From previous experience, Maggie knew that a minute in Tiffany-time meant at least ten in actual time. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and grasped a bag with each hand, then walked the pathway to the front of the cabin. By the time she got there, the door was open, and Chase was already inside. She wasn’t expecting to see Carrie when she entered.

  Maggie darted her gaze between Heather and Pam. “What’s she doing here?”

  Neither one of them answered as they ushered Chase to the door. “Come on. Let’s ride down to the pond. There are fish and frogs and—”

  “Snakes?” Chase asked.

  “I’m sure there are some of those too,” Heather said.

  “Can we catch them?”

  “No,” Pam and Heather said in unison as they went out the door, closing it behind them.

  “I need to talk to you,” Carrie said, coming closer.

  She turned and went to the door. “I’m really not up for this battle again, Carrie.”

  “I’m sorry,” Carrie blurted, her voice rising as vulnerability tinged it.

  Hand on the doorknob, she stopped but didn’t turn around. She hadn’t expected any of this from Carrie.

  “I was embarrassed, and I freaked out when I found out that my best friend and my mom were sleeping together. You can’t blame me for that. I know she’s really my aunt, but she’s the only mom I’ve ever had, and I didn’t want her to get hurt.”

  She spun around. “I would never hurt Lynn.”

  Tears welled in Carrie’s eyes. “I know that now. I think I always knew you two would be together, but I was pissed that you both lied to me.”

  “You always knew?”

  “You never dated anyone.” Carrie shrugged. “Not until Brenda in med school, and that wasn’t permanent.” Carrie grabbed the counter behind her for balance, looked at the floor, and moved her foot back and forth across the wood floor in front of her. “I’m not stupid, you know. It was so obvious. You always wanted to come home with me but spent all of your time with Auntie. I think I was even a little jealous back then.” She glanced back at Maggie. “Not in a romantic way.”

  “So you’ve changed your mind now? Are you okay with me seeing Lynn, or is this just a smokescreen to get me back into the wedding?”

  “No.” Carrie shook her head. “No smokescreen. I know I’ve been selfish. I was worried that two of the most important people in my life might hate each other if things don’t work out.” She took in a deep breath. “It just took me a while to settle into the idea, plus a few choice words from Lynn. I can’t stand seeing her so sad and knowing I’m the cause of it. After I thought about it, I realized that she’s crazy happy when you’re around. Always has been.”

  “That goes both ways, you know. I’ve never felt for anyone what I feel for her. She’s the love of my life.”

  Lynn appeared from one of the bedrooms. “You’ve never said that to me.” She moved past Carrie to Maggie and reached for her hand. “You should’ve told me.”

  “And made this even harder for you?” She caressed Lynn’s cheek with her thumb. She’d missed the softness of her skin. “No. It had to be your choice,” she whispered, brushing a stray strand of hair from Lynn’s eyes. “I need to know this is what you want. That I’m who you want.”

  Lynn took her in her arms and held her. It felt so good to have Lynn close again. Her anger of the past few days washed away. “You’re everything I want. I love you too.”

  Lynn glanced over her shoulder at Carrie, and Maggie took Lynn’s face in her hand and returned her gaze to her. “Get the hell out of here, Carrie. Lynn and I need to talk.” She spoke without breaking eye contact with Lynn. She heard the door open and close again before she kissed Lynn with everything she had.

  They spent the next several minutes in each other’s arms, enjoying the softness of each other, holding each other, sharing tears between tender kisses. Maggie had thought she’d never get to hold Lynn like this again, and she didn’t want to ever let her go. She wanted to spend the rest of her days showing her just how much she loved her.

  Lynn sucked in a ragged breath as she broke away. “I’m so sorry about everything. I know I handled it badly. I just didn’t know what to do.”

  “Horribly,” she said as she trailed tiny kisses to her ear and then to her neck.

  “I needed to think and make Carrie see how much I love you,” Lynn said in a breathless whisper.

  She trailed back to Lynn’s neck. “I’m glad you succeeded.”

  “Me too.” Lynn caught her mouth and kissed her softly.

  “I’m never letting you go again.” Every emotion Maggie had felt over the past few days exploded inside her as she kissed Lynn long and deep. Their tongues mingled like they were meant to live together forever, bodies touching, firing each one of her senses.

  Lynn broke away breathlessly. “We better stop. The people at the pond might be back at any minute.”

  “Lock the door and send them away.” She kissed her again softly. “The kids will be glad to see you.”

  “They will?”

  She smiled as she stared into Lynn’s tearful eyes. “Yeah. They ask about you all the time.”

  “Pam and Heather told me their plan to foster them.”

  “They’ll be awesome parents.”

  Lynn nodded. “They will.” She swiped away a tear that slipped over the rim of her eyelid and slid down her cheek. “You would’ve been as well.”

  She shook her head. “Not right now, I wouldn’t. You were right. They need more care than I can give.”

  “Someday then?”

