When We Are Enough (Valiant Hearts #1)

55. Emmy

Chapter 55

Emmy

W e sit on the bench in the lush garden of my parent’s seafront property, and Patrick’s face breaks into a smile.

I bring my other hand to his, encircling his roughened palm. A deep breath, knowing I owe him an apology. “I’m sorry for ending things the way I did. You listened to me, really heard me, giving me that space no one has before, and pushing you away was a mistake.”

“And I’m sorry I let things ever get to that point,” he replies, the heat of him pressing against me. “I was too focused on other things. But you know now that you’re the only thing I want in this world, right?”

I pull back slightly, looking up at him, searching his face. “I know. But what about you? I want to make things easier for you. I want to help you carry the weight you’ve been shouldering about Danny’s dad. And your responsibility for your family. You don’t have to do it alone.”

His eyes soften further. “I’m ready to let some of that go. I really am. But I’ll always have a responsibility to my family and Joe Heart. ”

“Of course you will. I love them just as much as you. I’m in fully, one hundred percent. But you have to let go of the guilt completely and start living for yourself, for us. You deserve that.”

Patrick’s grip tightens around me. “It’s hard to let go of the past.”

“I’m here with you every step of the way. We can build something beautiful together. We can find happiness, both of us.”

He closes his eyes for a brief moment. I wonder whose face he’s seeing.

Then he’s looking at me again: “Let’s make a pact. No more guilt, no more looking back. No more secrets. Just us, moving forward.”

His words make my heart race against the cage of my chest as I nod. He takes my hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of it softly. The gesture is tender, almost reverent, and my breath catches.

“Let’s do this,” I say. “Let’s go back to Harbor’s Edge together and build the life we both want.”

His lips part slightly, and then his arms are around me, his body fitting perfectly against mine. The warmth of him seeps into me, quieting, soothing. Then his mouth captures mine in a kiss.

Suddenly the world is spinning around us, breaking apart and reforming into something even more perfect than before. It’s like coming home after being lost for so long, every touch, every sweep of his hands over the heat of my skin wiping away the mistakes we’ve made and leaving only the promise of what’s to come.

In that kiss, there’s an unspoken vow, a shared understanding that no matter the storms we’ve already weathered, and whatever is to come, we’re stronger together. And as we pull back, breathless, I know with absolute certainty that this is where I’m meant to be—with him, facing whatever comes our way.

Birds chirp and sing in the tree overhead, accompanied by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind, while the distant sounds of the ocean crashing are a reminder of the outside world. But here on the bench, there’s only us.

He leans back to look at me, his eyes ticking over my face, before his lips find mine again in a kiss that starts sweetly, a gentle brushing of mouths. His hands slide inside the jacket, under my sweater, coming to rest on the small of my back. The rough of his skin is cold, wanting, and I press closer to him, needing more.

The kiss deepens, becomes more intense, a melding of lips and tongues that speaks of all the things we don’t need to put into words. His hands hold me tight, anchoring me to him, and it’s just us, together, and it feels so right. More right than anything ever has.

We continue to kiss, the heat between us intensifying. His hands stroke up my back, one hand cupping the side of my breast, and there’s need rushing between us.

Our eyes meet in a silent acknowledgment, Patrick’s blue gaze filled with undeniable heat, his pupils dilating as his grip on my body tightens. His sudden, roguish grin sends a jolt of desire straight to my core, while his free hand, calloused and strong, sweeps up my thigh, grazing the slick heat of me through my pants. A moan, stifled.

The crisp air does nothing to quell the scorching heat we radiate. Our bodies are close, and he slides a hand up the front of my sweater, tracing a line from my chest down to my belly button in one smooth glide, teasing with tantalizing slowness, the calloused pads of his fingers dancing across my bare skin.

His lips take mine, sending liquid fire through me. It’s wild and unrestrained and his tongue explores every inch of my mouth while his hands find my pebbled nipples through the lace of my bra.

Suddenly he pulls away, leaning in just enough to utter low and husky in my ear: “I want you. When we finally get home, I’m going to have you. All of you.”

My pulse skyrockets. Desire pools within me, leaving me wet and aching. Fingers dig into his arms, pulling him closer as I whisper back: “I’m going to hold you to that.”

His eyes roam over my face, while I do the same, memorizing every detail of this moment. It’s everything I wanted and more.

