Page 121 of Fatal Mistake
“No worries there,” she said. “I’m actually in the same spot. We could work on trusting God together.”
She smiled at him, a soft, sweet smile that told him everything would be okay. That she’d give him the time he needed to sort out his life and still be there when he could commit. “You have to know right up front that I could fail.”
“As could I.” She moved closer to him and touched the side of his face. “But we have real motivation not to fail now, don’t we?”
“Oh, yeah.” He breathed out a sigh. “I love you, Tara, and I want this thing between us to work.”
“I love you, too.” She let his hand go and slipped her fingers under her rubber bands to slide them off. “These were necessary so I didn’t lose my mind when I was all alone.” Her eyes fixed on his, she pressed the rubber bands into his hand. “I don’t need them anymore. Not with you by my side.”
He curled his fingers around the rubber bands, surprised at how he couldn’t tighten his fist in anger right now if he wanted to. All of his anger at God for the lost lives, at the world, at injustice, had burned out. He no longer needed to prove anything. To make up for anything. He just had to be the man God called him to be, and right now, he was sure that meant a man who moved forward with Tara.
He smiled at her, and she flung her arms around his neck. Before he could lower his head to kiss her, her lips connected with his. He dropped the rubber bands and lifted her into his arms to kiss her hard. He reveled in the warmth and hope filling his heart, but soon pulled back to look at her. To memorize everything about her.
Her eyes were filled with yearning and love, sending his heart racing more.
“So,” he said while trying to gain his breath. “Now that everything’s out in the open, what do you think about dating?”
“I think it has its merits.” A cute little smile claimed the lips he’d kissed. “With the right person, of course.”
He caught her flirtatious tone. “I don’t suppose you know that right person, do you?”
“Hmm.” She mocked a serious expression. “Let me think about it, and maybe I’ll come up with someone.”
He laughed and crushed her to his chest.
“You, my sweet,” he whispered into her ear, “will not be seeing anyone except this man who is totally in love with you.”
Epilogue
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Saturday, November 26
12:25 p.m.
Cal clutched the potato sack, one leg inside the rough burlap and pressed tight against Tara’s leg. She fit perfectly next to him, and he circled his arm securely around her waist, drawing her closer. She clasped her arm around his back, the gentle pressure and warmth from her touch nearly bursting his heart with happiness.
“Now don’t forget,” she said, shielding her eyes from the bright sunshine. “I’m the expert here, so match my stride, and we’ll leave your teammates in the dust.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled at her and winked. “I forgot how bossy you were.”
She laughed, her face filled with joy.
He didn’t care about the many neighbors or his team lined up at the starting line for the potato sack race but bent down to kiss her soundly. He thought she might pull away, but she curled a hand around his neck and tugged him closer. The slight chill in the fall air evaporated, and he felt cocooned in warmth.
“Ah, Cal,” Kaci called out. “You might want to pay attention, or we’re going to skunk the two of you.”
Cal lifted his head, his brain clearing, and he looked around. His teammates were paired in sacks of their own. Rick and Brynn. Kaci and Shane. All lined up at the starting line in the grassy area that had once held the pump house while Max watched them. Cal and the team had worked several backbreaking days to clear the debris and resod the area, but the work was well worth it when the ache that appeared on Tara’s face every time she’d looked at the ruins had been erased.
Shane peered at Kaci. “No need to warn him. Even without his distraction we can take them.”
Tara lifted her chin. “You may rescue people and free hostages, but potato sack races? That’s my wheelhouse, and you are going down today.”
Laughter burst from Cal’s chest. He was so proud of Tara. Of how she’d overcome her night terrors and moved on with her life. She’d lived with June the last few months while she looked for a job, and Cal had spent many days on the farm with them.
Having grown up in a city, he hadn’t been able to imagine farm life, but Tara had done her best to teach him, which even included a stint in the barn to milk the cows. Cal loved Tara, but he never wanted to experience that again.
“On your mark!” June, acting as the starting official, shouted through a megaphone.
