Her eyes welled with tears and her head nodded before she could get her answer out fast enough. “Yes! Oh, yes, Sam!” She flung herself into his arms as the crowd went wild. He kissed her long and hard before pulling back and peeling off her glove, placing the ring on her left hand.
Several band students hovered around them, congratulating their teacher. He gave them high fives and a few back slaps as they all made their way back to the edge of the field so the football game could resume. The crowd continued the Wildner chant as GG and Dylan ran to them and hugged their legs excitedly while John, Lisa, and Craig stood near the gate. This was her new family. Her beautiful, dedicated, loving family there for her and Gwyneth through the good times and the bad. It was an overwhelming feeling, but deeply satisfying knowing she and GG would never be alone.
Sam hoisted GG into his arms and Casey put her hand on his shoulder. It seemed like the entire school approached them with excitement and well wishes for their future together. When they finally managed to get back to their seats, Lisa cried, hugging Casey and letting her know how excited she was to finally have a sister in her life. She overheard John telling Sam he was proud of him, and when he bear-hugged her to show his congratulations she couldn’t help but noticed his gray eyes pooling with tears of his own. GG sat on her lap and caressed the beautiful diamond ring on her hand, her tiny fingers gentle and soft. Casey rested her chin on top of GG’s head and closed her eyes, a pang of melancholy shooting to her heart, wishing desperately Laura could be there to share in her joy.
Sam was still standing and shaking hands with several band parents when he seemed to notice Casey with her eyes closed. He excused himself and sat next to her laying his hand over GG’s still holding hers.
When she opened her eyes, she looked down at their three hands clasped together and couldn’t help but smile.
“You okay?” she heard him say.
Nodding, she turned and gazed into his baby blues. He offered her a knowing smile. It was as if he knew she was thinking about her sister in that moment. They continued to stare at each other while GG brought their hands together, interlocking their fingers across her lap. The little girl laid back against Casey’s chest and stuck her thumb in her mouth, relaxed and innocent, enjoying their closeness. Lost in Sam’s gaze, the roar of the football crowd was nothing but white noise in the background.
Their love was a beautiful, harmonious expression of emotion humming between the two of them. Theirs was a full-fledged love song.
Six Months Later
The summer air was heavy with the scent of sweet magnolia flowers and fresh cut grass. Cars lined up on the gravel driveway, guests dressed in crisp summer linen and colorful cotton making their way to the barn entrance outlined in twinkling white lights. Casey sat on the window seat in the master bedroom watching through the gauzy curtains. Her tanned chest heaved as she took in a deep, satisfying breath, her breasts pushed up in the crystal, hand-embroidered bodice of her wedding gown. Her long, brown hair was pulled up on one side, adorned with a peach gladiola flower that matched her bouquet. She waited six months to finally say her vows to Sam in front of their family and friends. Six months to plan the wedding of her dreams. Six months to heal physically and move on the best she could emotionally from the trauma she’d endured.
There was a soft knock on the door and she stood, gathering the long skirt that flowed from her waist into her hands. Beth Roberts peeked her head in with a big grin on her face as Gwyneth rushed in, dressed in a sweet baby doll dress. A ring of assorted peach colored flowers surrounded her fair hair with white ribbons hanging down her back. Beth put her hand over her mouth looking Casey up and down.
“You look amazing,” she uttered in a hushed tone before pressing her lips together to hold back her emotions.
Casey blushed looking down at her gown. “I feel amazing.”
GG tentatively approached her with wide eyes. “Cee-Cee, you’re so pretty.”
Casey knelt so she was eye level with her, and kissed her softly on the cheek. “You are too, sweet girl.” She stood and held her little hand.
Beth approached her and gently patted a stray hair into place. “Everyone is ready for you.” She smiled.
Casey swallowed and looked down at GG who was grinning from ear to ear. “Well, let’s not keep them waiting.”
