Page 87 of Quintessentially

“I’m glad to hear that.” Dax leans toward me until our lips meet. Our kiss is chaste.

Molly scrunches her nose, but she doesn’t comment about the kiss. Instead, she asks Dax, “Will you help tuck me in?”

“If it’s okay with you and your mom, I’d be honored.” He sets her feet on the ground.

“Why don’t you go inside, Molly,” I say. “We’ll be in soon to get you ready for bed.”

She starts to run toward the porch and stops. Turning back, she focuses on Dax. “Are you really staying in Riverbend?”

“I am.”

“Why?”

“Because when you like someone, you want to be with them.”

Molly nods approvingly. “Will you come to Joyce’s in the morning and eat pancakes with me?”

“I will.”

Once we’re alone on the porch, Dax reaches for my hand. Together, we sit on the porch swing and stare out at the colorful sky. The sun is headed toward the horizon as its golden rays shine over the cornfield, tall with tassels on top.

“I’m sorry,” I say.

“Why?”

“This is why I didn’t tell you about Molly. I don’t want to be the cause of you giving up what you’ve worked hard to achieve.”

“I’m not giving anything up, Kandace. I hated it. I didn’t realize how much until I came back here.”

He leans his head back, staring upward as his long legs make the swing sway.

“You hated it?”

Bringing his gaze to mine, Dax’s tired eyes reflect the setting sun. “Maybe nothated. Achieving what I have isn’t what I thought it would be. Grandpa and Grandma had it right. I don’t know if my parents sent me to Riverbend for summers because they thought I’d want more than this life when I grew up.” He shrugs. “I honestly think they sent me here so they wouldn’t have to deal with me, spend time with me. It was an out for them.”

“I always thought you did want more.”

“More what?” He looks around. “This is more. This is real. If you would have said you and Molly would move to Chicago with me, you’d hate it. I’d work long hours, and you’d have to give up the store. I got caught up in the whole striving for success thing. It’s all I knew from my parents. It’s why I missed Grandma’s funeral. I was in London.”

“I heard.”

“The trip was a success, but look at what I missed. I’m tired of missing life.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know. I just know whatever it is, I want to do it with you.”

“I’ll give you a job at the store,” I say with a grin. “It’s mine now. I can hire people.”

“I was thinking about something as I was driving. You’ve never asked me about money.”

I shake my head. “Why would I?”

“I mean, never. Not even when we were young.”

I turn toward the driveway. “Based on your car, I’d say you did okay. Your finances aren’t my business.”

“They are if you’re going to marry me.”

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