Draw Me Close (33 page)

“What do you think?” Anne said beside Lindsey.

She turned and grinned at her friend. “I think I want to move in.”

Anne laughed and threw her hands around Lindsey's shoulders. “Thank you so much for helping me create my dream house.”

At the sound of tears in Anne's voice Lindsey turned and hugged her back. “Oh Anne, don't cry. It was my pleasure.”

They held each other for a long moment until Anne pulled back and swiped at her eyes. For the first time Lindsey took in Anne's outfit. Sweats and a dirty T-shirt. She didn't think she'd ever seen Anne in such disarray and she couldn't help laughing.

“I know!” Anne protested, her tears melting into a laugh. “I'm a mess. I've been a mess for months and that's why I'm so thankful for you. And Callie.”

Lindsey looked over to where Callie leaned against the door frame of the living room. “We'd do it all again for you, Anne,” she said.

“I know you would. And I can't wait to return the favor for both of you. I've just been so overwhelmed with the blog, my daughter, Mike, planning a wedding, renovating a new house. I really don't know what I'd have done without both of you.”

Anne turned to Lindsey. “I knew you would take my wishes for this renovation and just … take care of everything. And even though you had to work with Derek. Oh Linds, you don't know how much it means to me. And Mike, too. We are both so happy with how the house looks.”

Lindsey smiled, wiping a tear from her eye. “I'm so glad. And it wasn't so bad. You know … working with Derek.”

All three of them laughed through their tears.

“No kidding,” Callie said. “You should be thanking Anne!”

Anne smiled. “Did you get another comic today?”

“I did. And I've already replied.” Every other day she received mail from him and had continued to reply the same day. It was so much like the first time, and she knew he was trying to make up for all the ways things had gone wrong for them. Start fresh.

“So what now?” Anne asked. “Mike said Derek hasn't said much, but he does know that he had a talk with Lisa.”

Lindsey nodded. She'd been pretty certain he did but it was nice to have confirmation.

“I know it's not my place to tell you any of it, but I wanted you to know. He's trying to make everything right.”

Lindsey smiled. “I know. We'll get there. I know it.”

*   *   *

Derek leaned back on Mike's new couch, beer in hand, and took a deep breath. He'd taken Friday off to be there for his best friend on the day before his wedding. Rehearsal day. They'd planned to spend the afternoon at the house hanging out while various vendors came by to drop things off for the wedding on Saturday.

Today there would be no reply in the mail. She would have received the last envelope herself this afternoon. And while he was pretty damn certain she would give him the response he wanted, he was still nervous as hell. And anxious. In fact, waiting was making him crazy. He glanced at his watch.

Four more hours.

“You want another sandwich?” Mike called from the doorway.

“Nah. I'm good. Thanks.” Derek blew out a breath.

“Dude. You need to chill out. It's gonna be fine. You know this girl's crazy about you.”

“Is that something else Anne has told you? Did she say if Lindsey will show?”

Mike pulled a hesitant face. “That she did not, but dude, calm down. I have a good feeling about this. She's been replying so you know she'll play along with this.”

A few hours ago Derek had thought he'd had a good feeling about it also. Mike was right. She had replied to every letter. Filled in dialogue and even added her own drawings. Had even said she loved him. But every second that ticked by he got a little more nervous. He'd put it all on the line for this woman. Something he should have done long ago.

After an hour of lounging around, then setting up tables and chairs, and then finally getting ready, Derek walked out of the upstairs bathroom to find Mike walking out of the master bedroom.

Instantly Derek's face broke out in a wide grin.

“Do I look pretty?” Mike asked, hands out to the sides to showcase his outfit. He was wearing pressed flat-front khaki pants, a light blue button-up shirt, and a tie with a muscle car on it.

“Beautiful. You can take the grease monkey out of the garage but you can't take the garage out of the grease monkey. Isn't that how that saying goes?” Derek teased him.

