“Bye, Alison.”
“I am sorry she did that. I knew something was up when she turned to me and smiled.”
“It is okay. I nearly had a heart attack. Was she serious?”
“Yes, I made room for you today in my bedroom. I would like to share it with you.”
“Wow, okay. I will gather my things and move it up there. If you want, we can wait until tomorrow to do it. I don’t want to rush you into having me up there right after you cleaned out your husband’s things.”
“It is okay. I am ready for it to happen. That is why I did it. I am making room for you not only in my room, but also in my heart. It is time I told you.”
“Told me what?”
“I love you, Josh. As hard as you have fallen for me, I have for you. I have known for some time, but did not want to rush this, us. I wanted to be sure before I gave you my heart, completely.”
“Claire, I love you, too,” he said, walking toward me. Wrapping his arms around me, his lips crashed into mine. “You have just made me the happiest man alive.” He ran out onto the porch. “She said she loves me. Claire Phillips loves me, Josh Jones,” he screamed. The animals stirred and gave him side glances. Shaking my head, I went out onto the porch.
“I think you have upset your girlfriend.”
“She will just have to get over it,” he said, putting his arm around my shoulder. We watched the sun begin to make its descend in the sky before we went back inside. Standing there with our arms around each other, I knew right there that listening to my heart was the only way it should have been from the beginning.
12 THE PHONE CALL
Getting the nerve up to tell my sister about Josh, proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. When I was a teenager, I did not care what she thought. There were times in John and I’s relationship that I thought she just might have been in love with him as much as I was. She truly loved my husband. Telling her about Josh scared me. She had a way about her that could potentially scare off other people. She was harsh and brazen. A very forward person that never held her tongue. She would ask him probing questions that only a person with a strong will and a truly deep love for the other person could handle. Thanksgiving had come and gone and we spent it with Bob and Alison. We laughed until our stomachs hurt. Bob now knew about us and was genuinely happy for the two of us. He had his concerns when he first found out, but saw the love in Josh’s eyes before we had gone and told him about it.
We had many nights with Bob and Alison after that. Having the love and support of those two meant the world to me, but it still did not give me the courage I needed to tell my sister. In two weeks, we would be back in Montana for my brother’s wedding and to spend Christmas with my family. It was now or never. With Josh sitting by my side, I dialed her number. She picked up on the second ring. It was a good thing she did, because if the phone would have rang another time, I would have hung it up.
“Hello,” she said.
“Hey, Janie.”
“Hey, Claire! Are you getting prepared for your trip?”
“Sort of,” I said, squeezing Josh’s hand until my knuckles were white. “There is something I need to talk to you about.”
“Please don’t tell me that you are not coming. My kids will be heartbroken, not to mention so will I, Brian and Mike.”
“Oh no, I will be there, but there is something else you need to know.”
“Okay, what is it?”
“I have been seeing someone,” I said, swallowing hard.
“You have? Claire that is great news. He must be the reason that you have been happier.”
“He is.”
“Good. When can I talk to him?”
“He is sitting right here if you want to talk to him now.”
“I do.”
“Okay, hang on,” I said, handing Josh the phone and mouthing the words ‘good luck.’ He smiled at me.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hello, how are you?”
“I am great, thank you for asking. How are you?”
“I am wonderful. A little uncomfortable at the moment, but doing well.”
“That is great to hear.”
“What is your name?”
“Josh.”
“Oh, are you the Josh that works for my sister?”
“Yes, ma’am. I sure am.”
“May I ask, when did you start having feelings for my sister that were not of the working relationship type?”
“From the moment I saw her.”
“Really?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay, please stop calling me ma’am. Call me Janie.”
“I will try.”
“Do you call my sister, ma’am?”
“I did when I first met her. And sometimes, I still do.”
“Okay, I guess that is the way you were brought up. Where did you grow up?”
“Well, I began my life in New York City and moved to this town when I was eight.”
“Have you always worked on a farm?”
“Yes, ma’am. I grew up on one. I learned everything there was about farming growing up. I love it. It is in my blood.”
“Okay. So, tell me about your feelings for my sister.”
“I love her. I think she is a great person with a big heart. She is gentle and kind.”
“You love her? Does she love you?”
“Yes, ma’am. She has told me she does, which is why she made this phone call.”
“Will you be joining us for Christmas and our brother’s wedding?”
“Yes, I will.”
“In that case, we will get to know each other a little better when you come up here. For now, I think I have asked all there is to. May I speak to my sister again?”
“You sure may. It was nice to talk to you. I cannot wait to meet you and your family.”
“Thank you, Josh. It was nice to talk to you, too. Thank you for answering my questions, honestly. I look forward to meeting with you, too.”
“You’re welcome. Here is Claire,” he said, handed me the phone.
“Hey Janie.”
“Hi Claire. He seems to be an alright guy. I guess I will get to know him better when you come up in two weeks.”
“Yes, you will.”
“Do you love him, Claire? Does he truly make you happy?”
“I do and he does, more than I can express to you Janie.”
