It hadn’t mattered that her father had always eaten everything he’d hunted.
Jake had always thought it a stupid sport.
It hadn’t been stupid to Travis, though. Her dad had come home after every hunting trip with funny stories about what Travis had done and how proud he’d been of him.
Her eyes fell to the planked-wood floor. The moon shone in through the French doors that led to the outside balcony. Travis had done a beautiful job building the house.
“Shall I leave you?” Grandma said from behind her.
“You don’t have to.” Kacey’s voice shook.
“I think he’d rather I left.” Grandma nodded towards the door and gave Kacey one more hug.
Kacey’s eyes fell on Travis.
She wanted to run to him.
To throw her arms around his neck and beg for him to never let her go again. But at the same time, what he’d done was still so raw and hurtful. Especially the way he’d reacted at the airport.
Grandma walked by her grandson and mumbled something that made Travis laugh. The door closed behind her and they were left alone.
“Kacey,” Travis began to speak then walked purposefully toward her, gaining speed the closer he got. “Kacey,” he mumbled again as he pulled her against his body and kissed her across the mouth. “I’m so damn sorry.”
Kacey melted in his arms.
“I need to explain.”
“You do.” Kacey tried to pull away, but his arms locked around her body.
“I was scared…”
“Why do I scare all men?” she interrupted, frustrated and hurt.
“Let me finish.” He smiled and she became even more irritated that her stomach flopped at the sight. “Holding you in my arms, kissing you, making love to you. It was everything I’ve ever wanted and then suddenly I felt like such an ass because I got lost in it all without saying the one thing I’ve been dying to say for my whole life.”
“What’s that?”
“I love you.” His voice trembled. “You and only you. I love you so much that I can’t breathe.”
“You’re breathing right now,” she pointed out, still trying to be mad at him while her heart was thumping wildly in her chest.
“Well, that’s because I’m using your air. It’s because you’re in my arms. Kacey, I’m never letting you go.”
“Good.” She reached for his neck and pulled his head down so their mouths could touch. His lips parted. Home. “I love you too.”
She felt his mouth form a smile beneath their kiss, and then he lifted her into his arms and twirled her around the room. “Does that mean you’ll stay?”
“If you ask nicely and promise not to throw things or pull my hair.”
“You know I can’t promise those things. I’ll probably pull your hair, jump on you, and push you against the wall. And I’m pretty sure in a few minutes you’ll be screaming my name.”
Kacey felt her knees turn to jelly.
“But…” He placed her back on her feet “…I can promise to love you forever.”
“Are you asking me to live in sin with you, Travis Titus?”
“No.” His eyes darkened as he got down on one knee in front of her. “I’m asking you to be my wife.”
****
“Kacey?” Travis was still on his knee. “Aren’t you going to say something?”
“I thought a long pause was necessary after what you put me through tonight.”
“I don’t like long pauses.”
Kacey shrugged. “Too bad.”
Travis raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I’ll marry you, …Satan.”
“Aw, see? We already have pet names!” Travis jumped to his feet and picked her up again.
“Where are we going?”
“To celebrate,” he answered gruffly.
“Where?” She giggled.
“The bedroom. Where else?”
“You can’t propose to a girl then sleep with her,” Kacey pointed out. “It doesn’t work that way!”
Travis paused and placed her on her feet. “Wine on the porch?”
Kacey nodded her head. She didn’t trust her voice not to squeak with excitement.
“You’re beautiful when you smile like that.” Travis touched her cheek with his hand.
“You make me feel beautiful.” She looked down.
“Don’t do that, don’t look down when I give you compliments.”
Kacey met his gaze. “I’ll try not to.”
“Come here, I want to show you something.” Travis grabbed her hand and led her into a room off the main living area. It looked like a study. Every wall was lined with books. In the middle of the space was a giant oak desk sitting on a circular rug. The room had a private entrance to the porch as well.
“I’ve kept this, for you, all these years.” Travis reached into the desk and pulled out a manila envelope.
“What is it?” Kacey reached out to grab it, but Travis pulled it back.
“Promise me you won’t be angry?”
“No.”
“Figures.” He chuckled and handed over the folder. “I’ll be outside when you need me, okay?”
She nodded as he closed the door behind him.
The envelope was thick.
