If she’d been thinking straight on Friday afternoon, Snow would have packed a bag, but she’d driven out of town on panic and instinct, the practical incidentals not entering her mind. Tomorrow, she would come up with a plan. Maybe if Spencer or Lorelei called him, Caleb would answer. Or even Cooper.
Miss Hattie’s porch light glowed in the distance as Snow swiped a hand across her cheek. A hot bath, a cup of tea, and her pillow would get her through the night ahead.
And then she pulled into the driveway and her heart fell out of her chest.
Caleb managed to keep his ass on the porch, but barely. Watching Snow walk his way, looking fragile enough to split into pieces any second, set his lungs on fire. But they had to deal with the mess between them before he could hold her again. No more secrets. No more doubts. The next time they touched, there would be nothing in the way.
And there would be no going back.
“Hi,” she said, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as she sniffled. “How long have you been here?”
“A few hours,” Caleb answered, gripping the porch step to keep his hands off her. “I tried to call.”
Snow lifted the phone in her hand. “It died,” she said. Two words that could apply to more than a phone in this situation.
His jaw tight, Caleb said, “I need to know something.”
“I swear, Caleb. There was no one else.”
“I know that,” he said, watching her jerk back in surprise. He reached up to brush her cheek, but held back. “Are you still willing to marry me?”
With little more than a whimper, she nodded her head yes.
“No more running,” he said. “For either of us.”
“I’ll never run again,” she said, “unless we run together. I’ll sell the store. I’ll move to Louisiana. Whatever it takes.”
Caleb felt as if he could breathe again. Pulling her tight against his chest, he said, “We’re not moving anywhere but to that house on Green Street.” Leaning back to look her in the eye, he brushed a tear away with his thumb. “This is it, Snow. Now and forever. You and me.”
Her face crumpled as she said, “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Of course not,” he said, giving her a smile. “You can’t lose me, darling. No matter what.”
“I love you, Caleb McGraw,” she declared, squeezing his neck. “And I’m never letting you go.”
Chapter 27
The tension filled the room in an almost tangible miasma. Caleb hovered next to Snow on Miss Hattie’s bright orange settee, his jaw tight and his eyes on the cat painting on the opposite wall. Snow considered sharing her knowledge of the three furry subjects, but discussing how the home owner liked to immortalize her felines was a topic for another day.
After a night spent making love as if it were their first time together, Snow woke to find a determined Caleb standing in their kitchen fully dressed and making waffles. Without having to ask, she knew that today was the day they would deal with his mother. The woman had spent the night at a hotel in Nashville, certain that she and Caleb would be flying out together by Monday.
When Caleb made the call, he’d kept the details to a minimum. Snow had listened to the conversation, knowing the exact moments he’d dodged a direct question. Would Snow be present? Was he finally seeing the light?
Though she knew that Vivien would not leave the meeting happy, Snow didn’t know for sure what Caleb intended to say. As much as they were a team, this was a battle he needed to handle for himself. She would be by his side for support, but she’d remain as silent as possible.
“A long black sedan just pulled up,” Miss Hattie said, then disappeared from the room entrance. Ever since Caleb had paid her a visit that morning, the older woman had been a live wire. Snow assumed Caleb had simply asked her to provide some neutral ground where he could meet his mother, but Hattie acted as if she’d been granted a role in a Scorsese film.
Caleb’s grip tightened on Snow’s knee. “You good?” he asked.
She rubbed his arm. “I’m good. How about you?”
“I feel like I’m about to fight a dragon.”
Snow couldn’t help but chuckle. “The good news is that this one doesn’t really breathe fire. She tries, but it’s all for show.”
They heard the front door open, and Caleb shot to his feet. Snow considered doing the same, but this wasn’t some royal call. She remained on the settee, ready to tag in if necessary.
“They’re right in here.” Hattie’s voice carried from the entry hall, as did Vivien’s.
“They? So she’s with him?”