***
Sam stood at the end of the barn interior flanked by his pastor and his nephew, Dylan, who was also his best “young” man. The barn had been transformed into a makeshift sanctuary. White folding chairs were in perfect rows on two sides of a center aisle for Casey to walk down. More twinkle lights crisscrossed the rafters among the numerous illuminated hanging lanterns, adding more soft light to the interior of the renovated structure. Swags of white linen and a large, heart-shaped wreath hung on the back wall, a single fully bloomed sunflower tied to the side of the heart with earth-toned and peach shades of raffia.
The horse stall where Donny Tanner took his life had been dismantled several months earlier and enclosed to make a storage area for bicycles and outdoor children’s toys. Sam hesitated to suggest the red barn be the place for their nuptials and was surprised by Casey’s excited reaction to the idea. For weeks, she gathered ideas and photos, pinning them to an inspiration board she kept in his office. She never once brought up the tragedy that happened inside those dusty walls so many months ago, her focus clearly on their future.
John Dukes sat on the front row next to Sam’s sister and brother-in-law. Bleu sat patiently by John’s legs, tethered to a leather leash. Sam didn’t have the heart to lock Bleu up in the house during this special time. Casey agreed, insisting Bleu was part of the family and deserved to be at their wedding, sitting in the front row.
Their entire band set up in the corner and played songs Casey meticulously chose, reflecting her love for Sam, many of which were familiar Beatles tunes. Dora had even used her vacation days to be a part of the festivities, flying in from New York a few days earlier to help Casey with the many preparations. Her beautiful friend was dressed in a peach-colored dress with a flowy skirt skimming her knees, her dark auburn hair slicked back on the sides to show off her large, hoop earrings. Rocky was hunched over his keyboard intensely focused on the sheet music, his suit just a bit wrinkled from having gigged the night before. The band had been instructed to kick it with some classic rock and pop tunes for the guests to enjoy late into the night with the strong possibility of a song or two performed by the bride and groom. This, of course, would happen after the wedding ceremony.
Sam stood proudly with his hands clasped in front of his dark suit jacket waiting to catch a glimpse of his stunning bride. When he finally saw Casey take her place at the entrance of the barn, the summer sun beamed behind her, making her glow angelically. She was holding Gwyneth’s hand, the two of them beautiful and shining in an orb of love.
The pastor raised his palms for everyone to stand. Dora approached the microphone and began to sing as their guitar player strummed “The Wedding Song”.
Casey looked down at GG with nothing but pure love pulsing through her veins. This was the moment she had been waiting for. “Are you ready sweet girl?”
GG looked up at her with bright eyes and rosy cheeks squeezing her hand. “Yes!”
They started to walk down the aisle toward Sam, hand-in-hand. Casey glanced at the sunflower tied to the heart-shaped wreath above Sam’s head and smiled. She could feel her sister’s presence, her love for her unfailing.
When her eyes locked in on the calm, glassy ocean of blue in Sam’s beckoning gaze, her heart thumped in a familiar rhythm, syncing with his. She was ready to jump in with both feet. Ready to jump into forever…
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Sincerest thanks to all of the amazingly talented musicians and singers I have been privileged to share the stage with over the years. Being on the road and on the stage with you has been a highlight of my life - all of you ROCK MY WORLD! Special thanks to my
Rocket Band family who may have inspired a scene or two with their unforgettable personalities and gifts. To my editor, Vicky Burkholder, and cover designer, Gigi Blume and to all of my incredible author friends who have guided, promoted and cheered for me throughout this process. To my handsome rock star boys, Hutch, Henry, Hudson and Ladd for your ongoing patience and support – you have my heart. Most of all, thank you to the readers and bloggers. You are the best audience this old rocker could ever ask for. As always, may we continue to get lost in ridiculous, sexy, all-consuming love!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dubbed, “The Singing Author,” KG Fletcher lives in her very own frat house in Atlanta, GA with her husband Ladd and three sons. As a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN, she became a recipient of the “Airplay International Award” for “Best New Artist” showcasing original songs at The Bluebird Café. She earned her BFA in theater at Valdosta State University, and has traveled the world professionally as a singer/actress. She currently gets to play rock star as a backup singer in the National Tour, “Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute,” www.almosteltonjohn.com She is also a summer artist-in-residence at her alma mater performing roles in musicals for the Peachstate Summer Theatre program, her favorite roles to date being Donna in Mamma Mia!, and Marmee in Little Women the Musical.
