Authors: Barbara Speak
"Thank
you so much ah
.."
"Maria.
My name is Maria Williams."
"Thank
you, Maria. That means a lot to me."
"Now
while Ash takes care of the mess that is also known as Tina, let me introduce
you to my husband, Michael. He is just going to love you." She took my
hand to lead me to him when I remembered how I looked. I locked myself in
place.
"Maria,
I mean no disrespect but I can't go in there."
"Sure
you can. It is a choice to let fear lead you or you can lead your fears. You
will be just fine."
In that moment
I knew she was right. I have
never not
been one of the
best dressed persons at an event. I absolutely adored fashion.
Whereas most people blunder it.
I still looked good, I was
simply under dressed.
Big deal.
Let these strangers
snub me.
"You
know, I think you’re right. Let’s go meet your husband."
"That a
girl. I knew you had a little fight in you."
She led me
over to a group of men that all seemed to be discussing stocks and trades. Huh,
now I know where Ash got the idea.
"Excuse
me, gentleman, but I would like to introduce a very special young lady to
Michael, if you don't mind. Michael, this is Sadie Warren."
A man not
shorter than six foot two at least, stood to my left. He had coal black hair,
green eyes and for his age, a very healthy stature. He obviously took very good
care of himself. He was striking just as the rest of his clan was. He
approached me slowly taking me in from head to toe. My insecurities started to
rise again but then he took my hand and kissed it.
"You
are more stunning than my son could describe. It is a pleasure to meet you,
Sadie Warren."
"Likewise, Mr. Williams."
"No
no
, Mr. Williams is my father. Please call me
Michael."
"Well
then, thank you Michael. I would also like to wish you and Maria a happy
anniversary."
Both of his
parents were beginning to thank me when I was scooped up from behind.
"I see
you’ve met my princess, isn't she amazing?"
"
Ash,
please put me down."
He set me
down and then wrapped his arms around my waist. He at that moment became a wall
of comfort for me against the staring eyes. I appreciated it more than he could
know.
Ash's dad
answered, "Yes Ash, we have, a delightful little one, can I get you both a
drink?"
"No,
thank you. I still have somewhere to take Sadie tonight. I don't want to drink
too much and drive."
"Good
choice, son. Where are you two heading off to?"
"It is
still a surprise I won't ruin."
"Michael,
do you remember the dates you use to take me on in the beginning? I never got
to know where we were going either. Young love, there is nothing like it."
Maria had walked over to Michael as she spoke and he embraced her sweetly.
"You
are absolutely right about that one, Maria, and look where it took us, thirty
years later."
"The best years of my life."
Ash came
down to whisper in my ear, "You ready to get out of here?"
"I
don't know. I kind of like your family."
"They
kind of like you too, but I more than kind of like you, and I want you all to
myself tonight."
"Well
said. Let’s go."
"Mom
and Dad, we are going to get out of here." He walked over and hugged and
kissed them both. They in turn came to me and did the same. I really did like
his family. Good hearts seemed to be a family trait. We found Kate and I made
Ash apologize to her. He wasn’t happy about doing it, but he did. Then we were
back in the car and on our way.
I had no
idea where we even were and I grew up here. Ash took back roads that I hadn’t
known existed. Not long after I gave up asking, because he wouldn't answer, we
were there. I had not realized we had been climbing but we were on a bluff.
A wildflower-covered bluff.
The colors were more vivid than
any painting I had ever seen. And the view, it was all so beautiful!
"Is
this my surprise because I have never seen anything so beautiful, ever?"
"It is
now. I had a lot more planned but there wasn't time for those. I can just save
them for next time though. I did bring a blanket and a basket of food. Come on,
let’s get out and enjoy it."
We got out of the car and popped the trunk to
get the stuff Ash brought. He thought of everything. He had a cooler stocked, a
basket full of food and a huge blanket. He even thought of sunscreen. I knew I
liked him but my feelings were growing faster with every minute I spent with
him. Ash always thought of things I did not know I even missed out on and he
brought them to me. We carried all of the stuff through the field and I wish I
could describe how amazing it truly was. Why didn't I bring a camera? I looked
over at him and with the sun setting, casting a glow to his skin and the
surroundings it was amazing. Whether I had a camera or not, this moment would
forever be burned in my mind. He truly was a breathtaking sight to see. He
smiled at me like he was thinking the same thing and then he confirmed it when
he said, "You have never looked more stunning Sadie."
