Page 75 of When Cardinals Appear

“It’ll be a little hard to do that when you’re in California,” he replied, attempting to lighten the mood, but I didn’t laugh.

“I’m not going to California.”

His head snapped up. “Why wouldn’t you go?” His eyes searched mine. “Didn’t you already turn down the job here?”

“No, I accepted it. And I let the school in California know I’m staying as well.”

He stared at me. “When?”

“This afternoon, before I stopped by your house.”

His throat moved as he swallowed. “But I assumed… I mean, after everything’s that happened… Why would you want to stay?”

“I love the kids at the school, and I would miss them,” I said, lowering my gaze. “This is my home, even if I thought I didn’t want it to be for a while.” Steeling myself for his reaction, I raised my eyes and met his gaze. “And then there’s you.”

“Me?” A spark of hope danced in his eyes, but he blinked it away.

“Nate.” I frowned. “After everything we’ve been through these past few weeks, do you really not know how much you mean to me?”

“I know our time together has stirred up a lot of old feelings for you,” Nate replied gruffly. “But I don’t expect you to forgive me for what I did. As you said the other day, I didn’t ask you what you wanted. I let your mother get to me.”

“I was hurt and confused. You have no idea how much your actions during my first semester have haunted me all these years.” I leaned forward, placing a hand on his arm. “It’s not going to be easy, and I imagine we’ll have many bumps along the way, but I want to make that journey with you.”

“You do?”

“Of course I do. Nate, don’t you understand how much I care for you?”

“But that’s not the same as—”

I took his hand and traced delicate lines on his palm. I waited for him to continue, and when he didn’t, I looked up at him.

“It’s not the same as love?” I finally asked. “Is that what you wanted to say?”

Nate nodded. I slid closer to him, wrapping my arms around him and laying my head on his chest.

“I do love you, Nate.” My voice was barely above a whisper. I listened to his heart pounding against my ear. “I don’t think I ever stopped.”

His arms tightened around me. Then he gently grasped my shoulders and moved me back just enough to look at me.

“I know I never stopped loving you,” he said with conviction. My eyes welled up again but that time with happy tears, and I hugged him, never wanting to let go.

When I pulled back, his eyes met mine with a question, and he reached up and cupped my cheek. I leaned forward and brushed my lips against his. His hands slid into my hair and pulled me closer, deepening the kiss. If I’d had any lingering doubts about staying in Cedar Haven, they melted away.

We stayed up most of the night, reminiscing, talking, laughing, and eventually falling asleep together on the couch, in each other’s arms. I woke the next morning before Nate and went to the kitchen in search of coffee.

After brewing myself a cup, I stepped toward the sliding glass door overlooking the back yard. The cardinal perched on a tree nearby, looking in at me.

“I could have used you yesterday,” I accused, pointing at it. “Where were you then, hmm?”

The bird lifted its wings in what looked like a shrug and chirped. I shook my head and laughed. When I turned around, Nate stood in the doorway, watching me.

“I see your mom’s come to visit,” he said, moving into the room and wrapping his arms around my waist.

“So she has,” I replied, leaning into him. “I guess this means she approves?”

“I hope so.”

I turned to face him before sliding my arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss. “I know so.” When we glanced back out the window, the cardinal was gone.

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