“Thank you for saying that.”
“I’m not just saying it. I know it.”
Peering up at him, she smiled. “You need to eat before your food gets cold.”
“Only if you’ll join me.”
She did, and as she started talking about her most recent phone call with Megan, he realized just how much grace this woman before him demonstrated under pressure. Like the night of the blizzard, when she climbed into a crumbling building to save those foals.
Carly was one in a million, all right. And he couldn’t help wondering if she just might be the only one for him.
Chapter Sixteen
First thing Wednesday morning, Carly was busy in Livie’s kitchen. Megan was on her way home, so her favorite foods were the order of the day. Peanut butter cookies with the chocolate Kiss in the middle, brownies, Carly’s special four-cheese mac and cheese, and, tonight, Salisbury steak. Top that all off with the news that they’d be able to move back into Granger House on Friday and her daughter was going to be ecstatic. This would be a very good Good Friday.
Which reminded her, she needed to make some purchases. A new Easter dress for Megan. A ham. And probably some more replacement items for the kitchen. She’d ordered a lot of stuff online. Things that were now stored in Livie’s laundry room. Then again, it had taken her a lifetime to collect all that kitchenware. She just hoped it didn’t take that long to replace it.
Maybe they could run to Montrose tomorrow. Nothing better than a little retail therapy to kill time. Besides, Andrew would be too busy putting the finishing touches on things next door to spend a moment with them.
The thought of moving back into Granger House was a bittersweet one, though. She’d soon be saying goodbye to Andrew. Too soon, as far as she was concerned.
I’d like you to help me keep Andrew in Ouray.
Lately she found herself wanting him to stay, too. If only she knew how to make Clint’s—and her—wish come true.
She put the lid on the casserole dish and tucked the mac and cheese in the fridge for either lunch or a side with dinner tonight. She went through the motions of her chores, but Andrew was never far from her mind. No one except her parents had ever encouraged her the way Andrew did. Not even Dennis. Andrew listened to her and was honest with her, not simply placating her with what he thought she wanted to hear.
Like yesterday, when he pointed out all of the changes she’d actually faced and lived to tell about. She’d merely thought of it as overcoming what life threw her way. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps she was stronger than she thought.
With her baking complete, she scanned the functional yet less than appealing seventies-era kitchen. If she were to use this place as an extension of Granger House, the first thing she’d do was paint the dark wooden cabinets a lighter color. Maybe a light gray or white, like in her new kitchen. That would depend on the flooring, though. Given that the house was a hundred years old, she assumed there were hardwoods under this ugly vinyl. If that was the case, she’d have them refinished, perhaps even the same color Andrew used in the kitchen at Granger...
Oh, why was she wasting her time daydreaming? Because unless she could talk Andrew into selling her his half, it was pointless. And until she got the final bill for the repairs to Granger House, she wasn’t even sure she could afford it.
She needed to focus on something productive while she waited for Megan.
Like Mona’s scrapbooks. She’d already completed Noah’s book and was ready to start on Andrew’s.
She locked the back door and tilted the blinds so no one could see in before retrieving the stuff from the bedroom. The last thing she’d want was Andrew to come wandering in and spoil the surprise.
After laying out each small stack of photos, she found the handwritten note Mona had penned for her second-born. Did Carly dare look at it? No, not today. It would only make her cry.
She placed it back inside the box and began sorting the photos, putting them in chronological order. What a cute baby he was. And a mischievous-looking young boy. The next group of pictures was of his teen years. That playful gleam in his eyes wasn’t nearly as prominent in his ninth grade school picture.
Shuffling to the next image, she smiled. What a handsome cowboy he was, though rather serious. She turned it over to read the note on the back.
Andrew, age 15. Working the ranch with Noah. My boys worked so hard to be men while their daddy was sick.
Carly flipped the picture back over and stared at the image. That was the summer of the horrible drought. His father had pneumonia then, too, as she recalled. Except it was much worse and included a lengthy stay in the hospital.
She and Andrew were only friends at that point, but close enough for her to know that he and Noah poured all their efforts into helping their parents that year. They’d not only done all of the work at the ranch but also spent the summer building fences for a rancher down the road who had offered to pay them. All in an effort to spare their parents the humiliation of having an adjoining piece of land they’d recently purchased foreclosed on by the bank.
In the end, the boys’ hard work wasn’t enough, and their parents lost that land anyway. She’d never forget the look on Andrew’s face when he came to visit his grandmother shortly thereafter. He was so broken. That was probably when she’d first fallen in love with him.
The doorbell rang, jarring her from her thoughts.
She glanced at the starburst clock on the kitchen wall. Was it really almost noon? If so, then that would be her baby.
She set the stacks of photos in the box and tucked it back in the bedroom before rushing to open the front door to Megan and her grandparents.
“Oh, I’m so glad to see you.” She hugged her daughter for all she was worth the moment she stepped inside.
“Mom, you’re squishing me.”
There was that word again. After five days apart, she would have thought she’d be Mommy once again.
