Page 50 of Follow My Heart

She raised a brow. “Really?”

I walked around the counter to hug her. “Yes, really. I love you. I know I haven’t been around because of my job, but I want to spend as much time with you as I can. I want things to be different.”

Her lips curved into a smile. “I love you too.”

The entire interaction had my hope soaring that I could have Faith and Violet. But I was still cautious. Stacy taught me that nothing was permanent.

After breakfast, we drove to pick up Violet. She wore a simple outfit of a sweater, jeans, and boots, but she’d never looked sexier. I think it was because we were both open to something happening between us, and Faith was okay with it too.

Things were looking brighter than they had yesterday.

“Are you excited for the botanical gardens?” Violet twisted in her seat to talk to Faith.

I appreciated that she included Faith in everything that we did.

Faith shrugged. “I’m not big on plants. But I liked the holiday decorations.”

“I’m excited to see the trains,” Violet said as she grinned over at me.

I couldn’t help grinning back at her. There was a lightness in my chest. One I hadn’t felt since I was dating Stacy in the beginning of our relationship. When anything seemed possible.

But I wouldn’t think about her or Phil today. Today was for me to spend time with Faith and Violet. To see if something was possible between us. I was still being cautious even if my heart was beating hard, and my hand was itching to touch Violet’s thigh.

I wanted that connection with her.

Violet turned on the radio station that played holiday music all day during the season. With a grin in my direction, she turned it up. She started singing, and to my surprise, Faith joined her. I couldn’t remember Stacy ever singing with Faith in the car or anywhere else for that matter.

I didn’t feel the need to talk or sing along with them. I just enjoyed the moment.

When the song “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” came on, the two of them were dancing in their seats and singing. I loved the pure joy I saw on Faith’s face.

She’d been almost sullen after the separation, and I’d been numb. Maybe it was finally time for us to heal and move on to the next chapter in our lives. And I couldn’t think of a better person to do that with.

A commercial came on, and Violet turned the radio down, bumping my arm. “Don’t you love Christmas music?”

My lips twitched. “Not so much until today.”

Violet grinned. “You would think you would, growing up on a Christmas tree farm.”

I looked in the side-view mirror and signaled a lane change. Traffic had picked up the closer we got to D.C. “Actually, I got sick of it quick when it was pumping out from speakers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving all the way until Christmas.”

“Is that why Teddy’s so resistant to any changes on the farm? He doesn’t like Christmas.”

“I’m sure it wasn’t the same for any of us after Mom died. Dad tried to keep the traditions, but it was impossible. He wasn’t Mom. And as much as Teddy and Wes tried to make up for the loss, they weren’t either.”

“I’m sorry about your mother. That must have been hard.”

“It was a long time ago now. But I think the thing with Charlotte is partly not liking change, and not liking her. Or maybe he likes her a bit too much. I don’t know. Teddy doesn’t exactly talk to any of us. Same with Axel.”

“Axel’s your brother that’s in the military?”

I nodded. “Yeah, but he’s retiring soon.”

“Are you looking forward to seeing him more?” Violet asked, and I loved that she wanted to know about me and my family.

“He hasn’t been home much, and when he is, he’s closed off. I don’t feel like I know the man he’s become.” I wasn’t sure what he’d been through. He’d stayed away from the farm, almost as much as I had.

I parked as close as I could get to the gardens. We got out of the truck, I paid for parking, then we walked toward the domed building.

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