Now it was Kyle’s turn to look surprised. “I don’t follow.”
“Dad was always a dreamer. Yeah, he probably didn’t have the best business sense, and this place was in trouble long before you took over. It made me crazy, really. Made me want to go into business, work with numbers, and facts. But you…you’re a lot like Dad. Dad followed his heart, and you did too.”
Kyle swallowed hard. His heart was with Brooke. And he hadn’t followed her anywhere.
“I don’t want to lose this place,” he said gruffly. “I never did.”
“Then let me have a stab at it. I’d like to have a chance to make Dad proud too. In…my own way.”
Kyle pulled back. “You mean that?”
“I owe him that,” Ryan said. “And…I owe it to you, too.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Kyle said. He felt suddenly lost, as directionless as he ever had in his life. For as long as he could remember, there had been a plan, first with Brooke, and then, when his Dad died, to keep this place going. It was all right there in front of him.
Now he was free. To do as he wanted. To carve his own path. And he wasn’t even sure where to begin. Or if it was too late.
“You don’t need to say anything,” Ryan said. “Honestly, it’s what is best for both of us at this point. And I think it might be the only chance this pub has, too. I’ll put the loan in my name, but you know this place is still always going to be yours and Dad’s.”
“It was always all of ours. This was always for the family.” Kyle stood up and walked to the doorway, looking out into the darkened front room. “I had a good run with this place. But I think you’ll do better with it.”
Ryan gave him a sad smile. “Dad was always proud of your woodworking. Always said you’d make a real success of it someday.”
Kyle hadn’t ever heard his father say that, and he stared at his brother in wonder. “Really?”
Ryan nodded. “He was proud of you, Kyle. He still is. And to be honest, I always felt like I let him down, never showing much enthusiasm for the pub, not pitching in after he was gone. Now, it might be a chance to redeem that.”
“Just don’t go changing it too much,” Kyle warned, laughing.
“Only for the better,” Ryan promised. “There’s too much history here to throw away.”
Kyle nodded and slowly walked out of the building onto the dark and empty street, possibly for the last time, or at least a long time. There was another part of his history he needed to honor, too. If he could just figure out how to best do that.
*
Brooke hadn’t considered how exhausting a busy day in the shop could be. Between the Pine Falls client, two more custom orders, and what was starting to feel like a four-hour meeting with Candy, she couldn’t wait to turn the sign on the door and crawl into bed.
Unfortunately, if she did that, she’d never find the time to actually make any of the gowns for the orders that had been placed.
She’d need help, and soon. Designing dresses was where her heart was, not in just selling them.
Candy sat on the small sofa next to her, sipping her tea and staring at the designs Brooke had sketched. “I can’t decide,” she finally said.
Yes, Brooke had gathered that much, about three cups of tea ago.
“I’ve waited so long for this day,” Candy explained, her big eyes pleading. “I want it to be perfect.”
Maybe it wasn’t the best sales line, and maybe Brooke was out of patience, but she decided to speak the honest truth. “There’s no such thing as perfect, Candy.”
Candy frowned a little but didn’t protest.
“I once thought I had the perfect wedding,” Brooke said plainly, “and then my marriage fell apart. I didn’t look back on my wedding day often, didn’t stare at any photos, either. I started thinking of it as a day where everything had gone wrong and could have been better. But recently I’ve realized that wasn’t the case. I did have a beautiful wedding. Sometimes emotions can taint our memory in different directions.” She sighed and looked at her hands. “I think what I’m saying is that so long as you and Uncle Dennis are happy together, then nothing can ruin your wedding day. It will always be a day that you remember as the happiest, most beautiful day of your life, one that you wouldn’t have wanted to change, at all.”
Candy wiped a tear from her eye. “You certainly know a lot about love. And here I thought I was the expert.”
Brooke shook her head sadly. “I know nothing about love, I’m afraid.”
Candy set her tea down and handed over the papers with a huff. “I think you do. More than you realize, or maybe more than you want to admit. So I’m going to trust you, and not just because every design you have shown me has been gorgeous. Which one do you think is best for me?”
“Oh, no. This is your day. Your dress. You have to follow your heart. It will never let you down.”
Candy squeezed her hand. “In that case, I need the ballgown. The train. Twenty-five feet.”
Brooke laughed. “It’s exactly what I would have chosen for you.”
Candy stood. “I should let you go. It’s late and I’ve already kept you too long.”
“Not at all,” Brooke said. “There’s always time for family.”
Candy beamed. “Family. I like the sound of that.”
Brooke’s heart still felt heavy as she turned the sign on the door and watched Candy leave.
