Taken

Chapter Twenty Nine--GRADY

It slipped out faster than I could control.  “I love you Denny.”

          “What did you say?” she asked, and as I realized she hadn’t heard what I had said I reddened at being so stupid.   I shook my head.

          “It was nothing.”

          She shrugged and I stood back as she scooped water into the bucket.  When we headed back together, I offered to carry it because she was struggling, but she denied.  “I got it,” she insisted.

          That afternoon we decided to join Sarah and Ladd for lunch.  All throughout the meal, Sarah threw me questioning glances and I knew once it was time to clean up she would pull me aside.  Sure enough, “Why don’t you go on a walk with me?”

          “Spill,” she said as we stepped off the porch and headed towards the trees. 

          “What’s there to spill?” I said stubbornly, only she just gave me the same look she always did to get me to crack and it worked.  “We made up.”

          She raised her eyebrows.  “We are just friends,” I added.

          “Just friends, huh?  Say, when is Jeremiah expected back?”

          I couldn’t help notice the double meaning in her words.  I knew she was just hinting at the truth, that we didn’t know and it probably wasn’t a high chance that he was coming back.  “I don’t know,” I said truthfully.

          “Exactly.”

          “Sarah, you really are mischievous, you know that?  You’re terrible.”  I gave her a smile and she just shrugged, putting an arm around my waist and giving me a little squeeze.

          “I just want you to be happy is all.”

          “I am happy.  Denny isn’t mad at me anymore. I decided to give her time, Sar.  If Jeremiah isn’t back before he says then we can be together.  Until then I know she isn’t going to stray.  She is very loyal.”

          “That’s what I love about her,” Sarah said with a smile.  “But I can see how it can be very exasperating for you.”

          “I want her to be happy with herself.  And if she is feeling guilty all the time, then I know she can’t fully be happy.”

          “You’re going to be a good husband someday, Grady,” she said and I gave her a smile.  I didn’t let on though that I didn’t want to be anybody else’s husband but Denny’s and that these decisions weren’t as easy as I was making them sound.

          Back at the house, Haven had found another book and Denny was reading Ladd’s first book.  She looked up as we entered, but then ended up going back to reading.  Sarah squeezed her shoulder lovingly as she passed and then retreated to the kitchen. 

          After another hour, Denny was still sitting and reading and Sarah had laid down to take her nap.  “Ready to go?” I asked, and she looked up and nodded.  “Sarah went to sleep already.”

          We made our way back, Haven clutching the new book and running ahead, her ponytail swinging and bouncing all over the place.  Denny stayed in step with me.  “You’ve never told me what Denny stands for,” I pointed out, breaking the silence.

          She smirked shyly and replied.  “Cadence.  Cadence Elizabeth.”

          “Like, drums?” I asked, and she nodded.

          “My dad used to love playing them.  He was actually very good.  He convinced my mother on the name, but she was always skeptical.”  She blushed.  “I’m skeptical too, but I can’t imagine being called anything else.  What does Grady stand for?” she asked teasingly and I laughed.

          We were quiet the rest of the way.  When we stepped up onto the porch, she sat on the swing and I sat next to her.  I clutched the outdoor pillow on my lap and Denny broke the silence saying, “I’m tired.”

          Before I knew it she was laying her head on the pillow and I was stroking her long dark hair.  She went to sleep and I decided I was stuck, but it didn’t matter, because soon I fell asleep too.

          I woke, shivering despite my jacket.  The full moon was high above and it looked as if Denny had went and retrieved blankets at some time in the night.  She was bundled in a cocoon of them, snoring lightly, and the moonlight seemed to radiate of her smooth skin. 

          I aroused her and helped her to her bed even though I was sure she was just sleepwalking.  I tucked her in like a child and then retreated to my own bedroom.  I was so tired still, and I wished I could have just collapsed beside her but I knew she wouldn’t approve.  On the way to my own bed I checked Haven’s room, seeing she was already asleep, then slid under my covers and dozed off.