When We Found Home(73)

He looked good. Handsome, a little tired, maybe, but so much the man she’d wanted in her life.

“I was making a point,” he said. “With the cape. I’ve been thinking a lot and it’s kind of my thing to always be the hero. Especially when it comes to my family. I always want to take care of them, be the good guy, solve all the problems.”

With deeds or money, she thought. Whatever it took, he would be there, trying to fix what was broken. As far as flaws went, it wasn’t a bad one—unless you got between him and those he loved.

She’d wanted to be one of them, she thought wistfully. One of the loved.

“But I can’t,” he continued. “I’m not a guy in a cape—I’m just a regular person. I have flaws and loving my family a little too much is one of them.”

He put the cape on the hood of her car and took a step toward her. “You were right to do what you did about Paulo because you’re the kind of person who does the right thing. I know that and I admire it about you, but in that moment all I could see was my brother in trouble.”

“You lashed out,” she whispered.

“I did and you got caught in the cross fire. I blamed myself for what he did. I was humiliated and ashamed and you were a part of that and I was totally and completely wrong.”

Wrong was good, wasn’t it? Okay, not being wrong, but admitting it. It meant—well, it had to mean something.

“There’s no excuse for what I did.” He nodded at the cape. “That’s to explain, but not to make it right. I screwed up.” He looked at her. “I’m going to screw up again, Callie. I’m kind of controlling and a little overbearing and I’m going to make mistakes and get it wrong and I’m going to hurt you. There’s no way I can’t. But here’s what I want you to know—I’ll never stop trying to get it right. I won’t give up, not on you or us. If you’re willing to take a chance on me.”

She heard the words and loved what he said, but needed him to be more clear. “What does that mean?”

He smiled. “You’re my princess.”

Her heart sank. “No,” she told him sadly. “I’m not. Or if I am, I don’t want to be. A princess isn’t real. I don’t want to be put on a pedestal. I want to be a partner. I want to share my life with someone who loves me and sees me as special, but not other than. I want to be part of a team, not be worshipped.”

He reached for her hands. “Callie, when I say you’re my princess, I mean you’re the one I’ve been waiting for all my life. I want us to make each other stronger and better. I want us to have a life together.” One corner of his mouth turned up. “I’m not interested in worshipping you, except maybe in bed. I’m clear on your flaws. You’re moody and you don’t trust very easily and you get caught up in the little things, but that’s okay. I think we could make a great team.” The smile faded. “Callie, I’m in love with you.”

She wanted to believe him but she wasn’t sure. What if he hurt her again? What if it wasn’t real?

And there it was, she realized in a moment of total clarity. She was being handed everything she’d ever wanted. All she had to do was have enough faith in herself to reach out and take it. Yes, she was scared and yes, she’d made mistakes in the past, but everyone had. Her punishment had been harsher, but so what? She’d survived. More than that, she was thriving. She could take a chance on the man she loved or she would live with regrets for the rest of her life. It was, to quote Keira, a no-brainer.

“Keira,” she said quickly. “Malcolm is going to be moving out so I’ll be staying with Keira and Grandfather Alberto. I can’t leave them.”

He leaned in and kissed her. “I know.”

“I mean I’m going to be the main caretaker or guardian or whatever. You have to accept that.”

He kissed her again. “Callie, with my hero complex do you really think it’s going to bother me to help raise Keira?”

She smiled. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. And we may have Lizzy when Keira goes off to college. I doubt they’ll let a cat in the dorm room.”

“It’s fine.” He cupped her face and kissed her a third time. “I love you. It would be really great if you said something back.”

She looked into his eyes. “Something like I’ll love you forever and when we make love, maybe you should wear the cape?”

“Something like that would be perfect.” His smile faded. “I really do love you.”

“I believe you.”

“I’m sorry about what happened with Paulo.”

“Me, too. I should have warned you.”

“No. You did everything right. And when you screw up, I promise to be just as gracious.”

“Me? As if.”

“You know it’s going to happen.” He touched her face. “Want to go to my place?”

“Very much.”

“Want to marry me?”

Her breath caught. “Yes.”

“Good. That wasn’t official, by the way. The real proposal will be in the next day or so. There will be champagne and a huge diamond ring.”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. Santiago couldn’t help himself. He was always going to make things bigger than life.

“Don’t forget rose petals,” she teased. “There should be rose petals.”

“Great idea. Depending on where I propose, I’ll bet I could get some swans in the background. Or we could save them for the wedding.”

She sighed. “Let’s do both.”

* * *

The house was charming. Delaney had walked through it twice, admiring the built-ins and the views from nearly every window. There was a big yard, lots of bedrooms and the newly added master bedroom was to die for.

Finding the listing hadn’t been that hard, given the description she had. The price had made her teeth hurt, but with her new job and Malcolm’s fortune, they could afford it. As long as he understood they were buying it together. Assuming he still wanted to have anything to do with her.

She’d taken the last week to get her head where it needed to be. The job offer had come through and she was starting on Monday. She’d cleared the air with Beryl and her dad, and had seen Chelsea for a great girls’ night out. She was journaling and healing and figuring out all the times when she’d been so scared of stepping wrong that she hadn’t made a single move.

She realized now she’d spent her whole life caught between two worlds. The wonderful women in her neighborhood had totally been there...right up until they’d gone back to their own families. She’d grown up with the feeling of being forever left behind. Maybe because of that or maybe because of who she was, she’d never learned when to hang on and when to let go.

With perfect hindsight, she knew she should have broken up with Tim years ago. He’d been so clear on what he wanted and she hadn’t been that. She wrestled with guilt and hoped that she hadn’t messed him up or made him unhappy.

She was less sure about her job at Boeing. She had loved it, but she was so excited about her new opportunity. Maybe it was okay if there were detours along the way.

She walked back through the main floor of the house and imagined what it would look like if she and Malcolm ever lived here. There would be a room for Keira, of course, and a big table in the dining room for when they had their families over. She wanted to get pregnant fairly quickly, assuming he was interested in that much of a commitment. She hoped he was. The first test of that would be whether or not he showed up.

She’d texted him and asked him to meet her at the house. If he didn’t show, she would have her answer.

“Please be here,” she whispered to herself, then walked to the front porch to wait.

At exactly two, he turned into the driveway. Relief was sweet and happy and for the first time in days, she felt herself believing in what could be. When he got out of his car and their eyes met, she felt her love for him grow until it filled every part of her. She raced toward him, needing to hold him and touch him and tell him everything.

“Malcolm!”

She threw herself at him and he caught her, then held on so tight, she thought he might never let go.

They stood like that for a long time, hugging, holding, breathing. Finally she drew back enough to look up into his eyes.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she said, talking quickly so she could get it all out and they could move on to the good part. “I’m sorry for what happened before. I needed to work some things out. My past messed me up a little, or maybe a lot, but whichever, I had to figure it all out.”

She smiled at him. “I have a new job. I’m the CFO of a Boeing supplier. It’s really exciting and I’m beyond thrilled. I’ve talked to my dad and to Beryl and I know now I should never have stayed engaged to Tim as long as I did. I was so scared to get it wrong. I needed to be free but at the same time I didn’t think that was allowed. Then there was the shooting and everything changed.”

She searched his gaze, but had no idea what he was thinking. Which meant she was going to have to be brave all on her own.

“Going back to college wasn’t right for me. Or the doctor thing. I’d already found my passion. I don’t know if I was punishing myself or if I just needed a break. Regardless, I’ve come through it. I’m better and stronger now. A lot of that is because I found you.”