Rustic Hearts (Poplar Falls, #1)

by Amber Kelly

I watch as he stands there with his hands planted on the wall of the stall above his bent head, so the water laps over him for a few more seconds, and then I start to slowly back out of the barn as quietly as I can manage. Before I reach the doors, he calls out, “Tell ’em I’ll be in shortly.” I freeze. “I could smell you when you walked in, Sophie.” “Smell me?” “Yeah, you always smell like jasmine.”

“Sometimes, a love so big comes along, and even if you only get to hold on to it for a little while, it can fill you up for a lifetime.

“My heart is big and roomie, Mom. It doesn’t have to be you or them. Not anymore. I have enough to go around. It’s a well that won’t go dry if other people drink from it.”

“I have this for Sophie, and I’m going to give it to her tonight.” I open the box to show him the ring inside. It was my mother’s. Nothing fancy—just a simple diamond in a simple setting. He looks at the box and then to me. “You ready for that? It’s only been a couple of months since she showed up here in Poplar Falls. You sure it’s not too fast?” “Six weeks,” I say as I look down at the ring. “What’s that?” “Six weeks. That’s how long it took Dad to know that he wanted to marry Mom and to put this ring on her finger. It only took me four.” He nods his head, and a smile graces his face.

“I wanted our first supper in our new kitchen to be special,” I whisper into her hair. “What?” she breathes. “Pop and Jefferson gave this parcel to us. We are standing in what will be our kitchen with huge bay windows so we can look at this view every morning. I’m going to build you a wraparound porch, so you sit out here all you want and sketch, and your new closet will be able to hold all the sexy shoes you can buy.” “You’re going to build us a house?” “Yes, ma’am.” “With a bathtub?” “Oh yes, can’t forget the Princess’s bathtub,” I tease. “It is perfect,” she chokes out on a sob.