Page 68 of Quintessentially

“Let’s make that dream come true.”

I take a deep breath.

“I’m committed to someone,” he says. Before I can respond, he adds, “You, Kandace. I’m committed to you if you’ll have me.”

For a long time, we stand near the soybean field simply holding one another. It isn’t a night of passion. Maybe instead, it’s a night of healing. We talk about Molly, and Dax asks a million questions. Finally, we sit on the grass, and I tell him stories about our daughter. It feels right for him to know these things. As he laughs with me about her antics and grows concerned when I mention her ear infections, I want to share more.

A look at my watch tells me it’s after midnight.

Standing, I brush the grass from my dress. “I need to get to bed. Tomorrow is already here.”

Together, we walk to Dax’s car. It’s slick and black with an expensive logo on the front grill. “Not a good car for baling,” I say.

“Maybe a truck is in my future.”

“Don’t change for me, Molly, or Riverbend.”

“I’ll do whatever I need to do to earn your love, Kandace.”

“You have it. Please don’t break me again.”

He pulls me to him and takes my lips. When we pull apart, Dax grins. “I’ll be back.”

It’s the last thing we say before he gets into his car and drives away.

Every cell within me wants to believe him, yet I’m frightened.

I’m so frightened.

Telling me he’d return was the last thing he said six years ago.

ChapterTwenty-Five

Kandace

“Ican finally start paying you,” I say to Chloe as we ready for another busy Saturday at Quintessential Treasures.

“Is it official?”

“Mr. Murphy called me over to his office, and I signed on the dotted line. He said Dax didn’t want me to pay, but by the stipulations Ruth made…yada yada. It doesn’t matter. I wanted to pay. I had the money ready.” My smile grows. Lifting my arms, I spin around. “As of yesterday, Quintessential Treasures is officially mine.”

Chloe cheers. “Don’t even think of firing me. I can’t imagine sleeping in on Saturdays or not working my butt off.”

“I know. Isn’t it the best?”

She peers out the large windows where customers are beginning to congregate. “These festival weekends are crazy. Before we get all bogged down, tell me how often you’ve spoken with Dax since he left.”

My face fills with a grin. “Every night. He calls after nine, so he knows Molly is asleep and I have time to talk.”

“How’s it going in Chicago?”

“I really don’t know,” I say as I arrange a new line of lotions made by a woman in Riverbend. “He says he’s busy, but he doesn’t elaborate. Mostly, he asks about me and Molly, and we talk about things here.”

“You two are meant to be. You know that.”

“I know Dax has always been the man I love even when he was a boy. Molly asks about him every day. I don’t think I could bear if she’s heartbroken.”

Chloe crosses her arms over her breasts, covering the Quintessential Treasures monogram. “Dax has already contracted Mick for work on the house. That good-looking man is jumping in with both feet.”

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