I nodded slowly, and he leaned closer to me.
“But you can’t be afraid and start planning for failure. I’m not going anywhere. Don’t imagine a future with me not in it. Imagine our future and our love.”
“I can do that.”
Walker’s gaze stayed on mine. “Promise me.”
“I promise, Walker. I will imagine us together.”
He brushed his fingers across my mouth as I slowly parted my lips, and his mouth touched down to mine, and I finally admitted to myself that this was the love I’d imagined for so many years.
But it wasn’t a type of love. It was Walker Malone’s love.
Chapter Nineteen
Walker Malone created a storm of emotion that was impossible to control. The man was like a drug for me, but that addiction scared me. I’d done so well creating my own life that I didn’t want to get lost in his.
But he was right. I needed to embrace what we had now, not keep worrying about what might happen in the future.
We’d spent the last week nearly inseparable, and now he was cooking me dinner on my night off. We had to go pick up his sister at the airport later tonight, and to say I was nervous would be an understatement. Something else had popped into my head the last few days, and it was bugging me. I hadn’t asked Walker any more about the check he’d written my parents, but I was curious. Curious whether they’d cashed it. If they’d gotten it. Why it didn’t occur to them to call me.
“You okay?” Walker asked, spinning around with a spatula in his hand. “You look like you’re thinking about something.”
I laughed “Yeah. That doesn’t usually lead to good things.”
He chuckled. “What’s up?”
“I’m just worried your sister will think I’m nuts.”
Walker spun around and grinned. “She knows about Leila. Believe me, Leila set the bar really low.”
I laughed. “Well, I didn’t think you dated her.”
“I didn’t, but it showed us all what crazy could be.”
“Then I guess I should thank her for that.” I smiled. “From a distance, of course.”
“Seriously, though. You have nothing to be worried about. She loved you back then and she’ll love you now.”
I let out a deep sigh. “I hope so, but I’ve changed.”
Walker laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You haven’t changed that much.”
“Yeah, right.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m totally different from my eighteen-year-old self.”
“Whatever you say, Harmony.” He grinned and flipped over the bacon.
“You’re telling me I’m exactly the same and have shown no growth as a person?” My brows arched.
“Have I grown as a person?” Walker spun around and grabbed a plate with a paper towel on it.
I scowled. “You kind of are the same.”
He put the bacon on the platter and grinned. “I might have gotten better looking.”
“And far less conceited,” I joked.
“But when I look at you, I still see the fun-loving girl I fell in love with. You’re still the woman who loves to take chances and experience new things. You’re free-spirited. In fact, I think everything I loved about you then has just become a more powerful thing.”
I smiled, watching Walker bring the scrambled eggs, bacon, and skillet potatoes to the table. He was right. Everything I’d fallen for so many years ago were the same things that attracted me to Walker now, except those qualities were even more defined.
“I hate how you’re always right,” I teased, snatching a piece of bacon from the platter. “But I love this bacon you made.”
“The good has to outweigh the bad, and I made a lot of bacon.”
I chuckled and happily scooped the food onto my plate. “Thanks for making me breakfast for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” He took a bite of bacon. “I know Becky is going to be so happy to see you.”
“You think so?”
“Totally.” He grinned. “But something else is bugging you. I can tell.”
I dug into my scrambled eggs and glanced at the microwave clock. “We’d better hurry and eat so we can go get your sister.”
“Nice try.”
I pushed my eggs around and let out a sigh. “Have my parents cashed the check, or were you kidding?”
Walker’s expression fell. “I wasn’t kidding about the check, no.” He shook his head. “And they haven’t cashed the check.”
“That’s odd.” I ate a bite of potatoes, but it was hard to get them down. Not because they were dry but because I always wanted to believe that something would make my parents reach out.
He straightened. “I should tell you something else.”
“Yeah?”
“I created a stipulation.”
“For what?”
“Cashing the check.” He shook his head. “I probably shouldn’t have. I should have just left well enough alone.”
“What was the stipulation?” I asked, not wanting to know.
“They had to phone me.”
I took a sip of water and nodded. “You wouldn’t think it would be that hard. It’s like they’re allergic to phone calls.”
“Does seem that way.” He nodded. “I wish I had just mailed the check and a simple form releasing me of my obligation.”
“But honestly, after this many years, do you think they’d hold you to it?” My eyes widened.
“The language was pretty clear. Perpetuity and all that . . .” Walker drew a deep breath. “I’m sure it couldn’t actually be enforced, but it was more the principle of the situation.”
“How so?”
“I didn’t want your father to think he could ever have that control over me or my family again, and certainly not over you.”
“Wow. I hadn’t even thought about it that way.” I nodded, taking another bite of the potatoes, but this time they went right down.
“I hated the fact that I’d let your father’s desire for control direct my entire adult life.” He shook his head and squeezed the napkin. “I would never change the course of what accepting that money did for my family. But times have changed, and I never want to feel that way again.”
