Remember Love (18 page)

Brenna

While Tucker and Spencer were outside earlier, I told Lexi what I was going to do. She was jumping up and down with excitement at the thought of being an “auntie”. Her job was to keep Tucker from following me into the house when I went in to take the test.

I was really enjoying the stories my Pa and John were telling
. Then John and Anna started telling on Tucker and me. It’s not that I’m embarrassed, but to have my Pa know that I was making out in the barn with Tucker is a little weird.

When I finally have to pee
, I bump my leg against Lexi’s, letting her know it’s time. Of course, Tucker doesn’t want to let me go. I love how he wants to spend every second with me, but right now I need him to stay put. He has no idea I even bought the test yet.

I lock the bathroom door behind me
, just in case Lexi can’t keep him occupied. That way I can have some warning he’s in the house. I grab the box out from the linen closet, where I hid it under the stack of towels, and open it. Taking the directions and laying them open on the counter, I quickly scan them before I sit down. Peeing on a stick is not as easy as you’d think.

When I’m finished
, I place the stick on the counter beside the instructions. After washing my hands, I quietly unlock the bathroom door and peak out. Not seeing Tucker, I leave the bathroom. I grab my phone off the kitchen counter as I pass it. I go out the front door. Standing on the porch, I send Tucker a picture of the pregnancy test box and tell him to come see the results. By the time he gets there, they should be showing.

When I get back to the backyard
, no one is talking but staring at the open back door. When they see me, I know they are about to be asking questions. Before they start, I tell them just wait they should know any time now.

They don’t have long to wait before Tucker appears in the doorway
. When his eyes land on me, I’m not sure what to think. I can’t tell if he’s happy or sad. My question is answered, when he leaps over the deck rail and starts towards me. His feet are eating up the distance quickly. I notice the stick in his hand. When he gets close enough, I see tears in his eyes as a smile spreads across his face. He lifts me off my feet and pressing his lips to mine.

“Will somebody tell us what’s going on?” Anna ask
s.

Tucker pulls away from my lips long enough to toss the stick on the table
, before burying his face in my neck.

It doesn’t take them long to figure out what Tucker threw their way
. It’s only a moment before we hear his mom yell. “We’re going to be grandparents!”

The excited chatter going on around
us, doesn’t bother us, because we’re too lost in our own happiness. A few minutes later, I’m being pulled from Tucker’s arms and into my mom’s. Tears soak her face as she squeezes me. When I look up, I see that she isn’t alone. Anna is crying with a huge smile on her face and John is swiping under his eyes. My Pa is smiling and nodding his head like he already knew. Lexi and Spencer are also smiling.

Once my mom releases me
, Tucker allows everyone else a few moments to hug me. I think it’s only because he is getting hugs from them all too. As soon as the last hug is given, I’m back in his arms.

I si
t between his legs, with both his hands on my stomach, the rest of the night. When everyone is ready to call it a night, he let me go long enough to load the picnic tables back up.

“I think you made him the happiest man in the world today
, Brenna.” I look over at John and smile as he puts his arm around my waist. “You made this old man pretty happy too. It’s good to see my boy smiling again.”

“I love him
, John, and I intend to keep that smile on his face forever.”

“I know you do.” He replies
, kissing me on the cheek.

Watching John walk away
, I didn’t even notice Pa sneaking up on me. That old man still has the capabilities to make me jump and yell, when those pinchers sink into the back of my arm. Shit that hurts! He’s chuckling as he steps up beside me and puts his arm around my shoulders.

“You got a good man there
, Feisty. He loves you. I can see it. He looks at you just like I used to look at your grandma.”

I can’t stop the tears that flood my eyes
. My Pa doesn’t say stuff like this often. This was his way of letting me know he approves of Tucker.

“Thanks Pa
. I think I’ll keep him.”

“See that you do
, girl.” He kisses my cheek before walking toward his truck.

Anna and
Mom are next in line. They both hug me and tell me how happy they are to know they will have a grandbaby soon. Then they too are gone. Lexi and Spencer are the last to leave; they don’t linger long before leaving us to ourselves.

I watch Tucker as he tur
ns to start walking back toward me, when he steps in front of me. I go up on my toes and put my arms around his neck. He’s smiling down at me.

“We’re going to be parents,
” I whisper against his lips when he lowers his head.

“I know and I can’t wait.”

