Growing up together

Drink a Beer

Amber's POV
My birthday and our anniversary have already past and it was October. Luke got a phone call and I watched him answer it. All he did was say hello and then it looked like his mind went blank and he just dropped the phone. He fell against the wall and I ran over there to see what was wrong. He didn't talk and tears went streaming down his face. "Luke. What's wrong?! Please tell me." I begged. He shook his head and couldn't talk. I hugged him even though I didn't know what was going on. He just wanted to be alone. He grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and ran outside. I watched him get in his truck and he went down the trail that he took me too. It killed me to see him like this! I had to stay with the babies who were already starting to pull themselves up. Sadie cried when she saw Luke cry. I had to pick her up and she reached for the door wanting to go with her daddy. She wouldn't stop crying for anything! I picked both of them up and got in my truck about an hour later while she was still crying and I took them down to Luke. He was sitting on the pier to the pond just staring. I slowly approached him and said, "Someone wants you." I handed him Sadie and she immediately stopped crying. He held her close and tight. "I love y'all." He said. I sat down beside him holding Thomas. "Luke, are you okay?" I asked. He just shook his head. "No, I'm not." He said. He got up and walked towards my truck. He put Sadie and Thomas in their seats and turned to me. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tightly. "Baby, I love you." He said. "I love you too, Luke, but what's going on?" I asked. He started to tear up again. "It's Chris." He said. My eyes got big. "Oh no. Is he okay?" I asked trying not to cry. Luke shook his head. "He was hit by a drunk driver and..." Luke couldn't finish his sentence because he broke down. I hugged him again and this time I didn't plan on letting go. "Amber.. Chris is.. Gone." He said with tears in his eyes. "Luke.. I'm so sorry!" I said. He put his forehead on mine and we hugged for a long time. He pulled out his guitar and he sat back down on the pier and started playing a song.
"When I got the news today, I didn't know what to say, so I just hung up the phone. I took a walk to clear my head, this is where the walking lead.
Can't believe you're really gone, don't feel like going home. So I'm gonna set right here on the edge of this pier, watch the sun set disappear, and drink a beer."

He had tears in his eyes singing that but it seemed like it really meant something to him. I was really worried about him because I knew how it felt. I wanted to kill myself when I heard about my mama getting hit. I didn't want to see Luke going through the same thing I did. It wasn't right!
I left Luke alone because he seemed like he wanted to be alone. I didn't blame him. I went back home with the babies and laid in bed. About three hours later I saw Luke speed up the trail and he told me to get everything packed. I knew we were going back to Leesburg for the weekend. We got in the truck and so did Red. The ride was silent and Luke finally said something. "Amber. I know I wasn't there as much as I should've been when you lost your mama. I'm sorry. You really don't have to be there for me either because I feel like a terrible guy. I didn't know how it felt to go through that and now I do." Luke really had a lot on his chest and I grabbed his hand. "Luke, I'll be there with you the whole entire time! You were there for me when I needed you. There hasn't been one time that I was upset and you weren't there." I said still gripping his hand. His grip tightened when mine did. I leaned my head on his shoulder and slowly fell asleep.

We finally got to Leesburg and I saw Kelly run out and hug Luke with tears in her eyes. Mrs LeClaire and Mr. Tommy came out and all of us hugged.
I felt so sorry for Luke's family. Luke looked at me and left the twins with their grandparents. He told me to get in the truck and we rode down to daddy's house. I knocked on the door and dad came out. He was so surprised to see me. I told him what happened and we got back in the truck with Luke and headed back to his parents house.
Everybody talked for a while and went inside. Luke and I stayed outside and sat on the porch swing. He had his arm around me and I wanted to make him smile but I didn't know how to. I finally got an idea. I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me. "What are you doing?" He asked. I pointed to a broken board. "Remember that? The first time you tried to impress me?" I said smiling. He half smiled and said, "Yeah I remember that." Then I climbed up into the barn loft. "Remember our first kiss here and the first song you wrote for me?" I asked. His smile started getting bigger. "Do you remember when I walked into your room to give your hat back and you were naked?" I said grabbing his hand. He finally laughed and nodded his head. "There's the Luke I was looking for." I said smiling at him. He hugged me and kissed me. "Thanks." He said smiling. "I love you so much." I said and he said it back. It was the pure truth and I'm not afraid to admit it.