Page 95 of So Right
Luke answered the knock on the door and welcomed Gram and George inside. Gram went straight for Kelsey and wrapped her arms around her. “Are you all right, dear?”
Kelsey had spoken to her briefly, just saying that Noah had come to town and died in a freak accident. Kelsey and Luke both hoped that all the testing the police were doing would confirm that he’d simply died in the fall. Neither could imagine anything nefarious happening in—or that close to—Ribbon Ridge.
“I’m doing fine, Gram.” Surprisingly so. Luke’s strength and support were like a balm to her soul.
“It helps to have Luke, doesn’t it?” Gram glanced over to where he stood with George, taking his jacket.
Kelsey was unable to stifle a smile. “Did you read my mind?”
Gram chuckled. “When one is newly in love, it’s particularly easy to spot others in the same situation.” She kissed Kelsey’s cheek.
“Wine?” Cam called from the kitchen where he was pouring out the pinot noir he’d brought.
“Absolutely!” George went to the island, where Cam had set out the glasses. George waited until everyone had grabbed a glass before raising his and toasting, “To family.”
They all chimed in and clinked their glasses together, then Kelsey began the nerve-racking task of recounting the sequence of events from when Noah had shown up at the pub.
When she’d finished, Gram shook her head. “Such a shame. I can’t imagine why he thought it was a good idea to come down here.”
“I think he was hoping there was still a chance for us,” Kelsey said, feeling sad. “Itisa shame because he was getting help. I really hoped he’d pull himself together.”
Luke put his arm around her waist. “You are a saint.”
Everyone agreed, and then they sat down to dinner. Luke opened two more bottles of wine, and by the time they were finished eating, the mood had lightened. Brooke helped Kelsey tidy up the kitchen while everyone else adjourned to the living room.
“So where do you go from here?” Brooke asked as Kelsey closed the dishwasher and set it to run later.
“First, I call my therapist tomorrow morning.”
Brooke smiled encouragingly. “Good start. What about you and Luke?”
“Nothing’s changed.” Actually, that wasn’t necessarily true. The love she felt for him had only intensified. There was still a bit of fear in the back of her mind, but she accepted that there was risk in anything worth having. “I’m in love with him, and I hope we’re together for a long time.”
Brooke grinned. “I hope you’re together forever! If you get married, we’ll be sisters-in-law!”
Kelsey laughed. “I suppose so. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” She was quite content to stay the current course and see where it took them.
Later, after everyone had gone home, Kelsey snuggled back up against Luke in bed. The exhaustion she’d managed to keep at bay swept over her, and she couldn’t keep her eyelids open.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to his warm chest. “Kels?”
She didn’t open her eyes. “Mmm?”
“Maybe now isn’t the best time to ask, but I’d like you to stay here permanently. If you’re ready.”
She was suddenly quite awake. Rolling in his embrace, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Though it was dark, she could just make out his features. “I think I am.” Her answer surprised her as much as him—if the subtle rounding of his eyes meant that he was surprised. And she thought it did. She curled her arm around his neck. “Did you think I’d say no?”
“I thought you’d at least say you needed to think about it.”
“I don’t. I’ll give notice on my crappy apartment tomorrow.” Happiness unfurled inside her, and she had to giggle to let it out before she exploded.
“Is that joy because you’re giving notice or because you’re coming to live here?”
She tugged at the hair at his nape. “It’s joy because of you. Because of what we’ve found together. Because of what the future has in store.” She pulled his head down and kissed him. “I love you so much.”
“And I love you.” He kissed her again, and she knew that nothing in her life had ever felt so right.