Carly released her. “Guess what?”
“You made cookies? I can smell them.”
“Yes, but that’s not what I was going to tell you.”
“Oh. Okay. What, then?” At least Megan’s smile had an anticipatory air to it.
“We get to move back into Granger House on Friday.”
The girl’s eyes went wide. “Really?”
“Unless Andrew changes his mind.”
Megan jumped up and down. “I can’t wait to have my room back.”
“Any chance we could see the finished product?” Beverly watched her with great expectation.
“I wish you could, but unfortunately, Andrew won’t even let me see it. He’s got the windows covered and everything. Says he wants to do one of those big reveals like they do on TV.”
“He’ll let me see it.” Megan was too confident.
“Probably not. But you’re welcome to try.”
Her daughter started for the door.
“After you unpack your suitcase and have some lunch.”
“Aw, man.” Megan grabbed her suitcase and dragged it down the hall.
Chuck smiled at Carly. “We’ve heard a lot about this Andrew in recent days.”
“Indeed.” Beverly looked as though she was accusing her. “Seems Megan is quite taken with him.”
“Andrew and I have known each other since we were kids. He’s a good friend.”
Beverly’s brow arched. “A very good friend, according to Megan.”
Carly loathed the heat she felt rising into her cheeks.
Her mother-in-law stepped closer then and took hold of her hands. “And that’s okay.”
What?
She jerked her gaze to Beverly’s. The woman was smiling. Really smiling. At her, no less.
“Dennis has been gone for five years, Carly. It’s
time to move on.”
Chuck came beside them, laying a hand on each of their shoulders. “We just want you and Megan to be happy.”
A lump formed in Carly’s throat. She could hardly believe the words she was hearing. Obviously she had misjudged the woman. Perhaps she should start thinking of her as a friend instead of her mother-in law.
She hugged both Wagners. “I appreciate that. But don’t worry.” She looked at them now. “I have no plans to head to the altar anytime soon.”
* * *
Andrew was still in shock. He never would have believed he could have put Carly’s kitchen and family room back together in just four weeks. Yet by the grace of God, he’d managed to pull it off.
He was more than pleased with the way things had turned out. He’d even thrown in a few details she wasn’t expecting. Now he couldn’t wait to see her reaction.
“I didn’t think this day would ever come.” Carly moved through the front door of Granger House early Friday afternoon, hands clasped against her chest, a big smile on her beautiful face.
“It’s so clean.” Megan moved into the parlor, sniffing the air. “Smells clean, too.”
“I know.” Though she’d seen it before, Carly strolled through the space, examining everything from floor to ceiling. “I was skeptical when they said they’d be able to restore stuff to the way it was before the fire.” Pausing, she bent over and sniffed one of the antique chairs, then straightened and smiled. “But they did a great job.”
“I’m gonna check out my room.” Megan ran across the wooden floor, taking a left at the dining room. “It smells good in here, too,” she hollered a second later.
Shaking her head, Carly chuckled as she continued into the dining room, still taking in every nuance. “It’s amazing how they were able to freshen everything.”
Andrew stopped at the entrance to the kitchen. “Wait until you see what’s in here.”
Carly’s smile had never been bigger. She practically wiggled with excitement as she approached.
“Don’t you want to wait for Megan?”
“Megan,” she called over her shoulder. “Hurry up so we can see our new kitchen.”
“Coming.” Her daughter was at her side in no time, both of them looking up at Andrew with those blue eyes filled with anticipation.
“Are you ladies ready to see your new kitchen and family room?”
“Yes,” they responded collectively.
“You’re sure?”
“Andrew...” Carly ground out the word.
“Okay, okay.” Having replaced the old swinging door with a more practical pocket door, he slid it aside, allowing them to enter. “Welcome home.”
Just like on those HGTV shows, Carly gasped, her eyes going wide as her hands moved to her mouth.
“Whoa...” Megan moved across the newly refinished floors, turning in circles.
Continuing toward the large island, Carly looked left, right, up and down as if trying to take it all in. “Is this really mine?” She touched the apron-front sink.
“Yep.” Watching her, seeing her so happy, filled his heart to overflowing.
Megan climbed onto one of the high-backed stools that sat along the far side of the island. “This is the best kitchen ever.” She laid her cheek against the marble, her arms spreading across the expanse as though she were hugging it.
“It’s so much brighter.” Walking between the island and the stove, Carly smoothed a hand across the marble. Suddenly she stopped and whirled to face him. “Glass knobs? I told you I couldn’t afford them.”
“I know. But you wanted them.” Hands shoved in his pockets, he rocked back on his heels. “My way of saying thank you for all the help you gave us at the ranch.”
She opened her mouth slightly, then closed it without saying a word. She didn’t need to, though. The tears welling her in eyes said it all.
“What’s that?” Megan hopped down from the stool and hurried to the far corner of the room.
“That’s your mom’s new pantry.” He moved beside Carly, gesturing toward her daughter. “Let’s check it out.”
Megan opened the door and moved inside. “This is so cool.”
