“Well, I couldn’t leave my husband hanging after that awkward speech.” She smiles. I think she’s joking. I think. “I’m so proud of you, baby. You’ll never know how proud I am,” she says, holding my face in her hands. I kiss her again because I love this woman more than I love anything, and I don’t care who sees us.
*
Chirping crickets, kids’ laughter, and adult chatter fill the town of Green Ridge, along with hanging outdoor lights and candles lit on white table-clothed tables. It’s been a beautiful night and the cleanup crew has started to pick things up.
Mark stands and taps a plastic fork against his bottle of beer as we sit outside Banner’s Bar and watch the candles being blown out and smoke drifting upward into the night sky.
“That’s not very loud, babe,” Leigh says to her husband.
“It got your attention, though.” He winks, and she shrugs, like got me there.
“Are you going to say something or not?” Ben says with a smirk.
“I’m getting to it,” Mark fires back, but takes a sip of his beer. “Ahh, okay, where was I?”
“You were getting to it,” Maci says.
“Right.” He nods and clears his throat. “Hello, I’m Mark Phillips—”
“Shut up, man,” I say, interrupting him and tossing an empty plastic cup his way. He ducks and laughs.
“No, man, seriously. I’ve known you for three years now, and I can honestly say there’s no one better for the job of Green Ridge’s new chief, and I’m glad to call you my friend.”
I smirk. “Thanks, man.”
“So, here’s to Cash,” Mark says, and everyone lifts their bottles and clinks them together.
“And more nights with good friends like you guys,” I throw in before taking a sip of my drink.
“Come on inside, and I’ll pour everyone a shot. We can toast it up right,” Banner says as he stands up.
“Just one, though,” Leigh says to Mark, “I’ve got a busy day at the shelter tomorrow, and you’re already lit.” She rolls her eyes as Mark stumbles inside. We all take a round of shots before everyone goes their separate ways.
*
I lift the covers for Sara to climb in, then wrap my arm around her waist and pull her up against me. “I love you, baby,” I tell her before I kiss her neck.
“Love you more,” she murmurs sleepily, and the noise of the rain starting to fall on our tin roof makes me smile with my eyes closed. I fall asleep to its comforting sound and my arms wrapped around my woman.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sara
I’m hunched over with suds up to my elbows and a dog between my knees.
“Have you slept with Banner yet?” Leigh asks Maci as she squirts dog shampoo onto the Great Dane she’s bathing. He shakes, causing most of it to come off. “Gosh dang it, Broozer. You’ve got to keep still or I’ll never get you clean for your new family,” she says, huffing and trying again to get the shampoo on him. “Well?” she asks Maci.
“Leigh, why do you want to know this?” Maci asks back as she wets her little furry I’m-not-sure-what-you-call-it dog down with the water hose.
“What do you mean why? I’m your best friend. I deserve…we deserve,” she corrects, looking at me, “to know if you’ve slept with the guy or not.” She’s got bubbles in her hair from where Broozer decided he didn’t want the shampoo on him again.
I lean up after I finish rinsing my dog off. “Guys, I’ve got to take a break. My back feels like it’s going to snap in half.”
“Mine, too,” Leigh says, grabbing the water hose from me and rinsing what little suds off that she has on Broozer.
“You’re bathing a Great Dane, Leigh. You don’t even have to bend over,” Maci says.
“Whatever. You still didn’t answer my question.” Leigh washes her arms off, and I reach over and get the bubbles out of her hair.
“Yes. I’ve slept with him. Happy?”
“Oh my gosh, you little whore!”
“Leigh.” I laugh as Maci looks over at her in shock.
“I’m kidding,” Leigh says, holding up her hands. “Kinda.” She winks at me and screams when Maci wets her with the water hose. She takes off running, and the dogs bark around her as Maci continues to follow her with the hose. I laugh until I can’t anymore and Broozer takes her down and starts licking her face.
