CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
THE PEACH FESTIVAL was one of many community celebrations in Sweetwater, and every year Bridgette tried to remember why those celebrations had felt too small town for her when she was younger. She hadn’t missed the festivals until she’d returned home and attended them with baby Louie in her arms and realized how wonderful their close-knit community actually was. All the local businesses shut down for the event, and practically the whole town showed up, which had given her a renewed sense of safety and comfort that she’d never thought she needed. Now, as they gathered along Main Street, climbing into flatbed trailers full of hay for the annual Peach Parade, she knew she’d rely on this community again after Bodhi left later that afternoon.
The trailers had been decorated by local middle- and high-school kids, painted with pictures of peaches and orchards, with orange and red streamers hanging beneath signs on the sides that read, SWEETWATER PEACH FESTIVAL, HAVING A PEACHY TIME, and boasted the names of local businesses sponsoring the event. The winner of the Peach Queen Beauty Pageant rode in the first trailer, wearing a short pink dress and a silver crown, waving to the crowd as they led the procession around the block. Bodhi sat beside Bridgette atop a hay bale, one arm around her—I need to make sure Mommy doesn’t fall off—and one around Louie, who was happily perched on his lap and waving to the crowd. Her family always rode together for the parade, and today was no different. Her parents sat on the far end, her father’s arm around Roxie, and beside them, Willow and Zane snuggled together. Piper, Talia, and of course, Aurelia, who was like family, were laughing. Ben sat on Bodhi’s other side, chatting with him. It was easy to imagine a life with Bodhi, and today she allowed herself to do just that. Every love deserves to be celebrated.
She played with images of attending future festivals and Winter Wonderlands. She saw nights with cookouts, a bedroom with both of their belongings, and Louie jumping in between them on the mattress in the mornings. She imagined working at the shop alongside Bodhi, their newborn baby in her arms.
But if anyone knew the truth, it was her. Wishes didn’t bring futures.
After the parade, Bodhi helped her down from the trailer, his black T-shirt straining over his biceps and chest as he lowered her to the ground, and whispered, “Hi, beautiful. Want to hide out behind the haystacks with me?”
Yes, please.
“Why don’t Grandpa and I take Louie to get his face painted?” Roxie suggested. “That’ll give you kids some time to do adult things.”
“Yeah!” Louie hollered.
“Okay.” Bridgette kissed the top of his head. “But you have to listen to Grandma and Grandpa.”
“He always does,” Roxie said as she took Louie’s hand. “Come on, sugar pop. Let’s see if we can convince Grandpa to get his face painted, too.”
Ben nudged Bodhi and Zane. “Fifty bucks says I can kick your asses in the pie-eating contest.”
Bodhi’s chest expanded, exchanging a challenging look with Zane.
“Cockfight,” Piper said over Bridgette’s shoulder.
“My man will win,” Bridgette replied.
“Hardly,” Willow said.
“I’ve got this, Wills.” Zane winked.
Aurelia pointed to the guys. “It’s like the Hulk, Brad Pitt, and . . . Lord, I’ve got no idea what to call Ben. Good Time Dalton?”
Every love deserves to be celebrated.
“This ought to be fun.” Talia looped her arm through Bridgette’s.
Bridgette couldn’t take her eyes off Bodhi. But it wasn’t just because of his broad back scaling down in a perfect V to his dark jeans, which hugged his powerful legs and ass deliciously, although that was an impeccable sight. Seeing him with Ben and Zane added images to her future wishing bank.
Talia leaned closer, her hair tumbling over her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”
“Surprisingly well.” It wasn’t an outright lie. As long as she didn’t dwell on the fact that they had merely a few hours left together, she was okay.
“Denial,” Talia said flatly.
“Let’s call it postponing reality.”
Bodhi glanced over his shoulder and blew her a kiss.
“My goodness, Bridge,” Talia said in a hushed, serious tone. “He’s so into you. How can he leave you guys?”
“He’s not leaving us,” she said more easily than she expected. “He’s actually protecting us from the worst-case scenario.”
“But what if the worst case never happens?” Talia asked. “You’re okay with giving him up?”
A pang of sadness cut through her. “I have to be, because if we stayed together and the worst case happened, I’d never survive it.”
Bodhi kept his eyes on Bridgette as he settled into his seat, looking giant between Ben and Zane. He had a few inches on them, but it was the breadth of his shoulders, the size of his bulbous muscles, and his granitelike features that made him look like he could take anyone on. Bridgette felt like she was playing a game of Which One of These Things Is Not Like the Others. Bodhi looked like he belonged on a battlefield even as they draped an apron over him and he put his hands behind his back, preparing to attack the pie with the same determination as he did everything else.
“You’re the strongest of all of us,” Talia said. “Everyone thinks it’s Piper, but I know better.”
As they cheered for their men, Bridgette remembered something her mother had told her after she’d moved back home with Louie. You don’t know what strength is until you’ve put aside your greatest desires for the good of your child.
