20. Chapter 20

Chapter 20

The mayor started telling the story of the event that had started the festival, but Justin wasn't listening. His eyes never left Charlotte, and where she stood near August. He couldn't see her face, but he was sure she was smiling. After all, this was what she'd been wanting. Were they holding hands? He couldn't tell. Someone was standing behind them and blocking his view.

People pushed and worked their way through the crowd, and Justin's lip curled as he noticed several young women making their way closer to August. It was about to be the moment that the couples went on their symbolic sleigh ride. August was now surrounded by young women. Had Charlotte noticed? Surely she had !

Justin wanted to stop watching. To walk away. He wouldn't do that today, but Monday, when he visited Cottonwood Falls, he'd ask their doctor if he knew where else he could open a practice. He'd sell this one. Move away. Start fresh. Get as far away as he could from the only woman he'd ever love.

It would be impossible to stay here in Spring Falls. Not with Charlotte loving someone else.

And how could she love August? Perhaps she hadn't heard anything he'd said. A sickening feeling washed over him. That was it. She'd not heard August at all. She'd…she'd only heard him. His confession.

He was a fool.

If only he'd simply kept his mouth shut.

But no. She'd have found out, eventually.

"Couples!" the mayor shouted. "I hope you are ready! The weather is fine, and we've two dozen sleighs at the ready. Grab your beloved, and line up. We'll do a mile and back, until everyone who wanted a turn got one. You married folk too," he added.

This was it. Justin lowered his eyes. He couldn't watch. Sucking in a shaking breath through his tight chest, he turned to go when someone grabbed his arm.

Justin looked down at familiar fingers. He was scared to raise his head. Afraid to have his hopes up. He stilled, frozen to the spot.

"Justin. "

Her voice was soft, but almost commanding. He couldn't stop himself from meeting her eyes. His chest constricted again as Charlotte stood before him.

"I have something to tell you," she said.

Justin braced for it. He knew it was coming and the words she said would stay with him forever, but it was only fair. He'd told her his heart, confessed everything within him. It was her turn.

"It was all you, wasn't it?" she asked. "The ribbon, the candies? Those were gifts from you."

He couldn't deny it. He'd been raised not to lie, but in this instance, when he didn't want to make things worse, Justin simply stayed quiet.

Charlotte continued, "Each thing you did for me, whether I knew about it or not, it was done because you cared for me, wasn't it?"

She took his hands, and he instinctively wrapped his around hers. They were close, and her words were soft, pitched only for him to hear.

"You love me, but you stepped back, because you knew I wanted someone else. That is real love. Justin, I've made a mistake and I hope it's not too late." She looked up at him with a desperation he felt in his very soul.

"No," he told her. "I made the mistake."

Charlotte freed one of her hands and put her finger to his lips. "It's my turn," she told him quietly .

Her soft touch filled Justin with agony. Her hands were warm, despite the snow now falling around them. He was scared to hear what she was going to tell him, and terrified she'd leave too soon. Justin wasn't going to stop her though. He'd bear anything to have her attention focused on him.

"I overheard you and August," she confessed. "And afterward it filled me with confusion. All night I was awake in bed wondering what I should do. While I can't pretend to understand everything the two of you were talking about, I did understand enough. That August had made some sort of a threat to you. And," she added, bringing her gentle touch to his eye, "did this."

"I'd do anything to keep you safe," he told her, his eyes darkening. "Anything."

"Including hiding how much you care for me." She didn't ask it as a question, but presented it as a fact. What else could he say, but yes?

"I've been silly," she told him. "I let myself get swept away in the excitement of the festival, the thrill that someone might be in love with me, and I neglected someone very dear to me, someone who is my closest friend."

Friend. There was that word he'd used. She'd used it as well. Justin started to speak, while simultaneously trying to push away his agony .

"I'm not done," she told him. Charlotte tilted her head and gave him a considering look. "I realized last night that I was so upset and so worried because of you. Because I love you, too. Of all the men here, the one I want to go on a sleigh ride with, and to spend my days with, and to love for the rest of my life is you."

Justin could hardly believe she'd said aloud the words he'd longed to hear. He knew his eyes must be wide and worked to unfreeze his tongue. "I-I'd like that," he finally stammered.

When she smiled at him, an amused look on her face, he tried again. He could do better. "Charlotte," he said, bringing his forehead to hers, "will you be mine?"

Her answer was lost to his ears in the crowd's noisy cheers as the first sled pulled away, but her lips pressed against his were all the answer he needed.