I love you to the moon and back.
Always,
Dad
Katie let the tears spill onto the kitchen table. The things she’d said to Drew. All these years of blame.
She jumped up from the table and grabbed her keys. Had Drew already left town? Maybe it was too late, but she had to try.
The last words her dad said to her suddenly made sense. Please try to forgive me.
* * *
Drew threw some things into a duffle bag. He had faith that his crew could finish the renovation with no trouble. The hard part was done and now it was just a matter of construction. One thing about having hired good employees was that even if he was out of pocket, they could handle things. They’d completed the floors and paint job at the market office several days ago, so at least that part was done.
He should have tried harder not get emotionally involved with Kate. But spending time with her over the past weeks had shown him that the love he’d had for her when they were younger had never gone away. It was no wonder he hadn’t moved on. He’d never gotten over her. After he made it home the night they’d argued, he’d tried to put himself in her shoes. Would he have been as upset if she’d admitted she’d married another man? Maybe so. Because as much as he wanted to believe he only wanted her to be happy even if that meant with someone else, the truth was that the idea of her walking down the aisle toward someone else made his stomach churn.
He slung the bag over his shoulder, grabbed his fishing pole, and headed out to his truck. The Salmon River just north of Boise was a beautiful spot with great fishing. A few days away would help him clear his head. He couldn’t blame Kate for being so upset. She didn’t have the benefit of knowing the whole truth. It was no wonder she thought so poorly of him.
But he’d decided a long time ago that he wasn’t going to throw her dad under the bus to make himself look better. Especially after Henry had apologized to him earlier in the year. He knew it was far more important for Kate to restore her relationship with her father than it was for him to be vindicated. Still, that decision had come at a great price.
He climbed in the truck but before he could back out of the driveway, a vehicle pulled in behind him. He glanced in the rearview mirror.
Kate jumped out of the car and ran toward him.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Drew asked as he got out of the truck.
She threw her arms around him. “I know.”
“Know what?” He pulled back so he could see her face.
“I know what Dad did. I know he held your parents’ house and your dad’s rehab over your head.” She choked back a sob.
Drew took her by the hand and led her to his porch and to a chair. “Sit down.” He knelt in front of her. “I couldn’t turn him down. I should have. I should have walked away and gone to pick you up and driven us out of town.”
She cupped his face between her hands. “No,” she said quietly. “You did what you had to do. You saved your family’s home for your mom. You made sure your dad got the help he needed. You went away and made something of yourself.” A tear splashed down her cheek.
“But I hated every second of it. I hated making up some story so you’d believe that I didn’t want to marry you. I hated letting you suffer through your mom’s death without me. I hated knowing you were leaving, feeling so betrayed by me that you didn’t even want to step foot in this town again.” He wiped a tear from her face. “I wanted to tell you so many times, but I thought you would never forgive me. And rightfully so.” He shook his head. “And then when your dad got sick and I knew you’d be coming back... there was no way I could tell you what he’d done. I know how important it was for you to fix your relationship with him.”
“So you wouldn’t have changed anything?” she asked.
“I can’t answer that,” he said. “I’ve wrestled with that question for eleven years. On the one hand, there was you. And on the other hand, there was keeping a roof over my mom’s head and sending my dad to rehab. There is no way I could’ve done that without your dad’s financial help. It was an impossible situation.” He took her hand. “The crazy thing is that even back then I wished I could discuss it with you. And in hindsight, maybe I should have. Maybe you and I should’ve just taken time apart to make your dad happy while I helped my family. But your dad’s stipulation was that I had to totally end things with you. And when I told him it didn’t matter what he offered me, that I couldn’t do it, he told me that you deserved better than me. That you deserved more than I would ever be able to offer you.” He squeezed her hand. “He was right about that.”
More tears fell from Kate’s eyes. “No. He wasn’t. I’m so sorry my dad put you in that situation. He never should have done that.”
“He would’ve taken it back if he’d known it would mean losing you. I fully believe that. He said as much to me a few months ago.” He swallowed hard. “And about my marriage.” He sighed. “I’m sorry. I should have told you almost as soon as I saw you again. But then things were going well and it was so nice to be around you again. I just hated to ruin it.”
“I’m sorry I flew off the handle like that,” she said. “I was gone. For all you knew, you’d never see me again. And at that time, I didn’t want to see you at all. I can’t blame you for trying to move on with your life. I tried, too. I dated. But in the end I just couldn’t move on because I guess what I had with you just seemed unfinished.”
Unfinished was a perfect description. “I’m not proud of having a failed marriage. I never should have jumped into that.”
Katie shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. None of that matters now.”
For a moment, his heart sunk. What was she saying? “Do you think there’s a chance? That we can — that you and I can...”
She nodded. “We’ve been given something not many people get. We’ve been given a second chance.” She smiled through the tears. “And this time, I want to get it right.”
