Page 57 of New River Gorge(ous)
Another plink, and it can’t be a coincidence. I swipe the tears away and gently place the card on my bed before walking to the window and brushing aside the sheer curtains.
Beck stands below with a handful of pebbles as he tosses them softly against the glass. His serious face is drawn, his eyes searching the window, and I know the moment he sees me because he relaxes his shoulders before tensing up again.
Love forgives.
I open the window.
“Yes?” I whisper, even though it’s the middle of the day and we’re two adults, but something about this has me feeling like it calls for clandestine behavior.
“Brooke, I…” Beck drops the rocks and steps closer. Because Meemaw’s house is built into a hillside, my window is only a half story above the ground. His head is visible over the sill, but the rest of his body disappears as he comes up to the screen. “I’m so sorry.”
I sniff, and for a moment, I think about playing high and mighty and making him figure it out. But that’s not me either. I’ve always been a direct communicator, and he should know that. If he thinks he loves me, he needs to know that.
“You chose her. Over me. After you said you loved me.”
“I know. And I don’t have good boundaries with people, and that wasn’t right. She was calling from Ben’s phone, but I shouldn’t have answered anyone right then.” He swallows hard, and his neck cords. “I don’t want her, Brooke,” he says before lowering his voice to something quieter than a whisper. “I want you.”
I nod my head yes and blow out a breath becauselove forgives, and as I look into his sincere brown eyes, there is no doubt in my mind that I do love the man before me.
He’s imperfect, but so am I.
The moment calls for one thing. I pop the screen out and push it aside, just like I would in case of a fire. Then I climb up on the window sill and hop down into Dr. Beckett Whistler’s waiting arms.
Meemaw
June is beginning to think that this situation with Dr. Beckett and her granddaughter is taking too long. In her mind, they should have been married last week. Three dates is more than enough time for two very smart people to realize they need one another. She wheels her knee scooter down the hallway to Brooke’s bedroom and knocks once.
No answer.
She knocks again, louder this time.
Still no answer.
June pushes the door open and is greeted by several things. First, the card her mother gave her on her wedding day sitting on the bed. Second, the sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze and the window screen popped out. Third, and most interesting, is that her granddaughter and her neighbor’s heads are visible through the very open window, and they are most certainly kissing.
June watches for a brief moment before collecting herself and slowly wheeling backward out of the room and back to hercouch. She has news to tell her friends and a church to book for a wedding, but her phone is not where she left it.
She shrugs and then bends to retrieve the old laptop that lives on the bottom shelf of the coffee table. Blowing dust off the case, she opens it up and logs onto Facebook. In her excitement, she types out an update.
Help! I need to book a church for a wedding, and fast! Finally, one of my grandbabies is getting married!
The likes fly in, the comments roll in like a tide, and June is happy as she basks in the online attention.
Outside, the young couple continues kissing and whispering promises to one another, while inside both of their respective dwellings, their phones buzz.
Again, and again, and again.
31
Brooke
I waltz into my room after what can only be described as the best kisses of my life.
Sighing contentedly, I flop on my bed and smile. Meemaw was on her computer when I walked in, and I feel a little like I have a delicious surprise to give her when she’s done with whatever it is she’s focused on.
Beck wants me. My grandmother’s gruff, brusque neighbor who hides his heart of gold and caring nature behind a stony exterior because of his past wantsme. And not just in the way other men have wanted me. He wants afuturewith me.
I can’t help it, I kick my feet and let out a quiet squeal because of all the things that have happened today, this is the most unexpected. I know Paige and Connor are celebrating their good news, but I really need to tell her. She was right. Being patient was worth it. Now I get to say that Dr. Beckett Whistler is my boyfriend. Not just the guy I like and think likes me back, but actually a realboyfriend.
