Page 55 of All Because of You

Madison bit her lip. “Yes.”

Evan stared at her for a moment then shook his head. “Even this part?” He grabbed his phone and turned on the flashlight, illuminating the paper in front of him as he read out loud.“I’ve spent a lot of years trying to get by on my own because I didn’t want the pain when someone inevitably let me down. But I’m learning that people can still surprise me, if I give them the opportunity to do so. You surprised me, Evan. The love I feel for you surprised me. I didn’t want to love you, but how could I not, when you’re such a good man? But not just good in a general sense—though you are that. But you’re also good for me.”

He cleared his throat as he lowered the paper and set his phone aside then looked at her again.

She allowed the blanket to fall, leaving her torso exposed to the elements. Despite the sweatshirt she wore, a biting wind blew through her. But it wouldn’t stop her from saying what she needed to say. Madison reached her hand toward Evan’s, grateful when he didn’t pull away. “Yes, especially that part.” She wound their fingers together, and he didn’t resist. “Evan, I’m sorry for leaving town without talking to you. I was hurt, but that was no excuse. My leaving probably made you feel like you didn’t matter. But you mattered too much.”

“What do you mean?”

“Ever since my parents died, I retreated from people—real ones, anyway. The fictional ones gave and gave, never requiring anything of me.” She stuck her tongue out to make fun of herself. “I told myself that if I let people get close to me, they could leave me, disappoint me, hurt me. And that’s actually all true. That’s why I ran—because I didn’t know how to handle the fact I’d slipped and let you in.”

Evan looked like he might protest but didn’t say anything. A squeeze to her hand encouraged her to go on.

“But I was forgetting something my Aunt Chrissy taught me. That the best relationships are worth any heartache and pain they may bring.” She leaned closer. “You are worth it, Evan Walsh. And no matter how you feel about me, I just had to tell you that. And that I love you.”

A smile split Evan’s face. “Then I guess I should tell you that I love you too.” With his free hand, he took a strand of her hair and rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger. Then, slowly, he slid his fingers all the way into her hair and gently tugged her closer, tilting her face toward his. Lowering his mouth, he met her lips in a sweet kiss that held such promise she wanted to weep.

Evan pulled back, touching her nose to his for a moment before sitting up straighter. “Now that we have that out of the way . . .”

She laughed.

So did he but then he sobered. “I need to tell you I’m sorry. I didn’t stand up for you like I should have. I was just so desperate for my father’s approval, but I pretty much ruined any chance I have of that tonight. And yet, I’ve never been prouder of myself.”

Madison quirked an eyebrow. “What did you do?”

First, he secured the blanket around them both. Then told her about his recommendation that the emergency grant money go toward the library—and a new library director position. The thought squeezed her heart. “And I may have also said I’d tell Piper Lansbury about Dad’s hand in your canceled lease if he didn’t get it called off.”

“What?”

Evan nodded as his thumb stroked the palm of her hand. “He was the one who arranged the whole thing. Dad and Carol dated in high school, and he knew some things about her that she wouldn’t want getting out there come reunion time. She wouldn’t tell me what exactly, but . . .”

“Wow.” How sad. Then a thought occurred to her. “Wait. So what did he say to your, uh, suggestion?”

“You can call it a threat. It was.” Evan peered deep into her eyes. “I will threaten anyone who tries to hurt the woman I love.”

She nearly melted into him. But there was one more thing she needed to know. “So . . .”

“Oh, right. He didn’t say anything, but we’ll know for sure tomorrow. I’m pretty confident his good name means more to him thananythingelse though.” He paused. “Which means that you can keep your store open. I know it may be hard to compete with Herman Hardware, if they decide to not void the agreement, but I’ve already been thinking about ways we can campaign for business. People love local, so I’m sure we can play to that.”

“I thought you said that I should be a librarian.” She teased but she really did want to know. Had his thoughts on the matter changed?

“It doesn’t matter what I think. I want to support you. Isn’t that what you do when you love someone?” He kissed her cheek, her earlobe, then trailed kisses up her jaw until he reached the side of her mouth. “And if I wasn’t clear before, let me repeat it. I love you, Madison Price.”

She threw her arms around this man who had proven he would fight for her, no matter what. “And I love you, Evan Walsh. My hero.”

Epilogue

Two months later

The day was finally here.

Madison flit from one corner of the place to another, straightening art that didn’t need to be straightened and picking imaginary lint off the ground. Her heels clacked on the wood floors as she ran to the restroom, looking herself over in the mirror one more time. Hair tucked into a loose bun at the base of her neck and glasses on her face, along with a crisp white collared shirt and a pair of gray trousers left her “looking the part,” as Evan had said this morning when he’d arrived to help.

She shivered as she remembered the look in his eye that stated he liked what he saw.

Shoving thoughts of him from her mind, she straightened her shoulders and strode out of the swinging bathroom door. Her all-volunteer staff waited near the large wraparound circulation desk, which sat in the middle of the rows and rows of shelves. They’d painted the place a cheery butter yellow, which made the ceilings appear higher than they were and brightened it in a new way.

As he chatted with Ashley, Evan lounged in the seat behind the desk, his feet propped up on the counter. Between his work, festival preparations, and online school—he’d decided to pursue being a high school physical education teacher, a job that would allow him to coach baseball one day—they’d had to fight for time together. But every moment was better than the last.

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