“It’s…complicated.” He held up his hands as if that might stop the questions. It wouldn’t. His grandmother was a steamroller when she wanted information. “And no, I don’t want any advice.”
Orna made a huffing sound. “What did you do, Ronan?”
“Why do you assume I’ve done something wrong?”
“Because I know men,” she replied sagely. “And I know you’re all difficult bastards.”
Ronan shoved his hands into his pockets. He wanted to argue with his grandmother, but…what could he say in his own defense? Yes, he’d wanted to help Audrey. Yes, his intentions were golden.
But the issue of him researching completion methods for her high school diploma wasn’t really the crux of the issue. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he’d expected her to take risks and make sacrifices. He’d expected her to change and grow and realize her potential, and what growing had he been willing to do in return?
He’d remained noncommittal about where he was going to be next year. He’d turned the focus of their relationship on how she could be her best self, and yet he was…doing the same old thing he always did: holding himself at arm’s length. Keeping one foot out, ready for a speedy exit if things turned sour.
“I didn’t want her to leave,” he said. But even as he said the words, he knew he was focusing on the wrong thing again.
This wasn’t about Audrey leaving. It was about whether or not he would stay.
He wouldn’t have the same opportunities at Harrison Beech as he would at a place like Harvard or Yale or Dartmouth or any of the other elite institutions he’d set his sights on earlier in his career. Choosing to remain in Kissing Creek would mean a totally different life.
You mean a life where work is only one component of what you do? Where you have a real home? Where you have a woman in your arms who makes you feel like a better man…a man who has everything?
It was the kind of life that had never appealed to him in the past. The kind of life he assumed was nothing more than smoke and mirrors—because real relationships weren’t happy on the inside, right?
But the more he thought about it, the more he saw why Audrey walked away. She didn’t want to feel like a project to be completed. A broken doll to be fixed. She wanted to be his equal…and that meant he had to change, too.
“I’m going to stay there,” he said. “In Kissing Creek. I’m going to stay for her.”
Merrin reached out and grasped his hand, squeezing. “She’s a lucky woman.”
“We’re both lucky,” he replied.
Love was one of those fundamentally human things that defied explanation. But there was no getting around it: the time they’d spent together was short but impactful. His life would never be the same again, because she’d lifted the shield covering his eyes. And his heart.
He was a changed man. Ruined and reborn and forever different.
Walking away now—leaving her in Kissing Creek while he chased a lonely, successful life—felt pointless. He’d accused her of not being flexible enough to see how she might be able to have everything she wanted, and yet he was doing exactly the same thing.
Ronan looked at his mother. She’d come back after all these years, after all the hurt and bad feelings and mistakes, and it showed him what he now knew…
It was never too late to try again.
…
It had been two days since Audrey had visited her mother’s grave. Two days during which her life was…not in its usual state. She’d taken time off work. Her focus had been on sorting out her family life, which had involved helping Oliver move in with her aunt so he could live without the critical gaze of their father. The deal was that he would finish out the school year, but college would only happen if he wanted it to. As scary as that was for Audrey, she knew her aunt would be a good influence. Oliver needed space and quiet, two things he didn’t get much of at home. Perhaps with time to think, the right solution would come.
Georgie had gone to stay with a friend for the week, and only Deanna remained behind, the idea of being away from Audrey for any extended period of time was still upsetting to her. But she’d convinced Deanna to spend one night with Oliver and Harriet, because she didn’t want any of them in the