We stand there holding each other, kissing, and whispering I love you to each other for a long time before making our way into the house.

When we enter the bedroom
, I turn around to look up at him. “You got any plans for Saturday?”

“Not that I know of.”

“How does a wedding sound?”

“That sounds perfect
, baby.”

“I’ll let you know where to meet me.”

Tucker stares down at me for a minute before he smiles and nods. I think we could get married in a truck stop bathroom and he wouldn’t care as long as I was there to say I do.

* * *

Tucker

When I looked down at that stick and saw the word pregnant in the little window, emotion overwhelmed me. I’m going to be a dad. Brenna is carrying my baby. That was the first thoughts that ran through my mind. Then love, so much love, for her and our baby.

When I saw her standing in the yard
, waiting for me to come out, I couldn’t be bothered by the steps. I leapt over the rail to get to her faster. Tears spill over my face and Brenna’s concern for me is obvious. She didn’t realize the reason for my tears, but when a smile stretched across my face, she figured out what the test said. By the time I reached her, our tears mingled with our kiss.

I was so fucking happy
in that moment, and nothing could have brought me down. When my mom asked what was going on, all I could do was toss the test onto the table. I couldn’t talk yet. I just wanted to hold the woman I love and share this moment with her. That lasted for a while until Caroline took her from me, and then I had to wait while everyone congratulated us.

Once she was back in my arms
, I didn’t let her go again until everyone was ready to go. I don’t feel the least bit bad that I was ready for them to leave. I had my own celebrating to do with Brenna. And now we’re getting married on Saturday. I can’t wait to get her naked and under me.

Holding her face in my hands and looking down into her eyes
, I see all the love that I feel for her reflecting right back at me. “I love you, so damn much. You make my life complete.”

“I love you
, too. I’m so glad you came back into my life.”

Releasing her face and pulling off my clothes
, I watch as she does the same. “Me too baby, me too,” I say as I pick her up and carry her to bed.

Tonight
, there is no time for slow touches and sweet kisses. It’s a good thing she’s always as ready as I am, because tonight I can’t wait. I need inside her. I need to be connected to this woman, in every way possible. 

As soon as our lips touch,
she opens for me. Our kiss is deep and full of all the love between us. When she grinds herself against me, I know she’s wet and ready. I situate myself between her legs and Brenna wraps hers around my waist, locking her ankles behind my back. Unable to wait any longer , I slide into her with more force that I usually do.

“Don’t stop.”

I need no further encouragement. Pulling back slowly, I push back into her with just as much force as I did the first time. Watching her face each time I enter her, I make sure I’m not hurting her, Brenna’s nails dig into my shoulders, showing me she’s enjoying this as much as I am. Something inside me snaps. Suddenly, I’m not just making love to her. I am claiming her.

Each thrust gets faster and harder. Soon we are both breathing hard and fast, sweat coating our bodies as we work together. When her body begins to tighten around mine
, I can feel my own release building. Thrusting deeper, harder, faster she screams my name as her body clamps tightly around me. As her body milks mine, I explode inside her.

I don’t even have the strength to roll us both over. I hold my weight off her on trembling arms
, until finally dropping beside her and pull her close. She reaches down to pull the cover over us. Brenna’s arms wrap around me and her lips meet mine. Right now, neither of us has to say I love you. We know exactly how the other feels.

Brenna

6 days later…

Today is the day I’ve waited my whole life for. I’m thankful Tucker and I have been given a second chance. I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life with anyone other than him. The past five weeks have been a whirlwind of memories and love. They’ve all lead me right here to this moment.

Tucker wasn’t happy
yesterday when I told him I’d be leaving after supper to spend the night at my mom’s. He didn’t want me to go and did everything he could think of to keep me there. Let’s just say, it was late by the time I got to moms and I was exhausted. After hanging up my dress, I crawled into bed. I barely got any sleep, maybe two hours, before I wake and reach out for Tucker.

We ended up talking on the phone for about an hour before I felt like I could fall asleep again. Before I hung up
, he told me not to forget to let him know when and where he should meet me later that day.
Like I would forget.

Standing here now
, looking into the mirror at myself, I’m glad I decided against traditional wedding finery. Long dresses and heels don’t belong where we’ll be going. My mom steps into the room a few minutes later, and I can see the tears in her eyes as she looks me over.

