Page 146 of Could Have Been Us
Me: We miss you, and absolutely. Call anytime.
I look up at Jack, a smile on my lips. “She wants us.”
“I knew she would.”
I breathe again, feeling a sense of happiness that is overwhelming. Jack pulls me back to his chest, and the tears that come this time are happy.
She wants us.
Chapter 44
Jack
“Thank you for meeting me and thanks for not telling anyone. I lied to Stella.”
“Lied?”
I nod. “She thinks I’m in the woods for work.”
Samuel smiles. “Instead of being in Georgia for some mystery conversation.”
“Exactly.”
Samuel is calmer than I expected.
We caught up on our pleasantries, ordered our food, and talked a little about Kinsley. She’s supposed to call Stella and me today, but I’m here and am hoping I might get to see her and set my plan in motion.
“On a normal day, I’d love to sit and have a meal with you, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to know more about this proposal you said you were planning.”
“I am, in three days. I’d like for you and Kinsley to be there. I have it all planned and I really want the people who matter to Stella and I there. Her brothers, all of whom Kinsley has already met, will be there.”
Samuel nods. “I see.”
There’s more, and while I’d like to ease into this, I can see from his body language that this is actually worse than me just coming out with it.
“More than that, I’d like you to stay in Willow Creek Valley.”
His eyes widen and he sputters. “Wh-what? How? I’m not charity.”
“I don’t think you are,” I say quickly. “The truth is, I need your help. We are opening a resort. Stella and her brothers are building it on land they own. I’m moving my business into the Firefly Resort, but I need a foreman to oversee my part of the construction.”
Samuel leans back. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. I already spoke with the contractor, stating that I wanted my own crew under their umbrella because I have people who I’d like working on this with me. You being one of them and then if it works out, she has other projects lined up.”
He opens his mouth to speak and then stops.
I decide to continue on. “I won’t lie and say that a part of the offer isn’t because I’d like to have Kinsley close to us. We love her, Samuel. The same way you do. I’m not her dad, I know that, but I am her father, and I’d like to be in her life. Stella is dying inside, and it’s killing me. The benefits, in my opinion, are worth it for both of us. You get an amazing job and a support system in Willow Creek Valley that you don’t have here while we get to have a very dysfunctional family dynamic.”
Samuel leans forward. “This is a lot to take in.”
“I know, and I’m not asking for a decision now. It’s just that, my father was an alcoholic, and after my mom passed away, he left. I think a big reason he did was because he felt alone.” I tell him, not to sway him, but to let him know that I understand. “You don’t have to be alone. You’ll have me, Stella, and her entire, invasive family no matter what you decide. They love Kinsley too, and believe me, they will be there, even when you wish they weren’t.”
He cracks a smile. “During my treatment, I kept wondering how I was going to do this once I got out. I would lay in bed, wondering if Kinsley would be better off without me.”
“She wouldn’t be.” There is not a doubt in my mind about that. “She needs you, and honestly, Samuel, we do too. You saved Stella and me at a time when we were drowning. You and Misty were a life raft, and I’m asking you to let us be the same for you. Come up this weekend, stay at my cabin. You and Kinsley will be comfortable there. Stella and I will stay at her place, and you can just . . . feel it out. But you have a job up there waiting if you want it.”
I’ve said all I can, offered a hand that I pray he’ll take. If he doesn’t, then it’s on him and I have to respect that. This option gives us all what we need—each other.
