The fragment of the Bible verse eased past her guilt and grief, and she realized that as much as her parents hurt for her, God hurt, as well.
Deborah drew her close in a hug. “I’m sorry, honey,” she choked out. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t a better mother. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize what you needed, now and before.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Mom,” Tess said, laying her head on her mother’s shoulder. “I should have told you, but I was scared.”
“Of course.” Deborah stroked her head, then pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Of course you were.” Then she drew away, standing back to look at her.
An awkward moment followed, everyone seemingly unsure of what role to play now.
“Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?” Deborah said, her voice taking on a brisk, businesslike tone.
Tess glanced at Jace. “It’s up to you,” she said quietly, hoping he would furnish her with some excuse. She needed to leave to get her bearings again.
She wanted to be with Jace, to rediscover their relationship. There were no more secrets between them, and she was eager to explore this new place. Eager to get to know him with nothing between them.
To her disappointment, he nodded. “I wouldn’t mind juice or a glass of water.”
She frowned at him, wondering why he wanted to stay. He gave her an encouraging smile.
“I’ll get us all something to drink.” Her mother hurried to the kitchen, and Tess knew she was thankful to have a job to do.
Her father sat across from them, his eyes heavy with regret.
“I’m okay, Daddy,” she said. “Truly.”
Her father wrapped his hands around her again and rocked back and forth, holding her close. “I want you to know that whatever you want to do, you have our support. Whatever you want to do.” His heavy emphasis on that last phrase sent a chill down Tess’s spine. She hadn’t thought any further than telling her parents. Confronting Carson or laying charges wasn’t even a consideration.
“I think we’ll take this one step at a time, for now,” Jace said. “I’ll be able to help Tess if she needs any legal assistance. If she wants to press any charges.”Tess felt a chill again. She wasn’t sure she wanted to think about that yet.
“And what are your plans?” Dan asked, turning to Jace.
“I’ve decided to start working on my own,” Jace said, assuring her father. “I’ve quit my job with Carson.”
“When?”
“This morning. As soon as I could.”
Dan nodded.
“I was planning some of my options on the way home. I spoke with my mother. I’m thinking of taking over the ranch. I have money set aside.” he gave Tess a wry look. “And a very expensive car to sell, which will give me a good start.”
“So you have a plan for your future,” Dan said.
Jace nodded, tightening his arm around Tess’s shoulders.
“Ranching can be a challenge,” Dan said. “If you need help, Tess’s mother and I are willing to give you a loan.”
“Appreciate it, Dan.”
Deborah returned with a tray of glasses, ice clinking against the sides. She handed them out, then sat down.
Jace held his glass between his hands, swirling the juice in a circle. He looked nervous, and Tess wondered what was going on in his head.
He took a sip, then set the glass down. He glanced from her father to her mother, then to Tess.
“Dan, Deborah, I know this might not be the right time for this, but I also think I’ve been patient.” He cleared his throat and took Tess’s hand in his. “I’d like to ask for your blessing. I would like to ask Tess to marry me.”
Tess’s heart stopped, did a slow turn, then raced. Jace wanted to propose to her? She squeezed his hand in return, hoping he understood that as a mute ‘yes’.
Her mother put her hands over her mouth, and her father smiled.
“Well, now, I think that’s wonderful,” Dan Kraus said, getting to his feet. He took Jace’s hand and laid his other hand on Jace’s shoulder. “I am honored to give you our blessing.”
Her mother squealed, then caught Tess by the hands and pulled her into another fierce hug. “Oh, my baby girl,” she said, her voice breaking. “A wedding to plan.”
Tess just smiled and returned her mother’s hug.
Deborah pulled back, her eyes shining. “We’ve got so much to talk about—”
“And so do Tess and I,” Jace said, taking her free hand. “I’m sorry to rush off.”
“No. That’s fine,” Dan said. “You two go.”
Deborah frowned. “But Tess, we should start making plans—”
“So should they,” Dan put his arm around his wife’s shoulders, gently drawing her aside.