I nodded, seeing the man Walker Malone had become.
“In a way, I guess I should be thanking your father for my success too.” His eyes darkened. “When I accepted that check from him, I vowed that I’d never be in that position again, beholden to someone else’s wishes. I just lucked out after that. I started investing small in some software development projects, and some hit big.”
I smiled. “Payback can be a bitch.”
“Karma is sneaky,” Walker agreed.
“My parents are well-to-do. There is no doubt about that, but it’s all relative. They’re doing well compared to others in their small town. But compared to a man who’s been involved with some of the apps and software programs you’ve dealt with?” I laughed. “It would make my dad extremely edgy.”
“I like to surround myself with people who are genuinely happy with others’ success.” He shook his head.
“Yeah. That wouldn’t be my parents. They weren’t just trying to one-up the Joneses. They wanted to annihilate them.”
Walker laughed. “So maybe the check’s really messing with his mind.”
“I don’t doubt it.” I smiled, feeling a bit of glee at the thought.
“Well, I sent it Certified Mail, so I know they got it.”
I laughed. “At least you crossed your t’s and dotted your i’s.”
Walker finished his food, and I took my last bite before he rinsed the plates in the sink.
“You ready?” he asked.
“As ready as I can be.” I laughed. “But after talking about my parents, I’m not worried about Becky anymore.”
Walker opened his arms, and I slid in for a hug as he kissed the top of my head.
“Good. Now, let’s go pick up my sister.” He slid his hand into
mine.
“It’s going to be so hard not sleeping next to you,” I teased.
“You’re telling me. I’m pretty cuddly.” He chuckled as we headed out my door.
We’d decided that Becky would stay at Ashley’s house along with Walker. There was a moment where I thought Becky could stay there while Walker stayed with me, but that was kind of ridiculous. She wasn’t just coming to Fireweed to visit me.
By the time we’d pulled into the airport parking lot, Becky had texted that she’d already picked up her bags, so we drove back out of the garage and circled around to pick her up at the curb.
As I drove around the bend, I spotted the same girl I’d known from so many years ago. Her bright blue eyes and dark hair resembled Walker, and she was smiling wide as she waved frantically when she spotted her brother.
“She looks just like she did,” I gushed.
“Make sure you tell her that.” Walker laughed. “She’ll love you forever.”
Becky left her bag on the curb as Walker opened his door, and she dove into his arms. It was so nice to see family actually like one another. I put the car into park and climbed out of the car to greet her.
She quickly let go of her brother and gave me a big hug as if we’d just seen one another last weekend.
“Oh, Harmony. It’s so good to have you back.” She let go and smiled. “I hope you forgive me.”
“Forgive you?” I shook my head.
“Didn’t my brother tell you about the money?” She looked horrified.
“Oh, my gosh.” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t have chosen any differently, Becky. I just apologize for my parents’ behavior.”
Becky smiled. “I’m sure it was much easier for Walker to hate them.” She shook her head. “But I just couldn’t. I still can’t. All that being said, I am glad my brother stuck it to them the only way he knew how.”
I laughed. “Yeah. Leave it to Walker.”
A policeman whistled at us, and I waved. “Guess that’s our cue.”
“Not very patient.” Becky chuckled.
Walker put her suitcase in the trunk and pointed for her to sit in the front seat.
After she buckled and I pulled into the traffic, I realized it felt just like it had so many years before.
A family.
“Well, I have to say that you look exactly like I remembered. I don’t know how you never aged.” I glanced at her as we pulled onto the freeway.
She laughed. “Yeah, right.”
“I’m serious. I’m putting every kind of cream known to man on my face and wrinkles are still popping up.”
“I don’t see any,” Becky assured me.
“Oh, they’re there.”
“Don’t mind me,” Walker chirped from behind. “Just a brother you haven’t seen for a while is sitting back here.”
“Is he always this needy?” I laughed, and Becky nodded.
Walker laughed. “Hey, now.”
“Are you hungry, Becky?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“I ate before I got on the plane. I’m just pooped.”
“I know the feeling. I’ve been staying at the restaurant pretty late since it’s month
end coming up.”
Becky nodded and smiled. “I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that you’re still working as a chef. You were always so talented. My parents were always in awe.”
The confession choked me up, and I blinked back unexpected tears when it finally hit me.
All these years, all I’d wanted from my own parents was for them to be in awe of me.
For them to be proud of me.
I glanced at Becky and smiled. “You just made my entire year.”
Becky laughed. “Well, we’d better raise the standards if that’s all it took.”
“You have no idea.” I grinned. “But moving to Fireweed has definitely put me on the right trajectory.”
“I’m glad.” Becky glanced back at her brother. “So, have you two decided how you’re going to work this long-distance relationship thing yet?”
Chapter Twenty
“I can’t believe how much I love your sister,” I gushed.
Becky was still sleeping, but I’d brought over a bag of pastries and the smell of coffee was drifting through the air.
