Page 95 of Darkened Promises

Lips twitching at his silent request, I lace our hands together. For the silent, broody type, he really seems to enjoy holding hands a lot.

It’s kinda cute.

Not that I’d tell him that. He’d probably scowl and do it less.

We finish the remainder of the drive with Max alternating between peppering Nate with questions and singing along to the radio. By the time we arrive at the farm, my heart’s bursting with warmth from being with the two of them. I’ve managed to forget my nerves about being away from home and exposed.

But I did it before. Nate and I came last month, and whilst there was the loud noise in the trees…nothing technically happened.

I need to stop being scared, to push through and do this. At least externally, because I promised Nate I could do this, that I could handle it.

I’ll just allow myself to scream and cry internally. That doesn’t count because no one else can see.

As soon as the truck’s parked, Max pops open his door and jumps out. Nate gets out of his side, and I use those few seconds before he gets to my door to centre myself and claw back any signs of unease. He pulls open the door and holds out his hand for me to take. I suck in a large breath and offer him a smile. The sun’s rays cover my skin, birds hop and chirp in the trees. The familiar farm scents seamlessly blend together and filter through my lungs.

I suck it down greedily, inhaling deep and letting some of the tension seep away with my exhale.

I’m okay. I can do this.

FORTY-SEVEN

NOAH

“Do you think she’s doing okay?” Bry asks for the third time since we left home.

It might not be the same words he asks each time, however the intention’s the same. He’s worrying.

My fingers tap along the steering wheel. “Nate wouldn’t let her stay if she wanted to come home,” I eventually answer.

He sighs, turning to look out the window. “Assuming she tells him.”

My jaw clenches, but I don’t comment. It’s the same thing that’s been concerning me and one of the reasons we’re both in the car on the way to the rescue. Bry’s got a bag packed full, so we’re under the guise of bringing lunch for them all, but it’s more the need to reassure ourselves that she’s not struggling.

Just as my hand lifts to use the indicator, so we can take the turning to head out of town, Bry leans forward. “Sorry, I forgot to ask earlier. Can we make a quick stop first? I need to pick up some lightbulbs for the kitchen, and I noticed Rosy’s almost out of her shower gel.”

My hand drops, and I drive past the turn off and nod. “Yeah, can do. We’re a little early for lunch anyway.”

A short while later, I park beside Nate’s truck, then Bry and I both walk towards the entrance gate.

He shuffles the cooler bag into both arms. “Nate said they’re over with the pigs,” he tells me.

As we get closer, I can hear the faint sound of music accompanied by Max’s singing. All three of them are hard at work, and admittedly, it’s not a job I’d leap to do. Unless it was to help Rosy. Apparently for her, we’re willing to do anything. Including cleaning out the pig enclosure.

The weather has brightened today after a few days of rain, and as Rosy looks up and notices us, the sun warms her face, lighting up her smile.

I’ve never met a woman so beautiful.

Today she wears a pair of worn blue overalls tucked into her wellington boots, with her hair braided over a shoulder. Patches of mud, and whatever else, are streaked across the fabric of overalls and her hands, but she’s still smiling.

“Hi! What are you two doing here?” she hollers, walking across the enclosure towards us.

Nate looks up briefly, then continues scrubbing the sheltered floor with a broom. Max winds his way around the two large pigs and follows Rosy as she comes up on the other side of the fence.

“Bry’s brought lunch, and we thought we could join you to eat,” I tell her, leaning over to kiss her pink lips. “Plus I missed you.”

Her smile widens, cheeks flushing as the breeze whips the loose tendrils around her face. “Oh, well if you brought food, then you’re both definitely welcome.”

She leans up and kisses Bry briefly too. The tension in him has eased significantly now that he can see her.