"I was
thinking the same thing about you."
We continued
to walk when he said, "Stunning isn't very manly. Can't you say sexy or
hot or handsome?"
"Don't
ruin my moment by
dorking
it up. You look stunning.
That is my word of choice. Deal with it."
He dropped
everything he was carrying and ran at me with full force.
I threw my
contents in the air and screamed, running as fast as my feet would take me.
Which wasn’t far at all before he came crashing down on top of me. We rolled in
the flowers laughing so much it was hard to breathe.
"Stunning
is a word that should only be used to describe you in this exact moment, Sadie.
I'm falling hard. I hope that doesn't scare you away because I want nothing
more than to keep you right here forever."
I grabbed
him and kissed him with all of my feelings pouring out of me in that moment.
When we broke away it was a shared expression that we did not want to stop. Ash
said, "Let’s just pause this until we set up okay? The sun is almost
gone."
We grabbed
everything and kept walking until we reached the edge of the bluff.
"Ash,
this is spectacular!"
"It’s
the only place I could think of that was worth taking you to. I'm glad you like
it."
He laid the
blanket out and we brought the basket and cooler over. I
laid
down across it and asked Ash to join me. He wrapped himself around me as we
watched the sun set over the horizon. The colors of the sky and the field
together were purely heaven on earth. We ate the sandwiches Ash had made and he
opened a bottle of wine. Sitting out here took us away from the chaos of the
world. It was as if he found us our own private serenity. We stayed in that one
spot talking about our jobs, life in general and our futures for hours. The
night sky moved in later and the stars began to make their appearance.
Everything about this place screamed romance.
I turned to
Ash and said, "Make love to me, please."
"It
would be my pleasure."
I will not
give you the specifics. This time it was private, special and hands down my
most treasured memory of us of all time. When we finished, we laid naked under
the stars. I know it was that night, the night I truly fell in love with Asher
Williams.
CHAPTER
42
After
the night we spent under the stars, I had yet to confess my feelings, but it
was becoming extremely hard to keep it to myself. I owed it to myself to do
things differently this time. I was going to put my feelings out there, because
on the other end of everything, I knew Ash was feeling the same way. Sometimes
I saw myself getting bitter towards Colt. Not so much for how we spent those
two years, because I wouldn’t take back a single thing. More so, it was the
fact I had heard nothing still. I have come to the realization that things were
not as I thought they were and it was time to give up.
Tony and I
had been talking on the phone more than in person, so we planned a night out.
Ash was at the fire house for the evening so he couldn't join us. Not to be
mean, but that was okay with me. I needed some alone time with my friends too.
Tony picked a sports bar. I guess ‘51’ had its time and now everybody that was
left wanted to try out new places. I still loved what I have always called our
bar. ‘51’ held some great and not so great memories for me. My heart broke
there a time or two but it was also where I originally met Ash. Whatever the
reason my friends had to move on, it would remain nostalgic for me.
I met Tony
at ‘Hot Tots Bar and Grill’. Remember, his pick, not mine. He was waiting
inside at a table when I walked in. He rose from his chair and walked over to
greet me with a hug.
“I talked to
Jason and he said he and Heather might be swinging by."
“That would
be awesome."
"I
thought that would make you happy. Speaking of happy, Sadie, I don't think I've
ever seen you as happy as you’ve been lately."
We walked
back to the table and took a seat before I responded.
“I truly
can't remember a time where I was this happy myself. Tony, he is just so good
to me."
“I know
girl. It makes me happy to know that you have found someone that can do that
for you."
"Thank
you. That means a lot coming from you. I thought you pretty much held an
impossible standard when it came to men and me."
"Never, Sadie.
If you remember correctly, I was the one
who drove you to Colt."
I couldn’t
help but make a face at that comment and Tony caught on quickly.
"I am
sorry I brought his name up."
"You
don't have to be sorry, Tony, it isn't a bad thing. Colt taught me a lot and I
will never have anything but respect for the man he is."
"Do you
still love him, Sadie?"
"I
always will Tony."
"Have
you heard from him at all?"
"No,
and I probably never will. I’ve come to accept that. He moved on and so did I.
I am so in love with Ash, it’s hard to be anything but grateful to Colt for
teaching me how."
"You
are in love with Ash? Did you just admit a feeling as strong as love out loud
to me?” He reached over and felt my head.
