It wasn’t the right time to reveal the next steps in his make Katie happy plan just yet but he couldn’t let her walk away after she said that. He captured her chin gently, forcing her to look up at him.
“You haven’t failed. You have found a father that will appreciate them. No matter what happens with Don, I will always be there for them.”
Katie’s eyes went soft and liquid. She blinked rapidly. “Thank you, Bennett. You have no idea what that means to me. And to them.”
“It means just as much to me. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. I love them, too.”
Part of the reason he hadn’t asked Katie the question he was dying to ask her yet was because he knew she was secretly waiting for him to get bored and go. She hadn’t figured out yet that he wasn’t going anywhere.
She hadn’t figured out yet that for Bennett, she was home.
As difficult as it was, he could wait until she was ready. He’d been raised by two people who never gave up on each other. That’s what he wanted with Katie.
He just had to be patient.
They walked downstairs hand in hand to find the boys trying to make popcorn in the microwave. Even as Katie released his hand to rush forward and deal with the kitchen catastrophe, Bennett was silently counting the days until he never had to let her go.
?
Three months later…
Something tickled the side of Katie’s face and she batted it away. Only a few moments later, the tickling sensation resumed only this time on the sole of her foot. Her eyes popped open.
Bennett sat on the side of the bed holding a single red rose.
“Hey. Sorry, did I sleep too long?” She’d come upstairs to take a nap in the loft because she’d almost face-planted into one of the worktables downstairs while recording the results of their latest soil sample test. Working part-time with a local mid-wife had been so rewarding and had given her a new purpose in life. But it was definitely taking its toll on her.
Lucky her other boss was so accommodating, Katie thought with a smile. Bennett had been nothing but supportive of her taking on something new, even though it had cut into their time together. It was something she’d had to get used to, having a man who cared as much about her personal fulfillment as his own.
Bennett leaned over and kissed her soundly. “It’s almost seven o’clock.”
Panic took hold. “Oh my god. The kids! I wasn’t there to meet the bus.”
He tapped the end of her nose, interrupting her meltdown. “It’s okay. I met the bus and brought the boys back here. They’re currently with my mom making apple pies.”
Katie whimpered in relief. She’d been so tired lately but she’d never missed picking the kids up after school. Bennett had recently started coming with her to pick them up and they’d all come back to the farm. The kids loved having so much room to play and they’d both become accustomed to Bennett taking an interest in their lives.
He’d taken them both to the fields so they could help him spread the first batch of his new soil on the test area he’d chosen. Hunter in particular had loved seeing all the different crops. Katie wouldn’t be surprised if he took an interest in farming when he got older. Bennett would be thrilled. It had been both difficult and heartwarming to watch her sons fall in love with Bennett the same way she had.
“That was so nice of her. Your mom has been a lifesaver these last few months.”
Bennett smirked then. “She’s trying to give us as much time alone as she can.”
Katie smacked his arm playfully. “Your mother is not trying to give us naughty time.”
He rubbed his nose against hers. “Don’t let her fool you. My mom is not so innocent. I’m grateful for that because there’s something that I want to show you.”
There was a strangely intimate look in his eye so Katie didn’t ask any questions. She just stood and allowed him to lead her downstairs. Her shoes were by the front door and she slipped them on and followed him out to his truck. He held the door for her as she climbed up. After he rounded the front of the cab, he climbed up next to her, sending her a brief, excited glance.
Katie just shook her head. What was he up to? She couldn’t understand why anyone had ever thought he was boring just because he was brainy. Bennett was actually quite spontaneous and loved to try new things. They’d gone to the beach to try surfing, which had been a major fail for both of them, but also to the planetarium in Virginia Beach for a special presentation by one of his friends. He often would have an idea and then jump right to it. Over the last few months, she’d learned to just go along with his sudden schemes.
When they pulled up to an empty field, Katie glanced over at him curiously. “Where are we?”
Bennett blew out a nervous breath. “Home, hopefully.”
Confused, Katie turned to look at the empty field again. Now that she was looking closer, she could see little orange flags marking the boundary of the lot. There were no other houses around it but she could see another house behind it in the distance.
“This is … yours?”