* * *
I think every year on Canada Day, I’ll make one of these old-fashioned monstrosities.
Ginny wiped away the tears, because the meal really had been that bad. The tastes, the colours—all of it incredibly terrible. When she peeked into the pocket on that page and found the actual recipe cards, she laughed all over again.
The next time Dustin and Shim came for supper, she was totally making the creamed chicken recipe.
Still snickering, she put aside her mom’s journal and picked up her own, flipping as usual to an open page about a third of the way in.
At the top of the page, words poked her.
My one regret.
Interesting how with every one of these prompts, she could come back again and again, and every time the answer might be slightly different. If she’d read this question a year ago during her travels, she might have regretted not having asked all the right questions before she’d even left.
But here and now, the answer rising up the clearest was how she felt deep inside, and how she hadn’t shared it nearly enough.
How much she loved and appreciated Caleb for everything he’d ever done, not just for her, but Dare as well. How much she enjoyed Walker and Ivy’s company, how much big brother Luke and live-wire Kelli meant. How Dustin made Ginny laugh and smile, and his wide-open future was something she couldn’t wait to encourage him to explore. How Tamara was magically meeting Ginny’s needs for a mother figure and a good friend at the same time.
How much she loved Tucker. Body, mind and soul.
That one was too huge to rush past.
The feeling inside wasn’t something new. She’d probably loved Tucker in some way since she was a giddy youth. But the real moment of the change, she remembered so clearly.
Out on the dance floor. The end of January. In that moment, she’d known that everything he’d said before was absolutely true.
He’d claimed her. Straight up, no doubt about it, he’d made it plain that he wanted her. Damn the consequences; damn her trying to make his life easier.
I want you even if it’s not easy.
She glanced in her notebook.
My one regret.
She was pretty sure Tucker knew she cared about him. He had it down pat that she liked having him around. But given his background, given his parents, how often in his life had he heard the actual words?
She’d been holding them back, and that was wrong.
Ginny dropped the journal onto the bench and shot to her feet.
Here’s where the magic took place, because the prompt from her mom didn’t feel like a chance to pour out her heart and set a solid foundation to build on.
This one felt like the encouragement to fix a mistake.
She pulled on her boots and coat, and headed into the sunshiny day.
Crossing the path between the cottage and the main ranch house was easily done. She knocked briefly then let herself in, happy to discover Tamara in the kitchen with Caleb by her side.
Ginny paused for a split second when she realized she’d interrupted them kissing. But then again, who cared? “I need to tell you something,” she announced.
Tamara’s cheeks were rosy, but she stayed tucked up against Caleb’s side. “Yes?”
Ginny marched up to Caleb and looked him straight in the eye. “You are amazing, and I am so glad you’re my big brother.” She turned to Tamara. “I think you’re the coolest sister-in-law ever, and I’m so glad you’re in this family. I love you both so much.”
Then she threw her arms around their necks and squeezed tight for a moment.
A deep chuckle escaped Caleb. “Well, that’s good.”
“It is,” Ginny said happily even as she wiggled free and headed back to the door. She regally waved a hand in the air as she left. “Sorry to interrupt. Carry on with your fooling around.”
Laughter danced behind her as she closed the ranch house door.
The next couple of confessions took place over the phone. Ginny caught Ivy and Walker at home, and brought them up to speed by all but shouting it at them after Walker obediently opened up to speaker phone.
“I love you. You guys are the best, and you’re going to be super parents. But right now, you’re a super brother and sister, and I can’t wait to enjoy more time with you going forward.”
Walker’s deep rumble of amusement trickled over the line. “A little early for drinking, isn’t it, kiddo?”
Ginny blew a raspberry. “Gotta run. Chat soon.”
“We love you, too,” Ivy said softly before hanging up, the sound of laughter once again echoing in Ginny’s ears.
Luke was working, and so was Kelli, which meant she’d share with them later.
But Tucker? She knew where he was. As if he was the north pole and she was tuned in on him, tracking him down took only minutes.
A crowd had gathered at the railing to watch Luke work one of the new rides. Tucker stood in the middle of the men, the hands around him a mix between nonchalance and sheer hero worship.
She didn’t blame them. Tucker was everything thirteen-year-old her had dreamed of in a man. The tall, dark-haired, and broad-shouldered parts were very nice, but it was the rest that she’d truly come to appreciate. Confident as he pointed out Luke’s actions, explaining the training method patiently to the young man beside him.
Tucker must’ve caught a glimpse of her motion, because of course he did. The man was aware of everything that went on around him, including her unsteady half stride, half run approach.
He straightened, turning toward her. “Ginny? Everything okay?”
She all but threw herself at him. Forget looking calm or sophisticated, the words burst free. “I love you.”
Masculine snickers sounded, and suddenly the crowd of men at the railing all seemed to have urgent tasks, sliding farther away to give them privacy.
Tucker’s jaw hung toward the ground. “Goddess?”
Ginny shook her head. “No. You’re usually really good at doing the right response at the right time. So when I say I love you, you say it back, okay?”
His lips twitched. “What was I thinking?”
“I have no idea,” she shouted, amusement rising as laughter welled inside. “Tucker Stewart, I love you.”
His expression had gone absolutely unreadable. “You have no idea how tempted I am to simply repeat back what you said, word for word.”
She smacked him gently on the shoulder. “Don’t be a turkey, say my name.”
“Ginny Stone,” he said obediently.
“You’re going to make me pull it out of you one word at a time, aren’t you?” she demanded.
“Okay.”
He was the most frustrating and most wonderful man on the entire planet. “Repeat after me. Ginny Stone, I love you.”
He turned her in his arms and pressed her against the nearest fence post. “With everything in me. Now and forever. Until there’s no breath left in my body, and if it’s possible, even longer than that.”
Oh damn, he was good, because how could a girl possibly get pissed after her man had said something so incredible?
Ginny cupped his face in her hands. “I should’ve said it sooner. I should’ve said it years ago, because something inside me has always loved you.”