Instant emotion clouded my eyes and I looked toward the heavens. That very morning I’d asked God for a sign that Mark would return to me. He’d sent me one.
He brought the cradle back to me.
I loved being a teacher. It was because of my inability to have my own that I’d chosen a profession that would involve children. Being with them, all so eager to learn, their young minds open and curious, filled me with contentment. They arrived with their backpacks and lunch bags and for the most part they came with big smiles. The first couple days of school a few cried, afraid to leave their mothers, but over the last couple of months they’d quickly adapted.
I loved them and tried not to think about the fact that unless I was able to adopt I’d never have children of my own. These little ones would be my family. Their sweet faces would be enough to satisfy me. I did want a family of my own, and more and more I realized I wanted it with Nick.
For my own mental health I’d stopped following him on Facebook. I wouldn’t allow myself to think about Nick. I couldn’t let my mind drift to him; otherwise, I’d fight off the temptation to contact him myself. Thank goodness he’d talked me out of waiting six months. Four months was going to kill me as it was. These were the longest months of my life.
Now that we were into the second month of school, the class had settled into a routine. We had a few minor incidents that are common with kindergartners. Zack brought his pet frog to school and Hoppy escaped before I realized we had an amphibian in the classroom. The result was a mad rush to rescue Hoppy—not a very original pet name—before Zack had a meltdown. Mason arrived to school with his pockets loaded down with his favorite rocks that were so heavy his pants fell down to his ankles in the lunch line. The poor boy was mortified.
My attention during the day was preoccupied with the kindergarten class. It was the evenings that I found most difficult. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop thinking about Nick. I did everything I could think of to keep busy. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a lot of success. Thoughts of him were constantly with me. He’d seemed so certain his feelings for me wouldn’t change. Mine certainly hadn’t.
I hungered for a look at him. A single peek, just so I’d get a read on how things were going. One day after school I’d driven past the house hoping for a glimpse of him. Not a good idea, I know, but I was curious. I didn’t see him nor was there any evidence of Elvis. The sawhorses that had been set in front of the house in a make-shift work area were gone as well.
Although it’d been just a few seconds to look, it seemed to me the house looked vacant. I didn’t know what to think if he’d left town. Because I was curious, I contacted Dana and asked her to check it out.
Friday afternoon after school had been dismissed for the day, I noticed I had a voice message from Dana.
“Hey, Emily, I asked around the neighborhood and learned that Nick’s moved out of the house. Do you want me to ask him again if he’s interested in selling? I can if you want, but from our last discussion my guess is that he wants to hold on to the property.”
I listened to the message a second time, wanting to make sure I heard her correctly. When Dana confirmed that Nick no longer lived at the house, I reached out and took hold of the edge of my desk. Cold chills ran down my spine and I felt the sudden need to sit down. Sinking into the chair, I covered my face with both hands as my head and my heart spiraled downward.
He’d left.
I didn’t know what that meant, if anything. My gut, however, had other ideas. My gut told me this wasn’t a good sign.
I’d sent Dana over to the house because I’d been too much of a coward to check it out myself. The last thing I wanted was for Nick to find me snooping around. What would be even more humiliating was if I found him there with another woman.
I didn’t think my heart could sink any lower. Straightening, I drew in a deep breath. I was letting my imagination run away with me, jumping to conclusions when in reality I knew nothing.
Instead of thinking the worst, I should be glad. He no longer hid inside the house or sat in the dark. He was out with friends, living life just the way I’d hoped he would do. I’d been an emotional crutch and clearly he no longer needed me.
I should be happy, right?
Overjoyed.
Thrilled.
I was none of the above.
Because it grew dark early these days, it was nearly so when I left the school building. Heading toward the parking lot, I heard a dog bark. If I didn’t know better I’d swear it sounded like Elvis. A second bark and I was even more convinced it was Nick’s German shepherd.
“Elvis?” I spoke his name in the form of a question.
Not a second later the big dog loped toward me, his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth. I fell to my knees and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I hugged him close. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“Did you miss me, too?”
Nick.
Releasing Elvis, I glanced up to discover Nick standing on the other side of my car. Drinking in the sight of him, I couldn’t speak. He looked so good it was all I could do not to leap to my feet and launch myself at him. Instead, I remained frozen in a crouched position.
“Em?”
When I finally found the ability to speak I said, “It’s not four months yet.”
“No, it’s been two.” He walked around the car and offered me his hand and helped me straighten.
When he released it I wanted to cry out in protest.
“Em?” he asked again, louder this time. “Do you want me to leave?”
I must have taken too long to answer, because he started to turn away.
“No,” I cried in a panicky voice. “Don’t leave.”
He turned back.
“Why’d you move out of the house?” Of all the questions I could have asked, that was the one that made it to the surface first.
“I heard you’d been asking about me.”
“Not me.”
One corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile. “No, you had the pesky real estate agent do it for you.”
“How’d you know?”
He gave me a full smile this time. “I have my ways.”
No doubt he did. “That doesn’t answer my question. You moved out. Why?”
