“But I love Kurt, too.”
“Yes, I know you do.” Bella nodded. “And he loves you. This is a bump in the road. Fate will figure it out. Just don’t you give up on following your dream. You’re my inspiration, Leanna. You have tried a million things and you didn’t settle. Don’t settle now, or you’ll crush my faith that women can have it all.”
“Crush your faith? You aren’t even religious.” Jenna arched a brow.
“Faith in Leanna. Faith in ice cream. Whatever. You know what I mean. Global energy faith.” Bella put her arm around Leanna and pulled her close. “Build your business; the rest will work itself out.”
“And what if it doesn’t?” Her voice was just above a whisper.
“Then you take that sexy little butt of yours to New York and get that man back full-time. But if it doesn’t work out, that means that he didn’t want it enough to make it work. See? I have this great double standard. We women get to progress as the years move on, but men?” Bella smiled and looked up at the ceiling with a sigh. “They still have to be chivalrous.”
“I don’t care about progressing. I care about Kurt.” Leanna leaned her elbows on her knees.
“Do you care about your business?” Amy asked.
“Yes. Very much.”
“Then you can’t give it up. I agree with Bella.”
Leanna closed her eyes. “I hate you both. Why aren’t you telling me to pack my stuff and go to New York right this very second? Do you think I’m making a mistake by being with Kurt?” She ran her eyes between them. “Wait. Before you answer that, you need to know that no matter what you say, I’m with him.”
Amy knelt before Leanna and held her hands. “We love Kurt, and we love you. It’s just that opportunities like this come once in a lifetime for some of us, and…” She glanced at Bella, then back at Leanna. “I agree with Bella. If Kurt wants this to work, he has to make it work.”
“Then this should be easy, because he’s already said he wants it to work, and he’ll come to the Cape on weekends. So I guess I just need to get my act together, accept the offer with Daisy Chain, and live with a long-distance relationship. No matter how much it sucks being apart.” Even as the words left her lips, she knew easy wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities.
Amy pulled her to her feet and hugged her. “That’s my girl.”
Leanna took a step back. “And if you’re wrong, I’ll have to kill you. All of you.”
THE EVENING SLIPPED seamlessly into night, bringing with it a cool breeze from the mountains. Kurt was enjoying a few minutes alone by the stone fire pit on the patio, scrolling through the pictures of the studio that Blue had sent. The work was progressing much faster than either Blue or Kurt had anticipated. He heard the sliding glass door to the house open and recognized the heavy, determined steps of his brother Jack, followed by the slightly slower pace that could only be Hal Braden. He didn’t recognize the third set of footsteps.
Jack pulled two chairs over to where Kurt sat. “How’s it going?” Jack wore his typical outfit of Levi’s, a black T-shirt, and heavy hiking boots.
“Oh, pretty well,” Kurt lied.
“Mind if we join you?” Hal sighed as he sat beside Jack. He wore a white T-shirt beneath what must have been a favorite flannel shirt for the soft, worn appearance. It fit snugly across his broad shoulders and strong chest. His jeans were dark and his cowboy boots black. At six foot six, Hal Braden was a bear of a man, with weathered cheeks, graying hair, and an easy disposition.
“Not at all.” Kurt slid his phone into his pocket.
“It’s nice out here tonight. You doing okay, Kurt?” Josh Braden was a few years older than Kurt, and like Kurt, he was the most reserved of his siblings. Josh wore a pair of dark slacks and a button-down shirt, and like his father, he exhaled as he settled into his seat.
“Yeah, thanks. I’m well.” Kurt was anything but well. “The dress you designed for Savannah is gorgeous, Josh.”
“Thank you. Savannah seemed to like it,” Josh said. His eyes were dark and serious.
“Hal, this has been a very enjoyable weekend. Thank you for hosting the wedding and putting up with my family.”
“Son, there’s nothing to put up with. Family knows no boundaries, and you, Jack, and the rest of your family are my family now, too. You’re always welcome here.” Hal looked out over the mountains. “I’d like for you and your family to meet my sister, Catherine, and my niece and nephews at some point, too. Time goes by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday they were traipsing around the ranch. Catherine’s youngest son, Luke, raises Gypsy horses over in Trusty, Colorado. He’s had a love of horses since he was just a boy.” Catherine had six children. Before her husband signed over his parental rights and took off with another woman, they’d lived in Weston, and after he left, Catherine and her children moved to Trusty. She changed her name back to Braden and gave her children the Braden name, too.