The other side of goodby.., p.22
The Other Side of Goodbye, page 22
Luke greeted him at the door. “Hey, man, I was getting worried about you. Everything all right?”
“Yeah. I just helped Tisha with a pie rescue.”
“Oh? How’d that go?”
“Not great.”
“Uh-oh.”
Ethan hesitated, then craned his neck, looking around. They didn’t have any scheduled guests tonight, but they had opened up the rooms for anyone who needed them. Three couples sat by the fire, talking quietly.
“If you’re looking for Brody, Mom put him to bed about an hour ago. The kid was wiped.”
“Yeah, I know the feeling.”
“Come on in the kitchen. Tate went to grab more pop out of the garage.”
Luke had the most delicious-looking sub-style sandwich packed with lettuce, tomato, and some kind of deli meat sitting on the counter. “Here, I made this for you.”
“Wow. Thanks. I’m starving.”
“Thought so. There’s some grapes, chips, and plenty of cookies.”
“Yeah, I’ll take the grapes, thanks.”
He dragged himself to the table, pulled out a chair, sat down, whispered a quick blessing, then dove in.
“So, things with Tisha are…bumpy?” Luke set the bowl of grapes in the middle of the table. “I heard about that kiss.”
“Did you also hear about Sadie’s epic meltdown?”
Luke palmed the back of his neck. “Yeah, I might have heard something about that. She’ll get over it.”
“That’s the problem,” Ethan said. “I just told Tisha I’m taking a step back because she and Sadie need some time.”
Luke stared at him. “What?”
Ethan paused, his sandwich halfway to his mouth. “Sadie’s not ready for me to be a part of their lives.”
Luke’s mouth drifted open.
Ethan pinned him with a look. “What?”
“I’m proud of you, man. That’s a selfless move.” Luke leaned his elbows on the table. “But what are you thinking? She’s seven. You’ve got to win her over. How hard can it be?”
Ethan shrugged. “Not as easy as you might think. Sadie isn’t ready to say goodbye to her daddy yet. And I can’t barge into her life. I need to be invited in.”
“Huh.” Luke ripped open a bag of barbecue-flavored chips and popped one into his mouth. “Guess I’m just surprised you’re going to give up so easily.”
Ethan sighed. “I’m not giving up. It’s called being patient.”
Shaking his head, Luke reached for another chip. “Good luck with that.”
Chapter Sixteen
I’m not threatened…Chase is a big part of your past, but I would sure like to be your future.
Ethan’s words from three nights ago when they’d walked hand in hand near the ice sculptures spooled through her head. Tisha sat on the sofa in the cabin, savoring her morning coffee. Sadie was sprawled on the floor by the fire, on her tummy, chin propped on her hands while she watched an animated movie on Tisha’s iPad.
Again.
School had been closed indefinitely due to water damage, so Tisha should probably be spending her Monday morning teaching Sadie something new. But she just didn’t have it in her.
Besides, she couldn’t get past her conversation with Ethan when they’d rescued the pies. If Ethan wasn’t threatened by Chase, he’d kind of acted like he was when he came by the cabin. Or had Sadie’s melodramatic reaction to their last kiss aggravated him enough that he’d decided she wasn’t worth it?
She winced. Hopefully that wasn’t the case. But she hated that maybe she’d let a good man get away because she liked her Chase-shaped cocoon a little too much. Her eyes roamed the cabin walls. There were a lot of photos in here. Jennifer and Melinda had every right to decorate the place however they wanted, but if she were in Ethan’s shoes and walked in here, well, she would have had questions too.
There was no way she’d want to see fifteen different photos of Adeline because, let’s be real, Tisha had done a deep dive on the Internet, and the woman was stunning.
But on the other hand, if she closed this chapter of her life, what would it mean for her? She hadn’t really loved being a McDowell. Oh, she’d loved her father, adored her sisters, and deep down, she did love her mother, but marrying Chase and taking the Binford name had been such a delight. He’d really given her the freedom to be herself, to be joyful, and to love others well. But even in losing him, she hadn’t really learned to sit in her sad feelings. Not yet, anyway.