For a long, uncomfortable moment I didn’t think he intended to answer. All the while he held my look, his eyes warm and inviting. “Because I knew if I stayed in Cedar Cove I wouldn’t be able to stay away from you for two minutes, let alone four months.”
“You dated.”
“Hey, don’t put that on me.” He raised both hands in surrender. “You’re the one who made that a stipulation.” He cocked his head to one side. “Did it make you jealous?”
“Insanely.”
His smile was huge, and he took one small step closer to me. “Glad to hear it.”
“Meet anyone interesting?”
“Oh yeah, a whole lot of interesting.”
My heart fell and I struggled to disguise the effect it had on me. “Oh.”
“Not much substance or character, though. There was a lot of interest, but it came from them, not me.”
“Not you?” It is true hope does spring eternal. I stepped closer to Nick, but it was a small step, not so he’d notice.
“I’ve already got my girl, but she’s stubborn and she’s got trust issues when it comes to lasting relationships. Can’t say that I entirely blame her, but I wish she had more faith in me and in herself.”
“I don’t have trust issues,” I protested.
“Did I say it was you?” he asked, looking cocky now.
“It’d better be.”
His grin was huge. “I’m not waiting two more months for you, Em. I know what I want and who I want and that’s you. I love you and that’s not going to change.”
His words were enough to make my knees go weak. He couldn’t have said anything that had more of an impact o
n me.
He loved me.
He loved me despite everything.
I started toward him, hungry for the feel of his arms around me, for the taste of his kiss.
He held out his arm, stopping me. “You hold up your end of the bargain?” he asked. “Did you attend that wedding?”
“I did. I would never have gone if you hadn’t pressured me.”
“And?” He was looking for more.
“And you were right. It was exactly what I needed. What James and Katie needed, too.”
“Told ya.”
“It was a small, private wedding and I’m so glad I was there.” I remembered the look James had shared with Katie as they exchanged their vows. It was the same look Nick had now, staring down at me. A look of joy, of adoration, of a love strong enough to last through the years.
“We’ll invite them to our wedding.” His eyes were intent as they locked on to mine.
I couldn’t stay out of his arms a second longer. I raced toward him and practically leaped into his embrace. “If you don’t kiss me soon…” I wasn’t allowed to finish when his mouth captured mine in a kiss that sent my world spinning. Twining my arms around his neck, Nick circled my waist and he lifted me off the ground. We kissed like we were starved for each other, and we were.
It started to rain, but I hardly noticed for the tears making tracks down my face. “I’ve missed you so much,” I cried, planting kisses over his face, starting with his forehead and then the corner of his eyes, working my way down to his mouth again. I’d never get enough of this man.
“We’re going to fill those five bedrooms with our family, Em,” Nick whispered, kissing me again. “We’ll adopt. I can’t think of a more fitting tribute to Brad. He would have loved you, but baby, you’re all mine.”
“And you are mine,” I returned.
“We’re going to get soaked standing here.”
I brushed the wet hair from his forehead. “I don’t care.”
Nick grinned. “Can’t say that I do, either, not when I have you in my arms.”
“I hope you don’t want a long engagement.”
He chuckled. “Afraid I’m going to change my mind, are you? Had the chance already. Not going there, Em. We’ll marry whenever you want, but rest assured this man is yours, body and soul.”
I braced my forehead against his, loving him so much in that moment that I felt as if my heart was about to explode. I started to laugh then.
“Something funny?” Nick asked, brushing the wet strands of hair away from my cheek.
“It’s true. I didn’t believe Jo Marie, but it’s true. She told me the inn had magical powers and the people who stayed there found peace and healing.”
“You didn’t believe her?”
“No, I wanted to, but I was afraid to get my hopes up. Don’t you see, Nick, you’re my gift, you’re my love, you’re my everything. I can’t wait to let Jo Marie know. She never doubted. Her confidence in the two of us was so strong.”
“In case you haven’t figured it out before now, Em, we were meant to be together. It was what brought you to Cedar Cove and to the inn. I moved here broken and saddled with grief and guilt after the car accident, and then I met you and you gave me hope that I could go on.”
“I was broken, too, remember?”
“Yes, which is what makes us a perfect match. We needed each other. You healed my heart and I’ll help heal yours, teach you to trust that you’re lovable.”
Pressing my head against his shoulder, I released a shuddering sigh. “You already have, Nick. You already have.”
His arms tightened around me. “This may be the shortest engagement in history if you continue to say those kinds of things to me.” He set my feet back down on the pavement. “Let’s go home.”
“Home,” I repeated, and leaned my head against his shoulder.
Elvis trotted along behind us, eager to get out of the rain.
Mark promised me he’d only be away as little as two weeks, but it’d been nearly two months and I had yet to hear a word from him. By all that was right I should be climbing the walls with worry. Certainly I was troubled, but when I felt my mind drifting down that crooked pathway, all I had to do was remember the cradle the Porters had delivered. I felt the cradle was God’s sign that Mark would return to me, with none of the consequences of his last visit. I clung to that promise with both hands as if I was clinging to the water edge of a lifeboat, holding onto a single rope.
