19. Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Silas

After an extremely late night, I end up sleeping in. When I wake, I have a message from Ella. Their father is doing well, and they have an appointment for tomorrow to meet with the director of the assisted living community. I was well out of my element last night, but since the hospital insisted on keeping their father for the night, I had to make sure Ella and Abbie were comfortable before heading home.

Most of the family is packing up to head back to their own places except for Griffin, who is staying in town for a little while longer. I'm still not entirely sure why his girlfriend didn't come to town with him, especially since her family is less than an hour away. He won't give us anything more than that they decided to spend it with their own families this year, so we've all tried to pretend it's completely normal.

The guys are heading back to the townhouse tonight, so I figure I'll head over with them and give Mom and Dad a little peace. The whole family holiday extravaganza has been interesting, to say the least.

I roll over and check my clock. It's past nine, so I stretch and decide to get up, maybe take Ella for breakfast before figuring out what is on the schedule for the day. I note that I also have an email from Officer Baker. The old guy never did get accustomed to text messages. With a chuckle, I tap on the email. He wants me to take a few days off while he helps Judson prepare for the Alaska trip, then report back ready to learn. Hope fills my entire body, knowing that I finally have a goal I can look forward to.

After showering and dressing, I call Ella to see if she's up for breakfast.

"Hey," she answers. "What are you doing up so early?"

With another stretch that leads to a groan, I mumble something about not wanting to sleep too late and throw off my schedule. "Want to meet me for breakfast?"

"The usual?"

"Why not? After, maybe we can take a walk in the park?" I offer, hoping to come up with some things that might help her cope with the trauma of last night. We got lucky. Mr. Marshall could have had an accident, gotten lost, or worse.

"That sounds nice. They're going to keep Dad until we get him set up at the community. He's had a few episodes this morning, but they're confident it will pass soon. It's still scary, you know?"

I don't, truthfully, but I can imagine how hard it would be if anything like that happened to my mother or father. There's a long road ahead, but I intend to be by her side through it all. "We'll do everything we can to make sure your father has a good life even if it's hard. You can do this, and so can Abbie. You're both so strong, and your father will get to see that."

She sighs. "I'm sure you're right. It's hard to see that right now. Did you ever hear back from Pastor Scott or talk to your father?"

With searching for her father and getting him settled in at the hospital, there was not a good time to tell her about the dramatic turn of events.

"I'll tell you all about it on our walk. I'm heading out now, but don't worry. It's all good news, okay?"

"Okay," she whispers, almost breaking my heart. My girl can't take much more, but I hope my news lifts her spirits a little.

When I reach my mother's bakery, Ella approaches as well. When her gaze lands on me, her lips spread into a wide smile.

I chuckle. "I'm glad the mere sight of me brings a smile to your face."

"Stop," she says, linking her arm with mine as I open the door. "You're incorrigible."

"Nah. I'm completely in love with you and want to see you smile all the time." I raise my eyebrows when she shoots me a shame on you glance. "How's Abbie?"

Ella settles into our regular seat and takes her gloves off. "She's sleeping in. I left her a note, but it's the first time she's been able to do that in years. I don't like that I left her to deal with this alone for so long. Enough about that though. Tell me about the mission trip and talking with your father."

"Long story short, I talked to Dad and he understood completely. Turns out, Pastor Scott had already talked to him before offering me the trip," I say.

"Really? That's good, I guess, but what about the trip?"

"He had a better idea. He called Judson Baker, who has shown interest in doing some mission work, and asked if he would be interested. He doesn't want to work on the farm and leaped at the chance."

Ella narrows her eyes. "But what about the farm then?"

"Baker wants me to work for him full time. He wants to show me everything, and if I'm interested when the time comes, he'll sell it to me."

Her eyes light up like last night's fireworks and she snuggles in beside me, slinking her arms around my waist. I want to kiss her, but Rose has her eagle eye on us. Instead, I hug her tight and revel in the nostalgia. Neither of us is going anywhere, and this relationship finally has a chance to grow into its full potential.

"Does this mean we're actually going to be together in the same place with nothing keeping us apart?" she asks, peering up at me.

"Looks like it, sweetheart. Think you can put up with me for that long?"

She tilts her head to the side and taps her finger on her lips. Lips that I really want to kiss, but again, we're being monitored by my mother's employee and the official town grandmother. "Hmm, get me a cinnamon roll and coffee, then go for a walk with me while I decide."

"You are the awful one," I tease and head to the counter to steal some fresh rolls. As I approach, Rose smiles…then swats my hand with a spatula.

"Just because your mother owns the bakery, does not mean you can waltz in here and take whatever you want, young man." Rose raises her eyebrows, revealing her purple eyeshadow.