“Oh, how did I mess this up?” Tisha murmured.
Sadie paused the movie, then looked over her shoulder. “Who are you talking to, Mama?”
“Myself.” Tisha dragged a hand across her face. “Sadie, come up here and sit with me for a minute.”
“But my movie’s not done.”
“We’ll finish your movie after we chat.”
“Okay.” Sadie dragged herself, her blanket, and Ollie over to the couch and climbed up next to Tisha.
“Why are you just sitting here, Mama?”
“Listen.” Tisha took another sip of her coffee, her own version of liquid courage, then set the mug on the coffee table and pulled Sadie close. “Sweetheart, you know that your daddy loved you very much, right?”
“Of course.”
“And he loved me.”
“Yes.”
“But just like we talked about the other day, he’s in heaven now. And we believe that we’ll see him again someday.”
“When we’re with Jesus too, right?”
“Good job. And that means we can’t keep holding on to him here.”
Sadie stared up at her, confusion swimming in her eyes. “What do you mean?”
“I’m a little bit worried that we’ve held on too tightly to all these pictures.”
Sadie looked around slowly. “But I like these pictures.”
“I do too. They’re very nice. But remember we talked about making a fresh start?”
“We can make a fresh start and still have pictures. What’s wrong with that?”
“I think that you and I need to pick one or two of our favorite photos of your daddy, and then we’re going to need to put the rest away.”
“But it will be so boring in here.”
Tisha laughed softly. “Don’t worry. You’re a super-talented artist. I bet you can come up with some pictures that we can frame. And I know I have photos of our friends and family back in North Carolina. Trust me, there are lots of things we can fill these walls with. But we don’t have to have this many pictures of your daddy.”
Sadie sat for a moment, her little feet bouncing. “Okay, Mama.”
“Good.” Tisha squeezed Sadie’s hand. “Now, let’s do this together.” They stood and began taking down the photos of Chase, carefully placing each one on the table. Sadie’s eyes lingered on the photos, her lips forming a small pout.
“You can pick two to keep, sweetheart,” Tisha reminded her.
Sadie walked over to the table and selected two photos—one of Chase holding her as a baby and another of him smiling with Tisha on their wedding day. Tisha’s breath hitched at the sight, but she nodded, swallowing her emotion.
They put the rest away in a box together, both of them quietly acknowledging this new step in their lives.
Once the box was closed, Sadie looked up at her mom. “What do we do now?”
Tisha smiled and ruffled her hair. “We move forward, sweetheart. We make room for new memories. And there’s something else,” Tisha said as they settled back on the couch.
“What is it?”
“I need to talk to you about Ethan and Brody.”
Sadie sighed and dipped her head. “I’m gonna have to apologize, aren’t I?”
“Well, I’m not as concerned about the apology as I am about your feelings. Sweetheart, Ethan is a very good man.”
“And you like him.”
“I do like him. And I think he likes me.”
Sadie twisted her blanket in her hands.
“I’m sorry that you and Brody had a tough time at first. But I think that you might have to get used to the idea of Ethan and Brody being around more.”
Sadie looked up, eyes wide. “Will there be more hand-holding and kissing between you and Mr. Ethan?”
Tisha laughed. “Yes. Not between you and Brody.”
Sadie giggled. “Oh, Mama, you’re silly. Of course not.”
“Would you be okay with that? Ethan and me as boyfriend and girlfriend?”
“Yeah, I would.” Sadie grinned. “You know, I think my daddy would have really liked Mr. Ethan.”
Tisha clapped her hand over her mouth to hold back a sob. Sadie looked horrified.
“What? What did I say?”
“You said exactly the right thing, honey.”
“Oh.” Relief washed over her little face. “Can I finish my movie?”
“Yes.”
“Can I build a fort?”
“On one condition.”
Sadie’s expression sobered. “What?”