My resolve only faltered once, and that was when Emily and Nick came to see me.
The instant I saw the smile on Emily’s face and the way Nick looked at her, I knew the two had found the path that led to each other.
“What’s up with you two?” I’d asked, although I could clearly see they were in love. “I thought you were going to wait four months before you got together again.”
“Not happening,” Nick answered for them both.
“So I see.” It was hard for me not to say I told her everything would work out.
We sat inside because of the weather. The autumn rains had arrived and lasted a good week before the air turned cool and crisp. Already the trees on the property had turned, and the leaves glowed with tinges of orange, yellow, and brown. Just the other day, I’d spent a full afternoon with my rake in hand, with Rover racing crazily across the lawn. Autumn was my favorite time of year, and more than anything I looked forward to sharing those crisp mornings with Mark.
Emily and Nick took a seat, and I noticed they held hands.
“Em and I have decided we want to be married,” Nick announced.
I clasped my hands together, so pleased it was all I could do not to leap to my feet and embrace them both. “Congratulations.”
“If possible, we’d like to be married at the inn,” Emily said. “Neither one of us wants a large wedding. What’s important is that we’re together.”
My eyes watered with happy tears. “Looks like you’re going to get your house after all.”
Nick raised Emily’s hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “We plan to fill those bedrooms by adopting foster kids.”
“What a wonderful idea.”
“I knew almost from the first that Em was the one,” Nick said, turning to look at her with such adoration that I felt my breath hitch. No one needed to spell it out. The way Nick looked at Emily with such love and tenderness twisted my stomach. It was the way Mark looked at me just before he’d left for the Middle East, as if I were his everything and he couldn’t imagine life without me. In the same way Mark completed me, Nick completed Emily and she him.
I was happy for them both. Reaching out, I spontaneously hugged Emily.
She hugged me back. “I didn’t believe any of this was possible. It really is like a dream come true.”
Nick’s arm was around Emily. “You can see why we would like to be married at the inn.”
“You believe what I told you about the inn now, don’t you?”
Emily’s smile was answer enough. “I’m a convert.”
“I am, too,” Nick added.
“Holding the wedding here would be perfect.” Together we’d check the books and come up with a date that worked for us both. “What can I do to help?” I asked.
Emily’s face was filled with joy. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this covered. After all, I’ve already planned two other weddings.” She laughed. “I never thought I’d be grateful for being jilted twice, but I am. With all my connections, I’ll be able to arrange everything in a matter of hours.”
“You know what they say about the third time around,” Nick joked.
It did my heart good to see these two this happy. The inn had worked its wonder yet again. Paul’s promise to me had been fulfilled over and over. I had to believe that promise included me and Mark.
—
After Emily and Nick left I remained sitting, and rays of sunlight broke through the steel-gray skies just before the sun sank behind the Olympic mountain range. Rover strolled
over and joined me. “I knew they were meant to be together,” I gloated. My wish was that one day our children would play together and be friends. I knew Emily and Nick wanted a family, and so did Mark and I.
I heard a car door close in the distance. My guests had gone and I wasn’t expecting anyone else until the following day. Standing, I walked around the corner of the porch and came to a shocked standstill.
Mark stood in the middle of the driveway, a duffel bag at his feet.
Mark. Alive. Vital. Healthy.
It took a full minute for my breath to find its way back into my lungs. When I could breathe again, I flew down the steps and threw myself into his embrace. Wordlessly, he grabbed hold of me, wrapping his arms around my middle as he lifted me off the ground. His hug was hard enough to injure my ribs, but I couldn’t have cared less. I buried my face in his neck and breathed him in, relishing the fact he’d come back to me.
Overcome with emotions, neither one of us seemed to be able to speak.
Then for no reason I can explain, other than relief, happiness, and joy so profound it was impossible to hold it in, I started to sob. Not little ladylike sobs, either, but giant, gulping, oxygen-stealing ones that shook my entire body.
“Baby, baby,” Mark whispered. “It’s okay. I’m here. I’m home.”
“Home,” I repeated when I could breathe again, lifting my head so I could look at him. “You’re home.” His facial features were blurred from the tears clouding my eyes. The one thing I could plainly see was his smile, which was wide and happy. Dazzling in its intensity.
Mark set my feet back on the ground and brushed my hair away from my face, holding it in place with both of his hands. “I told you I was coming back.”
“And I told you I’d be waiting.”
He kissed me then with the hunger of a man who’d waited far too long for this very moment. He cupped my ears as he angled his mouth over mine in a kiss I felt in every part of my being. His kiss was rough and tender both in one. As if he wanted to swallow me whole, devour me. With a single kiss he told me how much he’d missed me, how deeply his love ran. When he lifted his head, he used his thumbs to wipe the moisture from my cheeks, and I saw there were tears in his own eyes. Seeing them made me love him all the more. He’d been afraid he would lose me, lose himself, but he could relax now.