Page 60 of New River Gorge(ous)
When she nods, I cross the threshold, and propriety be darned, I go straight to Brooke on the bed. She scoots over and draws her knees to her chest, where she wraps her arms around them.
She sniffles, and I can’t take it. I sit down next to her and wrap my arms around her. She leans into me, and the wetness on my shirt tells me she’s crying again.
“Brooke,” I whisper against her blonde and pink hair that smells like lavender. “Brooke, it’s ok. There are medications we can try… There are things that we can do to help…”
Brooke looks up sharply, and reflected in the depths of her eyes is a pain unlike any I’ve ever seen before. “Mom said that no one knew if she was becoming more eccentric in her old age or losing her faculties.”
I give a small chuckle. “It’s hard to tell with June.”
“I don’t want to lose her, Beck.”
“Honey.” The endearment rolls off my tongue. “Honey, you’re not losing her. We’re helping her.”
“Beck?” she stutters as she extracts herself from my hug and begins toying with the fringed edge of the comforter. “If you … knew something … would you do something crazy?”
Confusion washes over me. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Another endearment?Who am I? Oh wait, I’m the man in love.
“Uh… It’s just that it’s the one thing she … really wants,” Brooke mumbles to the floor.
I can’t figure it out.
“I’m going to need you to spell it out for me. I have no idea what you mean.”
Brooke’s eyes shift to mine for a half beat before she looks away and murmurs, “Never mind,” to the carpet.
At that moment, it all clicks into place. Brooke is asking me if I’d marry her before June’s memory gets worse.
While I will absolutely do that, I’m not willing to rush to the courthouse right now. I didn’t rush with Addie, but I ignored warning signs for years. One of them was Addie’s refusal to get married at my church. She didn’t have a faith; she just wanted a pretty venue.
Truthfully, June is in the early stages of whateverthisis, and Brooke is reeling from this information coming to light.
I pull Brooke next to me, and I rest my chin against her shoulder as I clasp my hands around her. “Brooke, I promise I will ask you to marry me if it’s right. But today is not the day, and June has more time than you think.”
Brooke turns and meets my eyes with her soulful ones. “Really?” She bites her lip, and I inhale to keep myself from kissing all this tension away.
“Really,” I say.
Brooke leans into me, planting her lips on mine and kisses me deeply. My fingers tangle in her hair, and I’m just about to shift her to a more comfortable position when a very loud “AHEM” sounds from the hall.
“I said to get her, notahemwith her,” June calls.
We werenotdoing that, but if June hadn’t interrupted, I don’t know what would have happened, so I’m glad she did.
“Young lady, I know I said if hanky-panky happened, I’d get you two married, but I don’t think you understood. It’s not supposed to happen in my house.”
Brooke giggles as she stands up. There’s no shame in her countenance. “Sorry, Meemaw.” She sniffs. “I just really like him.”
“Well, hopefully he puts several rings on it soon. An engagement ringanda wedding band, and then you can hanky-panky as much as you’d like.”
And just like that, June’s back.
I scrub a hand down my face, letting the calluses on my fingers catch on the stubble of my five o’clock shadow. I blow out a breath before I stand, and when I do, I link my fingers with Brooke’s.
“Miss June.” I meet her eyes with my own direct gaze. “I promise you I’ll take care of Brooke. But you have to let us do this on our own timeline.” I swallow as I turn my face to meet Brooke’s eyes momentarily and then back to June’s. “No matter what happens, June. I’m not going to rush this. It means too much to me.”
June’s brow furrows, but she gives one succinct nod from where she stands with her knee on the scooter.