  Every part of Maggie warmed as she took in a deep breath and nodded, tears streaming down her face. “Someday.” Raising children with Lynn was a dream she’d never thought would happen, and that she was even considering it gave her even more hope for their future.

  Epilogue

  Maggie had planned the drive to Clear Meadow Farms so they would arrive in late afternoon to catch the blanket of vibrant yellow sunflowers against the orange and red hues of the sunset. The owners had recommended the timing, and the sight was absolutely magical.

  It was their last visit to the farm before the wedding. Lynn had convinced Carrie to postpone it until the fall when the sunflowers were in full bloom, and Maggie was glad she had. Lynn hadn’t been exaggerating when she’d described their beauty. There seemed to be infinite rows of perfectly bloomed sunflowers, their bright, happy, yellow-orange faces preening in the sunshine. They perfectly represented the transition from the hot, lazy days of summer to the crisp, cool weather of fall.

  It hadn’t been easy to keep Lynn from leaving earlier in the day. She’d been eager to get there and wrap up the last of the wedding details. Maggie had suggested Lynn wear something other than jeans, so they could go out to dinner somewhere nearby when they were finished, but Lynn had given her nothing but opposition. It was close to an hour’s drive each way, and Lynn knew the farm closed at dusk regularly. When Maggie had dressed in white capri pants, a royal-blue V-neck tunic, and leather sandals, Lynn had relented and decided to wear a powder-blue flower-patterned sundress and sandals that went along with Maggie’s outfit.

  When they arrived and before they were to meet with the caterer, Maggie had ushered her away from the main venue and into the fields, where they basked in the glory of yellow and orange.

  “Aren’t they beautiful?” Lynn said, sounding giddy.

  She gazed at Lynn standing in front of the flowers that surpassed her head by at least a foot. “They pale in comparison to the sight standing in front of me.” She took Lynn in her arms and kissed her, making the moment perfect.

  “I could wander out here with you forever, but we should get back.” Lynn gazed at the gorgeous sunset. It would be dark soon, and Maggie didn’t have much time. “I’m sure Carrie and Scott are waiting for us.”

  She took Lynn’s hand and walked with her through the fields to the main building. Her heart thudded as she thought about what she’d planned for the evening, hoping it all came together smoothly.

  “Looks like they’re preparing for a special party,” Lynn said as they emerged from the field and headed to the main building. “I didn’t know they offered anything other than wedding events.” She glanced through the plate-glass windows and saw that a long table had been set just inside, looking out onto the fields. Sunflowers adorned every foot of the table in tiny vases on the middle runner, and white plates and wineglasses were placed at each setting. “They’re going to have a beautiful view for dinner.”

  Lynn turned and looked at Maggie, then back to the sunflower field, where people were coming toward her. She shielded her eyes from the sun with her hand. “Is that Tiffany and Chase?” Heather and Pam followed them as they came out of the rows of flowers and moved closer. “What in the world are they doing here?” She rushed toward them.

  “Hey. I didn’t know you all were coming here today.” She glanced at each of them, assessing their appearance. “You’re all dressed up. Are you going to the private party?”

  Maggie glanced around the field and saw everyone she’d invited as they approached them. Carrie and Scott, Heather and Pam, as well as Ariel, Tiffany, and Chase were all here—everyone in her life she considered family. Last year at this time, she’d never expected to be here with Lynn in this space and time, yet here she was. The whole scene was surreal.

  Pam shook her head. “I’m so sorry, Maggie. The kids wanted to see the sunflowers.”

  Lynn pulled her eyebrows together and glanced at Pam and then Maggie, her expression unreadable.

  Maggie laughed. “It’s okay, Pam. They’re hard to hold back.” Warmth spread through her as she decided to do this right here in front of all the people she loved. She reached down and picked a small sunflower from one of the smaller plants by the building.

  “Oh no. Don’t do that. They don’t like for you to pick them,” Lynn said, seeming not to have a clue what was happening.

  Maggie smiled as she held the beautiful flower out to Lynn. “It’s okay. I got a special dispensation,” she said as she took the ring from her pocket and then dropped to one knee.

  Maggie opened the box, and as the diamond glistened in the sunlight, Lynn covered her mouth, and tears sprang from her eyes.

  “Life has never been better than it has been with you, and I want to go on spending each and every moment of every day together for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”

  Lynn took her face in her hands and kissed her.

  “Is that a yes?”

  “Of course it’s a yes.”

  She bolted up, kissed Lynn again, and swung her around as everyone clapped. She’d just made her the happiest woman in the world.

  About the Author

  Dena Blake grew up in a small town just north of San Francisco where she learned to play softball, ride motorcycles, and grow vegetables. She eventually moved with her family to the Southwest, where she began creating vivid characters in her mind and bringing them to life on paper.

  Dena currently lives in the Southwest with her partner and is constantly amazed at what she learns from her two children. She is a would-be chef, tech nerd, and occasional auto mechanic who has a weakness for dark chocolate and a good cup of coffee.

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