Page 22 of Loving Decker

But he held up his right hand. “I promise to always be your friend to the bitter end, no matter what.”

She gasped. Their old truce. Whenever they’d fought about something, they made each other repeat this promise. “You remembered.”

“Of course. How many times did you make me say that?”

“Every time.” She raised her own right hand. “I promise to be your friend to the bitter end, no matter what.”

“See, we’ll never let anything ruin us.” He winked. “And besides, we are a couple of adults now. I would think we know how to work things out, right?”

“I guess so. I hope so.” She walked him out to his truck. “Come over tomorrow.”

“Done.”

“Don’t you want to know why?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I’ll tell you. We’re baking. We have food to deliver.”

“Excellent. Did you know I make a mean chocolate chip cookie?”

“I did know that.”

He frowned. “Is there anything you don’t know?”

“Maybe not. Is that so bad?”

“How will I ever surprise you?”

She laughed and felt it from her toes to her head, the most delicious happiness. “Oh, Decker. You’ve surprised me so much today I don’t know if I’ll recover.”

“Perfect. Expect more of the same tomorrow, then.”

He pulled her into his arms and held her close, like he always had but more. That’s what this all felt like. The same bond, but more. And she loved that more.

“When should I come over tomorrow?” He stepped away.

“I get off work at three.”

“I’ll come with some takeout for dinner.”

“Mama’s takeout?”

“The best there is.”

He climbed into the cab and closed the door. She watched his truck drive down her drive and then out on the main road and out of sight. And then she reached out and clutched the fence post like she might never let go. What a beautiful thing to happen. Decker Dawson wanted to see where this could go. Finally.

Her cheeks hurt from her smile, but she couldn’t stop. Today really might be the best day of her life.

Until the phone rang.

“Hello.”

“Faith? This is Janice at the nurses station at Willow Creek Hospital.”

“Is everything alright?”

“Oh yeah, honey, he’s just fine in there. No change.”

---