Covering the Carolinas (47 page)

“
No,” I say as the ground
below begins to tremor, and one single headlight lights the way.
Inside, I’m about to freak out. I don’t want to die, and she’s sure
not going to. As I pick her up off the ground, she wraps her legs
around me, and my body tenses as we stare into each other’s
eyes
while the whistle continuously
blows and the ground feels as if it’s about to crumble beneath us.
When my heart can’t handle it anymore, I break my stare and move us
from the track. Once we are safely off the tracks, I attack her
lips yet again not wasting another minute. I’m not sure if it’s the
fear of what we could have lost, but in this moment, I can’t get
enough of her. As I continue to get lost in her, I’m brought back
to the present as the train rushes by and the rush of air makes me
realize just how much I need her.

“
Rae, truth or dare.”

“
Truth,” she says.

“
What’s your favorite memory of me from before
I left?”

Chapter 28

Raegan

What do I say? I have to answer
truthfully.
I try not to grin like a crazy
person when I think about it, but I can’t help it. “When you
brought me the stuffed bunny. That’s my favorite memory of you.” I
say as Emmett continues to hold me in his arms.

“
Why?” he asks, and
I
know he’s not following the rules.

“
The day you brought me that bunny was the day
I realized that someone other than Grandaddy truly cared about me.
I knew life would get better, and it reminds me every time I look
at it.”

As I slide down his body, Emmett stands there,
stunned. “You still have it?” he asks.

“
I do.”

“
Raegan, there’s a reason
things happen in this world, and I have no doubt all those years
ago
was part of the plan. I just can’t believe
you kept it.” He says as he brushes my hair behind my
ear.

“
It’s always been a reminder
of what happened with my parents, how you graciously gave like only
a child can do, and how I never wanted to forget you… ever,” I say
as I look into his eyes
.

“
Over the years, I wondered
if you kept it or just tossed it into the yard sale pile. I can
remember going with my mom to
pick it out. You
were so crazy over Thumper, I knew the moment I saw it, you had to
have it.”

“
You’re right. I had to have
it,
Em,” I say as I take a step
toward him. “It led me to you.” I place my hand on his cheek and
bring my lips to his.

Emmett scoops me into his arms and walks to his
truck. He turns on the radio, it begins to play a slow country
song. As I lay in his arms in the bed of his truck, he begins to
kiss the side of my neck as his hands roam my body. My body
shivers, and I know it’s time to cross a line that I can never come
back from. Sitting up, I smile at him and bite the side of my lip.
He takes the hem of my shirt and begins pull it above my head.
Emmett looks at me with his eyes full of desire. “Are you sure,
Rae?” He asks.

“
I’ve never been so sure of anything in my
life.”

After giving myself completely to Emmett, I
know that I have fallen head over heels in love with him.
As he holds me in his arms and we look up into
the moonlit sky, I realize I am going to have to tell him about
Grandaddy. The question is when.

“
Em, do you ever feel like everything in your
world is out of control?” I ask as I prop up on my
elbow.

“
I used to before I moved
back here, but that’s life. It’s out of our control. All we can do
is hang on for the ride and hope we survive.”
Survive.
The word hits
me hard.

I push away the thoughts and ask him, “How’d I get
so lucky?”

“
I think we’re both pretty damn lucky, if you
ask me,” he says and then pulls me on top of him.

*****

Saturday morning arrives faster than I would have
liked, but my first thought is that I get to spend the majority of
it with Emmett—hot, sweaty muscles, and no shirt—or at least this
is how I picture the day.

After tossing on old clothes, I take my Braves ball
cap and pull my hair through the hole on the way down the
stairs.

“
Mornin’, Sunshine,” Grandaddy greets me as he
sits at the table reading the newspaper while drinking his coffee
and eating breakfast.

“
Mornin’,” I say as I pour
my cup of coffee and
make a plate of
breakfast.

As Grandaddy puts the coffee to his mouth, a huge
smile escapes his lips. “So, I take it you had a good time last
night?”

Oh, Lord, does he
know
? Is it that obvious?
“I
did. What about you?” I banter back.

“
Ya know, just watched
the Braves and then called it a night. I’m just a regular
party animal.”

“
I know. What am I gonna do with ya?” I
giggle. “I’m gonna scarf this down and start my chores, so I can
help once Cole and Em get here.”

“
I already got the eggs this
mornin’. We’ll both feed the animals and be ready to go. Take your
time.”
It’s almost as if he is soaking in these
little moments we have together.

After breakfast, we make our way to the barn and
feed and water the animals. Then, we sit on the porch with Hank and
another cup of coffee while we wait for Cole and Emmett.

As we swing back and forth, not much is said. We
just enjoy the quiet and each other’s company.

“
How are you today?” I ask him.

“
I’m great,
actually.”
Great? How is he
great?
“Spending time here on the farm,
working, and being with my favorite girl in the world. It doesn’t
get any better than this, Sunshine,” he says as he puts his arms
around my shoulder and hugs me tightly. He’s right. It doesn’t get
any better than this.

When Cole’s truck approaches in the distance,
Grandaddy takes my cup and goes
inside. I
stand on the front porch with my hands in my back pockets, waiting
to see Emmett emerge from the truck.
Ohmygosh
!
I
never knew a pair of worn-out Carhartts and a t-shirt with the
sleeves cut out could look so dang good! My eyes meet his,
and
he smiles. Cole takes a look at both of us and
shakes his head.

“
Mornin’, Rae,” Cole says as he walks past me
and into the house.

“
Mornin’,” I reply, but he’s already inside.
Emmett is standing on the first step and eye level with
me.

“
How are ya this mornin’?” he asks.

“
I’m perfect. What ’bout you?” I say as I bite
the corner of my bottom lip.

