I pull into the drive to find the delivery guy sitting at the gates. Life is funny, I can't explain why I put the gates and fence up but right now, I'm so happy I did.
I punch in the code and jump out of the truck. "Hey, man! Hope you haven't been here long."
"Naw, just a few minutes. Order said to wait if the gates were closed." He carries bags over to the truck. "Where you want these?"
"Oh, here ya go." I spin around, jerking my back door open. "How many are there?"
His eyes grow round. "A lot."
"You know she didn't order that much? We don't even know if this is right?" I scratch my head as I follow him back to his car. "Dear Sweet Baby Jesus, she's bought one of everything in the store."
"Basically." He chuckles, grabbing several bags of food and heads toward my truck with me close behind.
By the time I get the groceries in my truck into the house, I'm running later than I was when I left the hospital. The house is messy, but that's mainly construction, so I busy myself with putting the supplies away.
"Now, to tackle freshening the living area and put some sheets on the bed." I hurry over to the laundry room to get the cleaning supplies.
"Hey! Anybody home?" Aksel calls through the house. I round the corner with everything I need to get to work.
"Good deal! You're in time to help."
"I'm assuming your happy to see me." Aksel takes his jacket off and tosses it on the couch. "Emerson's on her way to the hospital, Landon, and his parents are going out for lunch. Em mentioned you might need some help."
"Man, I appreciate it. Yeah, if you don't care I need to get the car and bike moved over that way Em can pull into the garage without being seen." I set the bucket down and toss him the keys.
"Alright." He catches them with a nod.
Thirty minutes later, I stand in the living room looking over the place. There's a few more things for the remodel sitting around, but overall, the place is livable.
Aksel walks through the hall, joining me. "You're doing a good thing here."
"I owe it to her."
He pulls his cell from his pocket, scanning it. "They're at the corner stoplight."
"Alright, I gotta get out of here." I hold my hand up, waiting for him to slap mine.
"I'm gonna wait here to help Emerson get her settled." He hits my hand, yanking me into a hug. A swift smack on the back and I head toward the door.
I hurry out to my ride, sliding behind the seat and getting out of sight as fast as I can. By the time I'm at the end of the street, I see Emerson's SUV in my rear-view mirror.
I slow to a mere crawl, watching as they turn in toward the gates. Her taillights shine in the dusk, and then they're gone. My heart thunders in my chest knowing she's safe, and it's because of me.
Still, it does nothing to absolve me from my past transgressions and she has no idea they include her. I've waited for years, wallowing in my self-loathing for what I didn't do for her. Now, I'll do everything I should've done and pray she forgives me.
A week later…
The gates close behind us, and I search the tree-lined drive for any sign of a structure. Emerson's eyes dart at me and back to her task at hand. I'm not sure if she's waiting for my reaction or wants to ask me something.
As the house comes in to view, I sit with my mouth hanging. It's an enormous beach house with a farmhouse vibe. The light blue exterior has a huge wrap-around porch.
Dormers sit on opposite sides with a double garage on the end. The porch is littered with swings and rockers. Emerson hits a remote in her hand and the doors rise to the garage.
I get a sneak peek of the backyard filled with trees in the distance. It's as if Ridge has lived in my dreams all of these years, I can't imagine he'd remember this after all of this time.
"Hang on," Em watches the door slide down behind us. "I want to lock it before we get out." She jumps from the SUV and hurries to the back.
A door opens to the right of the room, a large blond man smiles as he gazes toward the doors. The driver's side opens again, and Emerson grins.
"Welcome home." She yanks her purse from between the seats and makes her way over to the man standing between us and the house. I ease mine open to be happily greeted.
"It's good to meet you, Harper." He jutes his hand out at me. "It feels as though I've already met you."
I tilt my face away from him, embarrassment creeping over me. "Hello, it's nice to meet you."
Emerson steps down, hooking my arm with hers. "This is my husband, Aksel. I talk about you all the time, I've missed you. Sweetie, grab her bag while I show her the place."
"Husband? I haven't been gone that long!"
Emerson winces. "Little bit."
"I gotcha!" He steps around us as Emerson pulls me up the steps and through the door.
The interior is massive. Beach tones and hardwood. Again, he's read my mind. "Wow. It's so open and yet, cozy. It's beautiful."
"Wait until daylight, you can see for several acres." Emerson beams with pride.
Aksel sets my bag down beside me. "The backyard is killer! The pool itself is to die for but the fact he dug it out, so the place won't flood during hurricanes but still looks like a farmhouse in the front. He thought of every detail."
"I can see that," I gaze around the room. "he's still working on it?"
"Yeah, he took his time. He doesn't live here, so he works on it when he can." Emerson tugs my arm, encouraging me to walk further into the place.
Aksel walks around to the kitchen, standing by the island. "He was hoping to be finished by now, but his businesses are booming so time is limited."
"Businesses? I was under the impression he worked with Mackenzie and lived over her garage." My head bounces from Emerson to Aksel and back. There's a silent conversation going on between them and I need to know what it's about. "What is it?"
"Let me show you around." Emerson giggles and starts walking toward the stairs. "Seriously? This is the main floor, living room, dining, kitchen, and laundry. Second floor, bedrooms, and his office. Third is the master suite, I'm assuming he wants you there, but he didn't specify."
"The entire third floor?" I gape.
She loops our arms, snickering. "Yeah, he went a little extra."
"Ya think?" I giggle with her. "I don't remember him being so high maintenance."
"He's still a dork though."
I roll my eyes. "Aren't they all?"
"Truth!" Our laughing bounces from wall to wall until I cough and pain shoots through my body, doubling me over and taking my breath. "Oh, no! Aksel!" Emerson yells and he's there before my second gasp.
"I gotcha." He scoops me up, whisking me into the master bedroom. Aksel lays me down carefully. Emerson opens a small cabinet beside the bed, reaching in to hand me a bottle of water.
"Here you go, Harper." I carefully sit up and willingly take it, forcing myself to hydrate and calm down. After a few sips, my body reacts as though I might die after all. "Better?"