“You shut your mouth,” Mike said. “My …
stepdaughter
gave me this tie for Christmas. I'm just now getting the chance to wear it.”

“Stepdaughter? Are you just now trying that word on for size?” Derek grinned. It made him realize how much he wanted Lindsey to say something similar about Tanner.

“It feels weird, saying it,” Mike said as they walked down the stairs. “But good. I mean, she can't call me uncle forever. That would be fucked up.”

“No kidding,” Derek said, as they made it to the first floor. “So uh … I'm just gonna … go do this thing.
Hopefully.
”

Mike turned in the entryway and stuck out his hand. “She'll be here. I mean, obviously she'll be here. It's the wedding rehearsal. But I have no doubt she'll be out there for you.”

Derek took his friend's hand and Mike pulled him into a guy hug, slapping him on the back. They pulled apart and Derek took a deep breath.

“Now don't go crying on me,” Mike said.

Derek glared at him. “I'm not gonna cry.”

Mike grinned. “I don't know, dude. Need I remind you about—”

“Good God, yes, I cried at
Forrest Gump.
Can we never discuss that again?”

Mike chuckled as he headed down the stairs, speaking over his shoulder. “You're a sap, Walsh. But I love you.”

Derek shook his head and followed Mike down the stairs before walking down the hall, through the kitchen, and out the sliding doors. He passed through the garden, which was loaded with fully blooming bulbs and the white fence was bursting with lilacs. Their sweet scent filled the air. It really was a beautiful place to get married.

Hitting the grass, Derek crossed the yard and headed right for the giant tree. This was where the comic version of him asked Lindsey to meet him. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He was in knots over this woman. Had been for years, and he was resigned to the fact that he didn't ever want to live without her. And now all he could do was hope she felt the same way and was ready to finally be his for good.

 

Twenty-Six

Lindsey was late. Fifteen minutes late due to a rush-hour accident on the highway out to Preston. On top of that she'd left her phone at home. Of all the damn days. This was not fate trying to tell her something. Definitely not. Heart pounding and palms sweating, she pulled into the driveway, threw open her car door, and began to run up the gravel driveway.

In a dress. And heels.

This could end badly.

“Girl, slow down, you're gonna fall,” Callie called from the porch steps.

“Can't … have to go,” Lindsey yelled as she rounded the side of the house. Before she turned the corner she stopped short and took a breath. And another. And then pushed her hair out of her face.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself, her voice breathless.

She turned the corner, rounded the garden, and stopped. From this spot in the yard she could see the tree. It was by itself. He wasn't there. Her shoulders dropped.

“Lindsey.”

Jerking her head to the side, she saw him. He was walking from the opposite side of the house. He looked so gorgeous in dress pants and a white button-up shirt. It was unbuttoned at the top, just the way she liked it, the smooth tan skin of his collarbone exposed.

“Derek.” She ran straight to him. Right before she collided with him, he held out his arms, pulling her into his embrace. “I was afraid you'd left.”

“No, babe.” He squeezed her hard, crushing their chests together so tightly she had to turn her head to the side. “I'd gone out front looking for you. Waiting.”

“I'm sorry I was late. Eden had spit up on my dress … and then there was a highway accident, I forgot my—”

She was shushed by Derek's arms firmly grabbing her shoulders as he pushed her away far enough to look down into her eyes. “It doesn't matter. You're here. Had you not come out back, I'd have gone inside and hunted you down, Lindsey Morales.”

She grinned before wrapping her arms around his neck. Their lips met softly and his hands went into her hair. They kissed long and slow, taking turns nipping at one another.

“I missed you,” she whispered, nuzzling into his neck. She would never get enough of the scent of his cologne, the strength of his arms around her. The feel of his lips on hers. Finally Derek leaned his forehead on hers, touching her lips with his thumb.

“I missed you more,” he said.

“I loved the comic strips,” she said.

He grinned. “I'm glad. I loved getting yours back. I was so afraid you wouldn't respond.”

“How could I not? It's how we started. And you already knew I loved you.”

