Page 74 of Call It Love

“I appreciate that. I know your concern comes from a good place, even if it came out sideways.”

She nodded. “I admit, I still have my doubts. But that’s between the two of you to work out. I want your happiness,and if that’s her, then so be it. Just know I’m always here for you.”

Before I could reply, the storm door creaked open behind me. Cam’s eyes shifted to Anna as she joined us.

“Good morning, Cam,” she said, her voice calm and even. “Would you like some coffee?”

I looked at her, my chest aching with pride. After all that happened during the brunch, she was still choosing kindness.

Cameron shifted her weight as if surprised by the offer. “Only if it comes with a chance to tell you I’m sorry.”

Anna’s smile wasn’t fake. “One coffee with cream and sugar, with a conversation coming right up. Come inside where it’s cooler. It’s going to be a hot one today.”

Damn. This day really couldn’t have started off any better.

Chapter 24

Anna

I seta mug of coffee and the creamer in front of Cam and pushed the sugar toward her.

“Thank you.”

I slid into the chair across from her. “You’re welcome.”

Her spoon clinked against the mug as she stirred it slowly. The silence between us was awkward, but I waited. I felt it was up to Cam to start.

“I appreciate you letting me in,” she said finally.

I wrapped my hands around my mug, drawing comfort from its warmth. “You came to talk. Hard to do that if there’s a door between us.”

“I wouldn’t have blamed you for leaving it closed.”

“It wouldn’t help solve things. You’re important to Chase. That matters to me, believe it or not.”

Cam nodded slowly, her shoulders dropping a fraction. “I’m sorry, Anna. I shouldn’t have confronted you the way I did. In front of everyone. That was unfair to them, to Chase, and especially to you.”

“I agree. I won’t lie and tell you it didn’t hurt. I’ve spentyears being accused, dismissed, and judged. I knew we’d have to hash things out. But I’d really hoped you’d take the time to talk to me. Like you are now.”

Guilt flickered in her expression. “I should have. And I still have questions. I know I can be stubborn, but I promise I’ll listen to you and try to understand.”

“Thank you.”

“What was really hard to understand iswhyyou left. And why with Mason?”

I had to give her credit. She didn’t dance around the issue. She went straight to the heart of it.

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” I said, staring down at the swirl of cream in my coffee. “I didn’t want to hold Chase back. I felt like he was only with me because it’s a small town. But away from here, there would be all kinds of glamorous girls I couldn’t possibly measure up to. I told myself if it were meant to be, he’d return.”

“And he didn’t. Not right away, anyway.”

“No, he didn’t. He didn’t even argue with me. Then, when he went somewhere else on his first break instead of coming home, it was a sign I’d been right to break things off.”

“I remember that. I was mad at him for not coming home. But it was for a rare opportunity to spend a week on a big commercial farm in Georgia.”

“I know that now. But then, it was just him not coming home. And in the meantime, Mason spent his weekends here, most of them coming to see me. He was so charming. Attentive. My mother didn’t help. She was completely taken by him. She was constantly telling me to get out of here. That farm life was too hard. Mason was my ticket out, she said. What I realize now is that it’s not the life she hates.It’s the seclusion my father has forced her into. She thinks it’s like that on all farms, that the work is too constant. I was just too young to see it and too star-struck by the promises Mason made. So I chose him. Biggest regret of my life.”

She stared at the table, absorbing it all. “I guess I can see how all those voices could blur together. Confuse things. And now I’m a little mad at Chase for letting his pride get in the way and not fight for you. Maybe we have that in common.” She hesitated, then blurted, “But it wasn’t just Chase who missed you.Imissed you, too. Uncle James and my grandparents—we all missed you. It felt like losing a family member. And when Chase found out you’d run away with Mason, he was shattered. It made me go from sad to angry. It wasn’t until our grandparents and Uncle James died that he pulled himself together.”

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