Begin Again (Home In You Book 2)

by Crystal Walton

  Ti’s chin sank to her chest, Drew’s heart to the floor.

  He nodded to the front door. “Chloe, why don’t you call it an early night.”

  She nodded her understanding, grabbed her things, and flipped over the Closed sign on her way out.

  Drew turned Ti around.

  A new level of dejection looked back at him. “Your dad’s boat. The shop. I . . .”

  “We’re going to be fine. Promise. You’re the one who always said that to me, remember? So many times, you drove me crazy.” His inward chuckling waned behind the sobriety of the truth. “But that’s because I had things all wrong.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “Until you showed me what I was missing.”

  Her forehead crinkled. “I pushed too hard. Tried to force you to change everything. I shouldn’t have—”

  “Look around this place, Ti. Your creativity, talent, heart—you breathed hope back into this shop.” He lifted her chin with all the tenderness he possessed. “And into me.”

  This close, minty breaths mingled with his and ramped up his heart rate beyond what it’d been on the beach. More than physical attraction, the ache for her stemmed from somewhere deeper. Somewhere he’d kept closed off. Until now.

  Words hovered beneath his Adam’s apple—fear pulling from one side, hope from the other. Muscles caught in the middle, he strained in place until her earnest expression brought him a step closer. “I’ve spent my life trying to conquer the ocean. Spent weeks trying to resist the one I see right here.”

  Drowning in her blue eyes, he grazed a thumb over her temple. “And frankly, I’m still scared of what letting go of that fight means. I’m not even sure how, but I’m ready to try.”

  The confident gaze he’d fallen in love with wavered as she pulled away.

  Slow, resolute strides brought him to her again. Ti didn’t move. She held his intent gaze, eyes wild with fears he understood too well. His fingers slid behind her ear to the slope of her neck. One sigh, one dip of her lashes, and Drew had to coach himself to breathe as he leaned in.

  With great restraint, he kept his lips slow and soft against hers, exploring every touch. The way their first kiss should’ve been. Simmering with emotion. With promises of commitment and safety.

  Her heart raced against him as though begging the outward tempo to match the urgency raging on the inside. But he wanted to savor this. Her. The feel of her resistance crumbling in his arms, the release of finally trusting him. Trusting them together.

  Every movement brimmed with desire to show her what love looked like. That it didn’t have to be the way others had shown her.

  He was about to pull back when she lifted both hands to the base of his neck and tightened their embrace. A visceral longing teemed through the movement drawing her deeper against him.

  The skin on her back warmed under his palm as her heartbeat mixed with his. Her softness, her trust, the vulnerability in her affection—everything about her coursed through him until he lost himself in her kiss. Lost his fears, his brokenness. No past or mistakes. Just the future he wanted with her and the right-now moment heating every inch of his body.

  Her cool fingertips slipped under his collar and traced the rigid muscle beneath his neck, the curve of his flexed shoulder. Her touch lit a path of fire to his chest. He breathed hard, the noise in his throat revealing more than he’d intended.

  He broke away before he lost control. He wasn’t going to treat her like other guys had. Wasn’t going to make her feel anything less than worth waiting for.

  Drew rested his forehead to hers and counted his breaths until his heart slowed and he could trust his voice. “It’s more than a fairy tale, Ti.” His hands framed her cheeks. “Stay,” he whispered.

  Tears he didn’t understand ran into his fingers.

  When he leaned back, she closed her eyes. “You’ll regret it.”

  “That’s not possible.” He kissed her once more with reassurance. Salt blended with every live emotion running through him. His chest rose and fell with expansive motion, willing him to stop himself.

  He slid his hands down her arms and entwined his fingers with hers. Pulse picking up again, he steered her toward the staircase. “There’s something I want to show you.”

  She stopped at the first step. “Drew . . .”

  “Please.” He held her hand as they climbed to the second-floor studio he’d kept closed for nearly nine years.

