Page 142 of We Redeemed the Rain

“I was—I was eighteen.”

A long quiet settled over Bea. When she finally spoke, she sniffled and her words were slurred with tears. “I understand why you didn’t tell me, but I wish you would’ve. I could’ve been there for you.”

“You were so young?—”

Tears had trickled onto her cheeks. She said again, slower and emphatic. “I was young, but I cared about you, Tag.”

“I know. It’s something you don’t really know how to explain to people. Especially the people you love the most and…the ones you don’t wanna hurt.”

Her watery brown eyes held contact with mine. For a moment, I almost looked away. My ever-present shame tugged me as I struggled to read her expression. But her hand wriggled out of mine, sliding up my wrist. She turned it, looked, then checked my right. Her fingers easily found the singular horizontal scar, tenderly tracing it once, then again.

“I’m—” She stopped and took a deep, wavering breath. “You have no idea how happy I am that you’re still here.”

Emotions warmed the rims of my eyes, and I blinked. “When Icame back from the hospital, there was a letter from you on my desk. Gran always put them there.”

“Really?”

“It made me feel like maybe I could keep on.”

Her lip quivered.

“Thank you, Bea, for caring about me.” I reached up, letting my hand slide around the curve of her jaw. I drug my thumb over her soft cheek, brushing her tears back.

“I’m always going to care about you.”

I wanted that to be true, hoped it was. I replayed her words so many times in my head, they were the lullaby that tugged me into sleep a little while later.

Bea’s eyes were closed as her fingers moved gracefully over the strings of Glory. The longer I looked, the more beautiful I found her. Her brow furrowed in concentration. A strand of her dark hair brushed her cheek in the breeze. Her tender arm draped around her yellow-brown guitar.

Last night, after Jackie arrived, Bea took it easy with her in the house. But tonight, she wanted to sit on the porch for dinner and invited everyone to join us. Somehow Meadowbrook had gone from two people to six in the blink of an eye. Cooper, Bea, Jackie, Jesse, Cade, and myself. I’d hauled out dining room chairs to accommodate everyone.

I picked up Jackie from the airport yesterday. Had to say, she was a spitfire. Her aura and personality were so wildly different than Bea’s, I had a hard time believing they shared parents. If it wasn’t for their identical eyes, I’d have my doubts.

It was clear Jackie adored Bea though. On our way from the airport, she asked to stop at a Walgreens. Came out with an armful of all Bea’s favorite snacks and drinks. Then almost tackled Bea to the floor when she gave her a hug. From the moment they saw each other, they were smiles and giggles.

Now that Jackie was here to care for Bea, I went back to working.Reluctantly, I should say. It’s funny. Before Bea came, all I wanted to do was work. Now, I was trying to find reasonsnotto work. Using every possible excuse to slow down with her.

For the first time in my life, I wanted to savor moments.

Jesse and Cade ate the dinner Jackie cooked like they’d never had a meal before. Both wanted thirds. They looked like the same person almost, with identical smiles, bushy auburn hair, and mossy green eyes.

Cooper wouldn’t even be on the porch with us if it wasn’t for Bea. When we were all sitting down to eat, Bea glanced toward the barn then at me. All it took was one silent plea in her eyes for me to remember what she had said to me days ago.

“Solitude isn’t good for a person.”

I gave him a stern warning, and he promised to keep his eyes off the women and his hands to himself.

Dinner was…fun. The light conversation and easy banter made my chest ache. This is what wraparound porches were for, though I didn’t think Meadowbrook’s had seen something like it in over a decade.

After Jackie and Jesse had cleared plates, Jackie dropped a giant bag of Starbursts on the wicker table announcing, “Dessert anyone?” Hands reached into the bag and everyone held their seats, lingering, unwilling to leave.

Now, we all sat as Bea played the guitar. The sun had officially ducked behind the horizon, lightning bugs darted around the bushes, and a delicate fruity scent filled the air.

Bea played the final chords of a song, her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up. Her gaze immediately found me and my heartbeat stuttered. She shared a slow smile then drug her eyes away to scan the rest of the group.

She gently asked, “Cooper, what’s your favorite song?”

His head jerked up, surprised to be singled out. Bea hadn’t taken any requests so far. I could only guess she was trying to befriend him. Which simultaneously irritated me and made me want to kiss her. Couldn’t be too shocked in that regard. Just about everything made me want to kiss her.

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