Drew had never felt more relieved than he did at that moment. “If you’ll let me, I’ll do whatever it takes to win your trust. You want love letters? Done. Poems? I’ll try. Singing an 80s ballad? I’m there.” He grinned. “In all seriousness, Kate. You are incredible. Losing you was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. And now, the fact that we are sitting here face to face talking about second chances makes my heart feel like it’s about to burst.”
“I may take you up on that ballad,” she said. “I always did love your voice.”
“It’s yours. I’m yours. And we can take this as slow as we need to.” No need to scare her off by admitting that he’d just as soon spend all his waking hours with her from this point forward.
She nodded. “Let’s get to know each other again. The grown-up versions of us. You know?”
“That sounds like the most perfect plan in the history of plans.” He reached out and stroked her hair. “And let’s start now. Can I buy you a cup of coffee?” He pulled her to her feet.
“I could use one.” She smiled and hugged him tightly.
Drew bent down and kissed her softly on the lips. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the moment I saw you again,” he whispered.
Kate put her arms around his neck and looked up at him. “And I’ve been wanting you to.” She smiled. “Now let’s try that again.”
He was only too happy to oblige, this time with more emotion. They were finally where they belonged.
Drew pulled her into an embrace. For the first time in weeks, years even, everything felt right with the world.
Except for one nagging thought. What if she decided to leave Arcadia Valley?
Chapter 10
Kate’s alarm went off extra early. It was opening day for the Arcadia Valley Farmers Market, and she couldn’t be more excited.
Sam groaned as she turned the lamp on next to the bed.
“Sorry, bud.” She snuggled up to him and stroked his soft fur. “But I’m going to need you to go outside and take care of some things befo
re I leave.” She planned to eventually start taking Sam with her and letting him hang out in her office at the market. But today would be so chaotic with media and all, it would be best for him to stay home.
Sam burrowed further into the covers, clearly not swayed by her words.
She got up and put on the clothes she’d laid out last night. It would be chilly first thing this morning. She certainly wasn’t used to this weather yet. April in Atlanta meant warm temperatures and thunderstorms, but Arcadia Valley was just beginning to thaw out good. “Okay, Sam. Let’s go.” She nudged him out of bed and they padded down the stairs. Once Sam was in the backyard, Kate put on a pot of coffee.
The house was beginning to come together and she really loved it. All the carpet was gone, replaced by hardwood. The master bathroom was finished and the new fixtures and colors were exactly to her taste. The only big project remaining was taking out the wall between the dining room and kitchen. Drew had mentioned that it would happen next week and then all that would be left would be the cosmetic stuff — new paint, a furniture upgrade, and general decorations.
Could she live here for real? The question had weighed heavily on her over the last week.
She arrived to the market, pleased to see that she was the first one there. She’d spent the last week letting the vendors come in and set up their spaces. All of the vendors had been so wonderful and so welcoming to her.
The website wasn’t finished, but it was better than it had been. She’d added a ‘contact’ button that allowed people to email her directly. She’d also established social media accounts on various platforms and was excited about promoting the market there.
The vendor application would have to wait, but she had plans to get that up and running so that future vendors could apply online.
With Riley and Brooke serving as idea springboards, and a few chats with Patti Plunk, she’d come up with some ideas to attract more customers. She’d decided to pursue bringing in food trucks and having a few extra market days in the summer. A month ago, she never would have imagined that running a farmers market might be something she would be so thrilled about, but here it was opening day and she couldn’t be more excited. There was such a spirit of community in her hometown. It was just one of the things that made the Arcadia Valley Farmers Market so special.
She unlocked her dad’s office — her office — and turned on the computer. The space looked great. The hardwood floors gleamed, and she’d found a pretty brown and yellow rug to put underneath the big mahogany desk that really tied the room together. She’d kept the curtains her dad had used because her mom had picked them out and she wasn’t quite ready to let them go. Thankfully their dark red hue looked good against the new yellow walls. She’d kept her dad’s framed family photos and added some of her own as well. Her grandfather’s sign was still the focal point on the wall, just as it had been for years.
She sat down at the desk for a moment to check email and see if she needed to respond to any media requests. The photo on the corner of the desk caught her eye. It was one of her dad’s photos, and he’d always kept it in that same spot. She picked it up and couldn’t help but smile. She must’ve been about four. She was sitting on her dad’s lap in that very office, holding a tomato. They were both laughing. She reached out and touched her dad’s face in the photo.
Kate had finally come to terms with things. Her dad had spent years trying with all his might to keep her from being with Drew. Over the last month, she’d remembered arguments and screaming matches — and although it would be great if she could wish those away, she couldn’t. That was a part of her life, and the fact that she and her dad had spent years apart because of those arguments was also something that couldn’t be changed now. And learning the lengths her dad had gone to as he offered assistance to Drew, but with strings, had been tough to digest. The idea that Drew had been made to feel that he wasn’t good enough for her broke her heart.
