"I'm not sure how a long-distance relationship is going to work between us," she said honestly as she looked back at the other woman. "I live and work here, and now I'm starting a new store. He lives and works in Chicago. It's not an easy fix. Did he tell you that I went to visit him in the city to talk to him about the building and had a full-blown panic attack because of how closed-in and loud everything was?"
"He did," she said with a little laugh. "But there is one thing I know that is true. Kyle has never had a reason not to live in the city. He works in Chicago so it's convenient, but that doesn't mean he's not willing to compromise for someone he loves. You're his reason, Ella. He would do anything to have a life with you."
The word compromise was like a huge light bulb moment for Ella. Give and take. Meeting him halfway, someway, somehow. He'd given her three months of being patient and understanding, and when push came to shove, she'd shoved him right out of her life without giving them a chance to figure it out. That's all he'd asked for . . . time to figure out a solution to make things work between them. Because he loved her and because she would always be the one.
She placed a hand on her rapidly beating heart as his words came back to her, so raw and honest and true. It was everything she felt for him in return, and she had to tell him, because he would always be the man she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with. And in order to do that, she had to be willing to make sacrifices on her end to be with him, even if that meant somehow splitting time between Woodmont and Chicago, or somewhere in between.
A small frisson of hope swelled through her. She could do this. For Kyle. For them. It was a Friday evening, the very worst time for her to drive into the city, but she couldn't go another day without him in her life. Or without him knowing just how much she loved him.
"I have to go," she said to Patricia in a rush of breath.
The other woman just smiled knowingly, and while she went back to finish setting up the bakery next door for the grand opening in a week, Ella locked up the shop that Kyle had given her and went home to change.
When she walked through the front door, her father was sitting in his leather recliner watching the news, while Betsy was on the couch quietly knitting. Her dad had been giving her the silent treatment all week long, and today was no different. It was as if he was punishing her for being with Kyle, and as she headed into her bedroom to strip out of her grocery attire to take a quick shower, she realized that her father's attitude was his issue, not hers. Not anymore.
Twenty minutes later, wearing a pretty dress and a pair of heels, with her hair down and a hint of makeup on, she made her way back to the front door without a word.
"Where are you going?" her father asked gruffly.
Taking a deep breath, Ella stopped and turned to face him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Betsy's knitting needles come to a stop as the other woman no doubt wanted to witness what was about to happen. At least Ella knew she had an ally in Betsy, that she'd be there to calm Charles down after the conversation Ella knew they were going to have. Because it was a long time coming, and her father needed to understand that there was absolutely nothing he could say or do that would stop her from being with Kyle this time around.
She lifted her chin fearlessly, because that's exactly how she felt-confident and self-assured in who she was and what she wanted. "I'm going into the city to see Kyle," she said.
Her father's dark brows pinched together in disapproval. "Ella-"
"Stop," she said, cutting off her father because it didn't matter what he had to say to her. It was more important that he heard what she needed to say to him. "I'm not asking for your permission, and I don't need your approval. I'm almost twenty-eight years old, and this is my decision, not yours. I've given up the past ten years taking care of you and running the market, and it's my turn to live my life and be happy. And I'm the happiest when I'm with Kyle."
Her father's face had turned red in anger, and while she knew this might induce another anxiety attack, he had his pills and he had Betsy and she trusted the other woman to take care of him. "I'm not sure why Gwen has gotten a free pass all these years for her behavior, because she's far from perfect. No one forced her to sleep with Todd back then, and while I agree that Todd should have stepped up and been a man about the situation, Gwen is not faultless. If she cared about you, about us, she'd be here right now, instead of with some random guy she met one weekend. She's always been selfish and self-centered, and I don't see that changing anytime soon."
She could see her father's chest rising and falling quickly, and it wasn't easy for Ella not to rush to his side like she normally would have. In fact, it was damn hard to stay where she was, but a quick glance at Betsy, who gave her an encouraging nod, told her that the other woman knew Charles wasn't in danger of having a stroke. Ella recalled the conversation she'd had with Betsy a short while ago-for a long time now I've suspected that he acts frail and incapable because you've always catered to him. He won't wither away if you go out and live your life.