  At the top, Ti grabbed the banister and covered her mouth. Reflections of blown glass sparkled under the light. Bowls, vases, ornaments, sculptures—pieces he’d started decades ago, some he’d made since Ti’d inspired him to begin again.

  Drew picked up a turquoise star he made this past week and turned it over in his hands. “I started blowing glass when I was Maddie’s age. First time I saw the way the light catches the colors, I was hooked. Couldn’t get enough.” Like time with her.

  He returned the star to the shelf and sent a slanted grin Ti’s way. “You’d be surprised what art can do for the soul.”

  Biting her lip couldn’t keep her from giving in to a teary smile. “Don’t tell me you’ve created a book of all my maxims, too.”

  “That’s not a bad idea. It’d change people’s lives.” Before she could deflect, Drew led her from the staircase over to the center of the floor.

  With her there, any remaining trepidation in inviting her into this part of his life vanished. She brought an energy to the room. Made it right, complete. Like she’d always belonged here.

  “When Annie bailed for the city, I closed this place off, along with every part of my heart tied to art. I didn’t want to face the reminder of what I thought it’d cost me.”

  He gave a wry laugh. “Then you came along and smashed right through that shield, awakening parts of me I’d buried for years.”

  “Drew—”

  “You have no idea how bad I wanted to prove you wrong.” Laughing, he roped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “But you weren’t. Not about the shop. Business. Me. You’ve taught me more than you realize. Got me to start blowing glass again.”

  “This is where you’ve been sneaking off to? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  He tugged his ear. “Maddie doesn’t even know yet. I guess I’ve been scared to reopen this part of myself and take risks on the things I used to live for. But not anymore. You’ve inspired me to do what I should’ve done ages ago.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  “Oh, it was exactly you.” He held her gaze. “The way you revere art and hold fast to your convictions. The way you aren’t afraid to call things like they are and push the borders I’ve tried to hide behind.”

  She shifted uncomfortably, but he wasn’t letting her dodge the truth.

  “I’m turning the shop into a gallery like I’ve always wanted to. We can both showcase our work. I know it’s not as prestigious as a place in New York or California, but it’d be ours.” He laced his fingers around her back. “I’m tired of living under regrets. Let’s do this together, Ti. All of it.” He whispered again, “Stay.”

  Competing emotions tore down her face. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  The over-the-door bell chimed. “Drew?” someone called from below.

  He snapped his head toward a voice he hadn’t heard in nine years.

  Ti straightened her shoulders, the corners of her eyes pulling in the opposite direction. “I’m sorry.”

  Sorry? Confusion drove him down the stairs until the sight of the woman standing in front of him froze every tendon and clamped a vice grip around his throat.

  “Annie?”

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Serrated

  Drew stood at the base of the steps, his feet rooted in place. Ti bumped into his back as she soared around the banister, but he didn’t move. He couldn’t even if he wanted to, not until he understood what was happening.

  Annie walked into the center of the shop as if she’d never left. Long red curls flo
wed above an ankle-length dress as she tilted her head at him. “It’s been a long time.”

  “Whose fault is that?” A vein in his neck twitched. “What are you doing here, Annie?”

  “Maddie was in the hospital.”

  “It’s not the first time.”

  “No one ever asked me to come.”

  “As if it would’ve mattered.” The floor finally released his feet. “Don’t worry about being inconvenienced. Maddie’s fine. I’ll take care of her like I have since she was born.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  The heck it wasn’t. He stopped himself halfway to her. “You left us without looking back.”

  Tears he’d seen cloud her green eyes too many times resurfaced. “You don’t know what it was like.”

  Being married to him was that unbearable? Old scars burned with enough potency to mock the nine years he’d spent letting them go.

  Drew closed the last few steps between them, his chest heaving. “How could you walk out on your own daughter? On me?” His voice caught on the last word. “I loved you with everything I had.”

  “No, you loved a life you thought you wanted.”

  Fuming, he clenched his jaw. “At least I didn’t run away.” Something pricked his spirit, but he squelched it and turned.

