“Happy to support you, Hannah. And you might be surprised to discover there are others out there that feel the same way,” Noelle said with a knowing smile.

  19

  “No!”

  Aria stomped her foot and pouted at Hannah.

  “Young lady, that is not a nice way to speak to your mother. We need to pick some of your toys to pack. You can’t play with all of them.”

  “I do play with all of them,” Aria said and stomped her little foot again.

  Hannah sighed. Packing a house was never easy, but trying to do so with an overtired and unhappy four-year-old was something else entirely. Aria simply refused to believe that they were leaving Kingsley and did everything she could to slow the packing process, even going so far as to unpack some of the boxes that were waiting by the door. Hannah knew it wouldn’t be fair to discipline the confused little girl, but reasoning wasn’t working either.

  “Hey, I have an idea!” she said in an overexcited voice. “Let’s play a game.”

  Aria twisted her mouth and narrowed her eyes at her mother.

  “Let’s see who can fill a box faster. Whoever wins gets to eat the last cupcake!”

  Aria crossed her arms defiantly but seemed to perk up at the mention of the cupcake.

  “I’ll even make it easy on you. You can pack all of your stuffed toys, and I’ll work on the games. Deal?”

  She nodded reluctantly.

  Hannah pulled two boxes into the center of Aria’s playroom.

  “Okay, ready, set, go!”

  Aria ran to the pile of plush toys and filled her arms with them, then ran to the box and dumped them in.

  “I’m faster than you, Mommy!” she cheered.

  “You are, sweetie. I think I’m going to lose this race.”

  Hannah sat on the ground and stacked the puzzles and games into her box slowly. She still couldn’t believe how quickly the stuff accumulated. They’d brought barely anything with them to Kingsley. She turned and started on the next pile but stopped suddenly when she realized what was on top of it.

  Candyland. Chad’s gift for Aria.

  She smoothed her hand across the top of the box and felt a sadness that rattled her to her core. Their fake relationship started to feel real the moment they involved Aria. She’d never expected Chad to fit himself into their lives so easily and completely. For a little while, they had felt like a family.

  “I love that game, Mommy.”

  Aria was standing next to Hannah, looking down at the box with a frown.

  “It’s fun, isn’t it?” Hannah felt like she needed to lift the mood in the room. “Want to play a round?”

  The little girl shook her head slowly. “Nuh-uh. We only play that with Chad.” She stretched his name out and frowned. “When is he coming back to see us?”

  Hannah pulled her daughter into her lap and hugged her tightly. “Oh, honey. Chad is really busy now. He’s got an important new job with the Cattlemen’s Association.”

  “I know that,” Aria replied, sticking her bottom lip out. “But he could come see us after his job is over. For dinner.”

  “It doesn’t work like that. Sometimes jobs … take over.”

  The lie sounded so hollow that she doubted Aria would believe it.

  Aria looked up at her mother with sad eyes. “I miss him.”

  Hannah pulled Aria a little closer and sighed. “He was nice, wasn’t he?”

  “Yeah. And funny, and silly, and crazy. Remember when he called you a bumblebee, Mommy?”

  “I sure do!” They both laughed at the sweet memory.

  “And remember when he taught me how to ride a unicorn? How does he know how to do that?”

  Hannah smiled. “Cowboys know how to do lots of stuff, I guess.”

  They sat snuggled together on the floor in the fading light of the playroom. Aria traced the multicolored path on top of the game box.

  “I don’t want to go someplace else,” Aria whispered.

  Hannah was struggling to conjure up a response that would shift the conversation when the doorbell rang.

  Aria jumped out of her mother’s lap. “I’ll get it!” She scrambled out of the room before Hannah had a chance to stop her.

  Hannah tried to figure out who might be stopping by at the strange hour. It was just about dinner time, so it couldn’t be the mail, and they weren’t expecting any packages.

  “Aria, honey, don’t open the door,” she called after her.

  Hannah heard the latch snapping open as she rounded the corner.

