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He’d also been gone early this morning before she’d awakened. She knew he hadn’t gotten much sleep. She’d heard him tossing and turning and then up and about all night.
Something was wrong. When she saw him later, she was determined to get him to open up to her. She knew he probably couldn’t tell her the details of the matter if it was army related. Reece had often had a heavy expression on his features when he was home on leave. Despite her insistence, he explained he couldn’t give her all the details on his missions.
Reegan didn’t need the details now. She just needed Brandon to know that she was there for him. She’d be happy if he rested his head in her lap while she sang to him.
“I bet the wedding will probably happen as quickly as this weekend,” Eva was saying.
That snapped Reegan back to the present. Married? This weekend?
But just as much as the thought stole her breath, it created an equal ache in her heart. She didn’t want to wait. She wanted to be Mrs. Brandon Lucas as soon as she could. She wanted to be his wife, and she wanted to make this house a home.
There was nothing in this place that was hers, not even the clothing she wore. It was all gifts and donations. Neither was there much in there that belonged to Brandon. The two of them would get to paint this blank slate together and make it theirs.
Again, her heart filled with so much joy of how blessed she was even in the light of all the tragedy she’d experienced. There had been a reason for it all. There had been a masterplan that brought her to this moment.
From deciding to stay and take care of the house left to her brother, to getting up and singing in the choir at that particular service. She’d been there at the right moment when Brandon had shown up. True, he’d come to tell her that her brother was missing, but her faith was still firm that Reece was with her if not in body then in spirit.
It had all led her to this moment, standing in her very own kitchen, preparing to marry the man of her dreams. Her singing had pierced Brandon’s heart. If she hadn’t have raised her voice, Brandon wouldn’t have heard her sing. And now they’d be spending the rest of their lives together.
Reegan doubted they’d spend forever in this house on the ranch. But it would be a good start for them. There were two bedrooms, one for them and one for their first child. She hadn’t even had her first real kiss yet, and she was already thinking about, well, more.
“Brandon and Reegan don’t have to rush like we did,” Sarai was saying.
“None of us had to rush,” said Eva. “They all had months before that zoning about this land being for families only kicked in. Every one of them married before time was up.”
“She’s right.” Sarai turned back to Reegan. “You’ll likely be hitched by the weekend.”
That sounded perfectly fine to Reegan. The sooner, the better.
“And then you won’t be alone when he gets deployed again,” said Eva. “You’ll have us.”
It took Reegan running the woman’s words in her head over and over again to comprehend. Each time she replayed Eva’s words her blood grew colder and colder until the pitcher of lemonade slipped out of her hands.
“When he what?” Reegan breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eva and Sarai looked to each other. Concern was etched on both their honey-golden skin.
“I …” Eva looked between Sarai and Reegan. “That’s what he said his first night here.”
“Brandon’s deploying?” Reegan tested out the words. They tasted bitter on her tongue. “He’s going back to war?”
“I could be wrong?” Eva’s words rushed out. “That was his first day here before he met you.”
“He met me before he came here.”
“But he wasn’t in love with you then,” Sarai offered. “He is now.”
The back door opened. All three women turned to the large figure standing in the doorway. Brandon’s gaze swept over the scene at the kitchen table. His eyes were bright, hungry as they searched for her. But the light dimmed when he saw her. The two other women quickly excused themselves.
Reegan couldn’t look at him. Instead, she grabbed a rag and began mopping up the spilled lemonade. As she squeezed the sugary beverage from the rag, she felt all the joy squeeze from her heart.
“What happened?” Brandon asked.
“What does it look like?” she snapped, her voice breaking.
“I see the obvious answer is that someone spilled lemonade. But I don’t think it’s the right answer.” He bent down and took the rag from her, finishing cleaning up the mess she’d made.
Reegan watched him. She watched how the muscles of his arms moved as he dragged the rag over the floor. She watched how his lips pursed in concentration of the job. She looked at the dark bags under his eyes and ached to soothe him, even now.
