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Londyn’s mother gazed up into Ben’s eyes. “You did? Why did I not know this?”
He grimaced. “I had some ridiculous idea that I could win you back if I just told you the truth and showed you that I could provide for a family.” Ben sighed.
She stared into his eyes. “I didn’t know.”
“I saw you from a distance at the red-carpet premiere of the movie that shot you to stardom. You’d made it. I realized then that I didn’t have a chance. Your father was right. You were so much better off without me. So, I got on the plane, came back home and worked my ranch.”
“You never married,” Dana said.
He shook his head. “The only girl I ever wanted to marry was way out of my league.” He faced Londyn. “So, you see, neither of us intentionally deprived you of the family you deserved.”
Londyn sighed. “Could you at least let me be mad for a few more days? It doesn’t make up for the twenty-seven years I missed out on having a father around who could’ve taken me to the father-daughter dances and taught me to throw a baseball.” She shook her head. “I think, in his own gruff way, Gramps tried to make up for splitting you two up by taking me in and teaching me all the things a father would’ve taught me.”
“I think he was also making up for checking out of my life after my mother died,” Dana said. “He couldn’t look at me because I looked like Mom.”
“And that’s why he was more willing to take me in,” Londyn said. “I don’t look anything like my mother or grandmother.” She met Ben’s gaze. “I look like my father.” Her brow twisted. “That’s going to take some getting used to. Don’t take offense if I continue to call you Ben.”
Ben held up a hand. “I won’t take offense if you won’t take offense if I don’t call you my little girl.”
Londyn laughed. “I won’t.”
Her mother gave her a hopeful look. “So, are we okay? You aren’t going to hate me forever? I realized far too late that hate hurts you more than the person you profess to hate.” She pulled Londyn into her arms. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”
“I might forgive you...someday. Just not today.” Londyn wrapped her arms around her mother and held her for a long moment, her eyes dangerously moist. “I wish Gramps could’ve been here for this love fest.” She chuckled. “He would’ve felt awkward as hell, but I think he would’ve liked to make things right. Otherwise, why would he have sent me to Ben upon his death?”
“Guilty conscience,” Dana said. “It probably helped him lighten the burden in his heart.” She leaned into Ben. “I guess the next big question is where to from here?”
Ben slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “For now, it’s enough to take it one day at a time.”
“As much as I enjoy the night sky and cool temperatures, I’ll leave you two to get reacquainted,” Londyn said. “I have to get up early tomorrow to fly down to Yellowstone and salvage what’s left of my debut and finale in the film industry. I still need the money.” She gave her mother a tight smile. “Does your offer to fly me down there still stand?”
Her mother nodded. “It does. In anticipation of your reunion with the director, I gave the pilot the warning order earlier this evening. He’ll be ready and waiting for you and Nash before dawn.”
“Then I’m going to get some rest,” Londyn said.
Her mother held up a hand. “One other thing on the road to transparency…”
Nash tensed along with Londyn as the older woman grinned. “It’s okay. I just thought you’d like to know why I named you Londyn.” She smiled.
“As a matter of fact, I am curious,” Londyn cocked an eyebrow. “Why did you name me Londyn? And then spell it wrong?”
Dana looked up into Ben’s gaze. “Do you remember what you wrote in my yearbook?”
Ben’s brow dipped. “We were planning our honeymoon, though we didn’t have the money to take one.”
“We were going to London.” She smiled weakly. “I figured since I couldn’t take you there, I’d give you an exotic name to remind me to keep striving for more. And someday, I’d get to London. You were my inspiration.”
Londyn nodded. “And you made it.”
“Yes, I did. And when I went...” she looked up at Ben, “I couldn’t stop thinking about our honeymoon.”
Nash walked with Londyn back to the house.
As they climbed the steps to the porch, Londyn stopped and turned to stare out at the landscape bathed in brilliant starlight. “I hate leaving.”
As Nash stood behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close. “Then don’t go.”
She tipped her head back, resting it against his chest. “I have to do this.”
