The kids are running around blowing bubbles while the grownups are socializing in circles not far from the keg. There’s a table with drinks and cups for folks to serve themselves.
I grab Bethany’s hand, lifting her knuckles to my lips. “Uh oh, somebody brought a box of wine. I’m guessing I’m driving home tonight.”
She giggles, covering her mouth. My girl loves some wine in a box.
I carry the cooler over to the drink table and take out the fruit salad, passing it to Bethany. I watch her walk it over to the dessert table, my eyes glued to the gentle sway of her hips. She turns, right before she reaches the table and gives me the ‘stop looking at my butt’ glare. I ignore her and just keep on staring. She goes around to the backside of the table and starts talking to Bess so I grab a beer and head off to find my dad.
As I suspected, he’s manning one of the grills. “Hey, Pops.”
He lifts his bottle to mine and I clink it. “Hi Beau. Farm is looking real good, son.”
“Thanks. We’ve had a good year. The food bank is thrilled and we’ve been able to barter for a new tractor.”
I should have known better than to mention a new tractor to my dad and expect him not to want to see it. I just didn’t expect him to leave mid-conversation and stick me with grill duty.
“How’d you get stuck grilling?” Bethany asks a bit later as she walks up.
“Mentioned the new tractor to my dad and he took off. I didn’t want the fish to burn so I figured I’d hang out here until he got back.”
“What glass is that?” I tease, pointing to her wine.
She smacks my stomach lightly. “My first.”
My dad makes it back not long after to reclaim his grill duties. Bethany and I make the rounds together to chat and mingle with everyone in attendance. Once the food is ready, we head over to some picnic tables and chow down. As the sun sets, we light tiki torches while the kids start roasting marshmallows. I ease down into an Adirondack style chair and pull Bethany into my lap.
“Mmm,” she mumbles, snuggling against me.
“When do you want to head home?” I ask, gently kissing the back of her neck.
“Soon if you keep that up.”
“Let’s go.”
I collect our cooler from the drink table while Bethany says our goodbyes. She’s had a few glasses of wine so I drive with her cuddled up to my side.
When we get to the house, she pops into her office to check her email while I head out to the back porch. After a couple minutes, I ask her to join me.
“It’s dark out here. Want me to turn on the porch light?” she asks from the doorway.
“It’s not that dark. Come here, baby.”
Silhouetted from the light inside the house, she almost glows
before she closes the door and joins me out on the porch.
“I poured you a glass of wine,” I say, passing it to her.
“Oh, baby, I’m already a sure thing,” she teases, taking it.
“And I’m sure about you.” I lean over and kiss her cheek.
“It’s so beautiful out here,” she murmurs.
“I have something for you,” I say, handing her a glass jar with a firefly inside.
“Aww. Little guy. When’d you catch him?” She sets down her wine and lifts the jar to get a better look.
As she moves it the ring slides across the bottom, clinking on the glass. Her eyes widen as they focus on the ring. “Beau?”