Page 5 of Coming Home to Maverick

“I’m happy to be home. Do you mind if I…stay awhile?”

Her mom’s hand reached for hers and squeezed. “You can stay as long as you like. You and your daughter are always welcome.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Her throat felt tight again. They had a lifetime, she hoped, to talk about what had happened, about why she hadn’t been able to face them with her poor choices. How did one own up to leaving her fiancé at the altar? And then living with another man, having his baby, getting thrown out with nowhere to go, and utterly failing in every area of her life? She didn’t know. And so she never had. It had taken every bit of grit she had left to come home. And now that she’d returned, it was enough to just sit at her mom’s side.

As she exhaled slowly and let the remaining tension leave her body, she thought about the last time she’d sat on this porch.

With Maverick.

His strong hand had covered both of hers. “I’m always here for you. That’s what forever is all about.”

She hadn’t believed him. She felt sure that if she told him she wanted to explore her music before getting married, that she was suffocating in their small town, yearning for space, for freedom, that he would give up on her. Everyone wanted to marry Maverick Dawson. The Dawson brothers were where life started and stopped in this town.

Another sigh escaped before she could stifle it.

“He’s still single, you know.”

“I know.” She wasn’t even surprised her mama knew what she was thinking. But she didn’t want to think about Maverick. Not yet.

Dad and Gracie walked toward them, hand in hand.

“She’s such a beautiful child, and she has a good heart. You can see it in her eyes.”

“She really is, Mama. She’s something special. I just want to give her what I had.”

“I’m so happy to be in her life. I didn’t even know…” She reached for Bailey’s hand again. “Sorry. You had your reasons, and I trust that.”

Bailey just nodded. “I’ll talk about it when I can. I—I’m sorry.” Her voice broke, and she looked away.

“No, no, honey. I’m just here to love on you. That’s all that’s needed right now.”

Gracie bounded up the stairs and threw her arms around Bailey. “Mama! You should see the horses! Grandpa said he’d teach me to ride! He has the prettiest pony. Can I, Mama? Please?”

Bailey’s eyes welled with tears again. “Of course, darling. That’s why we’re home.”

Long after Gracie was in bed, Bailey sat on a couch in the living room, curled up with a blanket, a book in her lap. “I miss Red.” Her golden retriever had never left her side when she was home. She loved that dog. He had known all her secrets and took them to his grave while she was gone.

Her dad sat up. “Gracie Faith needs a dog.”

Her mom was about to shake her head, but Dad held up a finger. “No child can grow up without a dog to love her.”

“You guys don’t have to get a dog,” Bailey said.

“Of course, we do. I’ll take her to the shelter tomorrow. If there’s not a good one for kids, we’ll look around for puppy announcements. Someone’s always trying to get rid of some of their litter around here.”

Bailey didn’t have the heart to argue. Her parents loved to help and wanted nothing more than to do nice things for her and her daughter. She’d been blessed well beyond what she deserved. “I don’t think she’s gonna know what to do with herself. First grandparents, then horses, and now a pet dog.” She pulled the blanket up tighter around her even though she wasn’t cold. “Thank you.”

Her dad chuckled. “Well now, there’s no thanking us.”

“Yes, honey. We love you. You know that.” Her mother’s words were comforting, but her eyes held a hint of insecurity that Bailey wished she’d never put there.

“I need to tell you guys why I left.”

Dad held up his hand. “When you’re ready. We trust you.”

“Thank you. I’m not even sure I know, really. I was…I was thinking about marriage to Maverick, about living here my whole life, about all my dreams of singing and going to Nashville—you know how when I was a little girl I used to go out back and sing to the orchard?”

“That’s where it all started.” Her mom smiled. “And then at church and in the county fair.”

---