“
Life couldn’t get any
better than right now.” With those words, my heart melts, yet
again. He gives me a brief kiss on my lips before we make our way
inside to meet Cole and Grandaddy
.

After Grandaddy gives each of us a task and what
will be accomplished by the end of the day, we take our positions
and work until we break for lunch. I pull out chicken salad and
fresh rolls for lunch. They each eat two, and I can’t help but feel
my heart warm as the three men that mean the world to me are in the
same room. That’s when Grandaddy begins to cough
uncontrollably.

“
Grandaddy!” I yell. “Are you okay?” I look at
Cole for direction.

Grandaddy waves us off and takes a large gulp of
water. “I’m fine. Just eatin’ too fast.” I let out a breath of
relief. We sit about fifteen more minutes before we hit the field
hard to try to finish before mid-afternoon.

When Emmett excuses himself for a moment, my eyes go
straight to Grandaddy. “Are you sure you’re okay?” I inquire.

“
I promise. Now, Cole, I wanna have this done
by three. I know y’all got better things to do than work here all
day.”

“
Yes, sir. We got this,” he says and then
makes his way outside. I clean up the kitchen quickly and hurry to
help them.

After the last bale of hay is lifted onto the truck,
we make our way to the front porch to enjoy a glass of ice-cold
sweet tea.

“
So, what y’all youngins doin’ tonight?”
Grandaddy asks.

I look to the guys for guidance.

“
I’m not sure. I know there’s a field party,
as usual,” I reply.

“
Y’all haven’t been over there in
a while. It’s not ’cause of that Jace boy, is it?” Grandaddy
questions.

“
Nah, I’d just rather not, I guess, but Jordyn
is about to have a fit for me to go.”

“
I’m game if you are,” Emmett states and looks
at Cole.

“
Y’all know I’m not goin’,” Cole says as he
throws up his hands.

“
Smart move, Cole!” Grandaddy laughs as he
stands and says he’s gonna find a spot in his recliner.

Once Grandaddy is inside, we all look at each other.
“I don’t know how he does all of this,” Emmett says.

“
It’s easy, Em. This is his
world. He doesn’t know how
not
to work. Honestly, I think that
has been what’s kept him going all these years… well, and me, of
course.” I smirk.

“
Well, Lovebirds, I’m ’bout ready to get out
of these clothes. I’ve got a hot date tonight,” Cole says boldly.
Both Emmett and I snap our heads toward him.

“
With whom?” I question.

“
Tammy,” he responds.

“
You mean that girl with
whom you swear you’re
just
friends
?” I ask, placing
the last two words in air quotes.

“
That’d be the one. I guess
we’re not ‘just friends.’” He laughs as he stands. “Emmett, you’re
riding with me,” he says with a wink.
Ohmygosh! Cole knows!

“
Yeah, so, Rae, do you wanna
go to the
party tonight? Might be
fun.”

I ponder his question for a minute. “Sure, I
wouldn’t mind a little dancing by the fire,” I say as I brush my
hand across his chest and start to walk toward the door. He grabs
it, turns me to him, and attacks my lips.

“
I’ll see ya at seven,” he
informs me as
he backs away and down the steps
toward Cole’s truck. I wave, but not before making sure Cole has us
both covered tonight. He’ll give Emmett our shine before he picks
me up.
I need to get a little tipsy and
forget the fact my world is changing.

As the screen door slams behind me,
o
ops,
I hear Grandaddy holler
for me from the
recliner.

“
Yes, Grandaddy?” I ask as I enter.

“
Look, I’m not blind, and I know what it’s
like to be a teenager. Just be careful, and if you need me, call
me.”

“
Yes, sir,” I say as I head to take a shower,
so I can get supper ready before the party. After I dry my hair, I
throw on a pair of yoga pants and a tank and walk downstairs to get
supper cooking.

Looking in the cabinets and freezer, I have no
idea what to make. After working all day, nothing sounds good
except a gallon or two of water. As I continue to stare, I’m
startled
when Grandaddy breaks my train of
thought.

“
Come on. Let’s get a burger,” he
says.

“
A’ight.”

Grandaddy and I make our way to the Tasty-T for the
best burgers south of the Mason- Dixon Line. As we approach the
order window, he lets me order first, and then we find a picnic
table to sit and eat. Even with the cool fall air, it’s still nice
outside.

As our order is shouted from the window, I stand to
pick it up, but Grandaddy insists on getting it. I meet him halfway
to grab the drinks anyway.

After Grandaddy takes the first
bite, he shakes his head and says, “Um, um, um, man, that’s good!”
He’s right; it sure is. While we eat, he talks about the farm,
things he wants to get done over the next week, and then
it
happens. He starts
asking questions no one
ever
wants to talk to their grandfather or any
parental figure about.

“
Rae, you love him, don’t
ya?” he asks between
bites of fries.

I stare at my fries, but I might as well be honest
with him, because there’s no use in starting to lie now. I look
Grandaddy directly in the eyes. “Yeah, I love him, but I haven’t
told him yet.”

“
I knew you fell in love
with him all those years ago, but to see you both as young adults
makes my heart happy. I always knew the
right
guy would come along to replace me.”

“
He’s not gonna replace you! No one can!” He
shakes his head again.

“
Sunshine, there comes a
time in every child’s life where their parents are no longer the
loves of their life. It’s okay. In fact, I’m glad Emmett showed up
when he did, even though I would like to shoot him for it, ya
know?” My eyes bug out of my head.
Always keeping it real.
I try to
change the subject, but he raises his hand to stop me. “I’m not
going to, but I knew this day would come. I’m not saying I agree
with it or like it at all. Lord knows I don’t
want to be a great-granddaddy anytime soon, so you take
yourself to the doctor this week, missy.”