And I swore, as I looked around, my gramma was there, too. Her spirit always so strong. Her presence so profound.
Forever guiding me with the whisper of her encouraging words. Comfort covered me, a warmth that lit me from head to toe, her voice a murmur in my ear.
“Someday you’ll understand what I’m talkin’ about. Someday you’ll know what it’s like to be in love . . . You know you’re in love when their happiness counts more than yours. The key is your happiness meaning most to them, too. Put those two together? That’s magic, Rynna. That’s what real love is. It’s two people giving all they have.”
Magic.
That’s what Rex and I were. Two people giving it all we had.
We both loved the other first, their happiness before our own. Approaching our relationship that way? That happiness could only grow as it was poured out in the day to day, amplified in the little things and strengthened when life threw obstacles in our way.
Frankie suddenly looked my direction, wearing that grin on her face that always managed to touch my soul, the word falling from her mouth making my spirit thrum with joy. “Mommy!”
“Yes, baby?”
“Is that a Pepper’s Pie?”
“Of course it’s a Pepper’s Pie. I made your favorite kind.”
“Dids you know my Gramma C’rine used to make me all the Pepper’s Pies?” she turned and continued to ramble at Macy, who seemed to be her new best friend. “She used to works here, too, but now my mommy does and she makes me pies and they’re soes good, and my daddy eats them all, all, all gone and I have to race him to even get a piece.”
“No!” Macy said in mock horror.
Heart so full, I wound around the counter, heading their direction. My man shifted, like he felt me approaching.
Those sage eyes pinning me.
Capturing me.
So beautiful.
That coarse, rough exterior with the most beautiful, giving heart underneath.
He no longer kept it hidden.
He’d welcomed me into it.
Wholly.
No questions blocking our path.
Rex took the pie from my hands and placed it on the table, turning to me wearing that sexy smile riding the edge of his full, full lips. The one that tipped my tummy and sent that attraction rushing free. Then his hands were on my stomach, over our son, his love pouring from him in shattering waves. “I love you, Rynna Gunner,” he murmured.
“I love you so much,” I told him.
Our gazes tangled for a moment, before he swiveled me, tucked me to his side. He lifted his glass just the same as he lifted his voice over the perfect clatter of voices. “I think a toast is in order.”
Everyone turned their attention to us. Their smiles so bright, brimming with the bonds of friendship and family.
Rex glanced at me, then back to them. “To Gramma Dayne. For the woman who loved this restaurant, but loved the people of Gingham Lakes so much more. To her courageous, gracious heart. I’m not sure where I’d be right now if it wasn’t for her.”
He lifted his glass higher.
Toward the heavens.
“You’ll always be a part of Pepper’s Pies. More so, you’ll always be a part of our lives.”
It was a chorus of cheers.
Cheers to Gramma Corinne.
To the woman who’d given us her all.
For her love and her inspiration.
All moments matter. We just rarely know how important they are until the chance to act on them has already passed.
Because of her I’d acted. I’d taken the chance.
The chance on love.
The chance of forever.
And I was never looking back.
The End