Small Town, Big Secrets
Page 20
Coffee Corner.
It wasn’t possible. “Is this…” She didn’t know how to ask, didn’t dare dream.
“It’s yours.” Steve moved to stand next to her, taking her hand in his and drawing her closer.
“How did you know about the name? I never mentioned that to you.”
“Your mother.” Steve stood there grinning.
“She knows about this place?” Becky was flabbergasted.
“Some.” He winked.
“I can’t believe you would do this. You should have asked me first. I can’t afford this. I know I got the money from Jack, but I prefer not to touch it unless it’s for Byron.” The cost of the place had to far exceed what she could ever afford. And then there was the upkeep and supplies and staff. It would take more money than she had to make a go of the place.
“I like that about you. In fact, there’s a lot about you I like. But it’s not for sale, so you can’t buy it.” Steve moved to stand next to her and drew her in his arms.
“I don’t understand why you would do this. It’s too much.”
He took her by the hand and started walking. “Follow me.”
They crossed the street, where Steve stopped in front of the old apothecary. It had been closed for over ten years, but now the place had brown paper across the windows.
Familiar brown paper. It was like déjà vu as Steve walked up to the window and yanked the paper off to reveal the new name of the place.
Steve Parker, Attorney at Law.
Becky looked up at him, trying to wrap her brain around what she was seeing.
“I told you showing works better with you, and judging by the expression on your face, it worked.” Steve took her hand and raised it to his lips.
“You’re moving here? Leaving the city?”
“I am. And the Cattleman’s Association is my first client, which should keep me quite busy.”
“Yeah, about that, it would have been nice if you’d share the little tidbit with me about you working with them.” Becky nodded. It was time to come clean with Steve, and she hoped he would forgive her lack of trust.
“It wasn’t exactly public knowledge,” he said, pulling her close.
“Still, Jerry had to tell me the truth after I accused you of being in cahoots with the bad guys.”
Jack had tainted her ability to believe in the goodness of people, but Steve had restored her faith.
“That’s rich.” Steve chuckled, shaking his head.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t believe in you. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Consider it done. You asked me why I withdrew from the election? It’s because you and Byron are more important than winning the judge’s seat. I wanted to be near you.”
Tears ran down her face. He’d done this for her and Byron. And he’d forgiven her. But it didn’t change anything when it came to the Coffee Corner. “I like the sound of that a lot. But I can’t accept this.” She pointed to the Coffee Corner, although it pained her to turn down her dream. “It’s too much.”
“Not if it’s a wedding present. I love you.” Steve reached into his pocket and withdrew something, dropping to one knee and then taking her hand.
Somewhere in the far recesses of her brain, she registered what he was doing, but most of her brain was still stuck on the words “I love you.”
“Rebecca McAllister, will you marry me? For real this time.” He looked up at her with love shining in his warm brown eyes that twinkled. For real. Magical words that filled her with a rush of emotion knowing he felt the same way she did.
Dreams did come true, and there really was a happily ever after meant for her.
“I love you, too,” she said through her tears. “And yes, I’ll marry you. For real this time.” Her heart burst with joy. Steve loves me.
He stood and pulled her into his arms as clapping and cheers surrounded them.
Becky looked around to discover several people from town had gathered around, including her mother. It seemed a lot of people knew what had been happening, but lost in her own misery, she’d missed the clues.
“You really do love me?”
“I really do.” Steve lowered his head to kiss her. It was like coming home.
Two arms wrapped around her mid-section. She looked down to find Byron hugging them both tight. Steve swung her son up in his arms.
“Hey, little man. Thanks for giving me permission to marry your mother.” Steve grinned, giving Byron a high five.
“You knew, you little stinker.” Becky ruffled Byron’s hair and kissed his cheek.
“Yup. I’m good at keeping happy secrets.” Byron laughed, his arms tightly wound around Steve’s neck.
“You sure are. The best.” Her son beamed under Steve’s praise. Correction, soon to be their son. It had a nice ring to it.
Epilogue
Steve picked Byron up, putting him on his shoulders, and carried him toward the swing set, setting him down in the sandbox to play. Becky joined them seconds later. He loved watching his wife walk into a room, lighting it up and bringing joy to those around her. Today, the glow was brighter than ever, and with good reason on multiple accounts.
He couldn’t believe how incredibly blessed he was to have her and Byron in his life. Although he hadn’t given her long to put together the wedding, she’d managed to make it memorable—a church wedding, followed by a reception in the gardens at his parents’ house. It had been the perfect backdrop for her beauty. And after the honeymoon, they’d had the grand opening for the Coffee Corner, and it was a huge success, mostly because of Becky’s determination.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?”