“She’s pretty incredible.” Walker smiled. “I told you that she’d love you.”
“Not as much as I love her.” I smiled, opening the bag of pastries and sprinkling them onto a platter.
“She brought up a good point,” Walker started. “I think we should kind of address the elephant in the room.”
My hands whipped to my hips. “Who are you calling a pachyderm?”
He smiled, and I groaned.
“I’ve been thinking about renting a house on Fireweed. I don’t want to keep living here in Ashley’s house.”
“You’re thinking about actually staying for a while?”
Walker took a Danish and grinned. “What? You think I’d roll into town, make you fall in love with me, and then ride away on the ferry?”
“The thought had occurred to me,” I confessed. “And who said I fell in love with you?”
“You haven’t?” He smirked.
“So cocky,” I teased.
He kissed the top of my head just as his cell rang.
“This is Walker,” he answered.
I didn’t pay attention until the look on his face hardened and every part of me froze.
“Right. I think it was pretty clear.”
Another pause. “I think you’re quite mistaken.”
My hands started shaking as he continued. “I’m well aware.”
Another minute of silence. “Your daughter is standing right here.”
Walker’s gaze connected with mine, and instead of wanting to run away like usual, I whipped the cell from Walker’s hand and put it on speakerphone.
“Father.”
I couldn’t even bear to call him Dad. It was too friendly.
“Harmony.”
I stood wondering why my father couldn’t say anything and then it hit me. My father didn’t know me at all.
“How is Mother?” I asked.
“She’s fine. Plays bridge on Thursdays.”
“Right. Always has.” I glanced at Walker just as Becky came into the kitchen. “Do you have any remorse?”
“Harmony, for what?” My father truly sounded shocked.
“Do you have any idea how a normal family functions? There is care involved, questions, concern.”
“If it’s money you need—”
I cut him off. “When have I ever? If you cared enough to know about my life, you’d know how well I’ve done for myself, but as your daughter, I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
“I’m sorry you feel that way.”
“No, you’re not.” I glanced at Becky, whose eyes were glued to the phone.
“I hope you don’t plan on dating that boy,” my father muttered.
“A boy?” I laughed. “He’s more of a man than you’ll ever be.”
“We want the best for you, and Walker isn’t it.”
“You’re wrong, so very wrong.” I felt the anger pulse through me. “All you’ve ever wanted for me is to follow in your footsteps. What I’ve come to learn over the years is that people who love share dreams, share hopes. They support. They don’t destroy.”
“You should have gone to law school. You shouldn’t be cooking people’s food.”
He acted as if my passion were a dirty word, and I flinched.
Walker came over and slid his arm around my waist, and I realized there was no changing my parents. There was no getting angry at them. They weren’t going to change, and I wasn’t going to change them or myself. And Becky was here because of what my parents did, however twisted their motives were.
I drew in a deep breath. “Well, I wanted to thank you for making Becky’s treatment possible. That in itself was worth everything and more, but I’m sure you’ll find th
at Walker’s repayment has released him—and me—from your ridiculous games.”
“It’s not ridiculous, Harmony. It’s to protect you.”
I laughed and shook my head. “I hope you open your mind and heart someday, Father. Until then, please give my love to Mom.”
I handed the phone back to Walker, and he took it off speaker phone as he walked into the living room.
Becky came over and rubbed my back. “I’m sorry.”
I turned to Becky and smiled. “No. I’m sorry. I wish their action came from a kinder place.”
Becky winked at me. “Sometimes, in life, you get to the point where you don’t care what people’s intentions are. You’re just glad you get to live to see another day.”
I nodded slowly.
“Don’t make a mistake. I don’t think your parents are kind-hearted individuals. I know they did it out of spite, but while they were playing their silly games, I got a second chance.”
I smiled. “And that’s the best gift of all.”
“Sweet revenge isn’t sweet for nothing.” Becky smiled. “I wish there weren’t that divide between my brother and you, but I knew he wouldn’t dare reach out to you until he felt that he could protect his family from yours.”
The thought nearly killed me.
“What your parents did made things crystal clear. There were those who had and those who had not. My brother didn’t want to be in that position ever again.” Becky grinned. “And I can’t tell you how relieved I am that you two are back together again because no one ever compared.”
I laughed. “Well, I’m not a fool. He’s a good-looking guy, and he certainly isn’t lacking confidence, so I know he wasn’t a saint.”
She giggled. “All I know is that he made it clear that no one compared to you. I think there was a time about six years ago when my parents suggested that he maybe try to find love with someone else. It didn’t go over well.”
“Oh, no. Did they get into a fight?”
Becky shook her head. “No, but he brought home some real winners just to prove his point.”
“Sounds like the Walker I know.” I grinned, loving every second of his sister’s story. I didn’t know if it was true, but it made me feel good.
Imagining Love on Willow Road (Island County Series Book 13) Page 14