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The women gathered on Maggie’s front porch, leaving the men to handle the kids. Rod, Brody, and Trae got the easier of the bunch, the girls. They were busy giggling and laughing in the living room and Chloe, bless her heart, passed out from all the excitement in Maggie’s room.
The women were all drinking wine, except for Allie and Arianna who, since they were pregnant, joined in the fun with grape juice. Allie and Will finally told Maggie and Max about the pregnancy, and they were overjoyed. Maggie cried and hugged her so hard, they were afraid they’d need the jaws of life to pull her off. But Allie handled it perfectly. They both cried and Will stood proud next to Allie the whole time. He even swiped away a few tears as well.
Sarah watched them all and was just in awe. The interactions of her friends together and with their men. The way the women welcomed Allie, and the way the men welcomed Brody. She watched as Trae and Brody took off walking together and wondered what was going on.
Arianna moved in next to Sarah and said, “I’m not sure how that is going to go, but I hope Trae can handle it.”
Sarah looked confused, raising a brow at her, “What’s going on? Should I be worried?”
Arianna shook her head no. “Brody told Trae if he was up for it, he’d like to talk about Trent with him. Evidently you and Miranda weren’t the only people Trent talked about.”
Sarah gasped and said, “Wow. I didn’t even think, but that makes sense. Trent loved Trae.”
Arianna covered Sarah’s hand for a moment and said, “Trae loved him, too.”
Miranda seeing the seriousness of the two women said, “Alright, no more sappy shit! Let’s party, ladies. Well, party like parents anyway.” The women all laughed, and the girl talk began.
Sarah found herself in the hot seat most of the night. They all wanted to know about her and Brody, and what was going on with them. She told them the truth.
“Nothing really. I mean, we’re not having sex. He doesn’t want to until I’m divorced. We have, fooled around some, but...”
Miranda laughed, “He gave her an orgasm fully clothed, and she tried to jump him, but he turned her down, because he’s a gentleman.”
The women all laughed, and Sarah looked at her friend with her jaw hanging open. “Miranda!”
Miranda shrugged, “Inquiring minds needed to know. Now tell us the rest that you’ve been holding out on me.”
Sarah laughed and said, “I don’t know what else to say. That’s pretty much it. I mean, the man can kiss. But I love when he takes my hand while he’s driving or when we’re walking. When he wraps his arms around me, I feel protected, safe, and so turned on.” The women laughed and Sarah continued, “But honestly, seeing him with Bella, hearing her laugh, and watching them smile with each other. Brody’s patience with her, it all makes me-”
Sarah paused, then looked around the porch at the women and confided, “Shit, it makes me fall more in love with him.”
Arianna and Allie cried, blaming the hormones. Miranda smiled at her best friend and Josie and Taryn gasped holding their hands over their mouths.
Sarah shrugged and said, “I never knew this was how it was. I thought I loved Ted, and honestly, part of me always will love Ted, but Brody. The man hit me out of left field, and I’ve never felt this way, not even with Ted. It’s almost as if Brody can’t stand to be away from me, whereas I could barely get Ted to spend time with me. I feel cherished for the first time in my life.”
The women all sighed and Miranda said, “Thank fuck! I love that man. I think he is everything Ted wasn’t and everything you need and deserve. As long as you plan on coming back to Wellsprings.”
Sarah looked up at her. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Allie looked up at Sarah and said, “Have you talked about what’s next with Brody? I mean his family is nearby and he’s helping us out. I would need to find someone to take his place, with being pregnant and having Johnny, I can’t do this on my own.”
Sarah looked at her and said, “I honestly didn’t think about it. I just assumed I would go back to Wellsprings. I’m not even thinking about the next step.”
The women were quiet for a few minutes and then Sarah said, “I thought about what I want to do with myself. I don’t need to necessarily “work”, but I want to try writing. I used to like it, and with Bella turning eleven tomorrow, I realize she’s going to move off to college in a few years, so I need to do something for myself.”
Josie smiled at her and said, “What are you going to write?”
Sarah smiled, “I thought about romance. What do you guys think?”
The women were so excited. The rest of the night they talked over some ideas, they laughed heartily, and when Trae and Brody came back, Arianna discreetly excused herself and Brody met Sarah’s eyes, then turned back to head to the barn.
