Tansy peered into her wine. “He didn’t say that exactly.”
Aunt Mags made another humph sound. “Not in three words, no. I believe it was more like, you’re the first person in his ‘people that I love’ category, Tansy.” Aunt Mags glanced at Shelby. “Or something along those lines.”
Shelby sat back in her chair. “Only he said it in a much more manly way.”
“Everything he does is manly,” Astrid added. “This is good.”
“Is it?”
“You’re finally admitting you care about him.”
Tansy finished off her glass of wine. “Then answer my question. Why do I keep trying to find a flaw? Some reason to keep him at arm’s length.”
“It’s normal to be scared, I think? Opening yourself up to another person, giving them absolute trust. I’d be terrified.” Aunt Camellia smiled sadly. “I’m afraid your aunt Mags and I aren’t much help in the romantic department, being spinsters—”
“Speak for yourself, Camellia Ann. I hardly think being fifty-four makes me a spinster.” Aunt Mags crossed her arms over her chest. “And since you’re two years younger than me, you’re not allowed to use that term, either.”
Aunt Camellia waved off her sister’s interruption. “You and Dane have a rather complicated history...that would make things even harder.”
“But it’s never too late to choose a new path.” Aunt Mags paused. “If you truly love him, you’ll have to move forward—not back. Make new memories, together. That will give you a fresh start and strong foundation to build from.”
Shelby glanced at Mags then and nodded. “Moving forward sounds like a good plan.”
Watching her aunt and Shelby tore at Tansy’s heart and gave her hope. Forgiveness was a gift. Could Dane forgive her for being so blind?Please, please let him forgive me.
Aunt Mags took a deep breath. “Plus, he is on the intimidating side, being so...”
“Big and manly,” Shelby jumped in.
“Intense and handsome.” Astrid kept working on the puzzle.
“All of that.” Camellia nodded. “And letting go of the promposal incident...”
“One more huge misunderstanding.” She eyed her empty glass.Thanks for that, Kate Owens-Knudson.“We don’t communicate well.”
“On the contrary, he seemed to have no problem communicating,” Aunt Mags pointed out.
Tansy stopped then, mulling over each and every one of their conversations. She sat forward. “You’re right.I’mthe bad communicator. I see him and I get so...so rattled I stumble all over my words. He puts it out there, straightforward and then I get in my head and I start second-guessing everything.” She nibbled her lip. “The only thing he knows, without a doubt, is that I want him.Somuch. All he has to do is smile at me and I melt. His kiss or touch...” She shivered. “But wanting someone isn’t the same thing as loving someone.”
By the time she finished, Aunt Camellia and Aunt Mags resembled owls, wide-eyed and blinking.
“Too much.” Tansy winced. “Sorry.”
“Maybe you should write it down?” Shelby suggested. “Decide what you want to say and write it all down.”
“Good idea.” Astrid nodded. She handed another puzzle piece to Mags. “Here.”
“Keep it simple, Tansy.” Aunt Mags nodded at her. “The poor boy was distraught when he left.”
“I have an idea.” Tansy nibbled on the inside of her lip. “It’s not exactly simple...”
Astrid forgot the puzzle and came around to squeeze into the chair beside her. “You’ve got my attention.”
“It’s probably stupid.” Tansy shook her head but she was smiling at her sister.
“So?” Astrid waited.
“So, Aunt Camellia, you’re right. I am scared. I want to do this because I think it will mean something special. I don’t want there to be any misunderstanding about how I feel or what I want from him.” She leaned against Astrid. “I want him to know, without a doubt, that I love him so that it’s safe for him to love me. If I don’t chicken out, that is.”
