Southern Hearts (Southern Love Series)

by Thorn, Ava

  "No." Farrah looked at Natalie. "Let's get this straight right here and right now. I'm not perfect and will never claim to be. I've made mistakes just like anyone in this room. But I'm not with Austin because his pocket is deep; I'm with him because I'm in love with him." Farrah stepped closer to Natalie. "I'm going to school you. I had my own shit before Austin—and my own business."

  "Farrah, maybe you should calm down," Austin said as he saw Farrah's body vibrating with anger.

  "No!" she said, not paying attention to him. "I know you're hurting and miserable, Natalie. My momma used to say misery loves company, and I'll be damned if I'm going to accompany you."

  "You are a horrible person!" Natalie said as she ran out of the room.

  Farrah sat back down at the table, but she didn't touch her food. Her appetite was long gone.

  "I'm sorry."

  "If it wasn't you giving her a piece of your mind, it would've been me," Melanie said.

  "Farrah, I'm sorry. I don't know what's wrong with Natalie." Hank stood up to leave.

  The dinner that Farrah planned was ruined. Everyone at the table tried to make small talk, but it was no use.

  Sitting in the living room with Melanie, they talked about pregnancy symptoms before the conversation was steered to another topic that Farrah dreaded.

  "Are you scared?" Melanie asked.

  "I would be lying if I said I wasn't." Farrah sighed. "When Austin told me he loved me for the first time, I didn't say anything to him. I thought his love was a front."

  "Until he tore down every barrier that you had up?"

  "Yeah, until our affair was brought to light. I put those barriers right back up." Farrah bit down on her lip. "I never had so many people hating me and vandalizing my property that I worked so hard for. I lost everything because of my relationship with Austin."

  "Was it worth it?" Melanie asked.

  "Yes, at the end of day, love is worth fighting for. It may come with complications and misunderstandings, but it's worth fighting for." Farrah admitted. "He was worth fighting for."

  "Can I ask you something?" Melanie asked

  "Anything."

  Farrah was prepared for Melanie's opinion, but then again, she wasn't.

  "It seems like your relationship with Austin is different. He didn't lie or deceive you into thinking this or that. You shouldn't have to worry about him straying away from you, or that silly idea that 'how you got him is how you will lose him.' Rebecca never had him from the get-go."

  "We're getting married in one week, and I'm nervous, petrified, and happy at the same time."

  "Just talk to Austin and let him know your fears."

  "I will. Thank you for the girl-to-girl talk. Lord knows I needed this."

  She really did need the talk. She hadn't made any close friends since her mother's death. Witnessing so much violence had prevented her from making strong attachments. Maybe it was time to change that.

  ***

  Farrah sat on the bed next to Austin, who was strumming away on the guitar.

  "What's the name of the song?"

  "I haven't decided yet. Do you have any ideas?" he asked.

  "'Come Home.'"

  "My darling just named a surefire hit on my next album." Austin put his guitar down and pulled Farrah onto his lap. "I wrote it for you."

  "Sing it for me. I like hearing your voice," she said softly.

  "Close your eyes and picture hearing me playing on my guitar and fiddles playing along with me."

  "Okay." Farrah closed her eyes.

  "Baby, I need you to come home

  "I'm alone with without you here

  "I never thought you would walk away from our love

  "I'm going to fight for this love."

  Farrah nodded her head to the lyrics as Austin sang to her. His voice was warm like bourbon. When he finished the song, she clapped her hands. "I love it."

  "It's about you. Shit, my whole new album is about you." He kissed the side of her face.

  "Austin, I'm scared," Farrah blurted out. "I'm scared that I will mess this up. I know you're the one I have been waiting for my whole life. I can't help but be scared."

  "Do you think I will cheat on you?"

  "No, I just never open up with anyone but you." Farrah turned in his arms to look at him. "I don't want to enter this wedding with this on my chest. I trust you with my heart and life."

  "Farrah, when I put that ring on your finger, it was my lifetime commitment to you and only you. When I saw you for the first time, I knew you were the one. I gained a best friend and a lover in this amazing woman. Don't listen to the naysayers. This is our life, and we will write our history together."

  Farrah knew Austin was right. If her marriage didn't work with Austin, it would be because of her and the ill feelings she had in the back of her mind. She trusted him, and she knew her man was as loyal and honest as they came. Wrapping her arms around Austin, she enjoyed the closeness between them.

  "We can do the magazine interview," she said against his neck.

  "I'll let Samuel know." Austin knew this was a huge step for Farrah.

  "Just be patient with me. I'm going through so much," Farrah said.

  "I will always be patient with you, love. I want you to be comfortable," he said, kissing her neck.

