“Is this…Lily, did you put in a recording studio?”
“Just a small one. And the fire didn’t touch it!” She put her hand over his on the phone to guide it to the padded walls, and then to the glass. “The booth is over there. The glass isn’t even broken. There’s not much equipment yet. The boom mics came with the package, but I figured you’d want to pick the rest yourself, and?—”
He pulled her around and right into his arms, and then he kissed her long and slow. He loved the taste of her lips, the feel of them, soft beneath his. He didn’t know how he’d ever thought himself capable of not being with this woman.
“It’s perfect, Lily Ellen. I love it. I’ll use it while we rebuild. The place was fully insured, the bank insisted on that. We’ll just start again.”
Ethan took her hand, pulled her out of the studio and back up the stairs. They stepped out into bright Texas sunlight. The dozer was running again, several yards away. It was time. He’d thought maybe a nice dinner or something, but no. No, he’d waited as long as he cared to.
He looked her right in those big blue eyes of hers, and he said, “Lily, do you remember the ride in the ambulance?”
“Of course I do. Why?” She lifted her eyebrows. “You’re not gonna try and take it back, are you?”
“Take what back?”
“Did I dream it, then?” She turned away, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Was it just from the smoke? I thought…you said you’d never leave me again. You said you loved me.”
He pulled the ring from his pocket while her back was to him. He’d bought it right after they’d made him leave the hospital last night at the end of visiting hours. They’d let him stay the two nights prior. Well, let him wasn’t exactly accurate. They hadn’t physically removed him, though, so same result.
He’d called the jeweler at home last night, woke him up, made him come open the shop.
Lily was still turned away. He dropped down on one knee, and said, “You didn’t dream it. But you didn’t reply, either.”
“I tried to.” She turned around then, and saw him on his knee, holding the ring up like an offering, and she froze. Her eyes went so wide he thought they might pop, and she clapped a hand over her brilliant smile.
“I don’t know why I fought it so hard, Lily. I mean, I do. You’re too good for me, were then, are now, always will be, but danged if I’ve been able to convince you of it.”
“You’ll never convince me of that.”
“Then I guess you better marry me.”
“I guess I’d better.”
“Is that a yes?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
He got up, wrapped her in his arms, and scooped her right off her feet. He held her up so high he had to tip his head back to kiss her.
Ethan Bubba Brand knew right then that he’d finally found his country kind of love. She’d been waiting right here at home.
Epilogue
Three months later
Lily sat beside Ethan on the swing, on the front porch of the ranch house. They were building one of their own, out past the family plot on North Brand Lane, but it would be a few more months before it was ready.
The grand re-opening of Two Lilies had been a smashing success last night. Ethan had performed the first single from his new album, Down Home they Call Me Bubba. Lily thought most of the town had turned out. Dirt River had opened for him.
As for Jeremiah, he’d come in for the opening after being away on business, he said, but he still had shadows in his eyes, and a haunted look. He came and went, doing who knew what, but he’d been there for their wedding.
After the grand opening, Ethan called for an after-party at the ranch, and everyone had spent the night. Which made the timing perfect, Lily thought, for their little surprise.
The sun was about to rise.
Garrett and Chelsea came out on the front porch every morning with their first mugs of coffee to watch it come up together, and they watched it set together every night. It was a tradition Lily intended to adopt and continue, and had, so far, every day since their small, private wedding and backyard reception.
Chelsea’s footsteps padded on the stairs. She was always the first one up. She would put the coffee on. Lily and Ethan had left the big front door open, so they would hear the others coming. Only the screen door was still closed.
