“When I told you about her fiancé, it wasn’t for you to push her away. It was to explain why she was acting the way she was.”
“Your plan backfired, Bess. All it did was make me question why she never told me about this guy. What? Does he want her back?” I snap.
“I can see now it was a mistake to say anything at all, but just so you know, her fiancé passed away two months before they were supposed to get married.”
“He what?”
“You heard me,” she throws my own words back in my face.
Here I was acting all jealous and insecure over a ghost. “I’m an asshole.”
She doesn’t even fuss at me for swearing. “Sometimes.”
“I won’t be needing you to pick her up from the airport.”
“I figured as much.”
Hell, I’ve made a big mess out of everything. First, I pushed Bethany away for caring about me. Now, I’ve distanced myself even more because I don’t feel good enough for her. It’s about time I got over my shit and started acting like a man worthy of the attention Bethany was giving me.
I have a lot to think about on the drive to the airport. Whether the outcome be good or bad, I need to tell Bethany how much she means to me and the reason I pushed her away in the first place. I’m scared, scared I’m not man enough for her after the bite, and scared she will leave me after I found out she had been engaged before. Those were embarrassing things to admit to myself, let alone her.
I made good time on my drive, and since I beat her plane, I decided to park and meet her at the baggage claim instead of on the curb. Walking around on paved surfaces is much easier than almost anywhere on the farm. I focus on taking my time. That, plus the smooth walkways makes my limp less noticeable.
Once I find the carousel her luggage is being sent to, I wait. There’s a rush of people; I’m assuming from her plane, but I don’t see her. It’s when I head in the direction of the gates. That’s when I find her, walking slowly, pulling an extra bag for an older gentleman. He’s walking with a walker peacefully chatting with her as they make their way to baggage claim.
She looks amazing, her long pale green sundress showing a hint of her ankle with every step she takes. Her auburn curls shine as they frame her beautiful face. I’m a fool for pushing this stunning creature away.
That’s when it hits me; this is just who she is, a caring person. How lucky am I that she cares for me! How blessed I should feel that she wants to be with me and how stupid would I be to not treasure the gift of it. I meet them halfway.
“Bethany.”
She seems surprised to see me, smiling, widely. “Beau.”
“Here, let me help you with that extra bag.”
She passes it to me quietly, a small smile hinting around the corners of her mouth. “This is Mr. Williamson. We met on the plane.”
I dip my head. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
He glances between us. “This your boyfriend?”
I answer for her, bending down to kiss her cheek before I offer him my hand. “Yes, sir. Beau Hamilton.”
He lifts one hand from his walker to shake mine. “You have a very sweet girlfriend, Beau.”
I nod, my eyes on Bethany as I reach for her hand. There’s still plenty for us to discuss, but this is the first time I have acknowledged myself publicly as her boyfriend. She doesn’t correct me. I don’t know if that’s for my benefit or for Mr. Williamson’s, but we’ll have about an hour alone together in my truck for me to find out.
When we reach the carousel, a relative of Mr. Williamson meets him and I pass over his rolling bag. He shakes my hand a second time telling me to take care of Bethany. She smiles widely and gives him a hug before he leaves. I reclaim her hand as we stand together waiting for her suitcase.
We walk in a comfortable silence back to my truck once we’ve retrieved it. It’s once I’ve loaded it into the back and we’re both seated that I break the silence.
“I’m sorry I’ve been acting like an ass.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about my engagement,” she replies, lifting my hand into hers.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
She sighs, turning her head to look out the front windshield. “It’s hard to talk about, and that’s why I haven’t brought it up before. I told Bess while we were waiting for you to wake up at the hospital. What happened with you reminded me of what happened with Kurt. He wasn’t bitten by a snake though. He had been in a car accident. Waiting for you to wake up brought me right back to when I waited for him to wake up; only in his case, he didn’t.”