His hand comes up, spearing through my hair. “I love you, Emmy Brooks.”

I swallow hard, his words rolling through me, filling me with golden light. “I love you, too.”

He kisses me again, gentle, treasuring, before resting his forehead on mine. “We better get back inside and let your parents know you’re coming back to Harbor’s Edge with me.”

“Okay. I’m a little nervous.”

“I’ll be right by your side.”

We walk back to the house hand in hand to find my parents saying goodbye to the Whitakers at the front door, Maddy standing just beside them. There’s a moment of awkward silence, before my mother’s gaze settles on me.

“Emmy, darling. Why don’t you come inside? Say goodbye to your friend.”

“I don’t plan on staying.” I’m unable to keep the edge out of my voice. “But we need to talk.”

My father raises an eyebrow, his expression inscrutable, while Maddy looks between us, biting her lip. The tension is building, but I’m ready. Ready to fight for my place in Harbor’s Edge, for my love for Patrick, and for the future I want.

“Let’s wait until our guests leave.” Mom is staring at me, her gaze so intense it could start a fire.

The Whitakers are watching us, heads turning back and forth like they’re at a damned tennis match, while my father pulls out his phone, frowning as he checks his emails, or at least pretends to.

“I’d rather say what I need to say and leave, actually. You were wrong to come to Harbor’s Edge without calling.” I stand a little taller, gripping Patrick’s hand. “And you shouldn’t have embarrassed me in front of the O’Connors. This is a job I take seriously.”

My mother’s eyes narrow slightly, “Working as a home nurse in a small town is just a phase. You have to see that. We all hope you’ll come to your senses and move back to the city for a real career. Sooner rather than later, before you waste any more time. Or get any older.” She shoots a look at the Whitakers, rolling her eyes as if to say kids .

My father glances up from his phone. “You should be using your time networking with the right people instead of wasting your potential in Harbor’s Edge. You could even consider going back to college, retrain as a lawyer. Maddy could set something up for you. She’s got the right connections.”

I stare at him for a moment, my throat thick. My father has always been distant, uninvolved in my life, working long hours as a doctor and in his free time doing anything other than being with me.

I went into nursing hoping we might even work together one day, but he still dismisses me, never really seeing me. The familiar pain of his disinterest lances through me, but it’s duller, now, less intense, something I can withstand.

“No matter what I do, it’s never going to be good enough for you.”

My mother sighs, her expression exasperated as she glances at the Whitakers before returning her attention to me. “Emmy, calm down. We just want what’s best for you. Harbor’s Edge isn’t where you belong.”

I look her straight in the eye, feeling the weight of all the years of trying to please her lifting off my shoulders. “You’re wrong. It’s exactly where I belong. I’m going back to Harbor’s Edge, and I’m leaving now. With Patrick.

My mother’s face hardens. “Be reasonable. After everything you’ve been through, are you sure you’re mentally stable enough to make a decision like this?”

The Whitakers are staring at me like I have two heads. Heat rises inside me, a fire that won’t be extinguished. “You need to stop saying that. I’m fine.”

Her eyes narrow. “You’re causing a scene. Just come inside.”

“I don’t give a fuck about causing a scene. And I’m done here. Call me next time you want to see me. I might not be available.”

I catch Maddy’s eye, and she gives me a smile that makes me want to toss my head back and scream—not with pain, but with the unexpected joy of being me, of being free, of having Patrick by my side, of having his love. Having all of him.

Patrick squeezes my hand, glances at Betty. “Follow me home?”

“I’ll be right behind you,” I reply.

Maddy steps past my parents, passing me my handbag before I give her a quick hug.

Patrick starts his engine and reverses out of the driveway. Climbing inside Betty, ignoring the furious looks from my Mom, I check my phone and see a message from Nora, which she sent just after I left Granny Sloane’s house.

“We’re worried about you. I’m so sorry about your parents! Wow. They’re something else. Look, just come back as soon as you can. We miss you already. Love you!”

I don’t know if Patrick was right about them not caring about my episodes , but I’ve realized more than anything that I owe it to myself and them to find out if we can repair this. If we can move on.

But more freeing than anything else: the knowledge that even if I lose my job, I’ll be okay. There will be other jobs. But there’s only one Patrick, and he’s mine. Nothing else is as important as that.