I wrap my arms around her
, telling her not to cry. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you
, too, baby girl. I’m really happy you and Tucker are finally getting your happy ever after.”

I hug her tighter and
fight my own tears. I know she still feels bad over what she did, but Tucker and I have forgiven her. It’s not important anymore, we may have missed out on some years together, but we are here now and that’s all that matters.

Mom steps away
, wiping her eyes and asks if I’m ready. I nod and smile. I’m so ready. Grabbing my phone, I text Tucker. It’s time to have a wedding.

* * *

Tucker

The big day is finally here
. Her mom was adamant that she stay with her last night. I did everything I could to keep her here, though, successfully wearing us both out. I couldn’t sleep without her and was so happy to hear my phone ring at one in the morning. We talked for a long time, until we finally were too sleepy to talk any longer.

I was up with the sun this morning
, too anxious to lie around. I took my first shower alone since the morning I was making plans to go ring shopping. I’ve been ready to go for a couple hours now. Pacing back and forth, I’m wearing a hole in the carpet waiting on Brenna to text me.

It feels like I have waited my whole life to make Brenna my wife, you’d think I could wait a few more hours. I try to watch TV
, but it doesn’t hold my attention. I can’t sit still. I have to move. I keep checking my phone to see if she’s called or text. The waiting is driving me insane.

Finally
, my phone beeps. When I unlock the screen, seeing her name, I almost drop to my knees to thank God.

Brenna: Feel like getting married today?

Tucker: Absolutely

Brenna: see u in 30 our spot.

I don’t even text her back. I’m out the door and in my truck in no time. I know where I’ve got to go and I’m not wasting any time in getting there.

Once I hit the main roads
, I slow down and follow the speed limit, thankful for living in a small town that has little traffic. Within ten minutes, I’m pulling down the driveway towards our spot. I see everyone except Brenna, Lexi and her Pa, already standing there, talking and watching as I get out of my truck. As I make my way towards our friends and family, I’m tempted to text her and tell her time’s up. The next twenty minutes are going to be hell.

* * *

Brenna

These last fifteen minutes have felt like an hour, time seems to have slowed
to a crawl. I wonder if Tucker is here yet. If he is, I’m ready to get this show on the road. I look over at Lexi, for the hundredth time in the past few minutes. She has her phone in her hand, probably texting Spencer.

“Ask him if Tucker is here.”

She rolls her eyes but starts typing anyway. When her phone vibrates in her hand, I want to snatch it away. She begins laughing before she tells me what it says.

“Spencer said they won’t need to mow out there
for a while. Tucker is wearing the grass down, he’s pacing so much.”

It’s good to know I’m not the only impatient one. “Come on
, let’s go.”

“It’s not time yet.
” She says with a laugh. This earns her a scowl which only makes her laugh harder.

“We’ll walk slowly.
” I say. We walk into the living room and see my Pa sitting there waiting on us. “Pa, it’s time.”

Once we are in the yard
, I can see everyone in the distance. I see what Spencer meant too. Tucker is pacing back and forth. It’s time to put him out of his misery.

My isle is made of dirt and gravel
. A path I’ve traveled many times. Every time I walked it, or ran it, was almost always leading me to the same destination. Tucker. This is where it all began for us, right here on this farm. This is where I want to marry the man that stole my heart so long ago.

When we get to the edge of the fi
eld, we are right in front of our tree. Everyone but Tucker turns to look at us before taking their places. There is nothing to display that a wedding is about to take place. Mom wanted to decorate around the tree, but I told her no. This old tree holds a lot of memories for Tucker and me. I didn’t want anything other than to marry him under the branch we spent so much time on.

As soon as I take my first step into the grass
, Tucker stops pacing and turns abruptly. The biggest, most beautiful smile spreads across his handsome face and I’m sure I’m smiling just as big, right back at him. No one else may understand why I chose this spot, but he does. He gets it and if the smile across his face is anything to go by, he’s happy I chose it.

He looks gorgeous as always
, but today he is wearing a cream button down, his jeans, and his boots. His shirt matches my dress perfectly. My Pa leads me to him and places my hand in Tucker’s, as we step under our tree.

T
he preacher asks, “Who gives this woman to this man?”

A chorus of “we all do”
rang out behind us, making the preacher laugh right along with everyone else.

We listen as he begins the traditional wedding
vows. When it came time to say our part, the preacher looks at Tucker and tells him to repeat after him. I watch as Tucker shakes his head and tells the preacher he has this part.

