Page 124 of Loud Unspoken Memories

We’re moving here. I have a… boyfriend. And a lucrative new employment contract. One that will allow me to scale back on all my other clients and focus mostly on the winery and myson. I glance at the empty doorway. Well, and other important people.

I give Bex a pat and kiss Charlie. “Sleep well.”

Dallas is sitting alone by the fireplace when I enter the living room. Lucas has long gone, as have Blake and his family. Chris, Sarah, and Allie took Asher and Bug on a tour of the Calloway Creek holiday lights.

Dallas pats the couch cushion next to him and hands me a glass of red wine.

“Thanks,” I say and take a sip. My eyes snap to his at the familiar robust flavor. “This is the wine from… oh, you shouldn’t have.”

“We never got to finish the bottle. And I told you, I only drink it on special occasions.”

I scoot next to him and he pulls my legs up onto his lap, giving me a foot massage.

I take another drink and savor it, eyes closed. “Mmm. I’d say today is definitely one of those. And not just because it’s Christmas.”

“You can say that again.”

“So you don’t want to live here with your parents until we figure things out?”

He shakes his head. “I haven’t lived with my parents since I went away to college when I was eighteen. I’m only here temporarily. I was serious about getting a place close to yours.” He squeezes my foot. “Very close. I found some decent properties. Nothing special, but nice enough. When we decide to move in together, that’s when we’ll go all out.”

“I don’t need a big fancy house, Dallas. Everything I need is right here.” I touch his chest then gesture to the back hallway. “And in there.”

“I know you don’t. But you’re going to get it anyway.”

“You don’t need to spoil me.”

“Need and want are two different things. I’m sorry, Marti, but you’re going to have to humor me on this one.”

“Fine.” I roll my eyes dramatically. “If you insist, I’ll live in a castle on a hill surrounded by a moat. But just so you know, Dallas, I’d love you if you had nothing and we lived in a one-room shack without power.”

He doesn’t laugh as I’d hoped. “So about that.”

“Don’t tell me you sold the cabin already. Because I really think you should keep it. We could go up there from time to time and try to recreate the magic, minus a few near-death experiences.”

“It burned to the ground, Marti.”

I cover my mouth, shocked. “Were you there? Were you hurt?” I quickly scan him from head to toe even though I’d have noticed any injuries last night. “What happened?”

“I wasn’t there. It was a few days after you left. I stopped staying there and only went back to keep the fire going so the wine wouldn’t freeze. I don’t know how the fire started, and I’m not really sure it matters, because in some strange way, I feel like it had to happen. It allowed me to finally let go and realize there was nothing left to hold onto.” He looks guilty. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t recover your bracelet. I promise I’ll get you another one.” He tickles my left ring finger. “I’ll get you all kinds of jewelry.”

“I’m sorry about the cabin.”

“I’m not. There’s nothing I needed there. Everything I want is right here.”

“You really lost everything?”

“There’s a ceramic vase Phoebe made. It came out totally unscathed. That’s it. It was the only thing.”

“I’m glad you still have that small piece of her.” When the words come out of my mouth, I’m surprised at just how much I mean them.

“You were right the whole time, Marti. I didn’t need all that other stuff to remember them. I have pictures. The vase. And my memories.”

“And birthdays,” I say. “You’ll have their birthdays.”

“Thanks to you, yes I will. Now listen, I know you want to sleep in Charlie’s room. But until then, I thought maybe…” He nods to a book on the table. A very thick book.

A tingle of anticipation runs down my back. “Yes.” I move my legs off him, set my wine glass on the side table, and pick up the book.

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