“Get off of me, you big ol’ giant,” Leigh says, kicking her legs out. Laughing still, I walk over and push the big dog off of her and grab her hand to help her up. She jumps up and looks over at Maci. “You got me. We are now way past even. Put the hose down,” she says playfully. Maci nods, and I walk over and shut the water off. “Now that you have no weapons, tell me some details!” Leigh says, picking up the shampoo bottles and walking over to the pool deck. I take my shorts off and slide into the pool.
“I’m glad I wore my bathing suit,” I say as I rest my elbows on the side.
“I’m getting in, too,” Maci says as Leigh grabs her float and carefully sits down on it from the ladder.
“Details, please,” Leigh repeats.
Maci sighs. “You two know I’d only ever slept with Lucas. I loved Lucas, and we had great sex—”
“No one wants to hear about the wife beater,” Leigh interjects.
Maci looks over at her with wide eyes.
“Sorry,” Leigh says. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. I just mean we want to hear about Banner.”
Maci looks away, and Leigh makes a face at me, like oops. I roll my eyes and look back at Maci. “If you don’t want to tell us, it’s okay, Maci.”
“Don’t tell her that,” Leigh complains.
“Anyway,” Maci continues. “Sex with Lucas was always the same, but with Banner…” Her face turns red, and she grins.
“Oh my God. Are you in love with him?”
“Leigh, hush,” I say. “Go on, Maci.”
“It’s just so intense, and there’s so much…passion. Like I want to run as fast as I can and I also never want to leave his side. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You really like him, huh?” I ask, smiling at her facial expression.
“I really, really do.”
“I also did you know what in his truck, Leigh,” Maci says, grinning with a super red face.
Leigh laughs. “Just like I said, little whore.”
We all three laugh as Mark runs out.
“Cannonball!” he yells before he splashes into the water, soaking us all.
*
“What do you think, Bear?” I ask as I sit on the floor outside of the bathroom. I look at my watch and see that not much time has passed. I pet Bear as he lays his head on my lap. “Would you want to share us?” He makes a whimpering noise, and I lean down and kiss his head. “Don’t be sad, boy. You’ll always be our first.” I stare up at the ceiling and sigh. Who knows, maybe this will happen, maybe it won’t. I look back down at my watch and see that it’s time. Moving Bear’s head, I stand up, straighten my dress, and walk into the bathroom.
*
I walk out of the small shop and jump into Old Blue. It’s a nice day, so I ride with the windows down and the radio up. I pull up to our house and hop out of the truck. Grabbing my bag, I jog up the steps and unlock the door. Bear greets me but passes by. Guess he has to use the bathroom. I sit down on the couch and take out my gift box and other purchases, hoping Cash will like this.
*
I’ve cooked the chicken recipe again that Maci gave me because Cash seemed to actually like it. Maybe he was just telling me that he liked it to not hurt my feelings, but he ate it all so… I stand up and put the dishes into the sink before I turn around to face Cash. “Have a good day?” I ask as he rubs Bear’s head, and I rest my hands on the counter.
“Yeah, just visited the Kingsleys. Joe quit drinking.”
“No way!” I say.
“Yep, says he’s done with the bottle.”
“Wow, well, good for him. What about Elizabeth?”
>
“She says one of them has to drink or they’ll both go crazy.”
I laugh and shake my head. “Those two need their own TV show.”
“That’s for sure.”
“Did he buy a new chair?” I ask, walking over to grab more dishes from the table.
“Yeah, it’s enormous, too. Elizabeth hates it, but she tells me she won’t complain, because it’s her fault he got a new one.”
“I still can’t believe she set his chair on fire. Come on, Bear. Let’s go outside,” I say and walk into the living room. I open the door, and he runs out.
“Trying to get rid of our dog?” Cash asks me as he walks up behind me.
“Of course not. I love our dog, but I have something to give you, so take a seat,” I say, walking past him and opening the closet. I grab the box and turn around to see he is seated.
“What’s this?”
