Page 142 of The Promise Of Rain
My eyebrows flew up.“All three apartments and all three storefronts?”
She grinned.“He’s quite the businessman.”
“Would you move in here with me?”
She stilled then rolled over in my arms to face me and threaded her legs through mine.“Do you want to buy this house?”
She toyed with the silver raindrop she’d yet to take off.
I frowned.“Do you want to stay in Moose Lake?”
“I don’t know,” she mused.“I only stayed here for Ansel.And, of course, the bakery.”
“I’d like you to think about it.You have good friends here, but I know you also have bad memories.Would you like for us to raise our family here in Moose Lake?”
“Our family?”She smiled, her eyes twinkling.“Shouldn’t you put a ring on it before you try to knock me up?”
“You ready for that?”I asked softly.
She searched my eyes, a shadow passing through hers, before whispering, “Almost.”
I pressed my lips to her forehead.“Almost is good for now.I have news.”
“Yeah?”She drew back, rested her head on her hand, and demanded, “Tell me.”
“Sergeant Elliott offered me a place with him.I know that’s the most practical way forward, but I thought maybe I’d follow my heart this time.”I pinched her chin.“Seems to be working well this time around.”
She splayed her palm over my chest.“And what’s your heart telling you?”
I held my breath, then let her have it.“I want to open a flight school.”
Her eyes lit up, and she smiled broadly.“Really?”
What was I so worried about?
Of course, she was supportive.She didn’t know any other way.
“You said something about honouring Charlie.I’m not going to live my life for him,” I paused, “but I’m going to live like he did; from my heart.”
“Baby,” she breathed.“That’s beautiful.”
I cleared my throat.“There are hoops, lots of them, but there are also grants and specialized funding available.It’ll be tough going for a while, but I want it.”
She smiled.“It’s perfect for you.”
“Are you in this with me?”
“I’ll be your sugar mama,” she teased.
I laughed.“I don’t think it will be all that bad, but I appreciate the offer.”
She beamed at me.
I tilted my head to the side.“What about you?You didn’t have much freedom to choose when you were younger.”
She shook her head.“I love my bakery.”Her eyes flitted back and forth as she searched for the right words.“It’s Ansel.And safety.But even aside from that, I dreamed of having my own bakery about two days into working for Ansel.”
“What else do you want?”
