Chapter 50
Mallorie Jade
I’m waiting outside on the sidewalk when Hayes pulls into Tanner’s dad’s house with Tanner.
The balls of my feet are sore from bouncing on them, but I can’t stop until I see that the kid is safe.
Hayes called when he found him, and Theo cried in relief.
It’s hard watching a grown man cry, but I think it’s even harder watching a grown woman not cry. Josephine didn’t bat an eye when she found out Tanner was safe. She was more worried about what Tanner’s disappearance had done for her plans than she was about her son.
How one woman can be so heartless, I’ll never know.
Bella, Lily, and Theo stand beside me on the sidewalk, crowding Hayes’s truck as he pulls in.
The kid won’t get a moment of peace for a very long time.
His door opens, and Tanner steps out, eyes going straight to his dad, and I watch him brace himself for the butt chewing he thinks is coming. But instead, Theo wraps his arms around his son and holds him until they are both crying into each other.
Beside me, Lily wipes at her eyes, but Bella looks mad as a hornet. She stands with her hands on her hips, glaring daggers at Tanner.
And when he finally pulls out of his dad’s embrace and meets Bella’s gaze, I can’t help but laugh at the fear that enters his eyes.
Bella walks right up to him, hands still on her hips, and says, “Tanner Sylvis, if you ever think about scaring me like that again. I’ll kick your butt.” Then she stands on her tiptoes and kisses him on the cheek.
Tanner’s face turns a hundred shades of red as Bella stomps off to the porch and plops down in a chair like she needs the space.
“I think they are in love,” Hayes whispers in my ear.
I hadn’t noticed him get out of the truck. I’d been too busy watching the reunion. But now he’s here, and his front is pressed against my back—scattering my concentration.
Shrugging, I say, “Maybe they’ll get married someday.
Hayes chuckles next to my ear. “Yeah. Maybe.” His hand clasps my fingers, and he gives them a gentle tug. “Want to go on a walk with me? Tanner said he wanted some space to talk to his dad alone, but I want to check in on him in a little bit. We won’t go too far.”
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say no to Hayes Miller, so I nod and turn to Lily, who had been far enough away that she couldn’t hear our conversation. “We’re going for a walk and check back in a little while. Would you like to join us?”
Hayes’s hand squeezes my fingers, and I can practically hear him yelling at me, but things changed between Lily and me while Tanner was missing. We put our differences aside because we cared about a kid, and I found out she wasn’t half as bad as I thought she might be.
Maybe one day we might even become friends.
She shakes her head, declining. “No thanks. I’m going to head out. You two have fun, and Hayes,” she says, looking over my shoulder at the man behind me, “try to stay on her good side. You can’t afford to have your nose broken again.”
Laughter rumbles from Hayes’s chest, and I have to giggle along with him.
Yes, I definitely think we could be friends one day.
Lily walks away, slipping into her car and driving away as Hayes tugs on my hand, pulling me down the sidewalk.
I keep my hand in his, savoring the feel of his callouses against my skin.
“I’m sorry I didn’t answer this morning,” I say as we walk.
He shrugs. “It all worked out. I’m just glad he’s okay.”
“Me too. I’m glad you found him.”
Hayes doesn’t answer, and when I look over, his face is pensive.
“What?” I ask, needing to know what’s got him so deep in thought.
“I didn’t find him.” He runs his hands through his hair, roughly pulling at the roots.
“What do you mean?”
Tugging on my hand, he pulls me to a stop, and I turn to face him.
“He found me. I was at the church, sitting on my knees and begging God to help me find Tanner. Then the door opened, and there he was. So I didn’t find him, MJ. Tanner found me.”
Lifting my hand, I cup his cheek, letting him see every part of me because they are all his parts to own anyway.
“You went to church?” The question feels rough in my throat.
“Yeah,” he says, nodding into my hand. “You asked me once if I thought God could ever forgive us for what we did. Ask me again, MJ.”
My chin trembles. “Do you think God could forgive, Hayes?”
He nods, his strong jaw a weight in my hand. “He already had. We just had to learn to forgive ourselves.”
A tear gathers at the corner of my eye, and Hayes reaches up to wipe it away with his thumb. If someone had told me that day I pulled back into town that I would find healing in Benton Falls, I would have told them they were a liar, but here I am standing with a man I love, a relationship with both my parents, and a job I love.
Sometimes, it’s hard to see the whole puzzle when you’re staring at the pieces, but once the final piece is in place, there’s always a beautiful picture.
“And did you forgive yourself, Hayes Miller?”
His hand stays on my face, thumb softly stroking my cheek. “Yeah, I did.”
Rising on my toes, my lips brush against his, and I whisper, “Me too.”
His lips find mine, and he kisses me as the sun shines a little brighter on us.