  “Huh?” the little girl exclaimed. “Chad?”

  Aria turned around to gawk at her mother, who seemed glued in place a few steps away from the door.

  “Hi, I’m sorry for stopping by unannounced.”

  He looked almost embarrassed, standing in the doorway with his jean jacket on and a tan cowboy hat held in his hands.

  Aria started jumping in place and clapping. “We were talking about you and you came over! Yay!” She hopped across the threshold and wrapped herself around Chad’s leg. He grinned sheepishly and leaned down to pat Aria’s back.

  “It’s okay,” Hannah answered haltingly, like she couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing. “Please, come in.”

  Chad stepped inside with Aria still clinging to his leg.

  “Can we play Candyland? We haven’t packed it yet!”

  He looked slightly wounded when Aria mentioned packing. “Um, maybe in a little bit? I need to talk to your mom about something first.”

  “Okay, I’ll go set everything up!” Aria took off running down the hallway towards her playroom.

  “What are you doing here?” Hannah asked, her voice breaking ever so slightly.

  “I wanted to talk to you in person. I’ve been doing some thinking. And there’s something I want to show you.” He half-turned so that she could see the backpack slung over his shoulder.

  “Sure, okay. Come into the kitchen.”

  It was hard for Hannah to speak.

  Chad followed behind her and she suddenly felt self-conscious that she was wearing an oversized grey hoodie and black leggings that were dusty on the knees. She touched her hair and realized that the topknot was sagging.

  “Can I make you some coffee?” Even though she was overwhelmed with Chad showing up unexpectedly, she still wanted to be a good hostess.

  He shook his head. “No, I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

  Her heart sank.

  “I’m sure you heard that I won the election,” he began.

  “I did, and I meant to say congratulations—”

  He held up his hand to cut her off. “No need. That’s not what this is about. I’m here because of you.”

  Hannah furrowed. “I thought … there’s nothing left to say, Chad.”

  “Oh, there’s plenty left to say. And plenty for you to see.”

  Hannah frowned. “Okay, I’m confused.”

  Chad pulled the bag off his shoulder and plopped it on the table with a thud. He unzipped it and pulled out a photo book.

  “I thought it was time for you to take a look at something I’ve been working on for a long time. No one has ever seen this stuff before. But something I learned from you is to not be afraid to let the real me out. That cowboys can be tough and sensitive.” He held the album out to her. “Here.”

  Hannah wordlessly opened it and was astounded by what she saw.

  Photos so beautiful that they looked professional. Close-ups of horses, and of the sun peeping over the horizon at the ranch, and shots of his niece and nephew looking like little Baby Gap models. Some images were black and white, but most were in color.

  “Chad … you took these?”

  He nodded.

  “They’re incredible. Why weren’t we using these for your posts? You’re a much better photographer than I am!”

  He shook his head. “It’s nothing.”

  “No, it’s everything.” She continued flipping through the pages and stopped when a familiar freckled face smiled out at her. “When did you take this picture of Aria?”

  “The day we went to the carousel park together. Keep going,” he urged.

  The images changed from gorgeous landscape shots to photos of Aria, and then to her shock, to photos of her.

  Photographed from the back with the afternoon sun casting a halo around her head or smiling down at Aria in profile. Throwing her head back in laughter on the carousel horse. Digging in the dirt with a tray of flowers at her side. Hannah had no idea that he’d been snapping photos of her—nor could she figure out how he managed to make her look good in every single one. Not a double chin or weird expression in sight.

  “Does anyone know that you can do this?” Hannah asked.

  Chad shook his head. “Not yet. I always thought people would judge me for taking dumb pictures. But one of the things I learned from you is that people can surprise you. And you can find support in folks you’d never expect.”

  “Well, I hope you know that I would’ve supported you,” she said as she continued flipping pages. “You have a gift.”