Girls’ night started to disband due to the early day tomorrow to get ready for the party and Sarah took that opportunity to follow after Brody.
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Brody knew she would follow him at some point, and he needed to hold on to her. He needed to wrap his arms around her to chase away the memories.
As soon as Sarah was within reach, he turned and pulled her to him. He backed himself up till he could pull her into the shadows of the barn, and he just held her to him.
When he felt calmer, like he could breathe again, he pulled away from her and looked down into her eyes.
“Your son was an amazing man. Now that I’ve met you, I see where he got it from.”
Sarah’s eyes filled up with tears and she smiled at him.
Brody continued speaking. “Talking to Trae tonight, I saw how much Trent affected him as well. Miranda, Rod, Trae, me, that boy touched so many lives. I still don’t understand why I’m standing here and not him.”
Sarah looked up at Brody and said, “Because I have a guardian angel now and I need my cowboy to ride off into the sunset with.”
Brody smiled at her, then watched as her face turned serious.
“Brody, I questioned why, for so long. I questioned how someone so pure, so good, could be ripped out of our lives, but I realized that Trent had a bigger job ahead of him. He needed to help make the world a better place. He needed to be able to reach more people with his goodness. So, I leave it to the higher power now. I’m not a religious woman, but I do believe that there has to be a reason for me to have lost my son. A reason bigger than me. I have to look at the whole picture. While Trent was here, he was my world. He made me push through the hard times. He helped Miranda find her purpose and saved her from giving in to her past. He helped Trae feel important, he was a major influence on Trent. Trae was hardened by the Seals, but Trent always helped smooth out those edges.”
Brody smiled at her. “So, you have taken the higher ground. Accepted your loss and know in your heart that Trent is doing the work he needs to do in order to heal others?”
Sarah leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed his lips gently. “He helped you. He still helps guide you. He brought you here. He brought me here.”
Brody pulled back, “So you think this is all Trent? That everything going on between us is because of him?”
Sarah shook her head no. “I believe that Trent sent the forces out into the universe. I think that there is something bigger than Trent pulling us together. Did he have a hand in it? I’d like to believe it, because then I can believe that I’m making him happy, by living my best life.”
Brody moved away from Sarah and turned his back to her.
“Sarah, I need to be honest with you.”
Brody turned back and met her eyes. He saw the look of pain cross her face before she schooled it. She was waiting for him to break her heart.
“I fell in love with you through your letters to your son. Through your son’s eyes. I fell more in love with you when I saw the strength with which you faced his death. I fell completely in love with you here at this farm. But-”
Sarah sucked in a breath and looked away from him. Brody waited for her to meet his eyes again. Once she turned back to him, he spoke again.
“But I will never forgive myself for coming home, when so many others did not. When Trent did not. I did not push him into that bomber, but I was his superior. It should have been me protecting him, not the other way around.”
Brody moved closer to Sarah again and took her hands in his.
“When I think about that moment, I regret it all. Standing here, with you, feels like a dream. It feels like something I don’t deserve. I never want to make you unhappy, Sarah. I want to always do what’s best for you and what will keep you happy.”
Sarah smiled up at him and said, “You make me happy, Brody. Stop thinking you don’t deserve happiness. We all deserve our happy.”
Brody pulled her into his arms and held her. He needed to do some hard thinking. Finally having Sarah in his arms made it harder to think and concentrate on what was right. Right for both of them.
The two headed back to the house. Sarah stopping to say good-night to the girls and giving Bella a kiss good-night. Brody watched the two interact. So much better than the day they arrived. He moved to head upstairs when he heard Bella yell his name.
Brody moved back into the living room and said, “Hey, little fire. Do you need something?”
Bella looked up at him and said, “Can I have a hug?”
Brody smiled and said, “Of course.”
Brody went to Bella and squatted down on the floor beside her. She surprised him when she jumped up onto her knees and threw herself into his arms. When she finished squeezing him, she pulled back and kissed his cheek and said, “Thank you, Brody, for everything. Good night.”
That moment right there, destroyed him. He wanted nothing but to make her every wish a reality.
