Page 57 of There I Find Hope

“Maybe there will be some seats open now. When I walked by before, there were people standing waiting to be seated.”

“I’m glad it’s been thriving. And it’s important that they’re busy this time of year.”

“I’m happy for them too.”

They walked side by side, as they had more than once over the last few weeks, although he hadn’t attempted to hold her hand again. Not since waiting out the storm in the cottage.

She had said something at one point about needing time to get over her son, and he didn’t want to push her for more than what she was ready to give.

But when their hands brushed, and then her fingers reached out and touched his, he didn’t resist.

Instead, he smiled and allowed her to take his fingers.

He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, to her anyway. For him, it made his heart happy. He didn’t go around holding hands with just anyone.

Maybe this was a good time to ask her. He no sooner thought that than the words came out of his mouth. “I just talked to your brother about buying Hope.”

“You did?” She seemed shocked. Like she hadn’t considered that. “But... You’re building a hotel. You...don’t even have a house. You’re living above the old diner in an apartment. What are you going to do with a horse?”

He let her talk, ask her questions, and waited for her to fall silent again.

“Give her to you.”

That really made her jaw drop, and she stumbled a little.

His hand squeezed hers, and he tried to steady her as she started walking again. Slower. Like she couldn’t walk and think about this much and process something so difficult at the same time.

“For me?”

“I felt like you were made for each other. If you don’t want her, nothing is set in stone. But if you do, Matt’s willing.”

“But... I’m not any better set up to take care of a horse than you are. Plus, she needs a companion.”

“I was thinking we could get another one. Surely there’s another orphan foal around who needs someone to take care of it. But if that’s too much for you—”

“No! I would love it. This has been... It’s been really awesome.” She let out a breath and looked at the ground. “It was exactly what I needed. Just... Everything has been exactly what I needed. You, of course, and...” Her voice trailed off, like she was going to say something and then didn’t. He wondered if she was going to mention the letters that she’d been writing to Business Boy.

He didn’t ask. He didn’t want that uncomfortable association. He needed to figure out a way to admit that was him.

“Yeah. If we can figure something out—”

“I kind of thought if your mom is willing to sell the bed-and-breakfast, we could house her there in the barn. Even if she’s not, she might be willing to let you keep her there. I would take care of all the expenses, you would take care of the horses themselves, and she wouldn’t have to do anything. But I wouldn’t want to impose. It’s just... That’s where you’ve been staying.”

“I’ve been thinking about moving back to the candy shop. And I think I can, even if we do this, once the baby doesn’t need to be fed at night anymore. I can get up in the morning, walk up to the bed-and-breakfast, and feed her. That’s not hard at all. It’s such a short walk; it would be good for me every morning and every evening.”

“Even in the cold and snow of a Michigan winter?”

“Even then.”

They had reached the diner, and Noah put a hand on the door, opening it for Sunday. He didn’t want to let go of her hand. Maybe she was feeling the same way, because she walked in without letting go of his.

He grinned to himself. He liked this. Liked what it said to him, liked what it said to the town. He hoped he wasn’t misjudging.

“Hey!” Chi, the co-owner of the diner with her husband, Griff, hurried toward the door. She looked hassled, with her hair up in a sloppy bun, four pens sticking out of it, and her apron food stained from the day’s work.

Still, she was grinning from ear to ear.

“Rodney wanted me to say something to you. I saw you go by earlier, but I was taking an order and I couldn’t stop to catch you. I’ve been watching for you to walk back up ever since. I assumed you were feeding the foal?”

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