Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her again and this time her heart pounded with joy. He leaned away.
“You were always so strong,” he said. “Too strong. I didn’t think you needed me anymore.”
“Yes, I do. I need you desperately. I’m unhappy without you. And I’m complete when we’re together. Tom, there will be problems, but we can work through them. I love you. I need you.” She looked into his hazel eyes that she loved, eyes that could melt her and at other times give her strength. “There will always be problems. That’s life, but we’re better at handling them when we’re together. I love you and I need you.”
“I love you more than you’ll ever know and I want to spend my life trying to show you.” He released her and held out his hand. “I got this for you after we saw the Nash family.”
Surprised, she examined the small velvet box. She couldn’t imagine what he was giving her. She looked up at him and he smiled.
“Are you going to see what your present is?”
“Yes,” she said, taking the box to open it. Inside was a tangle of a piece of jewelry. She picked it up and gasped as a necklace shook out in her hand. It was a golden heart pendant on a thin gold chain that was covered with diamonds.
“Oh, my heavens, Tom. It’s beautiful.”
“It’s because of Ryan giving life with his heart to little Polly Nash. That holds meaning for both of us. It’s a locket.”
“Let me see. This is gorgeous—” She gasped when she opened the locket. “Tom, this is wonderful. I’ll treasure this always,” she said, hugging him again and kissing him longer this time while he held her tightly in his embrace.
She leaned away and held the locket up so they could both look inside at the picture of Ryan smiling into the camera. “You selected this locket for me. You must have changed your mind right after you told me we should go ahead with the divorce.”
“It didn’t take long. I’ve spent a year living in the guesthouse alone and then we’ve had this fantastic time together. No matter what we go through, I want you with me. I thought about it and I’ve loved you always. You’re the only woman for me for the rest of my life. I love you. I’d give my life for you. I’ve loved you since you ran into my car when we were sixteen. And, Em, you worry so about having my child—”
“We can adopt. You’re right. I watched you with the Valentine kids and I played with them and if we adopt, we’ll love them like our own. We both would love any child we raised. Whatever you want to do. We can go without kids. There are loads of kids we can help without raising them—through reading programs, starting a ranch camp for kids, playing ball, you know, things you can help with and so can I.”
He studied her. “You’ve got this all figured out, haven’t you?”
“I’m desperate. I don’t want to lose you, because I love you with all my heart. And you have never failed me, Tom. Never. You couldn’t save Ryan. I couldn’t save Ryan. The doctors couldn’t save him. But you didn’t fail me. You tried all you could.”
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“With all my heart. Please put my locket on me.” She handed him the necklace and turned so he could fasten it at the back of her neck. “You really got this since we saw the Nashes?”
“I have a jeweler in Dallas. I sent a text, he sent me pictures of what he had. I picked out this one and told him I wanted it delivered yesterday.”
“Oh, my word. Someone from the jewelry store drove this to you?”
“That’s right. I didn’t want to wait. We’ve been separated way too long, my love.”
She turned to face him. “This is wonderful, Tom, but most of all is knowing you’ll be in my life.”
“Baby, you’re all that I need, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making that clear to you. Em, I’ve thought all this time that you were angry because I failed you—”
“Never. We’ve both made big mistakes, but we’ve survived them and some of them we’re able to let go and try to forget. They’re not part of our lives any longer.” She slipped her arms around him. “I’m so happy. I love you with all my heart. I know we’ll be all right.”
“I know we will. But how the hell do you undo a divorce?”
“I’m leaving that one to you. Oh, how I love you. I’ll show you, too. It’s time to leave here and go home. Oh, my heavens, we don’t have a home,” she said, frowning as she looked up at him. “You can’t be a rancher and live in Uncle Woody’s house in Royal. Neither of us wants to live in the mansion. We’re not both living in the guesthouse.”
Tom held her with his arms around her waist as he smiled at her. “It’s just another problem we’ll work out. What do you think about finishing your Royal house? Then that will be our town house and you can still work in town part of the week if you want. And maybe it’s time for a redo of ranch house. Or we can demolish it if you want and start over.”
“We’ll talk about that one—I vote for the redo because we have good memories there. I’ll live on the ranch with you and maybe drive into town and keep the studio open by appointment only. But come home with me now,” she said. “I’ve got two new loaves of bread for you in the car. How’s that? And maybe some fun in the bedroom?”
“You’ve got a deal.” Laughing, he pulled her into his embrace. “But I don’t want to wait to show you how much I’ve missed you. We’re not driving to Royal now. We’re going to live in the guesthouse for a little while. I’ll tell Gus we’re going to Royal and he’s in charge, but today, I don’t want to drive any farther than our guesthouse. I have plans for us and that bread.”
She laughed, looking into his eyes and seeing the happiness mirrored there that she felt.
“Tom, I’m not sure I felt this excited on our wedding day.”