Her father turned to Tess and gave her another tremulous smile. “You take care of yourself, honey. And please, let us know if you need anything.”
“I will. This time.” Tess stood on tiptoe and kissed her father, then her mother, thankful for their love. Thankful for their caring and their assurance.
Tess left, her arm tucked into Jace’s. She had no idea where they were going, but for now, it didn’t matter.
They were together.
They got back into Jace’s car and he started driving. The silence was comforting. Tess felt herself go boneless, felt the tension that had gripped her so tightly dissipate.
It was done.
“Where are we going?” Tess asked, breaking the silence.
“You’ll see.” He reached across the car and took her hand in his.
She wanted to ask a myriad of questions, but she voiced only the one foremost in her mind.
“So you’re staying in Sweet Creek?”
Jace nodded. “On the ranch. Aiden gave me some ideas.” Jace gave her a gentle smile. “The money won’t be as good—”
“Does that matter?”
“Maybe. Not as much as it used to. It will be good for me to be on my own and make my own decisions.”
Tess dared to dream and make a few plans of her own.
Then Jace made a turn off the road, and now Tess knew exactly where they were headed. The lookout point.
“Once again, we’re trespassing,” Tess said.
“I don’t think anyone will come and boot us off the property. Besides, it’s usually easier to apologize than ask permission.”
Jace came to a stop and turned off the engine. The sudden quiet pressed in on Tess, but she welcomed it. They got out of the car, and Jace reached a hand to Tess. He led her to the edge of the bank overlooking the river.
The valley spread away from them, with trees newly leafed out and catching the sun. Below them, the river sparkled and danced.
Jace turned to her. “I’ve imagined this moment so many times, practiced so many speeches. Planned all kinds of elaborate scenarios.” He smiled at her and cupped her cheek in his hand. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “I’ve had this for a long time.”
Tess’s heart tripped as she looked into Jace’s eyes.
“Basically, I have only one thing to ask you.” Jace flipped open the box to reveal a diamond ring, which flashed in the sun like a promise of bright tomorrows. “Tess Kraus, will you marry me?”
Tess pressed her lips together as tears threatened once again. But these were happy, joyful tears.
At first she could only nod and throw her arms around Jace. “Yes. I will.”
They stood this way for a moment—warmed by the sun, by their embrace, and by their love for each other.
Then Tess pulled away, and Jace gently fit the simple band with its single diamond on her finger. He had bought the ring many years ago and could never get rid of it. The ring symbolized a very faint hope, which he nurtured from time to time.
She held it up, turning it so it caught the sun and sent it back to her in a myriad of sparkles and colors. “It’s beautiful, Jace.”
Jace kissed her gently on the lips. “Not as beautiful as the woman w
earing it.”
She smiled. “Did you make that up?”
He shook his head. “Read it in a magazine.”
She laughed aloud, the sound warming his heart. “I love you, Jace Scholte. I want to spend the rest of my life being your devoted wife.”
“Did you make that up?” he teased.
“Yes, I did.”
He kissed her again. “And I love you...and though I want to spent the rest of my life with you, for now I want to spend ordinary time with you. Catch up. Find out everything I missed out on. Just be together. Just be Tess and Jace.”
Tess stood on tiptoe and brushed a kiss over one cheek. Then the other. “That will keep us busy for a while. We’ve got six years to catch up on.” She angled him a shy glance, feeling a measure of contentment she hadn’t felt since the last time she was with him.
“I know what you gave up for me, Jace,” she said, knowing it needed to be spoken. “I know what Carson meant to you. I know how disappointed you must be, to have the man you so admired revealed like this.”
“I think part of my disappointment is in myself. That I misjudged his character so badly.” Jace shook his head. “I want to do some serious damage to him.” He turned back to Tess. “What about you? What do you want to do?”
Tess knew he was referring to Carson. Pressing charges against him was the last thing on her mind right now.
“How about we save that for another time? I don’t want the past to mess up this moment.”
Jace shook his head as if in disbelief. “I can’t believe you can brush that aside.” He gently fingered away a strand of hair caught in her lipstick.
