Page 92 of Unbreakable Love

Gavin pushed his lips out, started tugging off his gloves, and turned his gaze to the skyline. “I like that you feel that way about this place. You seem to get it. That’s important to me, Penny.” He looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “It’s my home and a place I’m honored to be a part of even if I do my own thing for work, but Kelley Ranch will always be the largest part of who I am. And you’re welcome here whenever you want.”

“I’m not sure this day can get any better.”

He reached for my hand and gave me a quick tug back to the horses. “Then wait until tonight.”

TWENTY-FIVE

GAVIN

We rode horses. We ate food and brought out birthday cakes for both Josie and Penny. There was the absolute destruction of Josie opening up her birthday gifts, thrilled to receive a few a couple days early, and there was laughter from everyone. My favorites were from Penny when she’d laugh so hard she leaned into me on the couch, and I could inhale her perfume, absorb her happiness, and know Josie was so distracted by gifts and shiny paper she didn’t notice our brief moments of touches.

Now, the night was coming to an end. I stood back and watched Penny tearfully hug her sister goodbye on the front porch, and I hoped we had many more days exactly like today in our future.

Except for maybe, without all the crying women.

“She’s really sweet,” my mom said, standing next to me. “I like her. She feels good here.”

“She loved it. Thanks for making her feel so welcome.”

“How else would I make someone feel?” My mom gave me a curious look, truly baffled by the idea that someone wouldn’t love being around her.

I threw my arm over her shoulders and kissed her temple. “You’re the best, Mom.”

“Sounds like those two girls need a dose of that in their lives.”

Maize did most of the talking about their mom, and like she seemed to know where that invisible line was in bashing her and praising her, for Penny’s sake, she walked the tightrope. She said enough, though, to give my parents a fairly decent impression of what their lives had been like, and most of it, I noticed was when Penny was occupied with Josie or Goldie, who wouldn’t leave her alone.

“Bye, Gavin. Thanks again! You’re the best!”

“Get home safe, Maize!”

She was at Bryce’s truck, who was taking her to the airport. Unsurprisingly, the two of them fit together seamlessly. I had no doubt that if Penny and I had made this work, Maize and Bryce would become thick as thieves, full of pranks and making sure everyone dissolved into laughter in their presence. For only knowing him for twenty-four hours, they were strangely close.

“Think anything will come of that?” my mom asked.

“Nope.” They were close, but it was easy to see it was a kindship, more brother and sister than anything else.

“Really?”

“She wants to fly. Bryce wants to spread his roots. Too different, but similar. Thanks for letting Maize stay here. And for keeping Josie tonight.”

My mom rolled her eyes and pulled out of my one-arm hug. “Maize was a pleasure to have, and all I need to know about tonight is that Josie has everything for school tomorrow.”

Like I’d tell her anything more. “If she doesn’t, Penny will bring it.”

“You’re going to have to tell your daughter soon, you know. She wants this bad enough.”

The truck backed away, kicking up rocks and making Penny jump back so she didn’t get sprayed. Goldie danced around her legs and jumped up to her waist like she knew Penny needed the extra love as her sister waved goodbye through the passenger window of Bryce’s truck.

“I will. Need to make certain, is all. I don’t want to move too fast, screw things up.”

“The only way you could screw things up is by not loving her the way she deserves, and I already know that’s what you want.”

Mom patted my shoulder and walked toward the front door. “Go get your girl, Gavin, and don’t let her go.”

That was the plan, for sure.

Penny stayed on the driveway, hands on her hips, head tilted toward the dark sky. She was lit by the moon and the distant floodlights of the barn, giving an ethereal, angelic glow about her, and as I headed toward her, kicking at stones so she knew I was coming, she didn’t move.

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