But the weeks she’d spent with her dad in the hospital and the things he’d said both there and in the letters to her had made her realize that he was genuinely sorry for the way he’d handled things. When she was younger, she’d thought all grown-ups should handle everything in the right way. But now that she was an adult, she understood that wasn’t always going to hold true. Case in point, her reaction to Drew’s marriage.
She took a breath. Today was a good day to be considered day one of the next phase of things for her. Starting with the market.
It was time for her to make some decisions about her life.
* * *
Drew made it to Mr. Boyd’s law office right on time. Kate was at the farmers market, so he knew the meeting wasn’t related to the renovation. As usual, Mr. Boyd had been close-mouthed about the reason for the meeting.
“Good morning,” he said once he was seated in the office. “Am I in some kind of legal trouble?”
Mr. Boyd chuckled. “No, you’re not. But I have something for you.” He pulled Mr. Groves’ lockbox out of his desk. “You may already know that Kate received her final letter recently.”
Drew nodded. “Yes.”
“I suspected so. And unbeknownst to her, there is a letter for you as well.” He handed a sealed envelope to Drew. “Mr. Groves specifically told me to give this one to you and you alone.”
Drew said goodbye and made his way outside. He’d told Kate he would come out to the market to see how things were going. But before he headed there, he wanted to see what Mr. Groves’ final message to him might say.
Drew,
I know I’ve apologized to you previously, and that still stands. I am terribly sorry for my actions all those years ago. I placed judgment on you based on things you had no control over. I failed to get to know the kind of guy you were and I certainly didn’t pay close enough attention to how deep your feelings for my daughter were.
I hope that by now you’ve reconciled with Kate. I don’t presume to know how long that kind of thing would take. I assume it will take her some time to come to terms with the whole situation.
Drew, the night you came and asked for Katie’s hand in marriage, I told you ‘no’ in no uncertain terms. I’d like to officially change my response should the situation ever arise again. If you decide you want to ask my daughter to marry you, know that you’re doing it with my full blessing. I’ve seen how you put those you love ahead of yourself. I’ve worked with you enough to know that you’re an honorable man who strives to do what’s right even when it’s not what’s easy.
I’ve seen you attend church and live out the kind of example a Christian man should.
I could not ask for a better man for my daughter. I have no qualms about your ability to be a good husband and a good father.
I opted not to mention this to Katie in any of the letters I left for her. Should you ever propose, feel free to share with her my thoughts.
I’m proud to have known you, Drew. You are the kind of man any father would wish for his daughter.
Best of luck,
Henry Groves
Drew refolded the letter and put it back inside the envelope.
He didn’t know what the future might hold, but he was thankful for this letter. The past weeks since he and Kate had decided to get to know one another again had been pretty perfect. They had a lot of trust to rebuild and a lot of lost years to make up for — but he felt sure that they were on the right path.
He pulled into a spot at the farmers market and was pleased to see the place was bustling with activity. He got out of the truck and hurried to find Kate.
“Drew!” Riley called. “Over here.”
He passed a booth selling farm fresh eggs and another that showcased homemade jams, jellies, and salsas. He might need to stop by that one later.
“You aren’t about to try and get me to adopt a dog are you?” he teased Riley.
Her market space was full of all-natural dog and cat treats, along with brochures about her dog training and pet boarding business.
“Funny.” She raised one eyebrow. “I’m not going to do that today, but if I come across one that I think would be a good match for you, I’ll definitely let you know.” She grinned. “Just look at how happy Kate and Sam are together.”
He had to admit she was right. The two of them had definitely bonded over the past month. Even though Kate was technically still a foster home for the lab, he expected her to fully adopt him soon. Even if she didn’t opt to stay in Arcadia Valley, he figured she’d take him with her back to Atlanta. “I won’t say never to the idea of a pet, so I guess you can keep me in mind.”
Riley beamed. “That’s great. Don’t worry. I am pretty good at putting people and animals together.” She grinned. “But I called you over here just to tell you that Kate is in the office. She did a couple of radio station interviews earlier, but the last time I saw her she said she had to make a phone call.
“Thanks. I’ll go find her now.”
He tapped on the office door.
Kate swung open the door, the phone pressed to her ear. She motioned for him to sit down in one of the chairs in front of her desk.
“Yes,” she said. “I do. I think that will be the best for everyone.” She made a wide-eyed face at Drew. “I’ll bring it with me when I come in next week. Thanks so much.” She clicked the phone off and put it on her desk. “Hi, you.”
He grinned. “Hi back.” He gestured outside. “It looks like things are going pretty well out there.”
“I think so.”
“Did all of your vendors show up?”
She nodded. “Everyone that was supposed to. We have a few who just aren’t in season yet, which is to be expected. By the time we’re running the summer schedule, we’ll be totally full.”
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