Page 60 of Worth the Wait

“I won’t tell,” I promised as I put out my pinkie, and she grabbed it with hers and giggled.

“Pinkie promise.”

“Who is Mama Waffles?” I asked cautiously.

Clarabel started giggling. “She’s my mama. Not my mom ’cause my mom died, you know? She’s going to marry me and Daddy.” She spun around in circles some more, her hair flying wildly around her.

“Are you happy?”

“So happy! I get to wear a pretty dress, and Mama said we could match.”

“That sounds perfect.” I opened my arms, and she ran into them.

I missed this little girl, so full of energy and kindness that it radiated from her.

“I missed you,” she said before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

“I missed you too,” I admitted, squeezing her a little bit tighter for emphasis.

“Maybe you can come to the wedding with Uncle Patrick and Jasper?” she asked as she pulled away from me and ran over to her uncle, who shot me a look that reminded me he had no control over the things that came out of Clarabel’s mouth.

A quick knock on the door downstairs, mixed with Jasper’s barking, completely broke the moment and stopped me from having to come up with an answer.

“Hello?” Thomas’s deep voice echoed throughout the home.

I’d barely planned on seeing Patrick while I was here; now, I’d not only run into Matthew at the saloon, but Clarabel and Thomas too? I would not be getting out of Sugar Mountain unscathed.

“Where are you guys?” Thomas asked once more.

Clarabel bounded down the stairs, her hand firmly gripping the railing. Patrick followed close behind her, and I wasn’t sure what to do. Part of me wanted to stay hidden in the loft. It wasn’t that I was uncomfortable. I just didn’t know what my place was anymore.

“We were in my room with Aunt Addison, Daddy!” Clarabel screamed.

“Addison’s here?” Thomas sounded surprised.

“She is! She just showed up like magic!” Clarabel answered.

I knew I needed to go down there before they all came up instead.

I walked down the stairs, making sure to take them one at a time as I took in the scene below. Clarabel was in Thomas’s arms, and a gorgeous redhead, who I assumed was Brooklyn, stood next to them, her face lit up and smiling at whatever Clara was saying or doing. When Brooklyn looked up, her eyes met mine, and she smiled even bigger, if that were possible. She broke away from her family and started moving toward me like she couldn’t stop herself, and before I knew it, I was in her arms, being hugged.

“It’s so nice to officially meet you, Addison. I’ve heard so many things,” she said quietly in my ear.

I felt myself getting choked up.

It was all I seemed to do since landing in my hometown.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I hear congratulations are in order?” I asked as I reached for her left hand to take a look at the ruby-red sparkler sitting there. “Oh, wow. This is stunning.”

“I know, right? I’m obsessed with it.” She held her hand out in front of her face and admired the unique ring.

“Do you have a date set?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Brooklyn’s head whipped toward Patrick. “Depends on when the barn will be finished?” She shot him a smug look.

Patrick waved his hand. “It’s almost done,” he said. “We’re ahead of schedule.”

“What barn?” I wasn’t sure what they were talking about, even though I did have an inkling.

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