“I’m good, thanks to you.” Becky grinned, hooking her arm around his.
They’d come a long way in a short time, and he wouldn’t change a thing.
Steve still couldn’t believe Becky and his parents had become friends, but then, Becky had a way of working her magic on everyone. She was that special. It hadn’t hurt that his mother had helped Judith start her own business, McAllister’s Maids, and she became the first customer and a heavy advocate. The business had grown quickly, and now Becky’s mother only managed it, with a whole staff who did the actual cleaning.
Watching his parents with Byron had been an even bigger shock. They might not have been good parents, but they did their best to make up for it as grandparents. And, of course, Byron loved having more family dote on him. The only one missing was Jack. Hopefully, one day Jack would grow up. But for now, nothing had changed. He’d gone from spoiled child to spoiled adult, but the one thing he hadn’t counted on was his own mother finally saying enough.
His parents agreed tough love was in order, and they’d cut him off, wanting him to fend for himself, hoping he’d figure out how to be a better adult and get his act together.
“Byron, can we talk to you for a minute? We’ve got something to show and tell you.”
“I love show and tell at school.” He grinned.
“This should be just as good or better.” Steve ruffled the boy’s hair then squatted next to him. “You are, now and forever, my son.”
“We got the adoption papers today.”
“Yay! I love you, Daddy.” Byron threw his arms around Steve and hugged him tight.
“I love you, too.” Steve’s vision blurred as his eyes watered, the emotions of the moment almost more than he could imagine. Byron was truly no longer his stepson or his nephew—he was his son. Steve’s heart felt like it would burst with happiness.
“You said show and tell. What do you have to show me?” The kid didn’t miss a thing.
“I’ve got that part covered.” Becky smiled before returning to the house.
“Where’s she going?” Byron asked, watching his mother walk away. “How can she show me something if she’s leaving?”
“You’ll see.” Steve knelt next to Byron and waited for his wife to return with his son’s present.
Minutes later, Becky came out the back door, holding the ten-week-old, mixed-breed puppy they’d picked out at the shelter. The golden retriever in the dog was a given considering the light reddish-golden fur and face, and they’d known right away the puppy would be an excellent pet for Byron.
“You got me a dog?” Byron ran to his mother’s side, his smile as wide as the moon. “He’s so sweet. Can I hold him? Can I?” he pleaded.
“If you sit down first, and then you need to be very gentle. And it’s a she,” Becky answered.
“Cool.” Byron sat down in the grass and held out his hands. “I’ve always wanted a dog.”
“Now that we have a house with lots of room for a dog to run and play, I thought it was a good idea for you to learn responsibility. You’re getting to be such a big boy now.” Becky placed the squirming puppy in his arms, guiding his hands to show him how to hold her correctly.
“Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Mr. St…Dad.”
Steve loved the sound of the word. Dad.
“What are you going to name her?” Steve sat down next to him in the grass to pet the puppy.
“Goldilocks.” Byron didn’t hesitate with his answer. It was the special story he never tired of hearing, Steve style.
“That’s a perfect name, son. You know, you two share a special bond.”
“What’s that?”
“I adopted you, and this puppy was adopted from a local shelter.”
Becky smiled, watching the two of them together.
“Cool. We’re going to be best friends forever.” Byron beamed.
The dog struggled to get down. “It’s okay to let her go. We just need to stay close by while she explores.” Steve helped Byron to his feet, and hand in hand, they followed Goldilocks as she walked around the back yard, sniffing the scents of her new home, as Becky watched from the sidelines. They had another surprise for Byron, but they’d wait a few more months to let him know he would soon have a baby sister to play with as well.
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Acknowledgments
Many thanks to my editor, Stacy Abrams, who helped bring Becky’s story to my readers. It’s been awesome working with you, and I look forward to collaborating on more stories. Thanks to Lydia Sharp for all your wonderful insights that made the story stronger.
About the Author
Elsie Davis discovered the world of Happily-Ever-After romance at the age of twelve and has been hooked ever since. She’s a Hallmark Channel movie fan, enjoys reading sweet romance, and loves creating her own fun stories, keeping them appropriate for all ages who love romance…pre-teen to grandparents.
A #1 Amazon Best Selling category author, Elsie writes from her heart, hoping to share a little love in a big world.
Colossians 3:14 ~And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony~
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