was an amazing combination.
I scanned the info on the laptop screen. I’d been looking into something that, just a few months prior, had been unthinkable. College.
Me. College. It almost made me laugh. As much as I’d wished for an opportunity to do something else—find a job where I could learn and grow and provide a better life for my son—it had seemed so far out of reach. Impossible, even.
But now? Maybe it wasn’t so far after all.
With a sigh, I clicked over to a different program.
Psychology. When I allowed myself to ponder what I really wanted to do, counseling was always the first thing that came to mind.
I knew what it was like to struggle, and I loved the idea of helping people work through their traumas and hurts.
Of bringing healing and hope, no matter what they’d been through.
But that didn’t just require some classes or a short certificate program. That meant a bachelor’s degree, and a masters. It was a lot of school—a lot of time and money.
And would I even have what it took? I didn’t know.
I clicked back to the other page. I’d found a number of online certificate programs in various fields. They all had their pros and cons. None of them were waitressing, and that was a big pro. As much as I enjoyed working at the Copper Kettle, I was ready for something new.
Reese came in and his subtle smile sent tingles down my spine. I closed the laptop and moved it aside.
“I brought dinner.” He held up a to-go bag from a bistro we both liked.
“That’s a nice surprise. Thank you.”
“You worked all day.” He brought the bag to the table and set it down. “Figured you might enjoy dinner without having to think about it.”
“So much.”
He got silverware from the kitchen and sat down next to me, then we dug into our food.
“How were things up at your parents’?” I asked.
“Good. The kids were already getting their sleeping bags set up for their campout.”
“Hopefully they actually sleep.”
Reese chuckled. “I wouldn’t count on it. But he’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, he has a few days before school starts. I’m trying not to be nervous about that, but it’s hard.”
“That’s going to be fine, too. He’s not the same kid who punched Joey Conroy at recess.”
I laughed. “Don’t remind me of that.”
He gently caressed my back. “He’s going to do great. He’s home now.”
“We’re all home.”
Leaning over, he pressed a soft kiss to my lips.
“Speaking of school…” I hadn’t told Reese that I’d been looking at programs. “I’ve been thinking about going back to school. I know that will cost money and take time, and I haven’t figured out if I can keep working full-time, but I think—”
“Do it.”
I gaped at him. “That’s it? Do it?”
“Yeah. If you want to go back to school, go back to school. It’s a great idea. What do you want to study?”
“I’ve been looking at some certificate programs. A lot of them are only twelve to fourteen weeks long. That would get me back to work right away.”
“Are any of them things you actually want to do?”
I hesitated. “I guess they’re things I wouldn’t mind doing.”
Shifting in his chair, he turned to face me. “What do you really want to do?”
“Well…” I fiddled with a strand of hair. “The thing is, there’s another path I was considering, but it’s a big deal. I’m talking a lot of school.”
“What is it?”
“I was thinking counseling.” Saying it aloud, I suddenly felt silly. “I don’t know why I’m even mentioning it. You need a master’s degree.”
“What’s the problem? You don’t want to be in school that long?”
“It’s not that I wouldn’t want to. I just don’t know how that would work. It’s so expensive, and it would take years.”
With a smile, he touched my cheek and gave me a soft kiss. “You should go after what you really want. We’ll make it work.”
“Seriously? College and grad school?”
“Absolutely.” He kissed me again. “If this is what you want to pursue, we’ll make it happen.”
A few tears stung my eyes. “Why are you so good to me?”
“Because I love you.”
“I love you, too. So much.”
After a quick swipe beneath my eyes, I went back to my dinner, gratitude and hope blossoming inside me. Having someone who truly cared—who truly loved me—was a gift I’d never know how to repay.
While we finished our dinner, we chatted about the logistics of college—the application process and what the undergrad program would entail—plus the upcoming school year, Nate’s latest growth spurt, and Reese’s upcoming security client.
He’d be out of town for a few days, but I didn’t mind.
At least he wasn’t heading to South America for months on end.
Our meal devoured, we cleaned up. It was getting late. The sun had set, and I was thinking about changing into pajamas, when Reese spoke up.
“Get some shoes on.”
“Where are we going?”
“There’s something I want to show you.”
The rare hint of playfulness in his tone caught my attention. “What?”
“You’ll see.”
It was probably still warm outside, so I stayed in my black tank top and comfy boyfriend jeans. I slipped on a pair of sandals and followed Reese out to his SUV.
He didn’t say anything as we left the house, and I resisted the urge to ask questions—especially when we left town and he took a side road leading uphill through the trees.
Finally, he came to a stop in a wide clearing on a hill, the taller peaks surrounding us. We got out and the scent of pine hung in the air.
“What are we doing out here?”
“Look up.”
In that secluded place, the sky was awash with stars. It was as if someone had tossed white glitter across a black sheet. The half-moon hung low and the jagged mountain peaks were dark silhouettes against the sparkling sky.
Facing upward, I turned in a slow circle. “Oh. It’s so beautiful.”
“Summer.” His voice was gentle but insistent.
“Yeah?”
When he didn’t reply, I turned back to find him down on one knee.
I gasped, my heart fluttering. Pings of excitement swept through my entire body.
“Summer, you changed my life. You brought me home. And I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, and Nate, and”—he hesitated, clearing his throat—“anyone else who comes along.” A few tears broke free from the corners of my eyes, and a happy laugh escaped my lips as he continued.
“I would do anything for you. Go to the ends of the earth and back. I love you with everything that I am. And I promise to love you forever. Will you marry me?”
I started nodding before I could quite get any words out. “Yes. Yes. I love you so much.”
He took my hand and slid a diamond solitaire on my finger. He hardly had the chance to get back to his feet before I threw my arms around him.
Holding each other tight, our mouths met in a passionate kiss. And right there, beneath the stars, my deepest longing came true.
A winding path had led us to each other, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. He loved me for who I was, and I loved every piece of him—tattoos, scars, and all. I wasn’t worried about his past. I just wanted his future.
I had his promise, and he had mine. We belonged to each other, forever.