  “You think I don’t know I’ve made mistakes? I regretted leaving as soon as I got to New York. But how was I supposed to come back after the way I hurt you?”

  He shook his head. “Don’t start. I came after you. I drove to the city, saw the life you chose over us. You wouldn’t have traded that for anything.”

  “Like you can talk.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Blood hammered in his ears. “You know what? It doesn’t matter anymore.” He wasn’t listening to this.

  “It does to me.” She grabbed his shirtsleeve when he turned. “Dang it, Drew. I messed up, okay? I’m the first to admit it. I haven’t gone a single day without wishing I could make things right.”

  He scoffed. “And yet you never did. Not once have you even tried to contact your daughter.”

  “How could I face her after I let her down?”

  “Then what are you doing here? And how did you even know she was in the hospital?”

  Her gaze slanted past him. He followed her line of sight to Ti, standing by the stairs, witnessing the last encounter he’d ever wanted her to have to see.

  His stomach dropped at the look on her face.

  “I’m from New York. I know people.” The ongoing joke she’d teased him with before now throbbed in the center of his chest like a bruise. “You contacted her?”

  Ti hurried over. “Maddie needs her mom, and you need someone to walk through this with.”

  Someone other than Ti? The wound twisted in his gut, his own naiveté the worst part. Here, he’d been blubbering his heart to her, begging her to be a part of a life she obviously didn’t want. Worse yet, she went behind his back to get someone else to take her place.

  Rejection sank into betrayal and bottomed out in anger. “You had no right.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  The front door blew open, rain and wind spiraling inside. “Dad?” Maddie ran in with Cooper on her heels.

  He shot Drew a look of apology. “Annie came by the house. I didn’t let her in, but—”

  “What’s going on?” Maddie looked to each adult encircling the room.

  “Maddie?” A teary-eyed Annie started for their daughter.

  Drew glared at Cooper. “Get her out of here. Now.”

  Ti rushed to stop them. “Drew, wait. At least let them talk.” Wrecked emotions splintered across her face. “Please.”

  Someone rapped a knuckle on the door, followed by Mr. California poking his head in. What was he doing here?

  The dude glanced around the room filled with charged silence. “Sorry. I’m obviously interrupting something. I just came by to check on—”

  “Your painting.” Ti winced. “I’m sorry, Carter. It got ruined in the rain. It’ll take me a while to replicate, but I promise to get it to you.”

  An assuring smile swept over her. “I’m not worried about the painting, Ti. More about my offer.” He tapped what looked like a plane ticket in his hand. “Sue and I are heading into Hatteras tonight, but we can meet you at the airport in the morning if you still have things to wrap up here.”

  Wrap up? She’d already made plans to leave? Pieces fused together. This was why she said she couldn’t stay. The realization thrust him into a storm of his own. How could he be stupid enough to ask her? She was a world traveler, been to places and seen things he couldn’t dream of. She’d never be satisfied in a small-town life here with a family holding her back.

  Rain pelted against the windows as Drew looked between Annie and Ti. One who’d demolished his heart. The other, he’d been foolish enough to give the leftover fragments.

  When Ti didn’t answer, Mr. California jutted the ticket behind him. “You know, we can talk later. Why don’t you give me a call when you’re ready?” With another awkward glance around the room, he backed outside.

  The door closed, sucking the air out with it.

  “Drew . . .” Ti’s shoulders fell. Her blue eyes called to him until he couldn’t take it.

  He turned to a pile of mail by the computer. “This is your chance, Ti. It’s what you always wanted.”

  “Please, let me—”

  “Go.” He dropped the mail and clutched the counter. “You have a plane to catch.”

  Footsteps stirred behind him. The bell chimed, but he didn’t move. Wouldn’t. His muscles quaked with tension, warring against his heart until Maddie’s fractured voice broke the last of his resolve. “Ti!” she cried.

  Drew turned at the same time the door swung closed. Two steps forward, he stopped. Breathed. He wouldn’t follow, not this time.

