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“Second, you have an amazing talent. The drawing was absolutely brilliant.
“Third, don’t ever sell yourself short or worry that we’re not going to approve. I’m so goddamn proud of you right now I could burst. I can’t even wrap my head around the fact that you came out here and created this spectacular replica of a piece of land that means so much to this family. You thought Callie might like it. Hell, she’s going to die when she sees this. You have no idea what that piece of property means to her—to all of us. She was born there. She was raised there, running hell-bent all over these mountains. And you’ve found a way to encapsulate that so that she can look at it no matter where she is and be at home. Lily, that kind of gift is priceless. ”
“Oh,” she breathed.
“Oh? That’s all you can say?” Michael said with a laugh.
“I’m sorry I worried you,” she murmured. “I promised your mom I’d be back for lunch. She probably thinks I’m a complete flake or that I did something stupid like get lost. ”
“We were the ones worried,” Dillon corrected. “Give us a break. We’re still getting used to having you, and we still worry you’re going to take off at a moment’s notice. The old adage about being too good to be true is my paranoia. ”
She smiled then and rose to her feet, stepping forward so that she could wrap her arms around Dillon’s waist.
“I’m not going anywhere. I promise. ”
He squeezed her back and then she backed away, looking cautiously at the drawing still in Michael’s hands.
“You really think it’s good? That it’s not a waste of time?”
Michael shook his head. “I don’t know where you get your ideas from, Lily, but I’m going to drum some sense into that head of yours. I wouldn’t care if it was the worst drawing ever crafted. If you enjoy it and it gives you pleasure, then it’s certainly not a waste of time. ”
Her smile was more brilliant this time and the tightness in her chest eased. Butterflies flitted round and round in her belly until she was dizzy from the sensation.
“So you think I should give it to Callie? I thought she could frame it or something. ”
“I think Callie is going to so bowled over that she’s not going to have words,” Dillon predicted. “I can’t wait to see her face when you give it to her. ”
Dillon’s radio crackled and Seth’s irritated voice came over the receiver. “Goddamn it, Dillon. Where the hell are y’all? You said you’d found her. Is everything all right?”
Michael chuckled. “We better get back before Seth has a kitten and calls out search and rescue. ”
He slung an arm around Lily’s shoulders and then carefully handed her back the drawing. Then he kissed her temple and squeezed her against his side.
When they arrived back at the house, Seth was pacing back and forth in front of the porch steps, dragging a hand over his already short hair. When he turned and saw them approach, he strode over, his expression grim.
“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded.
Lily frowned. “What’s it to you?” she asked belligerently.
Dillon and Michael threw back their heads and laughed as Seth blinked in surprise and halted in midstep.
But then Holly ran out behind Seth, and Lily’s frown disappeared. She pushed past the men and hurried toward Holly, already apologizing before she ever got there.
“I’m so sorry,” she blurted. “I completely lost track of time. I didn’t mean to worry you. It was inconsiderate. ”
Holly surprised her by laughing. “I told your guys that you were probably just enjoying the view, but they lost their minds and hauled out their fathers to look for you. Callie and I weren’t worried. You don’t strike me as the type to just wander off and get lost. ”
She tucked her arm into Lily’s and guided her into the house, leaving her three sons openmouthed in the yard.
“I bet you’re hungry now, aren’t you?”
“Starving,” Lily admitted.
“Ethan was setting the table when Seth harangued him into looking for you. Callie and I finished up, so we can sit down to eat. ”
Lily flushed. “I’m so sorry everyone went out looking for me. ”
“I’m just glad it wasn’t me this time,” Holly teased. “I’m a bit of a klutz, and I’ve had some doozies before. ”
“Lily, you’re back,” Callie said as she rounded the corner of the kitchen. “I can’t stay long. Have to be to work in a few. ”
“I wanted to give you something first,” Lily said shyly.
Callie reared back in surprise. “Me?”
Lily slowly opened the art book and carefully eased the paper free of the binding. Then she handed it to Callie.
With a curious glint in her eyes, Callie took the paper and then when she glanced down at the drawing, she looked dumbstruck.
At that moment, Michael, Seth and Dillon along with their fathers tromped into the kitchen. Michael and Dillon smiled knowingly and held up a finger when the others would have questioned the stunned look on Callie’s face.
Tears gathered and pooled in Callie’s eyes. Her hands shook, making the paper jump and wobble in her grasp. Then she raised her gaze to Lily.
“How did you do this?” she asked in wonder. “It looks just like it. It’s perfect. ”
The dads and Holly and Seth gathered around, looking to see what Callie held. Only Dillon and Michael remained back. Dillon slung and arm around her shoulders while Michael slid his arm around her waist.
“Told you,” Michael whispered in her ear.
Lily fidgeted between them while the others looked on with stunned amazement.
“Oh Callie,” Holly whispered. “It’s your meadow. ” She looked up at Lily. “Did you draw this? Is this why you wanted the paper and colored pencils?”
“Yes,” Lily murmured. “It would be better with oils or even more vivid pencils. I had to mix some of the colors to get the right shade. It’s not my best effort. ”
“It’s perfect,” Adam said so bluntly that Lily jumped.
Emotion glimmered in the older Colters’ eyes as they stared at the drawing in their daughter’s hands.
“That’s where our baby was born,” Ethan said.
“I just thought that since Callie loved it so much that she could take it with her wherever she goes so she can feel close to home,” Lily said.
Callie carefully handed her mom the drawing and then she walked over to Lily and pulled her into a hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “You have no idea how much this means to me. I’ll treasure this always. ”
Lily’s entire face warmed under the open and frank praise of the Colters. She smiled back at Callie. “I’m so happy you like it. It’s been so long since I’ve drawn something. I miss it,” she said wistfully.
“You’ll have whatever supplies you need tomorrow,” Dillon said fiercely. “Even if I have to drive to Denver to get them. I want you to make a list of everything down to what kinds of brushes, pencils and paints. You have an amazing talent, Lily. And it obviously makes you happy. ”
“It does,” she said softly. “I didn’t remember how much until now. ”
