the first chord, and I began to sing the first bar, my eyes locked on Sasha and I didn’t even notice that anyone else was there.
It was the first time she was hearing the song that I’d titled A Forever Thing. When I got to the chorus and sang:
“This is a forever thing
You are my forever thing
We are a forever thing
Some things change
Some things shift
Some things slip from your grip
But not this, not my love
I’m here to stay
Up, up, up and away
This is a forever thing
You are my forever thing
We are a forever thing”
By the time I got to the chorus the second time, I saw tears falling down her eyes. I might be performing for my brother’s wedding but there was only one person I was singing to. My forever thing.
Chapter 35
Sasha
“True love is waking up smiling every morning and knowing exactly whose fault that is.”
~ Barbara-Jean Nelson
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Everyone cheered as Jackson pulled his wife into his arms for their first kiss as husband and wife. I felt tears welling up in my eyes as I watched the couple walk down the center of the tent. All of the Briggs brothers and the bridesmaids coupled up and followed behind. My eyes were of course drawn to one groomsman in particular. Beau kept his eyes trained on me as he escorted his sister Harmony down the aisle.
I’d done my best to pay attention to the service, but it had been difficult because I’d felt Beau staring at me. I knew what he was thinking, this should be us getting married. And he was right. I’d told him that I wasn’t ready, but that was four weeks ago. I was ready now. I’d been ready to marry him before he’d performed his song, after that I almost hijacked the wedding and forced the pastor to marry us.
That was the first time I’d ever seen Beau perform, and if I wasn’t already pregnant with his baby, that might have done the trick. After seeing Beau in action, he’d been promoted. No longer was he the Sexiest Man Alive, he was now the Sexiest Man Who Ever Existed.
After the wedding party passed, the guests began filing out and Gam patted my purse and teased, “Do I need to check your purse for vodka?”
“No. I can’t—” I stopped myself before I said drink. My mind scrambled for how to cover. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“Well, it worked out pretty well for ya,” Gam pointed out.
“Yes, it did.”
We followed the crowd into the Briggs barn which was decked out with string lights hanging from the rafters. Beautiful arrangements of fresh flowers with votive candles set inside of them on the center of each table. There was a twenty-foot-tall light projected on the far wall of the barn that read Josie & Jackson.
“This is beautiful,” Gam commented as we entered.
“It really is.” I looked around thinking about what I would want to incorporate into my reception.
“Oh, there’s Dixie Rose, I’ll be right back.”
I watched as Gam made her way over to Mrs. Porter. She was doing so much better. As horrible as her health scare had been, I was actually thankful for it. Since she got out of the hospital, she’d been taking her health very seriously. She’d always been active, but now she was eating better and taking her medication.
I touched my belly. It made me happy. Not just because she’d be around longer for me, but now for her great-grandchild.
“Hello, beautiful!” Dolly wrapped her arms around me, and I melted into her embrace.
From day one she’d welcomed me with open arms, literally, into her family. Since I moved in with her son a week after meeting him, she’d treated me just like one of her kids. Every family dinner, birthday, or function I was included. I’d never felt so accepted and loved before. I still had to pinch myself sometimes to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.
“Wasn’t Beau’s song was amazing!” she beamed.
“It was…” I didn’t even know how to put into words what it had been. “So good I can’t even describe it. He is so talented. It breaks my heart that he didn’t play for so long.”
She patted my hand and smiled. “Well, we have you to thank for him picking it up again.”
I blushed, feeling unworthy of that distinction even though Beau had told me the same thing numerous times. “I think it was just the right timing.”
“I think you don’t give yourself enough credit,” she said