“You remembered the proposal story I told Mom and Vi.” There were tears in her eyes.
“I remember everything you told me, honey.” The good and the bad. And he loved her for both.
Evie gestured toward the daisies still resting at his knee. “Do you have nine more reasons to love me?”
“You must know…” He swallowed thickly, handing her the rest of the flowers. “I have hundreds of reasons why I love you.”
Evie sniffed as if holding back tears.
Hayden drew a deep breath, getting to his feet. “I can’t go back and rewrite the past. I’d do so many things differently if that were possible. I’d have agreed with you that kisses lead to deeper feelings. I’d have told you that’s the type of marriage I wanted, not a relationship that was based on friendship and only for show when we had an audience.”
Evie blinked rapidly, looking away. She crushed the daisies and the divorce papers to her chest.
He took a chance and took hold of her hand. “If I could do-over the past, I’d have told you that it was no accident that you found me at the precise moment you needed a husband, that PDA is always welcome, and that I don’t care how many animals Katie brings home. She can keep them all. Because I’ve got enough room in my heart if we’re all together. The way we’re meant to be.”
A car pulled into the driveway next to hers. Nellie was at the wheel. Katie was in a car seat in back. Their eyes widened at the sight of him.
Evie slipped her hand free.
“But since I can’t go back in time,” Hayden continued in a voice thick with love and hope. “What I can do is ask to start over.” He drew a bracing amount of air. “So, here I am at your door asking for a date because I have feelings for you, Evie. And I think we could make each other happy.”
“Hay-Hay!” Katie ran up the porch steps and hugged his legs. She had on her pink tutu today over silver leggings. To complete her ensemble, she’d donned a white T-shirt and a red leather vest with fringe. “Ms. Parsons says I was very brave in the woods. She’s my teacher.” She paused for a breath. “I miss Mike, my cousins, Gran, Uncle Rhett, and you. You most of all, Hay-Hay. Are you here to take us home?”
“I’m hopeful, bug.” Hayden tore his gaze from that sweet young face and stared at Evie, waiting for an answer.
Praying for a yes.
“So, you’ve finally seen the light.” Nellie joined them on the porch, an uncompromising expression on her face. She moved to stand next to Evie, blocking the door. “You’ll have to ask my permission for a second chance with my daughter. I want to keep her and my granddaughter safe. What assurances can you give me?”
“Only that I love your daughter and granddaughter with all my heart,” Hayden said with conviction. “And that my family and I are working very hard to make sure Gran isn’t a danger to herself or others as she recovers. But Nellie, love should never be based on conditions.” He gave her a ragged smile. “I learned that from Evie.”
“Touché,” Nellie murmured, gaze catching on the daisies and divorce papers Evie held.
“And as for my love for your daughter…” Hayden’s voice had become low and raspy. This was the message he was most worried about. “I expect my love for her to grow stronger every day.”
Evie hadn’t stopped staring at Hayden since her mom had joined her at the door. But she said nothing. She gave no clue as to how he was doing.
Crash and burn comes to mind.
Poppy scampered out to greet Katie, purring and rubbing against her legs.
“My baby!” Katie scooped the kitten into her arms.
Poppy purred loudly. She and Katie were the only beings on the porch who were experiencing a happy reunion.
Hayden pushed aside the irony and cleared his throat. “So, what do you say, Evie? Do you want to start over and date me? Build up trust in our feelings for each other before we take the next step and commit to each other again?” For real this time.
“No,” Evie breathed the word out so softly Hayden barely heard it.
No?
Hayden felt dizzy, his knees weak.
But then Evie dropped the packet of divorce documents and daisies on the porch and said, “No way.”
No way?
Hayden registered the rejection. He reached out a hand to lean on a porch post.