“I love the door.” Carly caressed the frosted glass that read Pantry as they passed. She poked her head inside. “Holy cow.” She looked back at him now. “I can’t believe all this storage.”
“I know. And all we did was utilize a corner that had been wasted space anyway.”
Smiling, she said, “How did you get so smart?”
“It’s a gift.”
Megan squeezed past her mother. “Hey, cool table.” She dodged toward his other surprise, positioned near the opening to the family room, beside the wall where the stove had once been.
Placing his hand against the small of Carly’s back, he urged her that way.
Her eyes grew bigger with every step. “Is that what I think it is?”
He nodded. “It took forever, but I was able to sand down the old butcher block to use as the tabletop, and Jude turned the legs for me.” He looked at Carly now. “He’s quite the woodworker. And his specialty is custom millwork. He helped me with some of the window casings that were damaged.”
“So that’s why you kept telling me to stay away from the shop while you were hanging out at the ranch, waiting for the floors to dry.” She fingered the satin finish. “This butcher block was one of the original countertops in Granger House.”
“I remembered you saying that. Which is why I couldn’t let it go to waste.”
She reached for his hand, entwining their fingers. “I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this. The table, the knobs, everything. This kitchen exceeds my wildest dreams, Andrew. And I’m glad it was you who made them come true.” Pushing up on her toes, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
He stared into her blue eyes brimming with gratitude. He longed to take her into his arms and tell her how he felt. That he loved her. But considering Megan was here, he should probably wait.
Instead, he gently cupped Carly’s cheek. “I’m glad I was here to do it. However—” He tugged her toward the family room. “There’s more to see.”
He led them into the cozy space with its warm gray walls, white-slipcovered furniture and natural wood entertainment center that surrounded their new 55-inch flat screen TV.
“This looks like something out of a magazine.” Carly continued into the space. “I love the wood accents.”
“The TV is huge!” Megan rushed to the opposite side of the room and picked up the remote. “Can I turn it on?”
“Not yet.” Carly started back toward the kitchen. “We still have plenty of work to do.”
After a little more exploring, they headed back to his grandmother’s to gather their things.
He picked up a box from the kitchen counter that contained several shoe boxes. “What’s this?”
“Oh!” Carly immediately turned away from the groceries she’d been bagging, hurried toward him and intercepted the box. “It’s nothing you’d be interested in.”
Then why did she look so sheepish?
“Why don’t you take some of the heavier stuff I stored in the laundry room? Like my new pots and pans and that pretty purple stand mixer.” Lately it seemed a day hadn’t gone by without a deliveryman showing up at his grandmother’s door or Carly running to Montrose to pick up replacement items for those she’d lost in the fire. Nothing like giving a woman a reason to shop.
“Purple, huh?” He opened the door to the laundry room off his grandmother’s kitchen. “Let me guess. Megan picked it out.”
Carly smiled over the box she was still holding. “Yes. I think it’ll be a nice pop of color in my new kitchen.”
They trudged back and forth between the two houses for the next couple of hour
s until they’d gotten everything.
“I don’t know about you two, but I’m famished.” He dropped the final box on the kitchen counter. “What do you ladies say I go grab us some pizza?”
“Pizza?” Who knew it was so easy to get Megan’s attention? “Can we?” She deferred to her mother.
Carly glanced around the space that was now brimming with bags and boxes of all kinds. “I don’t think I’ll be doing any cooking tonight, so go for it.”
They ate at her new table, and later, after Megan had gone to bed and he convinced Carly she didn’t have to unpack everything tonight, the two of them sat down on her comfy new sofa.
“It all feels so new.” She snuggled beside him as he put his arm around her. “Like it’s a brand-new house.”
“In many ways, it is. New walls, new flooring, new furniture...”
“I love the glass knobs.” She peered up at him, her smile making him want to do even more for her. “And you said I was spoiling you.”
He chuckled. “You haven’t gotten my bill yet.”
She playfully swatted him.
“Seriously, though, I’m not going to charge you for any labor.”
“Wha—?” She twisted to face him. “That’s crazy. Why would you do that?”
“After all you’ve done for us? Helping with Dad and the foals. You gave up your day-to-day life. I think it’s a pretty fair trade.”
Brow furrowing, she seemed to ponder his words. “I’m not so sure about that. I mean, how would I have gotten through this craziness without you? The fire, redoing the kitchen... It was all so overwhelming.”
He touched her cheek with the back of his hand. “I’m glad God put me in Ouray when He did.”
There was that smile again. “Me, too.”
Threading his fingers into her curls, he drew her closer. Breathed in the tropical scent of her shampoo, staring into her eyes for a moment and seeing eternity. The life he wanted. A life he wanted with her. She was the only woman he’d ever loved. The only one he could imagine giving his heart to. And boy, did she have it. Lowering his head, he claimed her lips. Tasted the spiciness of pizza, the sweetness of forever. He didn’t know he was capable of loving one person so much.
Their Ranch Reunion Page 16