“We sit in the fort together and eat a sweet treat.”
“Do you have any funny cake?” Sadie looked at the ceiling, then released a blissful sigh. “Because that would be perfect.”
Laughing, Tisha patted her leg. “It sure would.”
Tisha stood and went to the stack of pies Ethan had helped her carry into the cabin last night. She’d owe someone a funny cake if she cut into the one she had here. But that was a small price to pay in exchange for quality time with Sadie.
“Are we gonna do anything else today?”
“That’s a great question. It’s pretty messy out there. As soon as Grandma and Grandpa are ready, we’ll probably head over to the café and try to get things cleaned up. Come on, let’s build this fort.”
She dragged chairs over from the kitchen table, and Sadie went and pulled the extra blankets and quilts off their beds. They stretched the blankets over the chairs until they had the cutest little A-frame fort. Sadie tucked her special blanket and Ollie inside and then brought the iPad over.
“This is a movie about Rapunzel, Mama. You’ll love it.”
“Great. I’ll be right back.” She transferred her coffee to an insulated mug with a lid, cut two slices of funny cake, and carried them into the fort.
“May I have some milk, please?”
“Absolutely.” Tisha went and filled a cup with cold milk, added a lid and a straw, and grabbed two forks. And just as she was returning to the fort, she heard footsteps on the porch, followed by a knock.
Maybe he should have called first.
Ethan stood on the porch outside the cabin, gripping two bouquets of roses so tightly his knuckles turned white. Pink for Sadie and red for Tisha. His legs felt like jelly, and sweat trickled down his back despite the frigid morning air.
Luke’s words had echoed through his mind all night—I’m just surprised you’re going to give up so easily. So he’d crawled out of bed at dawn, spotted the flower arrangements his mom had made for the gala that wasn’t happening, and explained his plan. She’d handed him two of the most beautiful bouquets, kissed his cheek, and sent him on his way.
Now, as the door opened, Ethan sucked in a sharp breath. Tisha stood there in red-and-white plaid pajamas and a sweatshirt adorned with hearts and baking utensils. Her hair was in a loose ponytail, and her cheeks were rosy from the warmth inside. She looked real. Comfortable. Like home.
His throat went dry, and he almost dropped the flowers.
“This is a nice surprise.” She tilted her head, her lips curving into a faint, teasing smile.
“You’re adorable,” he blurted.
She raised a brow, clearly amused. “Thanks. Did you come all the way over here to tell me that?”
“Actually, I came to see Sadie. But these are for you.” He extended the red roses.
Her fingers brushed his as she took them, and his heart stuttered.
“Thank you,” she said, holding them to her nose and inhaling. “Sadie’s in the fort watching a movie. She may not be thrilled about the interruption, but you’re welcome to try.”
Ethan stepped inside, his boots thudding awkwardly against the wood floor as he toed them off. The living room was dominated by blankets draped over chairs and stacked cushions, with soft light spilling out from within. He crouched, ducking inside.
Sadie sat cross-legged, wrapped in a blanket, with a chocolate-smeared face and a stuffed killer whale clutched against her side. She looked up, startled but curious.
“Hi, Sadie.”
“Hi, Mr. Ethan. Want to watch the movie?”
“Maybe later. I was hoping we could talk for a minute.”
Sadie frowned, carefully setting her plate on the floor. “I guess my mom interrupted me too. Maybe I just need to learn to be flexible.”
Ethan chuckled, his nerves easing a little. “Thanks for fitting me in. This is really important.” He held out the pink roses, watching as her eyes widened in delight.
“For me?” she whispered.
“Yep.”
“Mama!” she called. “Mr. Ethan brought me flowers!”
Tisha’s voice floated in from the kitchen. “I know. Isn’t that sweet?”
Sadie beamed and cradled the bouquet in her lap. “Why?”
“Well…” Ethan cleared his throat, the words catching for a moment. “I need to ask for your permission for something.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “Permission? What for?”
“To love your mom.”
