Page 79 of With This Ring

“We moved around a lot when I was little, but that was the house I remember the best.” He rubbed his ear. “It looks different now. Better. The porch has been replaced. And the house was painted. It used to be this dull beige color, but now it’s blue with white shutters.” He stretched his long legs out in front of him. “Seeing that house brought it all back.”

“Brought back what?”

“My childhood.” He looked up at the sky as if his memorieswere projected there. “I vaguely recall heated discussions between my parents about my dad’s frequent unemployment. My mom would say things like, ‘And why does the boss not like you this time, Chan?’ Or ‘How am I supposed to feed these kids if you’re not bringing home any money?’” He shook his head. “I remember feeling the stress and hearing my mom cry. I asked my aunt about it all when I got older, and she said my dad was a good and loving man who just couldn’t keep a job.”

“That had to be difficult,” she whispered.

He was silent for several beats, and his expression became grave. “I remember every detail of that night.” He looked down at the deck. “The night when they died.”

“You don’t have to talk about it,” she said softly.

“I know, but I want to.”

Her heart squeezed. Hudson had never shared the details except to say his parents were in a car accident.

“Layla and I had been staying with Aunt Trudy while Mom and Dad traveled to Greensboro to find a place to live. Dad was planning to start another new job there.” He exhaled through his nose. “It was supposed to be a new beginning for us in a new town. At least, that’s what my mom told me when she explained I’d have to start at a new school.”

He stared out toward her fence. “I woke up to blue lights reflecting on the ceiling of my aunt’s spare bedroom—which eventually became my room. I ran down the stairs and found two police officers standing in the doorway.” His blue eyes glittered. “And Aunt Trudy was sobbing.” His voice sounded gravelly, as if he was trying to hold back his swelling emotions.

Dakota’s eyes stung, and she sniffed before clasping his strong hand. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze in return and then held on.

“After the police left, I asked her what was wrong, and she said, ‘Hudson, I’m really sorry, but your parents are gone.’ And then she started crying again. I really didn’t understand it, but as the days wore on, I realized she meant they weren’t coming back.”

“Hud,” she breathed. “I’m so sorry.”

He wiped his eyes with his free hand. “After that, we had to move into Aunt Trudy’s house. I remember flashes of the funeral, and the hushed conversations my aunt shared with members of our church.” He cleared his throat, and her chest constricted.

She gave his hand another gentle squeeze, and he responded with a sad smile.

“I’m so grateful my aunt stepped up and became the parent we needed.”

“Of course she did, Hud. She’s your family.”

“Right, but it was a sacrifice taking in two kids. She did the best she could, raising us on her limited income. Since my parents died in a single-car accident, there was no lawsuit, no damages awarded to help us financially. And my parents never had life insurance, savings, or any investments. She had to shoulder it all herself.”

Dakota released his hand and angled her body toward him. “I understand, but she loves you and Layla like her own. I don’t think she sees raising you and your sister as a sacrifice at all.” She gestured widely. “I’d do the same for my nieces and nephew without a second thought.”

“Still, I’m grateful. That’s why I made a promise to myself—that someday I would take care of my aunt and sister. I didn’t want Layla to have to move around a lot like I did. I wanted her to have a stable childhood. It was also my life’s goal to pay back my aunt for her generosity and prove to her just how much I appreciated all she’d done for Layla and me. Without her, we probably would have gotten separated and then lost in the foster care system.”

“Hud, Trudy knows you appreciate her, and you have proven to her how much she means to you.” She rested her hand on his broad shoulder. “You’ve done all you’ve set out to do. You should be proud of yourself.”

He sniffed and wiped his eyes again. “You know, I’ve never shared any of that with anyone. I just don’t talk about my folks.” He massaged the back of her hand with his fingers, and his touch set her skin aflame. “It felt good to get that off my chest.”

“I’m glad you felt comfortable enough to share it with me.”

They studied each other. The air around them seemed electrified, and intensity crackled between them. Dakota’s heartbeat zoomed, and she was certain to the depth of her core that she still cared for Hudson—deeply. She was drawn to his compassion and determination. His loving devotion to his aunt and his sister was his most attractive quality. And despite their complicated past, he had offered Dakota help with her store.

In that moment, she longed for him to tell her he cared for her too.

He suddenly glanced at his watch. “I didn’t realize how late it is. I need to get to the construction site early tomorrow.” He stood and picked up his empty glass. “Thank you for listening. I had a nice time tonight.”

“Me too.” She held her hand out toward the glass. “I can take that.”

He shook his head and then opened the back door for her.

She slipped into the house and found Trouble blinking up at her.

“Has he hidden on you again?”

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