well itself, polished smooth with the age and the elements. The rocks weren’t shiny and brand new. They were aged and weathered to a natural beauty. It should have seemed out of place inside the wooden structure, but somehow it fit.
Tiny white lights ringed around the tree trunks and along the inside of the circular roof line of the gazebo. Brody reached inside the entrance and flipped a switch, the lights turned on, illuminating the area in a warm glow, making it feel like something out of a dreamscape.
“Brody, this is amazing.” Beth’s hand smoothed along the painted wood, her fingertips barely touching it, as if afraid to break the spell of the secret garden.
“This,” he gestured around, the sweep of his arm encompassing the whole area, “is Momma’s secret garden. Dad built it for her as a surprise a couple of years after they moved here. He cleared the land and built the structure, but she did the rest. Planted all the flowers and the ornamental grasses, stringing the lights, everything.”
Beth’s face turned up to his, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. “This is an expression of love. You can feel it in every inch. Every flower.”
He reached up and caught a tear with his thumb. “I didn’t bring you here to make you cry.”
Shaking her head, she laughed softly. “They aren’t sad tears. It’s just, seeing something like this, knowing the sentiment behind it, I can feel the love. Can’t you?”
“Yes.” The word broke forth and he knew he meant it, but not in the way she thought. He knew Douglas and Ms. Patti loved each other. Sometimes it was like watching two teenagers, they were so giddy with it. No, he meant it for her. Beth. The woman who’d inched her way into his heart a little bit at a time, until he couldn’t imagine his life without her. Without Jamie. They were a package deal and he wanted them both.
Beth climbed the step into the gazebo and stood looking down into the wishing well. Dusk had fallen, seeming to wrap them in a cloak of invisibility, where there wasn’t anyone around except him and Beth. He knew there were people in the Big House, within shouting distance, yet right here, right now, they were the only two people in the whole world.
“Thank you for bringing me out here, and showing me this beautiful place. I hope Ms. Patti won’t mind.”
“She’ll be fine with you seeing her garden and the gazebo. It’s a place she only shares with people she cares about, and you are definitely one.”
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a quarter and handed it to Beth. “Make a wish.”
Her lips curved up in a smile. “Really? Think it’ll work?”
“You’ll never know unless you give it a try.”
She closed her eyes for a few seconds, then tossed the coin. Stepping close to her, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him, and held her. Simply let the night breeze embrace them, and enjoyed the stillness of the moment. Everything had been crazy for the last few days, and he knew they both needed a moment or two of being able to simply stop and take a deep breath. He was surprised when she leaned back against him, snuggling into his arms.
“This is nice,” she whispered.
“Yes, it is.”
She turned in his arms, and wrapped hers around his neck. “I’m sorry our date got ruined.”
“It wasn’t your fault. But we’re here now, together.” Reaching up with one hand, he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, allowing his fingertips to glide across the silky skin of her cheek.
“Brody, I want…” Her words trailed off and her eyelids lowered, shielding her gaze. “Never mind.”
He lifted her chin with his knuckle, and her eyes opened, meeting his. “Tell me, Beth.”
“I want you to kiss me.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips across hers, gentle at first, but deepened the kiss when he felt her response. He seemed to come alive inside, as if he’d been sleepwalking through life and only now was finally awake. It grew more intimate as his tongue traced along the seam of her lips, and she opened to him, making him feel ten feet tall.
The kiss ended with a gasp as they pulled apart, and he rested his forehead against hers.
“Wow.” Her voice was breathless.
“Wow, indeed.”
“Seems a shame we waited so long. Maybe we should do it again sometime?” The twinkle in her eyes matched the tone in her