"Stop
it. I'm not a heartless person.”
"No,
you’re the furthest thing from heartless. You just never have admitted loving a
man before."
"Really
smart ass, because I tell you all the time."
"That's
different and you know it. Have you told Ash yet?"
"No,
but I will soon. It’s too hard keeping it in."
"That's
what true love feels like Sadie. It makes you want to shout it out to the
world."
"How
would you know? You've never mentioned anyone that you have loved before."
"That's
because it's not a story I like to tell."
"Did
she break your heart or something?"
"Or something."
I should’ve
probably stopped pushing him right then but I couldn't.
"What
happened? Tell me?"
"She
died okay?"
Oh, shit!
"I'm so
sorry Tony. I should have not kept asking."
"It’s
not your fault. You were just being your normal nosy self."
"I will
take that. I deserved it."
"No,
you didn't. Sadie, it was a long time ago, when I was in law school. She died
in a car crash. It took me a long time to get over it. To be honest, I'm still
not. Meeting you was the first time I’ve been interested in a girl and I made
it only to friend level."
"That's
not true, you slept with me. That's a notch up from just friends."
We both
laughed our way out of the awkward conversation we were finding ourselves in.
The waiter finally showed up to take our order. I got a burger while Tony
ordered the Philly cheese steak sandwich. After a couple beers, the food came
out and that's when we both looked up as we heard, "Thanks for waiting for
us to order."
Jason was
standing next to the table while Heather was walking out of the bathroom. I
jumped up and hugged Jason.
"I'm so
glad you guys made it."
"Us too, Sadie.
We couldn't miss the chance to see both
of you at one time."
"Heather!"
I threw my arms around her as well. I missed my best friend.
"Sadie,
you’re crushing me. Hug with less squeeze please."
"Whatever,
I didn't miss you at all."
"Sure
you didn't."
We all sat
back down and the waitress came back over for their order. The two of them
split a bucket of wings. Jason was filling us in on his talk that he had with
Mike today.
"He's
not worried at all.
It’s
next fall when he has to
defend the title openly that he's really training for. Since it’s summer and
school isn't in session yet, Colt flew down to help him out. Pretty cool of him
if you ask me."
And there
you have it. Someone who knows Colt's whereabouts and it is not me.
"So
when did Colt go there?” Tony was more curious about it than I was. I truly
wanted to drop the subject.
"The beginning of the week."
"So
Sadie,
how's Ash?" Leave it to Heather to bail me out.
That is what best friends are for.
"He's
awesome. Very busy with school and volunteering but he's great."
"Has he
had you meet the family or are you ready to introduce yours?
"I met
his parents on their anniversary and Kate I met the night of Dave's party,
remember? As for my parents, I plan to soon."
"That serious, huh?
Good for you."
"He's
definitely good for me."
"Girls,
I don't mean to be rude but stop talking about girly stuff. It’s a sports bar,
for God’s sake." Jason always had a way with words.
"What
would you rather us talk about? How the Cardinals crushed the Dodgers?"
"Sadie,
don't talk baseball either."
"What
do you think about another road trip?"
Saved by Tony,
once again.
"Where to this time?"
Now Heather was interested.
"What
about the Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri? My parents took me there
once when I was a kid and it was incredible. It would be a haul to drive but
fun, what do you think?”
"Sadie,
that's an awesome idea! Do you think Mike and Ash could go?”
"I
don't know about Mike? Tony or Jason, you could ask him and I can check with
Ash."
"Tony,
you can call him since I just talked to him today and he hasn't heard from you
in over a week."
"Way to
make me feel bad, Jason. You know I have been slammed ever since I went back to
work at the firm, but I will check with him tomorrow."
"Oh,
this could be so much fun!" I was beyond excited. A vacation with Ash was
just what we needed.
I texted him immediately.
Me: DO U
THINK U CAN GET AWAY FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS TO ROAD TRIP IT WTH MY FRIENDS AND
ME?
I didn't
expect him to respond for a while and I got what I expected. I looked down at
my phone in anticipation several times before I gave up and set it on the
table. Everyone was looking up places to rent and Tony found a killer house
right on the lake. Boats weren't that expensive to rent, neither were wave
runners. The night ended with us talking about the trip the whole time. When we
all were heading out the door, my phone dinged. I grabbed it out of my purse so
fast I am surprised it didn’t shoot across the room. I looked down and saw