  Chapter Seventeen

  "You're so beautiful," Melanie gushed as she added the tiara to Farrah's head.

  This was going to be one of the happiest days of Farrah's life. She was marrying her best friend and soul mate today. She blocked out the reporters and photographers taking pictures of her. Everyone gushed over the dress that Austin picked out and purchased. She laughed when she realized that she really didn't have to plan anything.

  The ivory Chantilly lace dress had a sweetheart illusion neckline that accentuated her hourglass figure.

  "Let's get a picture of the bride and the bridesmaid."

  Farrah stood next to Melanie, who'd become a good friend within a matter of days. Melanie wore a lace dress in charcoal.

  "We only have a few minutes, but we're still going to keep with tradition." Melanie went to the desk and handed Farrah a wrapped box. "Something new."

  Farrah excitedly opened the package. "Thank you so much." Farrah took the stylish pearls and diamond cross earrings out of the jewelry box.

  "I have another surprise. It's something old." Melanie handed Farrah a small pink velvet jewelry bag. "You can thank Austin when you see him."

  Farrah took a deep breath and reached into the velvet bag, pulling out her necklace with the heart-shaped charm that belonged to her mother.

  "He said he took it a few days ago to get it redesigned," Melanie said softly.

  Farrah shook her head as she tried to keep the tears at bay. The once tarnished charm was now redesigned with diamonds. Flipping the charm over, she read the inscription. "May Rose Rue Watch over You 4-Ever." Farrah sat down in the chair and started to cry.

  "You're messing up your makeup," Melanie admonished.

  "I know," she laughed. "Could you…?"

  "Sure, sweetheart." Melanie put the necklace around Farrah's neck.

  Farrah knew her mother wasn't here physically, but she could feel her presence all around her.

  A knock sounded on the bedroom door.

  "It's show time," Claude said, sticking his head into the room.

  "Okay," Farrah said as the makeup artist retouched her makeup.

  ***

  This was a beautiful day to have a wedding. The sun shone directly down on the ranch, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The bluegrass band Austin had hired played "Because You Loved Me" instrumentally as Farrah walked down the aisle to him on her father's arm.

  The wedding took place out in the pasture near the pond. They would say their vows under a tree that Austin had decorated with white flowers, which hung from the branches. He wanted Farrah to have a fairytale wedding.

  He'd ordered antique pews for the guests to sit on. White flowers wer
e scattered across the ground, creating an aisle to the altar.

  Austin's goal was to create a perfect moment for them. He smiled when he saw Farrah. She was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. Her bouquet was made of bright yellow sunflowers and white carnations. Everyone laughed when she lifted her dress to show him the brown cowgirl boots.

  "I love you," he mouthed.

  "I love you."

  Farrah smiled as she got closer to the altar. Her husband-to-be was handsome, wearing a light grey suit. She nearly had to do a double take when she noticed that he wasn't wearing a cowboy hat and his shaggy blonde hair was now cut short.

  Farrah kissed Claude on the cheek before he gave her to Austin.

  "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses to join Austin Benjamin McBride and Farrah Marcella Rue in matrimony commended to be honorable among all."

  Farrah could hear helicopters circling like vultures, trying to take pictures from above. She blocked out everything and stared into Austin's grey eyes as the pastor read from the McBride family Bible that their union would soon be etched into.

  "This happy couple has written their own vows."

  Austin took Farrah's hands into his, staring into her brown eyes. "When you came into my life for the first time, I questioned my sanity and God. How could he bring my soul mate in my life at this time? Growing up, my momma used to always tell me not to question God, and this beautiful, smart woman told me God brings people in your life when you least expect it. Farrah, today is the beginning of our life together. I want you to know that I'm happy you're my best friend and lover. I can't picture my life without you in it."

  Austin reached up to wipe the tears from Farrah's cheek.

  "Farrah, I promise to let you win every argument even if you're wrong. I can't promise not to hog the remote when football season comes. I will love you when I'm happy or sad. I take you to be my wife for better or worse, richer or poorer, in sickness and in health."

  Farrah handed the bouquet of flowers to Melanie. Stepping closer to Austin, she touched the side of his face.

  "My dear Austin, I surrender my heart, body, and soul to you. When I think about our past beginnings, I'm thankful for the good and bad between us, because it made me stronger, and I know that I can weather any storm with you." Farrah paused to calm her trembling voice. "When I met you for the first time, my life flashed before my eyes. I saw happiness, love, and babies. Today, I promise in front of our friends and guests to cherish and respect you. I will be your wife, best friend, and psychologist. I will honor you forever, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, from this day forward until death do us part."