“A gift. I bought it today.” I hand it to him, then take a seat, too. I run my palms over my jeans as he looks at the box. He shakes it, but nothing rattles.
“What made you want to give me a gift?”
I shrug. “Just did.”
He looks at me curiously before he lifts the top. I watch his facial expression as what I have bought comes into view. Confusion covers his handsome face as he picks the small clothing up and then looks over at me.
“Sara?” he questions as Bear scratches on the door. I swallow and take a breath as I get up and walk over to let him in. Bear wags his tail and goes past me to sniff what’s in Cash’s hands.
I lean my back against the door and bite my lip as Cash narrows his eyes and looks to my stomach. He stands up and puts the onesie down. Walking over to me, he rests one hand on the door above my head, and as he looks down, he places his other hand on my stomach.
“Are we going to have a baby?” he asks me in a low rough voice, sending chills all across my body.
“Yes.”
He looks up at my answer and gives me a small smirk before he crashes his lips to mine. I’m thrown off, but I wrap my arms around his neck as he grabs my waist and pulls me closer. Breaking away, he searches my eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Bear and I have taken three tests that say so.”
“How? You’re on birth control.”
“I stopped taking it.”
“Without talking to me about it? I’m not mad. I’m just shocked and happy…really, really happy.”
“I know I should have talked to you about it, but you know me. I just do things, and I figured if it was meant to be, it would happen.”
“It’s happened,” Cash says. He smiles big and lifts me up into the air. “Bear, you’re going to be a big brother.” He kisses me again and steals my breath away.
*
Months Later
Cash
I open my eyes and blink. Stretching my arms, I roll over and look out the window as a soft breeze blows the curtains my wife hung last night to dry. The smell of clean linen fills our bedroom. I sigh, wondering where she is, so I get up. Placing my feet onto the hardwood floor, I run a hand through my hair and walk over to grab a T-shirt and jeans. I flip the light on in the bathroom and narrow my eyes. My heart starts pounding, and a bad feeling settles in my chest.
“Sara?” I call out, but hear nothing. I turn out of the bathroom, leaving behind an empty pill bottle with only half its contents spilled onto the floor. Sara’s obstetrician doesn’t want her taking any medication during her pregnancy. He says some women have healthy babies while on their bipolar meds, but some do not, so we don’t want to take the risk. These pills shouldn’t even be here. I jog down the stairs, calling her name again, but still no answer. My hands start to shake as I search through every room of the house. “Where is she?”
I step out onto the porch and see the truck is gone, too. Bad thoughts run through my mind as I look on the side of the house. My heart swells, and I almost cry. There she is. Standing beautiful with her pretty green hat on. Her very pregnant belly is underneath a long dress. Bear is lying beside her feet, and Old blue is parked by her garden. She’s planting more flowers. I sigh in relief and step off the porch to make my way over to her. Bear’s tail starts to wag, and he lifts his head.
“Hey, baby.” She smiles.
“Hey, crazy heart.” I smile back. I slide her hat off and kiss her lips, her nose, and her forehead.
“What was that for?” she asks.
“I missed you,” I tell her. She’s glowing, and her blue eyes are the color of the sky above us.
“You missed me?”
“Yes,” I say, kissing her again and wrapping her in my arms. She giggles and makes my heart swell more. God knows I love this woman more than my own life.
“Did you have a good nap?” she asks me as she wraps her arms around my back. Her stomach is in the way, but I love her stomach.
“Yeah. What’s up with the pills on the floor?” I ask, pulling away.
“Oh, Bear’s tail knocked them off the shelf. I was looking for that foot lotion I bought, and he was right up my butt. I could only get so many of them up because of Little Miss here.” She smiles, rubbing her belly. “I went down to get the broom, and I got sidetracked.”
“What did you do with the ones you picked up?”
“I flushed them, crazy. I’m not going to take pills that have been on the bathroom floor.”
“Oh, that explains it.” I sigh.
“You okay?” she asks, looking at me like I’ve lost it.