“That is a good thing. You deserve to be happy and if he makes it happen, then I am okay with it. I will still get to know him better when he comes up here. I cannot wait to see you.”
“I cannot wait to see you, either. I need a sister hug and the hugs of my little angels.”
“Does Mike know you are bringing him?”
“Yes, Mike guessed about the relationship. He cannot wait to meet him.”
“Good. What do Alison and Bob think of him?”
“They adore him.”
“I trust them. I know how much they love you and would protect you. If they are okay with him, then I am sure I will be too.”
“Thank you, Janie.”
“You are welcome. I will talk to you soon. The kids just busted through the door.”
“Give them my love, I will call you soon.”
“I will. Talk to you soon, Claire.”
“Bye, Janie,” I said, hanging up the phone. “That went better than expected.”
“I don’t know why you were so scared to let me talk to her. She seems nice. I can understand her being protective. She is your older sister. It is her job to protect her loved ones.”
“I know, but she can be overbearing at times. I just did not want her to scare you off. Now, when we go up there, you may want to runaway,” I laughed.
“I will never runaway. I am here until you boot me out.”
“Good, because I don’t want you to leave, yet.”
“Yet? I see how you are,” he laughed. “On that note, I am going to go get some work done.”
“O
kay, don’t forget we need to go shopping later, so you can get an outfit for my brother’s wedding.”
“Come get me when you are ready to leave.”
“I will do that.”
“Okay,” he said, planting a quick kiss on my lips. My skin tingled. He walked out the door as I watched. I needed to talk to Alison. Grabbing the receiver from its cradle, I dialed her number.
“Everett Farm,” she answered.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Claire. What’s up?”
“I just made the phone call to Janie. She talked to Josh.”
“Oh boy, how did that go?”
“Not too bad. She said he seemed to be an alright guy, then she asked if you and Bob liked him. I told her that you adored him and she seemed satisfied with that. She wants to get to know him better when we are all up there in a couple of weeks.”
“Good, maybe this pregnancy is calming her over protectiveness down.”
“I can only hope.”
“What time do you want to leave to go shopping?”
“I say we go about two or three.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Good. I will let Josh know.”
“Okay, and I will let Vanessa know.”
“Poor Josh is going to have to deal with the three of us.”
“He may as well get used to it.”
“I agree.”
“Okay, doll. I will let you go as I need to get lunch ready for these men.”
“Okay, I will see you in a little while.”
“Alright,” she said, hanging up the phone. The unseasonably warm weather hit me in the face as I stepped foot outside for the first time that day. The hay barn door stood open. As I made my way through it, I stopped. I found Josh getting ready to move another bail of hay, shirtless. I drank every inch of him in. He caught me staring.
“See something you like, Claire?” he asked with a smile.
“Um, I just wanted to tell you that we are leaving at two or three,” I said, looking down at my feet and biting my bottom lip.
“Okay,” he said coming toward me. Wrapping his arms around me, his lips crash into mine. He licked my bottom lip. Willingly, I opened my mouth to his. His tongue playfully danced with mine. He backed me up until my back hit the barn wall. He feverishly kissed me. His needs and wants colliding with my own. He slid his hands up my thigh, under my pink and white flowered sundress. Grabbing the waistband of my white laced panties, he slid them down my legs. I stepped out of them as I fumbled with his belt buckle and the button on his jeans. Kissing him as I unzipped his pants, I felt is right hand slide up my inner left thigh. His calloused finger rubbed my swollen nub. He allowed two fingers to enter me. Moaning into his mouth, I slid his jeans and boxer briefs past his ass. I wanted him, needed him inside of me. Grabbing my hips, he lifted me up, sliding me down the length of him as I wrapped my legs around him. My breath caught in my chest. I was not going to last long. He had a slow rhythmic pace. He moved his lips to my neck. Looking up he spotted the reigns for the horses hanging just above my head. With a grin, he tied my wrists above my head.
Not being able to touch him was going to drive me over the edge. His lips met mine. His paced quickened. Kissing along my jaw line to my neck, I felt my orgasm building. I felt his teeth brush my collar bone and I lost it. Exploding in ecstasy, my body tensed around him. He growled as his pace picked up. There was no way that another orgasm was not going to happen. I felt him release inside of me. My second orgasm hit as I tensed up. Trying to catch our breath, his eyes met mine. He kissed me as he untied my wrists. I wrapped my arms around his neck, as he slowly pulled out of me.
“I am sorry for attacking you like that, but when you bit your bottom lip I couldn’t help it.”
“There is no reason to be sorry. I wanted it just as much as you did. If you didn’t attack me, I would have you,” I said still out of breath.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I don’t know if I can walk, but I am great.”
“I’m sorry,” he said with a grin.
“You are not,” I said with my own grin. All I wanted to do was take him again.
“Maybe not,” he said, bending over to get my panties. He helped me step back into them and slid them up my legs.
“Thank you.”
“You are so very welcome,” he said, kissing me. “Come on, let’s get you back into the house.”