“I
, Tucker, take you, Brenna, to be my wife, to have and to hold, through it all. No matter what life throws at us, from this day forth, I promise to be right there by your side. I promise to honor and cherish and forsake all others, till death do us part. I promise to love you and our children with every breath I take and every beat of my heart. I’ve loved you for more years than I haven’t and I plan to love you in this life and the next.”

So much for not crying
. Tears are streaming down my face and his fingers are there to catch them, rubbing the moisture into his skin, and absorbing my tears as I did his not so long ago.

H
e slides the band over my left finger. Taking my right hand, he removes my engagement ring and places it back on my ring finger with my wedding band. He then brings my hand to his mouth and places a kiss right over them. Sealing his promises and vows with a kiss.

The preacher is looking at me and I know it’s my turn. Looking up at Tucker
, all I can see is love. It’s radiating off of him and right into me.

* * *

Tucker

I said hello to everyone when I first got here, then began pacing again. Brenna picked the perfect spot for us to be married. Five weeks ago today, we sat in that tree and began finding our way back to one another. There is no other place in the world I’d rather vow eternity with her.

Spencer tried to stop me from pacing
, but he didn’t have any luck. Even though he told me I didn’t have any reason to be nervous, that didn’t stop my hands from shaking in anticipation. I looked at him like he was crazy. I’m not nervous. I’m anxious and ready to marry the woman that God made especially for me.

I didn’t even notice when everyone stop
ped talking. Then I felt her. As soon as her feet stepped on the grass. I knew she was there. 

My eyes drank in the sight of her standing there
, with her arm through Lewis’s. She was wearing a cream colored strapless dress that hit her right above the knees. When my eyes made it to her feet, I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. She had her boots on. When I meet her eyes, her smile matches mine.

It’s not long before Lewis is placing her hand in mine and the preacher is asking who gives her to m
e. I hear them all at once say “we all do.” When it was time for me to say my vows, I had more I needed to say than the traditional mumbo jumbo, so I took over. Now it’s Brenna’s turn and I have to force myself to stand still. I’m so ready to kiss my bride. Brenna smiles up at me and then she begins.

“I
, Brenna, take you, Tucker, to be my husband, to have and to hold whenever I damn well please. Through it all, no matter what life throws at us. I’ll be there, right beside you. I also promise to honor and cherish you as well as forsake all others till death do us part. I also promise to love you and any children we have with every breath I take and every beat of my heart. We have a forever kind of love. I will be forever yours in this life and the next. And from this day forward, I will show you, every day, how happy I am that you came back into my life and made me remember love.”

Brenna reaches up
and wipes away the tears I can’t hold back. The same thing I did to her moments before. She rubs them into her skin, absorbing a part of me into her. She slides a wide band on my finger and brings my hand to her mouth to place a kiss atop it. We don’t even bother to look at the preacher when she’s done. We’re too focused on each other.

When he pronounces us man and wife
, and tells me that I may now kiss my bride. She’s off her feet and in my arms, her arms and legs locked tight around me before bride leaves his mouth. We don’t break apart until we hear Lexi’s big mouth.

“Who brought the popcorn?”

Of course, the four of us are the only ones who know what she’s talking about and begin to laugh. When I place Brenna back on her feet, we notice everyone else is walking towards the house. We both turn and look at our tree, our special spot. The place that holds so many of our memories.

“I’d offer you a lift up there
, but you went and got yourself knocked up.”

Brenna turns and looks at me, “I think you had something to do with that
, Tucker Wade.”

“Oh
, yes, I did and I enjoyed every single second of it.”

Brenna smiles up at me and places her hand over her stomach. “You think our children w
ill climb our tree one day?”

Pulling her
back up against my chest, I place my hand on top of hers. “I’m counting on it. And if their lucky they’ll find love here, just like we did.”

We stand there under our tree
, for a little longer, before making our way back down the driveway toward the house. We walk hand in hand, just like we did so many years ago and like we’ll do for many years to come.

I found everything I ever wanted here
, on this farm, almost fifteen years ago. I may have lost her for a little while, but now we have it back and it’s so much stronger. No one or nothing will ever come between us again. Brenna was right when she said we have a forever kind of love. No matter what life throws at you, never forget the one’s you love, and if you do, well, do what we did. Just sit back and let the memories take over until you remember love.