It was incredibly hard to know how to respond. She wanted to grab Pixie and tell her not to go. But more than that, she wanted Pixie towantto stay. She wanted her to look to the future and think about plans and consequences. “Neither Cort nor I have asked for any payment.”
“I know, but it’s still a debt.” She faced Marlow, her blue eyes full of doubt. “I feel it, in my heart.” She didn’t falter or look away. “I want you to be proud of me.”
“Oh, Pixie.” Marlow smiled through her sadness—and her pride. “Don’t you know? I already am.”
As if she didn’t believe her, Pixie continued. “Mr. Heddings threw that out there, and my head’s been swimming ever since.” She reached for Marlow’s hand again. “It’s selfish of me, I know.”
Bracing herself, Marlow waited.
“But I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave you, or Cort, or this town.”
The relief was enough to wilt Marlow. “Then don’t go! Stay. We’ll build a fantastic future together.”
Pixie breathed harder. “You mean it?”
Nodding quickly, Marlow said, “I know Cort will agree.”
Pixie’s smile was a beautiful thing, but then, she was a stunning young woman. As her health had returned, and her color improved, she positively glowed. Especially when she held Andy.
“Cort’s pretty awesome, isn’t he?”
“The most awesome.” In every way. That’s why Marlow loved him. “We may not be able to stay right here in Bramble, but we will stay close. This is home now. For both of us.”
“Home.” Pixie squeezed her hand tighter. “And family. God, that means so much to me!”
“Definitely family, because I’ve grown used to being a big sister and aunt.”
Reassured and no longer panicked, Pixie grinned. “I want to learn to be independent, like you. I want a stable future for Andy. And I want him to have good people around him. You and Cort are the best people I know.”
Marlow’s heart turned over. “Thank you. I’m sure Cort will be as flattered as I am.” He’d lost his mother and his best friend, all in a twenty-four-hour period. Knowing that helped her to understand Cort a little better.
He protected the people he cared about.
He went out of his way to help them, and she was so glad he had a town full of people who embraced him. Without a doubt, he would want to protect and nurture Pixie and Andy, too.
But when it came to Marlow, would he feel the same? She knew he cared. She felt it every time he held her, each time he encouraged her and applauded her. It was there in his secret little smiles, in the way he sometimes watched her when he didn’t think she’d notice. Especially at work. Or when he thought she was still sleeping beside him.
Yet he would feel different about her because she wasn’t in need. She was self-reliant, empowered, with money and resources. She had choices, had always had choices, so how deep did Cort’s feelings for her go?
It wasn’t an answer she would get today, not now with big trouble right outside Pixie’s door. She knew her in-laws, knew how they liked to take over. Even if they did accept Andy as a grandchild—and there was no guarantee of that—would they accept the boundaries Pixie would impose and respect her for the amazing mother she was?
With their shared history, Marlow didn’t think so.
When Andy finished nursing, Marlow knew they had to plan. “So, to start building that independence, what do you say I let Mr. Heddings in? We can introduce him to Andy, you can politely turn down his offer, and we’ll go from there.”
Tentatively, Pixie said, “I could maybe invite him back, him and Mrs. Heddings, I mean.” She hurried on. “You were right. I should have told them already. It’s just that everything was so nice here, I wanted to enjoy it in peace for a while.”
“Understandable, after what you’d been through.”
Once Pixie had burped Andy, Marlow took the baby. Together, they went to the door.
Cort still stood there, arms crossed, one shoulder leaning against the door frame, relaxed but immovable.
Aston paced in the yard while his bully boy glared daggers at Cort. In that moment, Marlow made a decision. She touched Cort’s shoulder. “We’re ready,” she said quietly.
He straightened, glanced at Pixie, and asked, “You’re okay?”
Smile shy, Pixie nodded. “Yes, thank you.”
