Page 43 of Property of The Grump

He pauses for a moment, though I hear the man on the other end of the line. It’s Tucker.Thank God, it’s Tucker.

“I can have the paperwork for you by the end of today, Kade. That’s the soonest I can get things wrapped up, but you have to think about what you’re doing with your mom’s place. It’s… you’ve got to do something with it.”

His mom.

My heart sinks as I think about the woman with the best cinnamon roll recipe I’ve ever had the privilege of baking. I’d heard about her death from Tilly, who was updating me on all things Grace Valley Church after Father Anderson’s arrest.

Apparently, after he was hauled to jail, Leanne told everyone about the panties she found on the church floor. Itwasn’t long after that before everyone shared their suspicions, and the church officially excommunicated Father Anderson, though I think that was coming anyway, given that he’d beaten Zane so harshly.

I’m not sure who runs the church now. Tilly told me it was some old guy with a hairy chest and pleated slacks who has a crossword puzzle addiction. I’m not sure if there’s a fan fiction about him or not.

I’m guessing not.

As for Mrs. Anderson, she passed shortly after Kade was arrested, and I’ve blamed myself for that every day since. Kade should’ve been by her side. Instead, he was in prison because of me.

I did donate to the church in her name, though. I had the stained-glass windows she loved so much repaired and put back up in their rightful place in her honor. It wasn’t easy to get the money over to the church, but I convinced Zane that it was good for publicity, given everything that had happened, and he agreed.

That might have been the only thing he’s ever agreed with me about.

Kade hangs up the line and turns back toward me, his giant frame blocking out the light that’s trying to filter in from the window behind him. “Tucker says he’ll have the paperwork ready tonight. I just have to figure out what to do with my mother’s house.”

“Your mother’s house?” I stare down at the ground. “Kade… we can’t disappear. That house meant so much to your family. I know your mom would want you there.”

He takes my hand in his. “My mom would want us to be happy, and she’d want you to be safe. I’m going to let Tucker take over the place. I’ve done a ton of renovations to it since I got outof prison, and he’s always looking for a project to do. Plus, that town doesn’t have a good thing to say about me these days.”

“No,” I say, swallowing hard, my hand on my stomach. “That’s not true. People have moved on. You can live in that house. We can keep her legacy alive.”

“We’ll keep her legacy alive through the things she taught us. She left me a letter to read after she passed. She talked about her life and how excited she was to see Bree and my father, and she told me how much she loved you. How great she thought we’d be together. One thing that stuck out especially was when she said how love isn’t a sin. It was a thing of beauty, and I should hold it close, tight, never let it go.”

I drag in a deep breath and let it out slowly, tears rolling down my cheeks as I stare up at Kade. “I love you.”

“I love you more, little lamb,” he says, sucking in a deep breath. “This is it. Tonight our whole life changes. Are you ready?”

“Yeah,” I say, crashing into his arms with the heavy sigh of a woman who’s finally free. “I’m ready.”

Epilogue

Kade

Two Years Later

Wren settles Evie down for a nap and rushes back into the kitchen to pull a batch of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. She’s made Mom’s recipe famous in this cold little town outside of Alberta.

People come for miles to get a box of ‘Betty’s Cinnamon Twists’hot and fresh out of the oven. I know Mom would be proud to know her recipes were alive and well, and I know she’d be happy to hear that Wren finally had the bake stand she’d always dreamt of. Every Sunday morning my little lamb goes down to the road and loads the small stand up with her newest baked goods, fresh eggs, and a few of the hand sewn creatures she’s come up with. By Sunday after church, the stand is empty and everyone is placing next week’s orders.

“I have two more pre-order boxes to fill and then we should be good to go!” Wren says, setting the sticky buns out to cool. “Are you ready for church?”

I straighten the collar on my jacket and glance toward my girl. “Today’s sermon is very relevant. I’m talking about having faith through the storm.”

“Very relevant?” she says, tipping up onto her toes for a kiss. “Can I hear some of it?”

I drop my tone dramatically, putting on a little show for my girl. “Imagine you’re in a small boat, lost in the darkness of the vast ocean. It’s the middle of the night, the waves are crashing up over your boat, the wind is howling, and you don’t know if you’ll make it through. You’re scared, your heart is racing, and there’s no end in sight. Jesus never promised a storm-free life. John 16:33 says,in this world, you will have trouble,” I stand taller and hold my little lamb against my chest, breathing in the scent of flowers in her hair, “and then I ramble on from there and bore people to death, but that’s the gist.”

She sighs and squeezes my cheeks. “It sounds great, but it might be a little scary for the Sunday school kids, honeybun.”

I smile as she calls me honeybun, then kiss the top of her head gently. “You ready to tell everyone about the pregnancy?”

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “Then again, I’m kind of thinking maybe we should keep it to ourselves for a while longer. I’m not sure I’m ready for all the hoopla yet. I know Mary Ellen is going to throw a party right away, and Lizzy is going to have a fit when she finds out you’re officially off the market.”