McKenna Homecoming (5 page)

He grinned. “Isn’t that the goal?”

“It was, but I was afraid at the same time that I would fail at it. I grew up in a family where commitment was a loose word. My father was never there, my mother was off pursuing her photography career, and I ended up living with my aunt Bea.”

“Like I did with my grandmother.”

She nodded. “We’re pretty similar creatures, Alec. When I went to California to take care of my dad, I wasn’t just looking to help him, I was looking for answers about why he wasn’t there for me, for my mom. About what else in the world held such appeal that he rarely came home for me.”

“And did you get those answers?”

She shook her head. “He never liked to talk about himself or the past, and he died that way, too. I never felt close to him, even at the end. I came back here to start my life over, and realized I didn’t have one to start over. I had gone ten years without pursuing my own dreams, and now I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“Of more failure. I’ve made excuses for years—my father needed me too often for me to work on my book, or I’m too old to go to college. Or—” she met his gaze, her pulse thundering in her veins “—that the feelings I had back in high school were nothing more than infatuation.”

“And now? Do you still feel that way? Scared? Unsure?”

She glanced at the meandering stream that wound its way through the woods before disappearing around a bend. “Do you remember the day we followed the stream?”

He nodded. “We wanted to see where it ended up.”

“We must have walked three miles that day and we never reached the end. Heck, this stream could go all the way to California for all I know.”

“Maybe I should have gotten a boat for graduation. Then I could have followed it to you.”

She laughed. “I used to hate that I didn’t know where the stream ends up, but after the past few days, I realized it’s part of the appeal. Part of what I love about this place. It’s a mystery, one I may never solve. And I have to be okay with mysteries. With not knowing if my book will sell or if I’ll like college or if—” she raised her gaze to his “—we’ll stay together forever.”

He cradled her hands. His touch warmed, comforted her. “If you’re willing to take the risk, Leah, I’m willing to stick with you for the next hundred years.”

She took in a deep breath and realized if she kept on putting off the risks in her life, she would lose out on all the wonderful rewards. She had to believe in herself, in her own worth. She bit her lip, then let out a breath, and when she did, a sense of peace draped over her. Things might not work out perfectly, but she would be okay. “I am willing to do that. With you.”

“Really?” He grinned and drew her to him in a long, tight embrace. “Oh, I love you, Leah,” he said, his words warm against her hair.

“I love you, too, Alec.” And she did. He’d been the one man she’d never forgotten, never gotten over. Her first kiss, her first love, and now her last love. She drew back and lifted her gaze to his. “I always admired you because you were such a risk taker. The one who charged down the field, sure of success even when there were a dozen linebackers in front of you.”

He chuckled. “Maybe not quite a dozen.”

“You weren’t afraid of failure, that’s the point. And I don’t want to be, either.”

“Oh, I’ve been afraid of failure.” His thumbs traced the back of her hands. “Of failing you.”

“You won’t. If you keep doing one very, very important thing.”

“What’s that?”

She leaned into him, feeling her smile spread across her face and her heart lighten as she took the biggest risk of all and allowed herself to fall in love. “Kiss me.”

“My pleasure,” Alec said, then he leaned in and did just that.

THE END