“Hardly brushing. I spent six years suppressing. Now that it’s out, I feel free. Something Helen said has helped—about the thing that I allow to destroy me, controls me. You know how much I hate being controlled.”
“Except it didn’t destroy you.”
Tess sighed and gave him a wistful smile. “No, but it twisted me around. And it made me lose you.”
“You never lost me. Maybe misplaced me for a while.” Jace trailed his finger down her neck. “Maybe I needed that time to figure out what I really wanted. Maybe I needed to realize how important you were and how unimportant my job was.”
“It’s not unimportant,” she protested, pressing her hands against his chest. “You can do so much.”
“I can do it here. With the woman I love.”
“Will you miss the hustle and bustle of the city? Will you feel like you’ve come back to the place you tried so hard to leave?”
“Being here, involved with the fundraiser has definitely helped me figure out the benefits of being back in Sweet Creek. I see this town through an adult’s eyes, now. I realize why my parents stayed here.” He lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. “And made me realize why you came back here.”
“To hide.”
“And to heal.”
Tess traced the line of his lips. “I’m so thankful that you came back, Jace. God has blessed me beyond blessing.”
“Are you still angry with God?”
Tess puckered her forehead, weighing the question. “When I think of my dad’s reaction when I told him about the rape, and when I think God loves me even more than my father, then no—I’m not angry with Him anymore. God has set me in this place, in Sweet Creek, and the boundaries of my life are good. If you stay, I have all I need right here.”
“I’m glad.” Jace caught her hands in his and dropped another kiss on her lips. “I’m so humbly thankful that you’re willing to be with me. I love you so much, Tess.”
She lifted her face to his, her smile brighter than the sun, even as tears of joy gathered in her eyes.
“And I love you, Jace.”
She sealed her love with a kiss.
And drifted into the safety of his arms, close to his heart.
<<<<>>>>
Coming Soon
Close to His Heart is the third book in a new series I’m slowly releasing - Sweethearts of Sweet Creek. Tap the book title to find out more.
#1 - HOMECOMING
#2 - HER HEART’S PROMISE
#3 - CLOSE TO HIS HEART
Pre-order:
#4 - DIVIDED HEARTS
Coming Soon
#5 - A HERO AT HEART
#6 - A MOTHER’S HEART
In this series you’ll get to know the residents of this town set in the Kootenay mountains and surrounded by ranch land and populated with interesting characters.
Nadine Laidlaw, a newspaper reporter, who can’t seem to get rid of her meddling, matchmaking Grandmother and Clint Fletcher, her new boss, who is a reminder of all she wants to forget.
Tess Kruger whose pain has sent her back to her hometown of Sweet Creek trying to find redemption. When her ex-fiancee, Jace Scholte shows up and she’s forced to work with him on a fundraiser she struggles with her old feelings for him and the secret she can never tell him.
Cory Luciuk is working her way through life, working as a waitress at the Riverside Inn. And then the man who broke her heart and tainted her past shows up again.
Kelsey Swain, a widow with a small boy has seen her share of sorrow when her husband died. She now runs the Riverside Cafe, struggling to get it off the ground. Then his ex-partner comes back to Sweet Creek and with him a reminder of what she lost.
And finally, Claire Kruger, Tess’ sister, who, with her daughter, has moved back to Sweet Creek to start over. She yearns for a home for her daughter and is planning to buy the house she grew up in. But Nik Austen, recently come to Sweet Creek to reconnect with his mother and sister, wants to buy it too. To tear it down.
You’ll have to read to books to find out how it all works out. I hope you have a chance to visit Sweet Creek and get to know the people there and read their stories.
Dear Reader
I hope you enjoyed reading about Tess and Jace.
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I have another series that’s out now. You can find the books below:
Holmes Crossing Series
THE ONLY BEST PLACE
ALL IN ONE PLACE
THIS PLACE
A SILENCE IN THE HEART
ANY MAN OF MINE
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Close to His Heart Page 18