Page 91 of Wild Nights

Sally folded her hands in her lap. "I guess this is when we ask what your intentions are with our Carolina."

"Mom," Carolina protested.

"It's okay," I said to Carolina, and then to her mother, "Joey and I asked Carolina to move with us to Telluride. Myfamily owns a ski resort there. She can live in one of the family's condos in the lodge until we're ready to move in together. I'd like to give Joey some time to get used to the idea." He was already excited about Carolina coming home with us and hadn't expressed any concerns.

"Isn't this a bit rushed?" her mother asked.

"It seems so sudden," Ginny said softly.

"Carolina told me how you moved in with your boyfriend, Waylon"—who wasn't here tonight, and—"Ms. Cromwell, that you're happy with Harold."

"You can call me Sally, and I am."

"I offered to move here with Carolina, but she can live anywhere, and she was worried about moving Joey away from his extended family and his school."

"We don't want Carolina to be taken advantage of," Ginny continued.

"Ginny—" Carolina began.

I held up a hand to stop her. "I think that Carolina has done a lot for your family since your father moved out?—"

Ginny's mother flinched.

"And I know it's a shock that's she's decided to move so far away."

Carolina touched my thigh. "When you decided to move in with Waylon and not take a position in my business like we'd discussed for a long time, it made me question everything. I was open to new experiences and options for my life."

"But you just met," her mother interjected.

"We've been together since April." My heart had belonged to her since then, even if I didn't realize it.

Ginny frowned. "I remember her talking about you then, but she said it wasn't serious."

I was grateful she didn't refer to it as a one-night stand. "At the time, neither of us wanted anything more. But when the right person comes along, you don't stand a chance."

Both Sally and Ginny visibly softened at my admission.

"I love Carolina, and we want to start our lives together. We'll visit often. Carolina isn't a stranger to travel."

Carolina slipped her hand in mine. "We love each other, and I know it seems sudden to you, but it's not for us."

Finally, Sally said, "I want you to be happy."

"I am," Carolina said softly, and my heart rate picked up.

Joey ran back into the room. "Dinner's ready."

Everyone stood. Carolina walked into the kitchen with Ginny, and her mother lingered in the living room like she wanted to talk. "This is unexpected."

"We didn't talk about our relationship because neither of us thought it had a future with her living in Maine and me in Colorado."

"But now you do?" she asked me.

"I sensed from the first time I met her she was special. It took us both time to come to terms with it. But, yeah, she's the one for me."

She nodded. "Take care of her. She's always taking care of everyone else."

"I've noticed that, and I will. She deserves it." In time, her family would see that I was serious about Carolina. This wasn't premature.