  “Yeah,” he replied sheepishly. “That’s something else I learned from you. I’ve got more than just the gift of gab. I needed someone to help me figure it out, and it was you. Thank you.”

  Hannah finally looked up at him and he was watching her intently, as if even though he knew she’d approve, he was still a little nervous about sharing his art with her.

  “Of course, Chad. I knew from the first time I met you that you were more than just a pretty face.”

  They both blushed.

  “Keep looking,” Chad urged and pointed at the album.

  The pages changed from multiple images to single shots. One was a somber black-and-white image of the rocking chairs on the porch at the Radford Ranch, where they’d sat the first time they’d really talked.

  In the next image, Chad was seated in one of them and looking into the camera with a small grin. He was wearing a plaid shirt and his best boots, and he looked so handsome that it made her hand shake a little.

  “This is a great self-portrait,” Hannah said, feeling like she was saying something obvious.

  “Keep going.”

  Hannah turned the page and Chad was still sitting in the rocker but holding up a white sign with hand lettering on it.

  “What?”

  She shot Chad a glance then leaned in to read it.

  “‘I’ve said and done some things I regret,’” she read out loud. Hannah looked at him. “Okay.”

  She turned the page and it was Chad again, holding a different sign. “‘I’ve made mistakes.’”

  Her heart sped up and she turned another page.

  “‘LOTS of mistakes.’” Chad was wearing a silly cross-eyed expression in the photo and she couldn’t help but smile.

  In the next shot he looked serious, almost sad. The lettering on the sign was smaller, and she leaned closer to the picture to read it. “‘But the biggest mistake I made was letting you go.’”

  Tears flooded her eyes as she looked up at him. “Chad?”

  His eyes looked a little misty too. “Keep going,” he urged.

  She turned to the last page in the album. The image was a close-up of Chad’s hands clutching another sign. Hannah had to catch her breath before she could read it out loud.

  “‘Because I love you, Hannah Smith.’”

  The sob escaped from the back of her throat and she covered her face with both hands as the tears flowed.

  “Hannah, I’m so sorry,” Chad said as he walked over to her. “I had no idea what you went through. I judged you unfairly and pushed you away. I was hurt by the secrecy and thought it meant that I didn’t really know you. But that wasn’t true. I do know you. I’ve known you all along, for the amazing woman that you are. The minute you left I realized what a mistake I’d made.”

  She couldn’t stop crying, and he grasped her wrists gently and pulled her hands way from her eyes so that she had to look at him. “Say something, Hannah. Please.”

  She sniffled. “Chad … I … I love you too. I have for a long time.”

  Hannah crashed into his arms and they clung to each other in silence, her head nestled against his chest. She felt safe and warm, and for the first time in years, she felt like she was home.

  They heard Aria’s bare feet heading for the kitchen long before she appeared.

  “Hey Chad, when are we going to play Candyland?” Aria yelled as she ran into the room. She stopped when she saw them hugging. “Are you crying Mommy?”

  Hannah brushed her fingertips over her eyes and smiled as she untangled herself from Chad’s arms. She kneeled in front of her daughter. “A little.” She sniffled. “But they’re happy tears. Chad and I just had a nice talk.”

  “What did you talk about?” Aria’s eyes were wide.

  “I told your mom that I think she’s a wonderful person and I like her a lot,” Chad said. “Oh, and there’s a couple other things I forgot to mention to her.”

  “What?” Aria asked, looking up at him.

  “I forgot to tell your mom how much I like you!”

  Aria put her hand over her mouth and giggled. “And what else?”

  Chad fixed his gaze on Hannah. “The last thing I want to talk about with both of you is that I think you should stay here. In Kingsley.”

  Hannah’s heart ricocheted in her chest. “Really?”

  He nodded. “You both belong here. My hometown is now yours, and you know it.” Chad paused and looked a little nervous. “Do you agree?”

