Page 78 of Falling Inn Love
“Actually, I’ll take a water if I can? Supposed to lay off alcohol now that I’m down to one kidney.” I smile as I motion to my abdomen.
“Oh, yeah! I forgot you had just had a kidney out. You look pretty good for someone who just had surgery,” Cara says.
“Thanks, I’m still getting around a little slower than usual but it’s going well. I’m just glad my nephew’s doing so much better now.”
We head out to the patio and watch the twins play on their swing set. Cara and Beth settle in together while Steve and I check out the barbecue.
“You think there’s room for me?” I ask. I watch Beth show Cara something on her phone and they laugh.
“Definitely, brother. Definitely.” He clanks his beer against my water glass.
This is Beth’s world. She’s seen mine, and now I get to see hers. I’m so relieved that she’s finally fully letting me in.
THIRTY-TWO
BETH
So, what’s the plan?
* * *
I watch as Evan sits out on the patio with Steve. I glance over at Cara and she smiles. “You needed this,” she tells me. “You needed him.”
“I can’t believe he came all the way to Austin for me.”
“Well, I think it’s safe to say he’d probably go to the ends of the earth for you.”
“It feels good to have someone to love again; someone who loves me back.”
“Well, you better get used to it. He looks pretty comfortable around you.”
“Is it weird seeing him here when it used to be John and the baby here with me?”
She looks thoughtful for a second before she responds, “No. We miss John and Emmie, and that’ll never change. But things happen and we can’t help that; we just have to take the good and celebrate that. Evan’s the new good, but that won’t take away the good of John and Emmie.”
I nod as I watch him laugh with Steve. He looks over at me and his eyes darken to a forest green as he leans back in the chair, relaxed.
“So what’s the plan?” Cara asks.
“I’m going home with him.”
“I love that you call it home now. We just want you to be happy. He seems to make you happy.”
“He does.” Evan winks at me and my insides turn to jelly.He definitely does.“I listed the house and I’m going to have some of the stuff in storage shipped to New Hampshire. It feels so strange to have this chapter of my life coming to an end.”
“It’s not the end, Beth. It’s the beginning. And I can’t wait to see the next chapter.”
“Me, too.”
THIRTY-THREE
EVAN
I have a surprise for you.
* * *
“I have a surprise for you,” I say as I lay my duffle bag on top of her bag. It was nice to spend a few days with Cara and Steve, but it’s time to go home. The inn is busy and we have to get back, but we’ve already planned another trip out here in the spring.