“I hoped it was enough,” he said.

He kissed her once more. When they finally pulled apart she looked up at him. “I heard you talked to Lisa.”

“I did. And it went surprisingly well. For now at least. I'll tell you all about it, but right now, I want this moment to be about us. Nothing else.”

She nodded. “Okay. I think I like that.”

“Good. I want you to understand, Lindsey, this is it. We've been apart way too long and eventually I want us to be a family. Me, you, Tanner … and all the other babies we manage to create.”

Her mouth dropped open and then she choked out a laugh. “I think we could probably manage that. Or at least give it a try.”

He grinned. “Lots of tries sounds good,” Derek said, kissing her lips, nose, cheek. She loved how he never neglected any part of her body.

“Are you sure, Derek?” Lindsey asked, her eyes closed as his lips touched her eyelids.

He angled her face up and she opened her eyes to find him staring at her. “I think that's what I've always wanted.”

Lindsey smiled. “Good. I want it, too.”

“It won't be easy.”

She laughed. “None of it has been.”

“True. But I know it's worth it.” He stroked a finger down the side of her face. “You're worth it.”

“So are you. And so is Tanner. And all those babies we're gonna make.”

“
All
of those babies.” He agreed with a nod. “Let's start now.”

“Derek.” Lindsey slapped at his chest and he drew her back into his arms, resting his chin on her head. The scent of him mixed with the flowers left her with a feeling of tranquility and happiness.

“I love you so much, Lindsey. I'm not letting you go ever again.”

She squeezed him back. “Don't worry. I won't let you.”

 

Epilogue

Anne and Mike's wedding couldn't have been more perfect if they'd tried. From the lace on Anne's dress down to the black Camaro groom's cake, it was lovely in every way. They'd written their own vows and Mike's were delivered to both Anne and Claire, promising to love and care for the two of them. There hadn't been a single dry eye in the entire place.

During the reception the drinks flowed, the food was delicious, and the decorations made the space feel like a chic, woodland fairy tale. Anne and Mike had just shared their first dance under the twinkling lights that filled the rafters of the barn. With a smile on her face Lindsey took the opportunity to step out back to get some fresh air.

The sun hung just beyond the field that backed up to their property, leaving streaks of pink and blue across the sky. It was the most beautiful evening and Lindsey wasn't sure she'd ever felt lighter or happier.

She stood, drink in hand, staring at the horizon until she heard footsteps behind her. Turning, she smiled as she took in Derek and his minime, Tanner.

“I still can't get over how handsome you two look tonight,” she said.

“I'm kinda tired of this vest. Can I take it off?” Tanner asked, tugging at the tie at his neck.

Derek patted his son's head. “Sure, bud. Why don't we get out of here, go for a drive? The three of us.”

Lindsey shrugged. “Okay. But just for a little bit. I still want to spend some time with the girls and I have to help clean up.”

Derek held his hand out to her. “We'll get you back here. I have something to show you.”

“Something to show me?” Now she was intrigued. “Well, in that case, let's go.”

Ten minutes later they pulled in front of Derek's office. She slid him a confused look.

“Trust me,” he said with a wink.

All three of them got out of the car, but instead of walking to his door, he began to walk around back toward Mike's shop.

“Where are you going?” she said.

Derek stopped, held out his hand, and waited for her to take hold before they proceeded. “Sorry, I'm just anxious. Come on.”

They came to the big black door in back and Derek pulled out a key. Lindsey had been to Mike's shop before a few times. It was not exciting. Actually, it was always a mess, as car garages tended to be. But as they stepped inside she found that it was empty.

“Mike moved all his stuff out, huh?”

“He did,” Derek said, flipping on all the lights. The space that Mike had used as his office had been freshly painted a dark cream color and rustic wood flooring had been laid over the concrete. It reminded her of all the old flooring in the buildings at the West Bottoms.

“I chose the flooring because … I thought you'd like it. But the rest is a completely blank space. For you.”