Page 50 of Candy Cane Dreams
"Which direction is it?" she asked as they reached the end of the walk and climbed the stairs to the door.
"It's about a half a mile that direction. Just keep following the driveway, and you come to the barn first, then you go past that, and the house is beyond it."
"What were you guys going to do with this house?"
"I guess he was thinking about renting it out. I really didn't have any thoughts about it at all. That's part of the reason I didn't offer it to you to begin with. It just wasn't on my radar. I've been so focused on the candy shop."
They had stopped and turned to face each other. He lifted a hand to her cheek. "Right now, I was thinking about kissing you good night."
"I like that thought," she said easily, and she turned her face up to his.
Moonlight shone down, and a few stray snowflakes floated past.
"I think this will go down as one of the best nights of my life. Definitely one of the best weeks. Lilly started talking after years, and I am with the most amazing woman I've ever met in my entire life. I really don't see how life could get better." He shivered. "It's a little scary. If it can't get better, there's only one way for it to go."
"And whatever happens, we'll handle it. It doesn't matter which direction it goes."
He loved that—that she was so secure in what God wanted for her life, knowing that He wanted the best for her, that whatever happened, she'd see the best in it and be content. That was inspiring.
"I love that about you."
"I love you."
He grinned. "I love you too."
He lowered his head and kissed her gently, pleased when her arms came around his neck and pulled him closer.
He didn't kiss her long—it was really cold—not nearly as long as he wanted to.
"I really don't want tonight to end," he whispered softly as he lifted his head.
"Same." Her eyes sparkled up into his.
"I like the idea of a short courtship." He was only half joking.
She smiled, but she nodded. "I really like that idea too."
"We'll have to talk about that sometime soon." He sighed. "In the meantime, I better get home. Mrs. Abernathy is probably asleep on my couch."
"Oh. I don't envy you the job of waking her up and getting her home."
"She said that I can let her stay there. I might tonight. I think I would like to keep the good memories close."
"Text me when you get home?" she said.
He nodded. And then, even though he knew he shouldn't, he lowered his head and kissed her once more. It was a beautiful night, perfect in every way.
Chapter Twenty
Kate hummed softly as she and Lilly knelt down in the storage shed, elbows deep in one of the boxes that she'd opened.
Lilly had started chattering, like a normal child her age, and Kate listened, nodding and smiling and commenting when she needed to.
Lilly went on about her day, her friends, what she'd done with Mrs. Abernathy the night before, and how she used to play in the storage shed when her mother was still alive.
Whoever had said that once the dam broke, the words would come gushing out, had been absolutely right.
Kate was curious as to whether Lilly would ever tell them why she had chosen not to speak for three entire years, but she supposed it didn't really matter. From a clinical and professional standpoint, she would really love to know the reasoning, because perhaps if she could understand why, she could figure out how to break another child's silence. Although she knew no two children were alike, still, as a professional, she was curious. As Lilly's potential mother, she just loved the little girl.