From the kitchen, Ethan heard the faintest gasp.
“Yeah, I know you love her. I saw you guys kissing.” Sadie examined a rose petal. “I get it, and it’s okay.”
Ethan smothered a grin with his hand. “Here’s the thing. I know you miss your dad—I do too. He was a great guy, and I’ll never try to replace him. But if you’re okay with it, I’d really like to be here for you and your mom. To make sure you’re both happy and safe.”
Sadie hugged her stuffed whale tighter, her gaze searching his face. “I think my dad would’ve liked you.”
Ethan blinked rapidly against the sting in his eyes. “Thank you, Sadie.”
Her serious expression softened into a small smile. “You’re welcome.” Then she giggled. “But does this mean Brody and I have to get along?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “One thing at a time, kiddo. No marriage plans yet. I’m just starting with you. By the way, Brody is next door at your grandparents’ with one of the puppies right now.”
Sadie grinned, then sprang to her feet, destroying the fort in the process. “Can I go see the puppies at Grandma and Grandpa’s house?”
“Sadie!” Tisha rushed over, wiping at her cheeks. “Please don’t smear pie on the carpet.”
Sadie practically danced toward the door. “Mama, can I go?”
Tisha sighed, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her smile. “Boots and coat first.”
When the door slammed behind Sadie, Tisha turned back to Ethan, still clutching her bouquet. “You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
“I did.” He stepped closer, his voice low and steady. “Because I meant every word.”
Her lips parted, and her eyes shone with unshed tears. “Ethan…”
“I’m in love with you, Tisha.” He reached for her free hand, threading their fingers together. “And I want to be part of your world. All of it. I’m terrified, but I’m not letting that stop me this time.”
She set the flowers on a nearby stack of books and closed the distance between them. “I’m in love with you too,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Ethan gently cupped her face, his thumbs brushing her cheekbones in a delicate, almost reverent caress. Her skin was soft beneath his touch, warm and slightly flushed. He hesitated, his gaze searching hers for any sign of doubt. The world seemed to hold its breath as her eyes softened, inviting him closer. Leaning in, he let the scent of her—vanilla and a faint trace of cinnamon—wash over him. When their lips met, the kiss was tender, slow, and filled with unspoken promises. The soft pressure of her mouth against his sent a hum of electricity through him. Her hands slid up to the back of his neck, her fingertips grazing the edges of his hair. The gentle tug anchored him, drawing him closer as the kiss deepened. The quiet crackle of the fireplace faded into the background.
When they finally pulled apart, their foreheads rested together, their breaths mingling in the quiet.
“You’re very sweet,” she murmured, her lips curving in a soft smile. “And a little dangerous. Like chocolate peanut-butter pie.”
His laugh rumbled low in his chest. “Lucky for you, anything chocolate peanut butter is my favorite.”
“Lucky for me,” she echoed, before he kissed her again, this time with the quiet certainty that they were building something real.
Chapter Seventeen
The following week, Tisha sat at the counter in the café, her laptop open before her. They’d cleaned the place up and passed health inspection, but customers had been slow to trickle in. Thankfully, she was able to use the downtime to complete her application for graduate school. She’d planned to take classes online once she got settled in Redemption, but Sadie’s challenges at school and making pies for the festival had all shoved her plans aside. Now, with life returning to a semblance of normalcy and spring on the horizon, she decided to go for it.
The door opened and she turned, her heart lifting in anticipation. It wasn’t just any customer—it was her favorite. Ethan strode in, his presence lighting up the room as he scanned the café.
“You here by yourself?” he asked, a warm smile spreading across his face.
“Owen is meeting the grocery-delivery truck from Anchorage out back. Right now it’s just me. Charlie’s still helping her family clean their place up.”
Ethan brushed his lips against hers.
“I love that you can kiss me almost anytime you want.”
“And I love you,” he said.
She’d never tire of his kisses. Or his tender words. They were a balm to her soul. How could she have ever doubted their connection?