Shaking, she poured the contents onto the desk in front of her. The first thing she saw was her parents’ will.
She hadn’t looked at it, nor had she been there for the reading. She’d just had Grandma tell her the specifics.
Good thing too, because it stated in no uncertain terms that Grandma was her legal guardian if her parents ever died before her eighteenth birthday.
No wonder Grandma never lost track of her.
Grandma really had been her Godsend.
Sighing heavily, she placed the will aside and pulled out a tiny envelope with her name on it.
The paper inside was college-ruled notebook paper, something she hadn’t written on for years.
The letter was addressed to her.
Kacey,
I don’t know why I’m even writing this. You’re probably going to think your old mom’s insane for putting something like this in our belongings, but I was sitting at school during my prep period and thought I should give you some words of encouragement.
I heard from another teacher that you and Jake broke up today.
I know it’s hard. Senior year is never easy.
But, honey, don’t you think he’s a better friend than boyfriend? The boy doesn’t even pass a mirror without looking in it! You know you’re smiling because it’s true! I know we pressure you sometimes, but goodness gracious, you could marry Travis, and we would still be proud.
That was me trying to cheer you up. I know how much you despise that boy, even though he’s been there for you without you even realizing it.
I guess what I’m saying is. It’s important to keep your options open. It’s important to live and not get so hung up on the past. The past is called the past for a reason. If you are constantly looking behind you, your eyes aren’t on the road ahead. You don’t drive a car that way, so why would you live your life that way? Isn’t life more important than driving that beat up Subaru?
I love you so much. As a mom I have to allow you to make mistakes, to learn and to grow, but you need to know that my love for you is unending. Regardless of what you’ve done, my love is unconditional. Where you’ve been helps you grow, and, my little treasure, I want you to grow!
Well, the bell just rang. I may not give this to you until you get married. I know you’re rolling your eyes right now, but let’s just say you probably aren’t ready to hear all this from me just yet. But one day, one day this letter will make sense, and I hope it finds you on that very day. In fact, that’s my prayer right now.
Love you,
Mom
Kacey wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand but cried harder when she saw several other letters in the same pile. Her mom had written her letters and never given them to her. Mom was always strange like that, writing down her thoughts, then forgetting that she wrote them down in the first place.
Kacey always saw her mom writing little things down in her notebooks, but she had no idea it was ever for her.
She tucked the letters back into the manila envelope and walked outside to the porch where Travis was sipping wine.
“You saved all of this for me?”
Travis looked into her eyes and nodded. “I don’t know what any of it said, Kace. I never looked. I just knew, one day, one day you would want all of it, and selfishly I wanted to be the man to give it to you.”
Kacey sat on his lap and leaned against his chest.
”I have a confession to make.” He laughed nervously.
“What did you do?”
“I got drunk.”
“Now?”
Travis laughed again. “No, not now. I got drunk a few weeks ago, and I complained to Grandma about how no woman would ever compare to you. I’m pretty sure I was feeling sorry for myself, and I never make a habit of doing things like that, nor do I make habits of drunk-dialing my own grandmother.”
“Do you think that’s why she faked her stroke?” Kacey asked, taking the wine out of his hands and sipping it.
“It’s possible.” Travis exhaled. “Either way, I don’t care. I’m thankful.”
“Me too.” Kacey nestled into him and sighed. “Me too.”
“Maybe now she’ll direct her attention to Jake while we enjoy a honeymoon far, far away from the family.”
Kacey laughed. “You mean you don’t want your mom, dad, Mr. Casbon, and Grandma to join us?”
“We’d get kicked off the plane in seconds, admit it.”
Kacey giggled. “I’d rather have you to myself anyway.”
“There’s one more thing.” Travis sighed heavily.
“What?”
“Jake owes us a million dollars.”
“Huh?” Kacey jerked back and looked Travis in the eyes. “What the heck? Why?”
Travis grinned smugly. “I bet him a million dollars when I was eight, that I would marry you.”
Kacey burst out laughing. “Shall we call him tomorrow?”
“We shall,” Travis agreed, then his mouth found hers, and immediately she stopped laughing, too distracted by what his mouth was doing.
She’d left home to escape the pain, not knowing that one day, this day, she’d return to find her own true happiness.