Page 36 of Defending Casey

The things that he’d accused Casey of being? Selfish? Self-involved?

That was his father in spades.

He wanted his way and he’d put the fear of God into Casey, making it seem like if she really loved him, then she’d let him go.

And wasn’t that exactly what Casey had done.

“When did you find out?”

Casey wiped the tears from her cheeks and swallowed hard. “About the baby?”

He nodded.

“I felt horrible all the time, but I thought it was because I missed you so much. Looking into my future, I didn’t know what I’d do if you didn’t forgive me someday, but somehow, I put one foot in front of the other. Classes, work at the diner, work at the feed store for Mister Sumner with hardly any sleep, it ran me down until I was running on nothing.

“One day Mattie put on a new pork special and the smell of it dropped me to my knees as soon as I walked through the door. A couple of the customers carried me over to Mountain Medical and less than an hour later I had a bottle of prenatal vitamins in my hand and a baby growing inside me.”

He reached out to her and drew her close into his side. “I think the baby was there before that day,” he smiled. “At least that’s what they said in Health Class.”

Casey went silent for a while. He just held her close. Leaned into her. Pressed soft, gentle kisses on her cheek and the crown of her head.

When she finally spoke, she broke his heart all over again.

“I’m sorry, Hale. I should have talked to you about what your father told me. I shouldn’t have done what I did. I should-”

He lifted her into his lap and cradled her in his arms.

“I have a whole list of things I should or shouldn’t have done too, Casey. I think we weren’t ready for what was happening between us. We both could have done things differently, but that doesn’t matter right now. It doesn’t have to matter ever again.

“I just have two questions to ask you.”

He waited for her to look up into his eyes and nod.

“Okay. Before I ask, you should know what my answers to the questions would be if you asked them of me. Hell yes and absolutely.”

Hale saw the soft smile curve her lips in the soft porchlights.

“First, do you still love me?”

He saw the way her smile beamed at him as she put the question together with his answer. She didn’t even make him wait for an answer.

“So much, it hurts.”

He nodded, holding her a little tighter so she could feel the feverish beating of his heart.

“Second, will you give me a second chance to be a part of this family?”

“You never really had a first chance, Hale. I let my fear take that away from you. I want nothing more than to have you be a part of our family, Hale.” Her smile trembled the slightest bit and Casey reached her hand up until her fingertips traced the hard line of his jaw. “Because I’ve had Nora, I feel like you already are.”

They kissed and it felt almost like it did the first time, hesitant and with a rush of feelings that came while discovering something beautiful. It felt like they were truly starting over.

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