  He took Maddie from Cooper and cradled her close. “She has to go, Sea Monkey.”

  “Why?”

  The response he’d suppressed since the first night he met Ti tightened his chest. “Because she never intended to stay.”

  “I thought she loved us.” Maddie nestled her head to his neck, her whimper a spear.

  “She did, sweetie.” He cupped the back of her head. “But sometimes love’s not enough.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I hope you never have to.” He glared at Annie, shielded Maddie from her, and flicked his chin at the door.

  A live wire of determination prompted Annie toward them until something unseen slowed her steps. Head lowered, she hoisted her purse strap to the top of her shoulder and started to take another stride forward but turned and left them instead. Again.

  Within minutes, the door reopened. This time, by a force he didn’t want to reckon with.

  He transferred Maddie back to Cooper and dodged Grandma Jo’s cut-through stare. “Let it be.”

  She marched up to him. “I’ve been speaking into your life for thirty-two years, young man. I’m not about to stop now.”

  “There’s nothing to say.”

  “You mean, nothing you want to hear.” Ignoring his arched brow, Grandma Jo pulled Drew off to the side and lowered her voice. “Like it or not, Annie is Maddie’s mama.”

  A curt laugh barely suppressed the retort he wanted to make, but Grandma Jo didn’t bat an eye. “She’s been watching Maddie grow up since she left.”

  He stiffened. “What’d you just say?”

  “She contacted me that first year she was gone. Asked me to send pictures and keep her filled in on Maddie’s life.”

  A muscle on his neck flexed. He walked away to keep from saying something he’d regret. Facing the ceiling, he unclenched his fingers and released a hard breath. “Did you?”

  “Wasn’t my place.”

  Drew turned and leveled her with a gaze. “But you just said—”

  “Her parents still live here, sugar.”

  “The Barretts?” She had to be joking. “They
cut ties with Annie before she ever left.” Marrying him had been the last straw for them.

  Grandma Jo covered his taut forearm with a weathered hand. “People make amends, Drew. Something you shouldn’t be so quick to write off.”

  He cut away from her sage-like brown eyes and forked his fingers through his hair. “So, you’re telling me Annie was willing to swallow her pride enough to contact everyone—even her estranged parents—before she’d come to me.”

  How many more blows could she pummel through him?

  Pictures. Updates. His shoulders tensed at the thought of her keeping tabs on Maddie without involving him. Had everyone else known? One glance at Cooper’s shocked expression ruled him out. Drew wouldn’t put it past the Barretts. But Grandma Jo?

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She cocked her head the way she did whenever he’d tried giving her sass as a kid. “Because the conversation would’ve gone about as well as it’s going now.”

  “I had a right to know.”

  “You’re darn right you did. And Annie should’ve been the one to tell you.” The parenthesis-shaped wrinkles around Grandma Jo’s eyes softened. “I’m not trying to justify any of this. But a mama staying away from her own child out of guilt? A daughter never knowing her mama cares about her? It’s wrong, Drew. They deserve a chance at healing. You all do. You’ll never be able to move on without it.”

  “Move on to what?”

  “You know what.”

  His gaze skimmed over the front door. Ti was probably already gone, leaving another empty reminder of where opening your heart left you. He stalked into the back room before his inward scoffing became audible. In front of the counter, he yanked open a box of tea.

  Grandma Jo strode up beside him. “Ti belongs here.”

  “Not my call.” The coffee next to the tea canister sneered at his efforts to prove her wrong. “You can’t give a wildflower roots. Trying only breeds loss. For everyone.”

  “Garbage. That girl’s been fighting for you since she got here. You tout around like you’re willing to do the same, but you give up on the first trial?”

  He tossed the tea bag in his mug. “What am I supposed to offer a girl like her? A monotonous life constricted to a four-mile radius?” He jerked the electric teakettle’s cord from the socket. “We’ve all seen how that ends. Maddie doesn’t need to relive history.” Neither did he. It was a moot point, anyway. He couldn’t compete with Ti’s dreams.