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  She loved Seth Keller.

  And it didn’t mean she no longer loved Jay.

  She knew that Seth didn’t love Allie less.

  But love wasn’t about mores or lesses—it just was. There was no limit on love, the heart grows exponentially. Laura agreed.

  And she needed to get to Seth and explain. She was just pulling on her boots when someone knocked on the door.

  Why had her house become the destination of choice in Erie? She didn’t want to be rude, but she was going to have to get rid of whoever was here. Her desire to see Seth was increasing by the second.

  She opened the door and found Seth standing there. “Seth, I was just getting ready to come to your place.” She pointed at her one booted foot, and her other socked one. “I need to talk to you.”

  “Shh.”

  “Shh?” she asked.

  “Yes, shush, Laura. I want to say something, and I don’t want you interrupting.” He stepped into the foyer and she shut the door.

  “I talked to a friend at work,” he began, “Chuck had fallen for a woman who’d been burned by love and kept saying she wasn’t ready to get involved. He didn’t listen and made a big event out of telling her how he felt. I thought I would wait patiently for you to figure out we’re meant to be together, but I was wrong. The last few days I’ve managed to stay away have been horrible. I need you. And I decided my buddy was right, that I should take a lesson from my teenage self. When you find love, you grab on to it, and don’t waste a minute of it. I didn’t think you were big on public events, but I wanted you to know how I felt, so I made a list.”

  “List?” she asked.

  He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a Post-it. “I know it’s not Thanksgiving, but I don’t think being thankful should fall on only one day of the year.”

  Laura looked down and read the Post-it. I’m thankful that not only has life given me a second chance, but so has love. She met his gaze, ready to tell him the words she’d been so afraid to say. She wanted to shout them to Seth—to the world.

  “Laura, let me finish. I know it’s too soon for you. That getting over losing someone takes time. So I want you to know that I’m here. For as long as it takes. I love you. You are my list. You, Jamie and my family. I’m holding on and not letting go. Ever.”

  “Am I unshushed now?”

  Seth’s nervousness was clear. “Yes.”

  “Remember the day Eli and Zac brought Ebony home?”

  “Sure.”

  “Homecoming Days. Of all the reasons you Kellers have to gather, those are the most significant, right?” He nodded.

  She took his hand, which felt so right in hers, and led him into the kitchen. “This isn’t quite as elegant as a Keller Homecoming speech, but it’s just as heartfelt. The Martins, they’re my family, not simply Jamie’s grandparents. That realization was a Homecoming of sorts. I am not alone.”

  On the counter was a covered dish. Laura removed the foil wrapping to unveil a homemade cake.

  Welcome Home, Seth, it read in icing. “I’m not talking about a place, but about a feeling. We both loved people before. Really loved them. That doesn’t mean we can’t love someone else. I had parents I adored, but they’re gone. Now I have Jay’s parents. And I have you. I love you, Seth. You are my home. Mine and Jamie’s.”

  She didn’t wait for Seth’s response, but threw herself into his embrace and kissed him. She tried to put everything she hadn’t said with the elegance that a Keller might have into that kiss. She loved him. She needed him. She wanted him.

  Seth released her and smiled. “I love you, too.”

  With that said, they sat at the kitchen table and decided to take it one day at a time. They wouldn’t rush marriage, but they were committed. It wasn’t the life that either of them expected, but it would be a good one. Filled with family, friends and most importantly, love.

  “Welcome home, Laura,” Seth said, his arms open wide.

  EPILOGUE

  DEAR JAMIE,

  Today was St. Patrick’s Day. Your father, Jay, loved this day. He was Irish, but even if he wasn’t, he’d have claimed he was on March 17 each year. I started a memory box for you, and one of the things in it is a well-worn St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt—it was his favorite.

  Today was also your Baptism. You didn’t cry once. I was so proud as Seth and JT promised to serve as your godparents.

  After your father died, I was worried about being alone. But as I looked out at the pews, they were filled with people. Your grandparents, the police officers who worked with your father, the entire Keller family. There are a lot of them.

  But that’s probably a good thing, since Seth asked me to marry him and I said yes.

  We’ve decided on a long engagement. But I have no doubts. Neither does he.

  I loved your father with all my heart and was afraid I’d never love anyone that way again. And I won’t—not the same way. I love Seth in an entirely different, but equally special way. He’s a part of myself that I never knew I was missing.

  Jamie, you are surrounded by love. You may only know your father through these journals, and through the stories we’ll tell you, but never doubt he loved you. And I like to think he had a hand in helping us both find Seth.

  When Seth came to the house with that “list” I realized that life gives second chances…but now I know that sometimes, so does love.

  Love,

  Mom

  ISBN: 978-1-4268-7646-2

  HOMECOMING DAY

  Copyright © 2010 by Holly Fuhrmann

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