  “I do … but, I said yes to a job with Harlan Oakes in Rosemont, working on his campaign …”

  “Honey, that’s amazing!” Chad said, pulling her into another hug. “I’m so proud of you. But does taking the job really require moving? Talk to him about it—tell him you’ll work remotely part time. If he’s got any smarts at all, he’ll say yes to anything to keep you on his team.”

  Hannah couldn’t grasp any of the wild thoughts flying around her head. Just when she’d resigned herself to starting over, Chad was offering her the chance to put down real roots in a place she knew they both belonged. With someone she loved.

  There was only one answer.

  “Hey, Aria,” she said to her daughter, smoothing a few stray hairs off her forehead.

  “What?”

  “Go unpack your toys. We’re staying here.”

  It was hard to tell who cheered louder, Aria or Chad.

  Chapter 20

  “You didn’t have to make everything pumpkin,” Chad said to Noelle, looking over the bakery display table. “Pumpkin spice muffins, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies … isn’t that overkill?”

  Noelle crossed her arms and frowned at him. “Don’t you have something more important to be doing than worrying about my pastries, Mr. Committee Chair? You’ve got a festival to run, leave the goodies to me. Anyway, it’s the pumpkin festival. Give the people what they want.”

  She was right, he did have more important things to worry about. Way more important.

  “Hey, Chad, what time do you want to do the welcome and kickoff speech?” Tyler Blackstone called to him from a few feet away near the stage. The men had become fast friends since Chad won the election.

  His stomach dropped, and he tapped his back pocket to make sure everything he needed was still there. He was ready for the speech, but still nervous as hell about everything he was about to do. He’d run the committee to put this festival together, so kicking it off officially was up to him. Sure, he’d spoken up in a bunch of meetings before, but they were with his fellow ranchers in the room. This was different. The pumpkin festival was one of the biggest events in Kingsley, second only to the summer carnival attendance-wise. Everyone would be watching him to see if he were truly up for the job.

  “Let’s plan it for half an hour after the gates open. Give people a chance to grab some cider and pumpkin pie before I hit them with the fundraising stuff.”

  Tyler nodded and got to work on the sound board next to the raised platform.

  He gazed at the crowd of volunteers and felt a swell of pride. He was the reason why there were so many extra people helping out this year. He’d heard the complaints about the workload in prior years, as well as the long lines for games and food, and had encouraged his fellow members to reach out to more people for support. The bright orange volunteer shirts he’d suggested would make it easier for attendees to differentiate between the workers and the merrymakers. At the moment, the festival was a sea of pumpkin-colored people scurrying around to finish setting up before the gates opened.

  “Chad!”

  The little voice cut through the noise around him, and he turned to see Aria racing towards him, dragging a bemused Matilda behind her.

  “Did Auntie Matilda tell you?” she asked breathlessly. Aria pointed at Matilda’s swollen belly with her eyes wide.

  Chad winked at Matilda over Aria’s head. “Tell me what? That she’s got a baby pumpkin in there?”

  Matilda chuckled and shook her head. “No, Shane and I found out what we’re having yesterday. We’re going to announce it at dinner tonight and someone is very excited about it.”

  Aria pointed at Matilda’s stomach and nodded with her eyes shining. “I want it to be a girl!”

  Shane and Drew joined them, and Shane draped his arm over Matilda’s shoulder.

  “Hey, there. I’m excited to hear about the next Radford tonight,” Chad beamed at his brother.

  “Yeah, we’re going to tell y’all the old-fashioned way. No gender reveal party or anything.”

  Drew stopped eating his caramel apple and looked up at the grown-ups surrounding him. “I don’t know why my Dad bought a little pink cowboy hat. Everyone knows real cowgirls don’t wear pink!”

  “Drew!” Shane and Matilda scolded him in shocked unison.

  “What?” he asked with a frown. “You’re the one who told me that, Daddy. You said only the rodeo queens wear pink hats. The tough girls don’t.”

  “Wait … is that a girl baby?” Aria asked Drew as she pointed over her shoulder at Matilda. “Is the pink hat for a girl baby?”