I rub my sore hand and grin. "Please, Rose, may I have some for my beautiful girlfriend?"

Rose suffers no fools, but since she can never seem to say no to the Thomas grin, she mumbles her annoyance and pulls the tray from the display case. Once I have secured two gooey cinnamon rolls and coffees, I kiss Rose's cheek to smooth over her annoyance. It seems to work since she shoos me away with a smile.

"You're such a flirt," Ella teases and takes her food.

"I got you what you wanted didn't I?"

"Yeah, and you gave Rose my kiss." Ella's lower lip pops out, and for a moment, she looks like she did at prom. I have to get her out of this bakery so I can kiss her and ask her a question that's been burning in my mind for a whole day.

Outside, I head towards the park where we used to walk the trails. I remember that old tunnel, the one where I was a hundred percent sure I needed to tell her about my trip and that I loved her and didn't know what to do. But I chickened out. Turns out, it's the same place where she chickened out over her feelings, too, so it seems like a good place to lay everything out.

We eat and stroll, keeping up pleasant conversation that touches on our families. When we reach the trail that leads to the tunnel, she drops her empty cup and napkin in the trash. I dumped mine long ago, but now that she's free and no longer focused on food, I wish I had something to hold on to, to ground me. She knows I love her. She knows my intentions. I don't know how she feels about it all after learning that I might become a farmer. What if she wants a different life? What if she wants more?

She slips her hand into mine and snuggles up to me while we walk. It's quiet now, only the two of us strolling along with no destination in mind.

At the tunnel entrance, she lays her head on my bicep and her body relaxes. "I missed this place," she admits, looking around as we enter.

"Me too," I say and pause. Ella takes my lead and leans against the stone wall. I settle in beside her and move dirt around with the toe of my shoe before gaining enough courage to spit it all out.

"Uh, so, hypothetically speaking, is marriage something you want some day?"

Ella furrows her brow. "Yes, I thought we established that already."

"Right. Yes. Um, well, what sort of lifestyle did you have in mind?" I can't help but scratch the back of my neck while my heart races. She's so beautiful. Her hair is windblown and her cheeks are pink from the cold. She glances my way and shakes her head.

"What are you getting at Silas?" She pushes off the wall to stand in front of me, forcing me to look her in the eyes while I pitch my offer.

I shove my hands in my pockets to keep them steady. They shake so hard, I'm not sure I'll get through this without her noticing how nervous I am.

"It's that, hypothetically speaking again, I wondered if farm life would suit you. You know, like if I asked you to marry me one day, would it be completely horrible?"

Ella surprises me by stepping forward and wrapping her arms around my neck. The lips I've wanted on mine for hours are finally there, and her sweet scent mixed with the bakery surrounds me in warmth and comfort. With my hands on her hips, I pull her closer and kiss her, memorizing every movement and whimper and sigh. I can't even be disappointed that she hasn't answered me yet, because the cinnamon sugar and coffee taste of her is driving me completely insane. I can kiss her all day and still never have enough of this woman who found it in her heart to give me another chance. She's been through so much, shouldn't trust me at all, but she's given me her heart again. It's a treasure, and I can't believe I'm the one who gets to hold it.

Ella pulls back and drops her forehead on my chin, staring down at my chest. "I love you, Silas. I don't care what you do for a living. If you're happy and with me, then I'll be happy too."

The post-kiss fog still has me in its clutches, which is the only explanation for what I say next. "Will you marry me, Ella? When you're ready. There's a lot going on right now but when the dust settles, will you?"

She looks up at me and her lips turn into a sweet smile, eyes filled with light. "I thought you'd never ask."

I chuckle. "It's only been a week, and you hated my guts at the beginning of it. And before that was literally one summer. Barely eight weeks, actually."

"In my heart, it's been a lifetime. I'm not saying yes to getting married tomorrow, but yeah, I want to marry you when things with my father are settled and we've gotten used to our new lives."

I kiss her forehead and pull her against me. "I hadn't planned on officially asking today, only feeling you out, so I don't have a ring. I'm sorry."

She hums against my chest. "It doesn't matter. You're committed. I don't need a ring to prove it to me."

Running my hands up and down her arms, I realize how incredibly lucky I am. "I still want to get you one. You're my girl. I want the world to know it." I smile when she laughs at me. "So, do you think you might want to live here in Coldstone Creek?"

"On a farm with cows and horses and goats. We'll see. Right now, I want to snuggle my fiancé and enjoy this moment, then head back to my house so I can cook dinner for you and Abbie."

"Sounds good to me." I ease back against the wall and pull her with me, stroking her back as she rests. She's still so tired, and all I want to do is comfort her until it doesn't hurt anymore. Hopefully soon, it won't.