Tied Up in Knotts Ch. 21

I smiled. "I'll raise my glass to that."

Penn looked at me from across the room and I raised my glass to him. His hair was neatly combed and he looked sexy as sin in his tux, but then he smiled and all I could think was—

This was my life now.

We spent the next four weeks traveling. Some places we passed through, some we stayed and relaxed. When we got home it was back to work. We sold the Wilsonville house and bought the Bend house. His brothers came up and ripped that place down and helped build it back up. Penn's family had contacts and we met an older gentleman who was wanting to retire and sell his septic business. His family wasn't interested so we jumped at the chance to take over a business. It was well known in the community but had been floundering because he no longer wanted to deal with it. It didn't take much to breathe life back into it and turned out to be a great investment.

Two years later we decided to keep the Bend house and the business but move to Spokane and started all over again. Then we did the same in Walla Walla. Every risk we took together seemed to pay off tenfold. I was cautious but, at the same time, it felt like everything we touched turned to gold. We were unstoppable.

We moved back to Lincoln just before my fortieth birthday. By then the business had stretched to five cities in two states and we had almost a dozen rental houses. It was a full-time job that we ran together.

I never thought I'd move back but when it happened, it felt right.

We never did sell our Lincoln house. "It was the first thing that we did together," Penn said. "Even when I wanted to wash you out of my life, I couldn't bring myself to sell."

I was sad to find out that Yevo had struggled to stay afloat after I left. The Committee couldn't get healthy enough to keep a staff person on board. That had to change so I called Wayne. I was too busy to be on staff again which was fine because I had no desire to take on that role, but I knew the ins and outs, I knew the community, and I knew how to support a staff person. Penn and I started a new committee, found members, brought in donors, recruited volunteer leaders, then interviewed for a staff person.

A year later Yevo was strong as it had been in years. Along with being Co-Committee chair, Penn and I were volunteer leaders. Part-time of course, but it was amazing. The kids that I had once spent all my time with were graduated. The new group knew nothing about Lee. They only knew Nash and Penn and looked at us with stars in their eyes—something that never happened when I was with Lee.

I stopped competing in marathons after talking with Sam, but I didn't stop running. Sam was right. It was only an accomplishment if it was something I wanted and I no longer wanted it. It was an accomplishment when I was with Lee but it was a burden with Penn. I could've spent hours over analyzing the why but, honestly, I was too damn happy to care.

Instead, I became a coach. I started as an assistant for the Cross-Country team before taking over as head coach. It wasn't long before I was roped into helping with the track team also. Penn, not one to be upstaged, was recruited by the wrestling team. I wasn't surprised based on his long history of achievements. It didn't hurt that he looked damn good bossing those kids around.

The best part was having my Suburban full again. I think Penn always knew my time with Yevo and with the kids wasn't over. I whole-heartedly believe it's the reason he insisted I get another Suburban. He knew me better than I knew myself. He knew how much I had missed the road trips, the blasting music, the coffee runs. He knew I missed it all.

I was glad we spent a few years away from Lincoln, it made our comeback even better. Our second go-around was more than I ever dreamed possible.

We even led a small group about relationships that Penn knocked out of the park. He had such an incredible testimony. I never grew old of hearing him share his story. It only made me feel more privileged with time. He made it seem like he was the lucky one because somehow, against all odds, he ended up with the love of his life. He ended up with Nash Cushman.

But it was me who was lucky. Because Penn Knott was the light of the universe yet he only shined for me.

This was my life now.

I would forever and always be tied up in one Knott.