Page 39 of Fall for You
Her insides fizzled, but she didn’t have to force a smile because Giselle seemed genuinely sweet.
Walking over to the woman, she pulled out her phone. “How about a selfie?”
“Oh my gosh, yes!” Giselle clapped her hands. “My friends in Bozeman will not believe this.”
They snapped numerous selfies, then realized they should have really done that on Giselle’s phone, which the flustered mother couldn’t find. So Ronnie soon had Brandon’s fiancée’s phone number programmed into her device and was texting the woman like an old buddy.
She was then dragged away to check out the greenhouse, which Willow insisted on showing her personally, and then Bailey pulled her away to show off the yurts and then her visionfor the boathouse…and Ronnie’s pretty sure Bailey took a breath in there somewhere, but she couldn’t say when.
Eventually, they made it back to the inn and into the dining room. They found Brandon there chatting with the guests, including a man who looked to be around seventy who was sporting a paper birthday crown. She presumed this was Mr. Overland.
But Brandon excused himself and walked over the second she appeared in the archway, a cute baby strapped to his chest. “Hey, Ronnie!”
Bailey’s younger brother, although the tallest of them all, gave her an awkward baby-in-the-middle hug that had them both laughing as the baby gurgled like he, too, was in on the joke.
“This must be the famous Nate,” Ronnie said, pretending to shake the infant’s chubby little hand.
“Yes, ma’am. The one and only.” Brandon kissed the baby’s head. “He’s already earning his keep by charming all the guests.”
Bailey laughed. “He’s already taking after his dad.”
Brandon’s answering grin was so proud and so sweet, Ronnie’s throat grew tight. “I’m so happy for you, Brandon.”
“Thanks, Ronnie. It’s good to see you again. This place doesn’t feel complete without you here too.” He leaned over to kiss her cheek, and now Ronnie actually had to swallow hard to hold back tears.
This was so not like her. She wasn’t one to get mushy, and she almost never cried. But being back here was like revisiting her childhood all over again. But unlike being back in her childhood bedroom, this place only brought back the good memories.
She could almost feel that carefree joy that came with being free of burdens, no weight of financial obligations or career stress.
“Come on.” Bailey led her to the door. “I forgot to show you the old shed I want to turn into a honeymoon getaway.”
Ronnie stepped out onto the wraparound porch and looked out over the sprawling mountainscape beyond.
She couldn’t tell if this swelling in her chest was the urge to cry or laugh. Her throat was still tight, but her lungs expanded.
For the first time in ages, she felt like she could breathe.
Bailey’s voice was a soothing backdrop as she explained the rest of her plans. And Ronnie could see it.
“It’s beautiful, Bailey.” She turned to her friend. “Your vision is so amazing.”
Bailey’s eyes widened in surprise at Ronnie’s earnest tone, but her answering smile was sweet. “Thanks, Ronnie.” She gave her a side hug as they both leaned against the railing, taking it all in. “I’m so glad you’re here to see it.”
Ronnie rested her head on her friend’s shoulder, and for a long time they just stood there in the peaceful silence.
For some reason, Dallas’s voice drifted through her mind.“Wait, are you staying here?”She hadn’t been able to tell if he’d been shocked, horrified…or hopeful.
And it didn’t matter.
What mattered was that right this second, she wished like heck that the answer was yes. She loved her dad and her sister, but what she wouldn’t give to hide away here in this cozy retreat and leave real life behind.
“Stay for dinner?” Bailey said, breaking the silence as she nudged them around the side of the house and toward a trail leading into the forest.
Ronnie smiled. “I’d love to.”
Chapter Seventeen
Dallas leaned back in his chair and took in the long table before him.
