Page 29 of Blake Marshall Says He Needs Me

Shannon laughed loudly, and I was mesmerized by her smile. “I knew I liked Del. You better be careful, Missy, or she might steal Charlie out from under you.”

“Life sure is going to be interesting living next to those two,” Missy laughed.

Shannon glanced at me, and her smile didn’t slip from her lips.

This was the first time in a long time Shannon hadn’t looked at me like a ghost from her past and ran.

Once we got Shelby moved in, we were going to talk.

I had wasted enough years and wasn’t about to waste another day.

Sheldon wouldn’t want either Shannon or me living the way we were.

We both missed Sheldon; our grief would never go away, but moving on wouldn’t dishonor Sheldon.

It would be exactly what he wanted.

Chapter Nineteen

Shannon

The day had been long and exhausting, filled with the physical strain of helping Missy, Charlie, and Shelby move. The was starting to set, and I felt the fatigue settle in my bones. In need of a break, I stepped outside, the warmth of the day enveloping me.

Wandering aimlessly around the large farmhouse, I took in its sprawling landscape. The greenery, the open fields, and the clear sky offered a welcome respite from the confined spaces of moving boxes and furniture. I yearned for a moment of solitude, a chance to catch my breath.

As I strolled, the farmhouse loomed large and inviting. Shelby’s house in town was nice, but Wilder’s farmhouse was something out of a fairytale. I noticed a red barn in the distance; its rustic charm beckoned me. This must be Blake’s barn that had been converted into a house, and I couldn't help but be curious about the transformation within.

Approaching the barn-house, I marveled at the ingenuity of the conversion. The warm tones of the wood with the bright red paint and the quaint details made it a cozy abode. My tired eyes scanned the surroundings until they landed on a pasture nearby. In the distance, a solitary sheep grazed peacefully.

Curiosity led me towards the pasture, and as I drew closer, the fluffy form of Ba, the sheep, came into view. Ba seemed to sense my presence and lifted its head, regarding me with wise eyes. I couldn't help but smile at the unexpected encounter, the gentle presence of the sheep offering a moment of serenity in the midst of the day's chaos.

“Hey there, Ba,” I greeted softly, my voice carrying across the open space. Ba tilted its head as if in acknowledgment, its gentle baa filling the air. “I’ve heard about you, buddy.”

The vastness of the pasture stretched out before me, a peaceful panorama. I took a deep breath, the cool breeze offering relief from the long day.

As I continued to stroll along the pasture, the barn-house behind me and Ba's presence beside me, I felt the sense that someone was watching me.

I turned back to the barn-house.

Blake stood on the porch and waved his hand to me. “Up for some company?” he called.

I tipped my head to the side and smiled. “Sure,” I called. It was time Blake and I figured out just what we were doing.

Being around him today had stirred my feelings for him that had been blocked out by Sheldon’s passing.

I had loved Blake, and that love had never stopped.

Even though years had passed between us, I knew there was something unfinished.

Blake stepped off the porch and strolled toward me.

It was time to find out just what that something unfinished was.

Chapter Twenty

Blake

As I stood there, staring at Shannon, I felt a sudden wave of clarity wash over me. The anger that had consumed me had ebbed away, replaced by a profound realization. She wasn't to blame for my brother's death; it was a tragic accident, a cruel twist of fate that I couldn't lay at her feet.

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