“You went through all the trouble to make it, so I think we should eat. I can tell you about my trip.” Barb pulled her closer and kissed her before sitting and swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
Lyn traced her fingers down Barb’s bare back to her ticklish spot, which produced more whimpering from her lover. She’d spent most of her life without control, so to have such an effect on someone so strong and loving delighted her. “Okay. Let’s eat so we can get back here soon.” She kissed her shoulder and climbed out of bed.
Barb dressed and headed to the kitchen, so Lyn took her time dressing. She slipped back into the little red dress, hoping to keep Barb distracted enough to get her back to bed soon, but chose underwear for her own comfort.
Lyn found the wine poured, salad dished out, and their plates full when she sauntered to the table. She smiled at Barb, who looked at her like she was definitely going to be dessert.
“So, tell me about the info you got on classes?” Barb asked and took a bite of food.
“Sonia, my therapist, gave me a list of schools to check out. Many have online classes, so maybe I wouldn’t have to commute too much. We talked about my abduction and all the cult stuff.” She shivered at the memories and took a sip of wine. “I told her about you and how happy you make me.” She took a bite of food and realized how hungry she was. She swallowed and sipped her wine, ready to speak when Barb interrupted her by placing her hand gently on her arm.
“I want to make you happy, sweetheart, but more than that, I want you to be happy with yourself. If you’re happy with who you are, there’ll be room to be happy with me.” She kissed her lightly and picked up her fork.
“You sort of sound like Sonia. It’s scary.” She grinned. “I still have to work through my PTSD, but she told me to be proud of how far I’ve come. I’m working on it.”
“I’m proud of you. It can’t be easy getting through that.” Barb took another sip of wine. “I stopped at a Realtor’s office on my way north.”
“Yeah?” Lynette watched Barb carefully. They hadn’t made any future plans, but she knew she wanted to.
“I wanted to get an idea of what my house might be worth. I doubt you’d want to move too far away from Jen, but I’m not sure I like the idea of staying in an apartment.” Barb took another bite of food and looked thoughtful.
“You’re right about Aunt Jen, and I’m not sure where I’m going to school.” Lynette pushed down the rising panic she recognized as her fear of change. She loved Barb and she wanted a life with her. The cult was gone and she was free to live her life wherever she wanted to. Wherever they ended up, she wanted it to be together. “I want us to be together.”
“Me, too. I put in for a transfer to an area on the border of Michigan and Wisconsin, so I can commute from here, if that’s what you want. Too many changes at one time could be pretty stressful.”
Trust Barb to understand her need to take things a piece at a time. “I think I’d like to do that for now, if you’d be okay with it.” She motioned to the apartment with her fork. “But I was thinking while you were gone, and I’d like to leave this place at some point. You’ve made it better, but now it holds some memories I don’t want to share space with.”
Barb’s face lit up with a beautiful smile. “As long as I’m with you, it’ll work. We’ll take our time and find a house we both love that’s also near a school for you. It’ll be perfect.”
Lynette nearly wept once again, but instead she pushed aside her meal and led Barb back to the bedroom. Perfect was exactly the right word.
Epilogue
One year later
“Are you almost done, love? Aunt Jen will be here any minute,” Lynette called from her seat underneath their covered patio. She rested her hand on Starr’s back and grinned as she sipped her hot chocolate. She still had to pinch herself occasionally to verify this wasn’t a dream. She was safe in her own home, married to the wonderful woman who now leaned over the flowing water of their newly installed pond. She watched her fiddle with something while straddling the water.
“I’ll be right there.” Barb stood, turned, and held up her tools in a victory stance. Her eyes never left Lynette as she strode toward the house. “All set. It needed a new filter.” She leaned to skim her lips over Lynette’s before she settled in the chair next to her.
The water flowing in the pond wasn’t the Wisconsin River, but Lynette could hear it from her vantage point. The creek adjacent to their property, and the bird feeder next to it, nestled among the trees, gave the yard a park-like feel.
“Have I told you I love you yet today?” Lynette scooted her chair closer to Barb’s so their arms touched.
Barb rested her arm over her shoulder and squeezed gently. “You tell me every minute of the day with your smile and your touch, but I sure like hearing it. I love you now and forever.”
“Hey, you two honeymooners. I hope you’ve got your clothes on.” Jen appeared from around the corner of the house, and Starr rushed to greet her. “I knocked on the front door before I saw your note to come to the back. Wow.” She took in the yard and set a present on the table before hugging them both and petting Starr. “This is very nice. You guys did good getting this place.”
“We’ve been working on it all spring, whenever I’m not studying and Barb isn’t out saving the forest.” Lynette clutched her cup to keep from tearing open her aunt’s gift. “Can I get you a cup of tea or something?” she asked.
“In a bit, honey.” Jen moved the box to Lynette’s lap before sitting at the table.
“I’ll be right back.” Barb went into the house and returned with a pitcher of iced tea, glasses, and a plate of cheese and crackers. “We’ve got coffee or hot tea, if you’d prefer, and of course, hot chocolate.” She grinned.
Jen poured herself a glass of iced tea. “Thank you.” She looked at Lynette as she spoke. “It’s a good thing you had sense enough to marry this one.” She lifted her glass toward Barb.
“I know. Believe me, I know.” Lynette smiled at Barb from her seat. She took a deep breath and wrenched her focus away from the gift in her lap.
“I’m pretty sure I got the better end of this deal.” Barb looked at her phone. “Brad and Angie aren’t going to make it. She’s having contractions, so they’re headed to the hospital.”
“I thought she wasn’t due till next month,” Lynette said.
“She’s not, but I suppose babies sometimes decide when they want out.”
“I guess it’s just us.” Lynette looked between Barb and Aunt Jen. “Claudia had to work, but she might stop by later. I hope to hear about her new executive chef position.”
“So, open it.” Jen pointed to the box.
She ripped off the wrapping paper with tiny houses all over it and tore open the box. “Oh, Aunt Jen, it’s beautiful.” Lynette carefully lifted the rainbow-colored hummingbird feeder from the box filled with Styrofoam pellets.
“Wow. It is,” Barb said.
“It’s my first attempt at working with glass.” Jen grinned and sipped her tea.
Lynette gently set the feeder back in the box and stood to pull her aunt into a hug. “Thank you. I love you.”
“Yeah. Thank you so much.” Barb joined in the group hug.
“You are so welcome.” Jen looked out at the yard after disentangling herself. “It’s peaceful back here.”
“We like it that way.” Lynette leaned on her aunt with her arm around her waist, Barb on her other side. “Peaceful and quiet.”
She smiled and relaxed in the knowledge she was home, safe, and loved. The past was well and truly gone, and she was living her truth—love’s truth, one of acceptance, adoration, and beauty.
About the Author
C.A. Popovich is a hopeless romantic. She writes sweet, sensual romances that usually include horses, dogs, and cats. Her main characters—and their loving pets—don’t get killed and always end up with happily-ever-after love. She is a Michigan native, writes full-time, and tries
to get to as many Bold Strokes Books events as she can. She loves feedback from readers.
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Love's Truth Page 20