Page 187 of We Redeemed the Rain

I smiled, nodded. Heat bloomed over my face. I sat in silence but my insides screamed in excitement. We had a beautiful life ahead of us—one we both wanted. I had to share my idea with him. I knew he’d love it!

He said, “If we want to do the long distance thing for a while, we can. Like I said, I have a lot of work to do on myself.”

“Well, that’s the biggest problem I see with long distance. I know therapy is going to be two steps forward, one step back. Won't you want someone to be there for you? I don’t like the idea of being far away when you’re dredging up your past and no one is there to support you.”

He nodded. Surely he’d thought of that, too. “I want you to do what's best for you though, Bea. That's more important to me.”

“Okay, well, here’s the idea I came up with and I think it's better.”

He smiled. “Alright. Shoot.”

“What if I moved to Texas? I could take over the administrative side of the business like taxes, bills, finances, and insurance. And we could work together to get the hospitality side of Meadowbrook up and running again and run a bed and breakfast like it was in the past. I could take care of bookings, cleaning, and even some of the advertising. I’m not naturally good at that stuff, but I could figure it out?—”

Tag shook his head. “No, Bea, no.”

“I think it’s perfect!”

“There's so many problems with that plan.”

“Name one.”

“Your music.”

“Easy. Glory goes with me wherever I go. Next!”

“You know that’s not what I meant. There’s no opportunity for you back in Texas.”

“Tag, I’ve let go of that. For me, music is an extension of my soul. I’m okay with music being a side thing—something I do when I’m inspired and not necessarily to put food on the table. I had the opportunity to take it big and I declined. But music will always be a part of me.”

“Yeah, about the food on the table thing…that’s my next reason. Bea, I can’t—finances at Meadowbrook are so up and down right now, I usually don’t even pay myself. I couldn’t pay you a livable wage. You wouldn’t be able to get an apartment and stuff like that.”

“Oh.” I said, flatly.

“What?”

“I want to live at Meadowbrook, Tag!”

He immediately started laughing. “Are you seriously already tryin’ to move in with me?”

I smacked him in the chest as we both had a good laugh. “Okay,no, you know I’m not trying to share a bedroom or anything, but Meadowbrook totally has room for me. I don’t want to come be your employee. I want to come be your partner and help you make Meadowbrook the best it can be.”

“What about your family?” His eyes searched mine in the falling darkness.

For a quiet moment, I grappled with his concern. But as I thought about telling them goodbye and traveling home for holidays, I imagined the nights on the porch with Tag and chasing down the stubborn horses together. I imagined the joys of solving problems and the late night rodeo nachos. I imagined supporting the man I loved as he sought healing. I imagined the nights we would warm up cold sheets together and the way he would hold me. I imagined being his wife and having his children.

Tag was enough.

He continued, “You told me livin’ in Nashville was an unbearable idea because you didn’t want to live away from them.”

A smile touched my lips as I spoke the honest to goodness truth. “That was before you.”

His exhale was audible, emotion-laden. When he reached for me, I crumpled back into his lap and his strong arms cradled me. He covered my face in gentle kisses, his caress so tender I wanted to weep with joy. We didn’t discuss it further. The need for answers wasn’t urgent. Sun or rain, we were committed.

Beautiful futures take time—so we didn’t rush it.

Slowly, our eyes drifted closed and Tag’s arms went slack.

FIFTY-ONE

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