Jase blinked in surprise. The sheriff had known, and yet he had never harassed Jase. Never tried to convince him to move away. Never warned him away from Brook Lynn.
“And the people of this town know, too,” the sheriff added. “I made sure of it.”
Jase’s heart almost stopped. How long had they known? Nobody had said anything or treated him any differently. “I get why you did it, but not why—”
“No, you don’t get it. People would have found out sooner or later, and then we would have had ourselves a lynch mob, one person’s outrage feeding everyone else’s. I decided to be proactive and save us all the trouble.”
“Save me, you mean. But why? You don’t know me.”
“Son,” the sheriff said, resting his boot on the edge of Jase’s chair. “I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character. I’ve seen the best, and I’ve seen the worst. I don’t know you, you’re right about that, but I’ve watched you. You got you some faults, that’s for sure, but who among us doesn’t? You’ve also got you some character, and that’s more than a lot of others can say.”
It was almost too much to take in. This was the first time in his life he’d lived somewhere that truly felt like home, where he was accepted, faults and all. “You have to know there are conditions to my parole...”
“Your parole hasn’t been violated. Even ex-cons have a right to defend themselves and their loved ones.”
“I...don’t know what to say.”
“Well, then. Don’t say anything. Like I told you, you’re free to go.”
Damn if tears didn’t burn the backs of Jase’s eyes as he pushed to his feet. Second time this week, when he’d gone years without shedding a single one. He’d become a puss, and he didn’t care. “Thank you.”
“You’ve got a very concerned fiancée out there waiting for you.”
The sheriff opened the door. Jase shook his hand before striding into the corridor.
Brook Lynn paced in the lobby, and when she spotted him, a whimper left her. She raced over and threw herself into his arms. He caught her and held on for dear life.
He closed his eyes, breathed her in. Contentment like he’d never known poured through him. Just like that, in a single snap of time, all of his worries—the familiar fear that things were destined to fall apart—fled. This was it, he realized. The fresh start he’d wanted. It started now, this moment. With this woman.
“I was so worried about you,” she said.
“I’m okay. I’m not going back to prison.”
Her hold on him tightened. “Thank God.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t back off. I’m sorry I let things go so far.”
“Hey. Hey, now.” She pulled back to frame his face in her hands. “You did back off, and I’m proud of you.”
Proud of you. He’d never heard those words before. Not directed at him.
“You’re not afraid of me?” he asked.
“Never.”
The contentment gave way to happiness, and he swung her around, overwhelmed. This wasn’t just a fresh start, he realized, but everything he’d ever wanted.
“You,” he said. It was all he could manage at the moment.
“Us,” she replied.
Stronger together than apart. Better together. Meant to be.
“I’ve waited my whole life for you,” he said. “And you were worth every second.”
* * *
THE LOVE OF his life beamed at him the entire drive home. Daphne and Hope were there, waiting for him. So were Beck and a sobered-up West. Even Jessie Kay, Dane, Kenna and Norrie. Jase was hugged by every single one of them. He explained the situation, told them what the sheriff had said, and there was a collective sigh of relief.
Afterward, West pulled him aside. Dark shadows formed half circles under his eyes, and his lips were pulled tight, but he gave Jase another hug, holding on as if the world was about to end.
“I’m sorry,” West said. “For everything.”
Jase pulled back to pat his shoulder. “This wasn’t your fault, either.”
“But I certainly didn’t help.”
“No.” No reason to lie. “But you’re still one of my favorite people, if that helps.”
The semblance of a grin cracked his remorseful expression. “Yeah. It kind of does.”
Beck joined them, and for several seconds, they stood in a circle each of them knew well. Once it had been the three of them against the world.
“Never thought we’d end up here,” he said. “Not just Strawberry Valley, but with them.” He motioned to the others.
Jessie Kay, grinning as she rubbed her knuckles into the crown of Hope’s head. Hope, laughing too hard to get away as Steve and Sparkles ran circles around her feet. Daphne, watching the pair with misty eyes. Dane, at Kenna’s side, rubbing her arm. Kenna, holding Brook Lynn’s hand as the two talked weddings.
My family.
“I know,” Beck said. “They are proof miracles still happen, I guess.”
West’s gaze locked on...Jessie Kay. “Yes,” the guy said, his voice gruff. “Too bad I treated one of them like dirt.”
“Give her time,” Jase said. “Isn’t that what you once told me?”
“But I’m an idiot,” West deadpanned.
“That’s never been in question.”