“Yeah, I’m good. Did you go buy more flowers?” I change the subject.
“They had some on sale down at the hardware store, so I got Mark to put them on the back of the truck for me. I just got home not too long ago. Bear rode with me, of course. He won’t let me out of his sight.” He lifts his head at the sound of his name. Bear is always around Sara now that she’s pregnant. I’m pretty sure he will be stuck up Little Miss’ butt, too. “You wanna help me get these big pots off the truck and onto the porch? I thought it could use some color.”
“I’ll take care of it. You go make us some lemonade,” I say, kissing her forehead and walking over to the truck.
“Gladly. My thighs are sweating,” she says as she wobbles toward the porch.
*
Sara’s water broke at five a.m. this morning, and at one p.m. Little Miss’ first cries were heard throughout the fourth floor of the hospital. We named our baby girl Ellie. She weighs no more than a feather to me, and I am terrified to hold her. Afraid she may crumble in my arms, I sit in a rocking chair now, smiling down at her sleeping face while Sara sleeps, too. It’s just us three right now. Everyone has been by, held her, and gone home. Ellie moves her little hand, and her mouth opens a tad. I look at her patchy reddish skin and run my finger along her small nose. Her hair is so blonde you can hardly tell she has any. She’s just peach fuzz and little round cheeks, red lips, and tiny fingertips. My heart could explode with the amount of love I already have for her.
*
“Are you sure I can’t stay and help out? Dealing with a newborn isn’t easy, Cash, and Sara seems to be sleeping more so than anything.”
“Debbie, we’re fine. Go on home to Walter. We’ll call you if we need anything.”
She sighs and looks back up the stairs where her daughter sleeps. Her granddaughter is in my arms, and I’m pretty sure she wants her to leave, too.
“Okay, but what about her medication? The doctor said she needs to start back taking it. We have to watch her. She has a high risk of postpartum.”
“I’ve got it,” I tell her as I hold my little football and open the door for Debbie to exit. She looks at the door and then at me.
Defeated as always, she sighs. “All right.” She leans down and kisses Little Miss before looking back up at me. “Cash, you have to watch Sara’s moods. I’m worried about her getting postpartum. She could very easily fall into a depression, and we both know it.”
“You’ve said that already. I’ll watch her, okay? Have a saf
e trip home.”
“All right. I’ll talk to you later. Bye, Ellie.”
I watch Debbie walk out the door, and I look down at my baby girl.
“Grandma is a tiny bit overprotective, Little Miss. But you’ll learn that later,” I say, walking into the kitchen. I grab a beer and Little Miss a bottle before I head back to the couch and we catch up on some sports.
*
“Cash, baby.” I open my eyes and see Sara looking down at me, realizing I must have dozed off. I sit up and run a hand over my face. Sara has Ellie, and she’s dressed in a different nightgown, meaning she must have taken a shower.
“Hey,” I say, sounding groggy.
“You were sleeping well.” She sits beside me.
“I was tired, I guess.”
“I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.”
“I’m not complaining.” I grin playfully.
“You love spending time with our Little Miss?”
“Of course, she’s my new sports buddy.”
“You better not turn her into a tomboy.”
“I’m not making any promises,” I tell her. Sara smiles and then sighs as she looks toward the muted TV. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. I think I was just worn out. I know it’s been a few weeks since we left the hospital, but it just took a lot out of me. Thank you for being so supportive.”
“I’m just taking care of my family, Sara.”
“I know, but you really go above and beyond. I’m a lucky girl.”
“You are.” I wink.
*
We sit outside on the porch swing while Ellie sits in her own little swing. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at Bear who stares back at her. He won’t get too close just yet, but he is always near, making sure Little Miss is safe. I put my arm around Sara and kick off the porch.
“Do you think she is going to look like you or me?” Sara asks me. “It’s just too early to tell right now.”
“Hopefully you. She has your eyes already and your blonde hair.”
“Yeah, but her hair could darken.”
Chasing Fireflies Page 19