About a month has gone by and we are just about ready to have the B&B open and the weather is warming up just in time. Brad and Courtney talked mama and papa into letting them build a home on their property. Derek and I have been working on opening the store and hiring staff. Ethan has agreed to stay on and Camille, well she decided this isn't the life for her.

Sitting on the couch with my lap top on my lap searching through the many resumes I've been sent. Had about over 200 applicants for different positions. We need atleast 4 in the store to rotate hours and Derek would like atleast 5 cleaning ladies, 3 cooks, 3 front desk workers, 2 butlers and Ethan as the handy man.

Derek barges into the living room on the phone. "I told you the inspection has to happen no later than tomorrow. You'll have someone here in a half hour? Great! See you soon!" He hangs up and plops down next to me.

"What are you doing?" He asks.

"Going through the applications for the positions we are going to need filled. Do you want to be in the interviews?"

"Why doesn't Courtney help you out?"

"She offered just wasn't sure if you wanted to be involved."

"Well of course if you need me babe I'll help."

"I would probably prefer you be there." I say.

He brushes my cheek with his hand and leans in to kiss me.  I love when he does that makes my body tingle.

"Well if you want me there then I'll be there. Just let me know when and I'll be in it."

"Do you want to go through any of these?" I ask.

"Nope I trust you." He kisses me again.

"Ok and by the way there's an envelope on the table for you that came in the mail." I say pointing toward the table.

He studies the handwriting for a minute and I can tell he's wondering who it's from. He reaches in the silverware drawer for a knife and slides it across the top cutting it open. Pulling out the letter he opens it carefully and a pic falls out from inside of it. He crouches down to pic it up and it's a picture of a little boy maybe 5-6 years old. He reads the letter and his face turns white as he reads on. I watch him intently wondering what it is about. He finishes the letter, folds it closed and slides it back into the envelope. He pulls out a bar stool and sits at the island quietly then takes his glasses off nervously rubs his face. I stand up and walk over to him placing my hands on his shoulders and ask him what's wrong. Derek doesn't say anything just slides the envelope toward me, stands up and walks out the front door.

Picking up the envelope, I decide not to read it and run after Derek. I see him climbing onto Bucky and he takes off so I go grab Lucy and jump on. I get Lucy to gallop as fast as she can and finally spot Derek. Derek! Derek stop! He turns around and sees me coming. Woahhh slow down boy!

"What are you doing Ella?" He gruffly asks.

"What does the letter say Derek?"

"I pushed it toward you to read it."

"I don't want to read it, I want to hear it from you."

"Ella I don't want to talk about it!" He yells.

"Don't you dare do this me Derek, don't you dare yell at me and run!"

"If you would have read the goddamn letter you would know, but no you have to make everything so fucking difficult Ella!"

Tears start pouring out from my eyes and I can't stop them. I'm at a full on sob now and don't know what to do next. I tug Lucy's reign and tap her side with my heal to instruct her to head back to the barn. I don't look at him I just allow Lucy to take me back.

"Ella wait! I'm sorry."

I don't turn around I just go. Once at the barn I climb down from Lucy and take her into the stables. I head back to the cottage and I go inside and grab the envelope. Heading toward the bedroom I step inside and shut the door and lock it. Sitting on the bed pulling my knees up to my chest I hold the envelope there and just stare at it. Dana Evans, PO Box 78254, Houston, Texas 77001. I struggle with myself on whether to read it or not. I thought about calling Courtney, but they are working on their house. Suddenly there's a light tap on the door. "Ella. Please open up." It's Courtney. I get up and go over to the door and before I open it I ask if he's there too. She insists he's not so I let her in and hurry to lock it again.

"What are you doing here?" I ask.

"Well Derek showed up and he looks pretty upset. Said he got some news today and then you and him fought. So here I am, your best friend at your service."

"Did he tell you his news?"

"No Ella. He said to convince you to read the letter."

"I don't want too. He should be able to talk to me, he should be able to tell me what the hell it says."

"He probably feels the letter will explain it better, then you can talk about it."

I look down at the letter again and decide that yeah she's probably right and slip the letter out of the envelope and unfold it. Courtney stays quiet while I read it.

Dearest Derek,

It's been many years since we've spoken. Probably the last time being the mistake that we made that night we ended up getting so drunk we slept together and it ruined our friendship. I miss my best friend. I don't know how many times I've tried to call you and you just wanted nothing to do with me. It was a mistake Derek, we should have talked about it. I don't know why you ran from me.

Anyway I wanted to tell you something. I wanted to tell you that not every part of that night was a mistake. See I'm just going to flat out say it. You have a son Derek, his name is Bryce and he is going to be 6 in 2 months.

I didn't tell you about him because well I couldn't get in touch with you. You wouldn't answer my calls or return my calls. I'm telling you now though because of the many conversations of how you grew up without your parents and I want him to know you and you to know him. I enclosed his picture. I think he looks just like you.

I don't want anything from you, we are doing ok on our own but I do want from you to accept him as your son. I understand that you may have a whole new life but please try to think about it. Bryce does need his dad. If you have your doubts I understand that too and if you feel you need a paternity test, that's fine. He's asking a lot about you and I just tell him one day he will know everything. Please Derek, I know you are a decent man.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Dana

I take a deep breath fold the letter and put it back into the envelope. I left the picture out and handed it to Courtney. She takes it out of my hand and studies it.

"Who is he?" She asks.

"His name is Bryce. He's Derek's son."

"Oh wow, um yeah that's a lot to take in."

Climbing off the bed I go to the bedroom door and unlock it. When I open the door Derek's standing there. Courtney turns to me and hugs me goodbye and walks out the door. She hands Derek the picture and tells him he knows what he has to do.

He half smiles and walks into the bedroom, pulling me close to him. We stay like that for a while, I feel him tremble and at the moment I understand why he ran.

Derek pulls away and takes my face in his hands and he kisses me like he's never kissed me before and it scares me.

"I love you, Ella. You know this right?"

"Of coarse Derek. I love you too. Please don't tell me you want to end this..."

"No Ella! Never! I don't want you to leave me because I want to get the paternity test and find out if he really is mine and if he is, to make him apart of our lives."

"Derek, call Dana...See if she will bring him here. Explain what you are doing here for your grandparents and if you want tell her about me. One day at a time Derek. That little boy does need a father and if you are his, you will be a damn good father."

Derek pulls me into him again and this time I feel comfort. He reaches into his pocket. "Ok I'll call her."

Derek calls Dana and they talk for about 20 minutes or so. He paces and when he tells her about me, he grabs my hand and pulls me down to sit next to him and I smile. She agrees to bring Bryce here and in the mean time she will take Bryce for a DNA test and Derek will go to his doctor for his. Once the results come back and it's confirmed we will plan for them to come here. Dana is 99.9% certain Derek is Bryce's father and that's ok it's all going to be ok.