KG is a hopeless romantic continuing her work on her original cabaret act called, “The Novel Romantic – an unexpected evening of sweet & spicy love” to help promote her romance novels. As a full-time indie-artist, a particularly thrilling moment was when her Amazon best-selling romance novel, Georgia Pine became a 2019 Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist. KG loves to interact with readers on social media, and is a conference speaker sharing how music can enhance a writer’s experience.
RUN TO THE SEA
(Excerpt)
“Turn around. This is going to be a true surprise. I don’t want you to peek, okay?”
She giggled nervously and obediently turned around for him. “Okay?”
The red bandanna was folded in half, and he carefully placed it over her eyes, tying it behind her head. Breathing in a whiff of her flower-scented hair, his hand twitched to get lost in the long curls. Sliding his hand down her arm, he guided her over the threshold. “I’ll tell you when.”
Emeline nodded excitedly and tightly gripped his hand as he led her into the large room. He flicked on the lights and couldn’t help but grin, taking in the image of what he had created just for her. Leaning into her ear, he inhaled her scent again, his warm exhale causing strands of her hair to float. “On the count of three, lift up the bandanna.”
“Okay.” Her cheeks were spotted pink as she bit her dewy lip.
“One. Two. Three.”
Thomas watched as she tentatively lifted the bandanna from her face. She started to blink rapidly while taking it all in, her eyes scanning the room up and down and all around. Her mouth fell open in what appeared to be awe, and she started to walk forward, pausing a few times paying close attention to the wonder all around her. He didn’t dare say a word, allowing her to experience the memories on her own. The anxious thumping of his heart made him breathe heavier as he stood stoic waiting for her first words of appreciation and squeals of delight at what he had done for her. When she finally turned around to face him, her beautiful face was twisted and streaked with tears, and her entire body trembled. His heart fell to his feet.
“Oh, god. Not the response I was hoping for. Em, I’m…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for you to get upset. That was the last thing I wanted to happen.” He started toward her, but she put her palm up, stopping him in his tracks.
Her feet were planted in the center of the room where she was surrounded by thin strands of twinkle lights crisscrossing the space, the photographic images of the two of them growing up together attached by clothespins. Thomas was meticulous in his presentation and chose only the most heartfelt moments of the two of them captured by his grandfather’s keen eye and lens. His heart ached thinking about what she had gone through with the death of her mother. Knowing he could shine some bright light on sweet memories they shared together in the photos pre-family drama was something he felt strongly about. To see his Emmy smile was his only goal since they reunited. He watched her dab her face with her sweater sleeve before she inched toward him. Taking a step back, he agonized over her flood of tears instead of the sunny smile he anticipated. When she was close enough, he could see the amber in her eyes was warm and moist, the astonishment on her face real. She reached her hands out and clutched his own, her fingers entwining with his. Thomas held his breath.
“This…” she whispered emotionally, choking on the words. “This is the single greatest surprise of my life.”
Want more of Thomas & Emmy’s story?
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Run to the Sea
Stars Fall From the Sky
A Sun So Bright
I’ll See You Again
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Southern Promises Series
Georgia Clay
Georgia On My Mind
*Georgia Pine
(*2019 Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist)
Single Titles
Unexpected
Love Song
The Nearness of You
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“Beautifully written, expertly crafted & so, so romantic.”
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Love Song: A friends-to-lovers rock & roll romantic suspense Page 19