  Everything was a blur to Farrah as Austin slipped a beautiful rose gold princess cut diamond ring on her finger. For the first time since Farrah had met Austin, he was nervous—the man who performed in front of a sold- out crowd in Madison Square Garden was nervous as he slid on her wedding band.

  Their wedding bands used to belong to Austin's mother and father. His parents adored and loved one another to their last day on earth. Farrah felt like it was a privilege to have a family heirloom that would be part of their family forever.

  "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

  Farrah gasped when Austin dipped her backwards and kissed her passionately. She could hear their guests clapping.

  When he pulled her back up, he smiled mischievously and whispered into her ear. "We're only staying for an hour before we leave for Turks and Caicos."

  "Let's make it thirty minutes."

  "Deal." He laughed.

  "May I present Austin and Farrah McBride!" the pastor said as he closed the Bible.

  ***

  One Month Later

  "Are you sure you don't want me to go?"

  Farrah nodded her head. Meeting Rebecca was something she had to do on her own. Maybe Austin could hear her heart beating fast or could sense the bout of nausea she was trying to keep at bay.

  "I'm going to go and just sit in the truck."

  Farrah knew there was no point in arguing with Austin McBride. "Fine," she conceded.

  Ten minutes later, Farrah sat next to Austin as he drove to the café where she was going to meet and talk to Rebecca. So many thoughts were running through Farrah's mind. She was second guessing herself. But she knew this had to be done in order for all parties, mainly Rebecca, to move on.

  When they arrived at the café, Farrah found Rebecca sitting outside drinking ice water.

  Taking a deep breath, Farrah walked with her head held high to the table.

  "Hi."

  Rebecca didn't respond. She gestured for Farrah to have a seat. "I'm surprised you wanted to have this meeting."

  Farrah knew this wasn't going to be easy. Rebecca was already being a bitch with the rolling of her eyes and the snippy remarks. Farrah could have been a bitch, too, but instead she was going to take the high road. This wasn't about hurting anyone; this was supposed to be about healing.

  "I heard you're pregnant."

  "Yes."

  The waiter came, but Farrah declined to order anything.

  "Do you know how this relationship affected me? I hired you to cater and cook for my fiancé because he wanted that. I didn't hire you to fuck him!" Rebecca screamed, causing people to stare at them.

  "Rebecca," Farrah said calmly. "I didn't come here to argue with you. I came here because you seem to be addressing me in the media. We're grown women, and I was hoping we could have a civilized conversation, but obviously that's not going to happen."

  "It's not going to happen, because you're a whore who slept with my fiancé, and now you're pregnant!" she shouted.

  "I'm sorry, Rebecca, honest to God. I could have handled things differently between Austin and me. I'm not supposed to live in regret because I found my soul mate. I pray that you will find yours." Farrah stood up to leave.

  "It's killing me that he bought you a ranch here in Nashville and you're pregnant with his child. That should be my baby!" Rebecca screamed and looked at Farrah's finger. "You're engaged?"

  Farrah didn't have the heart to tell the woman that she was actually married to Austin. The magazine interview they did about their wedding was going to be out tomorrow. Farrah backed away from an irate Rebecca.

  "That's enough, Rebecca!" Austin stood next to Farrah and placed a protective hand around her waist. "I will not allow you to continue to verbally abuse Farrah. Don't put the blame on her. I told you I wasn't happy. For Christ's sake, neither of us was happy, and you know it. You lied about a pregnancy. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you really love me."

  "I did love you!" Rebecca cried.

  Austin knew that Rebecca was faking. He wouldn't be surprised if she had a camera hidden somewhere.

  "This is a waste of time," he said. "My wife was trying to come here and say 'Hey, sorry for the pain that our relationship caused,' but it's pointless."

  "You embarrassed me in front of my friends and family!"

  "We're done," Austin said and pulled Farrah towards the truck.

  "Wait a minute. Did you say you married her?" Rebecca screeched.

  "You're going to say and do whatever you want, Rebecca, just like you always have, just like you and your mother tried to ruin Farrah by burning down her restaurant with her in it."

  Austin helped Farrah into the truck. He slid in beside her and closed the door. He could see the guilt on Rebecca's face in the rearview mirror as they sped away.

  "I think I learned a valuable lesson today," Farrah said. "I don't care what people say anymore. Our marriage and relationship are between us, and no one can dictate my love for you. You were right."

  "That is the smartest thing I think you've said in a long time." Austin chuckled.

  "Ha-ha, very funny, McBride." Farrah laughed.

  Her relationship with Austin was solid as a rock. Her life with him was just beginning. She wa
s so happy to welcome into her life the man who broke down all the walls that she'd put up.

  Sighing contentedly, she squeezed Austin's hand and recited a quote from Lao Tzu: "'Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.'"

  She had finally found that someone.

  ###

  THE END

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