Bridgette ran her fingers absently over the bracelet Bodhi had given her, watching her man gobble down pie and dreaming about all the sweet, peachy kisses she’d get afterward. Bodhi’s hands shot up in the air, declaring victory before anyone else had even finished half their pie. She wondered if there was a saying about the strength of men. Not that it mattered. She knew she was looking at the strongest man of all.
And she secretly wished they were both a little weaker.
THE AFTERNOON PASSED too quickly, with potato-sack races and tasting everything from peach tea to peach barbecue sauce. Bodhi should be sick of peaches, but he wasn’t, because this day would forever be remembered as one of his best. He knew even the word peach would remind him of sneaking behind haystacks to kiss Bridgette, and racing with Louie through the obstacle course. He glanced across the picnic table where they were eating dinner with the rest of Bridgette’s family and friends. Louie’s face was painted with the Yankees logo on one side and a peach on the other. His clothes and hair were filthy from rolling in the grass and hay and eating sticky peaches, and the glimmer of happiness in his eyes made it all worthwhile. Bodhi wanted to be there tonight when he conked out, too exhausted to move. He wanted to fall into bed with Bridgette and reminisce about all the adorable things Louie had done before taking her in his arms and making up for the lovemaking they’d missed last night. But he had to leave if he was going to have time to drop off Dahlia at his mother’s and get everything else done before reporting to training the next evening. He’d already packed up his belongings. All he had to do was say goodbye, pick up Dahlia, and get on the road.
It was the saying goodbye part that had him tied in knots.
Bodhi squeezed Bridgette’s hand beneath the table, wanting desperately to pull her against him. Her hair was tousled, her skin was bronzed from a busy day in the sun, and when he leaned closer, more than a hint of sadness shone in her eyes.
Bridgette whispered something to Roxie that Bodhi couldn’t hear. Then a forced smile formed on her face, and she said, “Louie, honey? Bodhi has to go back to the city. Are you ready to say goodbye?”
Everyone pushed to their feet as Louie ran around the table and jumped into Bodhi’s arms.
“’Bye, Bodhi. I love you,” Louie said.
Bodhi closed his eyes against unexpected tears, hugging him tight. “I love you, too, buddy. You be good for your mom, okay? Remember, you’re the man of the house. That means you always do the right thing.”
Louie nodded vehemently.
Bodhi reached into his pocket and pulled out the blue ribbon he’d won in the pie-eating contest. “Think you can hang on to this?”
“Yes.” Louie handed it to Bridgette. “Mom, don’t lose this.”
Everyone laughed.
“Okay, buddy. I need to get on the road.” He kissed his cheek one last time and set him down.
“It’s been a real pleasure,” Bridgette’s father said, embracing Bodhi. “You be safe, you hear?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Okay, Grandpa,” Roxie said. “Take Louie over to the petting zoo. I’ll be right there.”
“Yay!” Louie took his grandfather’s hand, and off they went.
Bridgette seemed to relax a little after Louie left. Bodhi wanted to take her in his arms, but Roxie embraced him before he had a chance.
“If only goodbyes were as easy for adults as they are for children.” Roxie drew back and smiled up at him. “You’re a special man, Bodhi Booker. We’ll be waiting for you to come back.”
A ripple of sadness wove its way from Bodhi to Bridgette. “I don’t know if or when I’ll be back, Roxie. How about you take care of Bridgette and Louie for me?”
“I can do that.” Roxie took his hand in hers, holding it for a long moment, and her smile faded. She drew him into her arms again and whispered, “Please be careful.”
“I know we’re not supposed to refer to the future,” Ben said as he pulled Bodhi into a manly embrace. “But we’re holding your spot, man. Three dudes, whenever you’re around.”
“Thanks, Ben.” Bodhi had military buddies he’d known for years, and somehow, in less than a month he’d become just as close to Bridgette’s family and friends.
Zane hugged him hard. “What he said, man.”
“Thanks. Good luck with your screenplay.”
Talia cried as she embraced him, tearing at his heartstrings a little more. “I’m so happy you had this time with Bridgette and Louie. Love is good, no matter how long it lasts. Be safe, Bodhi. You’ll be in our thoughts.”
“Thank you.” He was going to lose it if they kept this up. Piper embraced him, and he expected her to give him hell, but all she said was, “Don’t die, you big bastard.”
“You guys act like you’ll never see him again,” Aurelia said. “I’ll see you in the city, but give me a hug anyway, Hulkster.”
“Until you move here and partner with Willow,” Ben said, yanking Aurelia’s shirt so she stumbled back beside him.
Bodhi reached for Bridgette’s hand. “Ready, beautiful?”
“No,” she said solemnly, then forced a smile and said, “Yes.”
Talia touched Bridgette’s arm as they walked by and mouthed, Love you.
That show of support made leaving Bridgette easier and more heartrending. While Bodhi was glad her family would be there for her, he hated knowing she’d need them.