“Okay,” I said, taking his hand as he led me back to the house. Once we were inside, he led me up stairs and into the shower. We needed to clean up in a hurry. We showered, dressed and were out the door within 15 minutes to meet Alison and Vanessa. As soon as they saw us, they both began laughing. They knew. They could tell by the look on our faces. Best friends always know.
13 CHRISTMAS
The next couple of weeks went by in a blur. A couple of Bob and Alison’s farmhands agreed to look after the farm while all four of us were out of town for the next two weeks. They were happy for Josh. They all thought the world of him. We packed what we needed, including the charcoal gray pinstripe suit we made him buy for the wedding. The hues in the suit made his blue eyes brighter. We all gasped as he came out of the dressing room in it. I was going to have the best looking man at the wedding, besides my brother, Brian, and Bob, of course. We drove over to Bob and Alison’s house in Josh’s truck. When we got there, they were on the porch waiting for us.
“Hey you two,” said Bob. “The car should be here to get us any minute.”
“Great,” said Josh.
“You nervous?”
“A little.”
“Never flown before?”
“Only when I was eight to get here, but I really don’t remember it.”
“It’s nothing. Once we are up in the air, go to sleep. When you wake up, we will be there. That is what I always do.”
“I’ll try that.”
“Josh, you are talking to a man who can sleep in the dinning room chair,” said Alison. “I have never been able to sleep on a plane. For me, it helps if I strike up a conversation with the person next to me or listen to music. It calms my nerves.”
“I can do that.”
“Good, you will be just fine.”
“Thanks, Alison.”
“You’re welcome. What about you, Claire. Are you ready?”
“I am. It has been a long time since I have been home. It will be good to see the family again.”
“Yes, it will, but I can tell something is bothering you.”
“No, I am good,” I said as my phone beeped. I looked at the screen and laughed. “You guys have to see this.”
“What?” asked Alison. I held the phone out to her. My brother had someone take a picture of them all waiting at the airport with a huge sign with all of our names on it. Every one of them had a silly face, including my sister. Alison laughed and handed the phone to Bob, who let out a chuckle and showed it to Josh. He smiled at it and gave it back to me. He was nervous to meet them. “I can’t believe your sister is even making a face.”
“I know. It is definitely a shocker. Maybe this pregnancy is better for her.”
“We can only hope.”
“So true,” I said as Vanessa and Jimmy pulled up and the car taking all of us to the airport pulled in behind them.
“Looks like you two made it just in time,” said Bob.
“I know. We were running a little late. Sorry about that,” Vanessa said. Alison and I looked at each other, then at Vanessa and laughed. “Shut up, you two.”
Each set of couples carried one big suitcase, a carry on, and a garment bag. Thankfully, it all fit in the trunk of the car my brother sent to get us. We all climbed in. I showed Vanessa the picture my brother sent to me, she and Jimmy laughed.
“Hey Alison, I think you may have a little competition for Mike’s affection. Did you see the fiancé?”
“I did, and she is beautiful. I am proud of him. My little boyfriend is all grown up.”
“Now I know
why he is the way he is with her,” laughed Josh.
“Exactly,” Bob said with a roll of his eyes. We all laughed.
“You know you will always be my number one, honey.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Look you two, none of this before we get there,” I said.
“Once we get there?”
“Maybe. At least, then you can make up.”
“Making up is always the fun part,” Alison said with a raise of her eyebrows.
“Poor Bob,” Jimmy said with a shake of his head.
“You should know how she is by now,” said Vanessa. We laughed as the car pulled into the airport. We checked in and went to the gate. As we sat waiting to board the plane I could see Josh’s nerves getting the best of him. His left leg was bouncing up and down. I placed my hand on his knee. He stopped.
“It’s going to be okay,” I said leaning over to whisper in his ear.
“I know. I just don’t know which is making me more nervous, the flight or meeting your entire family at once.”
“It will be okay. They will love you as much as I do,” I said slipping my hand into his. I kissed his cheek and laid my head on his shoulder. He relaxed. We boarded the plane. We took off for our five hour flight that included one layover. At the layover stop he was a little more relaxed, but you could still see the tension in his eyes. When we landed at our destination, he was more tense. “I told you flying was not that bad.”
“No, it was a lot better than I thought it would be. Having you next to me the entire time helped a lot. Thank you for keeping me calm.”
“You’re welcome. Are you ready?”
“About as ready as I am going to get.”
“Okay, let’s do this,” I said as we stepped on the escalator to the baggage claim area. As we came down below the floor above us, we could see the family standing there. Josh laced his fingers through mine. I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He returned it. “Everyone, meet Josh.”
“Finally, nice to meet you!” Mike said hugging Josh.
“Thanks, Mike. It is nice to meet you, too,” Josh said with a smile. “Janie, it is very nice to meet you.”
“It is, um, it is nice to meet you, too,” she said. Josh moved toward her with open arms. She hugged him. Vanessa, Alison and I looked at each other and stifled a laugh. We all knew what she was thinking.
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