Love Reunited

Landon didn’t miss the fact that Georgiana’s hand squeezed her mother’s forearm when Eden said his name. Why was she uncomfortable around him? And why had she tried to hide her blindness from him earlier today?

“So Mandy, would you want to come with us to shop for shoes?” Eden asked.

“Yes, would you?” Abi coaxed. “Please.”

“I’d sure appreciate the help,” Georgiana said softly, and Landon noticed that she turned toward Mandy when she spoke. He also noticed that the group exchanged glances, indicating that they realized Georgiana couldn’t see. Mandy obviously already knew, and it appeared Daniel did too, but Chad’s and Mitch’s faces didn’t disguise their shock, even if they managed to keep their smiles in place for Eden and Abi.

“Mandy’s always in the mood for shopping,” Daniel said.

“That’s right,” Mandy agreed, “and I’d love to go now.” She kissed Daniel, told him she’d be back in a little while, then asked, “So, do y’all have the dress with you?”

“Yep, it’s in that bag,” Abi said, pointing to a paper Consigning Women sack hanging from Eden’s arm.

“Then I guess we’re ready to go,” Mandy said.

“Nice running into all of you,” Georgiana added, then turned and walked away with her mother, Abi and Mandy.

A decade ago, Landon would have simply let her leave and then wondered why she seemed particularly uncomfortable around him or why she’d tried to hide her blindness from him this afternoon. But that was a decade ago. He’d lived a lot and learned a lot in the years between, and he wasn’t about to merely sit and wonder this time.

“Georgiana,” he called, and took the few steps to catch up to the group of females.

She paused, turned and waited.

Landon found himself swallowing through the automatic response to being face-to-face with her again. She’d always taken his breath away, and now he found it nearly hard to speak. But he would speak. And he would find out what had happened to her during the years they’d been apart.

“Yes?” she asked, a slight tremor in the single syllable.

“I’d like to come see you tomorrow at the farm, catch up on everything that’s happened to us since high school, if that’s okay.”

Eden and Mandy locked glances and gave each other soft smiles that made Landon wonder what they knew that he didn’t.

“Would that be okay?” he asked.

“I do riding lessons tomorrow,” Abi said. “Maybe you could come watch me.”

“I’d like that a lot,” he said to the pretty little girl, then looked up at her striking mother. “Is that okay with you, Georgiana?”

The slightest hint of panic slipped over her features, but she masked it quickly. She did not want to talk to Landon; he was sure of that. But he was equally certain that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

He took a step closer, leaned toward her ear and hoped the sounds of the geese squawking and people talking would drown out his whispered words. “Please, for old times. Let me come see you tomorrow. Spend some time with me, Georgie.” He said a quick, silent prayer, then added, “Say yes.”

Her slender throat pulsed as she swallowed. “Okay.”

Chapter Three

Every morning since she’d moved back to the farm, Georgiana woke bright and early, then made her way out to the barn to spend time talking to Fallon and to God. Today was no different, except the need for quiet time was even more intense after last night’s trip to the square.

Even though she hadn’t lived here in years, it hadn’t taken Georgiana long at all to remember everything, and consequently, she could easily make her way to the barn without need of her white cane. This was familiar. This was home.

As always, Fallon awaited her arrival, nickering softly when Georgiana neared her stall.

God, be with me today. You know how much I need your help. Keep me strong, Lord.

She’d actually enjoyed the majority of her time at the square last night, shopping with her mother, Abi and Mandy. For a while there, she felt normal again.

Georgiana let the comfort of the barn envelop her as she tenderly stroked the smooth lines of Fallon’s cheek and jaw. Fallon loved to be touched like this; that hadn’t changed over the years, and Georgiana enjoyed the smoothness of her pelt against her palm. Being with Fallon reminded her of the past, the good memories rather than the bad, and she relished these mornings with her gentle friend.

Soft footsteps approached and the crisp scent of coffee mixed with the usual scents of hay, leather and horse filling the barn.

“Georgiana, it’s me,” her mother said softly.

She smiled. “I know, Mom.”

“Thought you might want some coffee,” she said, and eased the mug handle into Georgiana’s palm.

“Thanks.” Georgiana sipped the coffee, exactly the way she liked it, two spoons of sugar and a dollop of French vanilla cream. “Delicious.”

“Mmm-hmm.”

Georgiana felt her mother’s arm reach past her to stroke Fallon. Fallon’s warmth shifted too, eager to accept a bit of loving from both women.

“Where’s Abi?”

“She wanted to eat her oatmeal and drink her coffee milk at the hearth while she watches Little Bear.”

“Right,” Georgiana said, knowing her daughter’s morning routine. The “coffee milk” portion had been added after they came to the farm. When Georgiana had been Abi’s age, that’d been her morning treat as well, a mug of mostly milk and a little bit of coffee and sugar that made her feel like a big girl. She remembered the special sensation associated with getting that mug from her mom each morning and was glad her daughter could experience the same thing.

“Dora comes on right after Little Bear, and she’ll want to watch that too,” Eden said.

Georgiana knew this, of course, but she also knew why her mother reminded her, so she would realize that they had a full hour to themselves to talk. She swallowed another sip of hot coffee, let the richness of it warm her stomach and calm her fears of asking her mother’s opinion. “Mom?”

“Yes?”

“I’m...I’m nervous about Landon coming over. Being around people I knew before, being around him—” she struggled for the right words “—it makes me—uncomfortable.”

She heard her mother take another sip of coffee, a nearly silent sound but one Georgiana easily recognized. Eden was undoubtedly taking a moment to think, to make sure she said exactly the right thing, the way she always did. Then she gently pushed Georgiana’s hair back from her shoulder and said, “Life would be rather boring if everything were always comfortable.”

Georgiana’s mouth quirked to the side. “Well, it certainly isn’t comfortable now, is it?”

“No, honey, it isn’t.” Eden continued running her palm down Georgiana’s hair in much the same way she did when Georgiana had been Abi’s age. She wanted to soothe Georgiana’s fears, put her at ease. But Georgiana wasn’t sure that was possible.

“Mom, I probably shouldn’t have told you what happened in the church that day. Nothing will change the fact that I ran away and had the wreck.” She touched Fallon again. “And I’m sure Landon doesn’t think I told anyone. He probably wouldn’t have wanted me to tell anyone.”

“Oh, sweetie, you know that isn’t true. Landon loved you, and he came to the church to tell you. The only reason he didn’t tell people himself is because you chose to still marry Pete. Even though your heart was thinking about someone else.”

“Mom, I loved Pete. I did.”

“Honey, I believe you. But there are different kinds of love. There’s the kind of love that’s, well, borderline infatuation. A little stronger than that, but still primarily fueled by the physical attraction you have for one another. And then there’s the kind of love that lasts, the kind of love that can endure the toughest of storms. Physical attraction as well, of course, but deeper. Much deeper.” She paused, then added, “Pete couldn’t handle the storms, Georgiana. That isn’t your fault, it’s his.”