14. Little Girls And Fairies
14
LITTLE GIRLS AND FAIRIES
S ummer woke the following day feeling torn. The night before had been fantastic, but she shouldn’t have kissed Brandon. Not before she told him everything, but she couldn’t resist the pull to him any longer. She decided then and there that she’d ask for help at the next group session and then tell him.
That kiss held everything she’d ever wanted. Brandon’s heart was in every touch, and she’d allowed herself to do the same. She hadn’t wanted to walk away but needed the space to think more clearly. There was no point in denying she wanted Brandon; that’s why she had to be brave and talk to him.
She sighed and stretched in her sleeping bag. Therapy was helping, and being outside in nature and spending time with Brandon were also helping. However, the old fear resurfaced. What if he hated her afterward?
“You’re not going to sabotage this,” Griff whispered, but she couldn’t see him.
“It’s habit,” she answered.
“Then stop. Get up, have breakfast, and don’t overthink. Enjoy this day with him and his family. ”
“Okay. I will.” She let her stubbornness push her from the sleeping bag.
After slipping her shoes on, Summer unzipped her tent and crawled out to join the Fletcher family. Something smelled good near the fire. Austin had a skillet on the rack over the coals, and the sizzle of bacon was unmistakable.
“Summer, do you want to hunt for fairies with me and Mama Darcy?” Sara sidled up next to her. “We brought little houses that we made, but we need to find the perfect place to leave them.”
Summer inspected the cottage the little girl held up. It had started as a round birdhouse, but Sara had decorated it with sticks, bark, moss, and little plastic flowers. It was also painted to blend in with the forest but had a bright yellow door fastened over the opening.
“This is so cute. I’d love to help you find a place for it,” Summer answered.
“Yay! I’ll wake Aunt Carly and get her to come too.” Sara ran off to another tent.
Brandon sat beside Summer and smiled. “You’re kind to her. She’ll love you forever after today.”
“She’s sweet and so full of life.”
“That she is. After spending the first years of her life surrounded by nothing but her dad and football, she’s soaking in all the feminine fun she can. Thank you.”
Summer felt her cheeks warm. “I don’t know how girly I am, but it will be fun.”
Brandon stared into her eyes. “There’s nothing girly about you. You’re all woman, Summer Blakely.”
That had her heart pounding frantically in her chest. Between the sweet words and the intense look in his eyes, she knew it would be easy to pick up where they’d left off so many years ago. The easiness between them and the magnetic pull was still there. She might have buried it under fear for years, but a month with him had uncovered both.
“Now, why don’t you fill up a plate? You’ll need your strength to keep up with Sara.” He winked and handed her a paper plate. “The guys and I will do a bit of brush clearing until you ladies return. Then we can all do something together.”
“I can’t wait.”
The day flew by. Summer enjoyed the sun, which sparkled through the leaves and the breeze on her skin as she explored the island with Sara, Darcy, Jackie, and Carly. The little girl had a great imagination and talked constantly as she made up stories about the woodland fairies that lived in a hollowed-out tree trunk they found. Darcy added to the tale, and the other two women laughed with Summer. She never would have guessed that Darcy wasn’t Sara’s birth mom. Summer knew Sara was Evan’s daughter from a previous marriage, but it was clear all the Fletchers adored her and considered her their own—especially Darcy.
Eventually, they found the perfect spot to set up the fairy house. It was next to a natural spring, surrounded by large trees. Sara nestled it beside a rock and spread leaves around it.
“It’s perfect,” the little girl gushed. “Maybe when we come back, we’ll find fairies living here.”
“Maybe,” Darcy said. “Let’s get back for lunch. I’m sure the guys are ready to eat by now.”
They tromped through the woods and soon found they could follow their noses back to camp.
“Told you,” Darcy laughed.
The fire was going, and burgers and hot dogs were cooking on the griddle.
“Look what the smell of food dragged in,” Austin said as they joined the men by the fire. Jackie kissed her husband, and then he said, “I figured we’d head back after lunch.”
“Perfect. I miss Little Man,” she answered.
“You’re not staying for the second night?” Carly asked.
“Nope. But you can stay and ride home with Evan.” Austin bopped his sister’s nose.
She laughed and turned to Evan. “Good thing your boat is big enough for all our gear. ”
Evan winked and replied, “I don’t know. You might put us over the weight limit. Perhaps we should leave you here.”
Carly slapped his arm, but Sara screeched, “Daddy, you can’t do that. Carly would be sad by herself.”
The little girl was so severe that everyone laughed, causing a pout to appear on her face.
“I was only joking.” Evan bent and kissed his daughter’s forehead. “I’d never leave her behind, sweetheart. She’s family.”
“Good,” Sara breathed. “Can we swim after we eat? You promised we could practice so I can have a play day at the beach with JD and Phyl.”
Evan glanced at Darcy with a look of concern.
Summer leaned toward Brandon and asked, “Why does he look worried?”
“It’s not the swimming. Sara is doing fine with that. I think Evan is already stressed about this JD kid. Sara talks about him all the time.”
Summer smiled. “He thinks six-year-olds are going to get in trouble?”
“Well, he did catch JD promising to marry Sara on Easter.”
“What?” Summer laughed.
“JD adores Sara. The kid has a hard home life, and she’s become something of a saving angel to him,” Brandon said.
“Awe, that’s sweet.”
“Yeah.” Brandon handed her a plate with a bun and burger on it. “Condiments are over there. Want to swim with them later?”
Summer swiped at the sweat trickling down her neck. “Yes. I’ll change after we eat. I’m starving.”
Brandon waited for Summer at the edge of the camp, watching Evan and Darcy play with Sara in the water. Carly sat in the sand with a book and a wide-brimmed hat. He loved his family and how easy it was to spend time with them. Two of his siblings had found wonderful spouses who fit in as if they’d always been part of the family. Summer fit, too. She always had. The zipper sounded, and he turned to watch his girl climb out of the tent. She wore the same swim shorts and shirt set she had at the beach for the Fourth of July.
Summer stepped up beside him and asked, “What are you thinking about?”
He reached for her hand and threaded his fingers with hers. “How nice this has been. I’ve dreamed of being here with you again. Thank you for coming and for letting me in.”
Summer leaned into him. “I never stopped caring for you. I just couldn’t be here, but when we were ambushed, I didn’t see my life flash before me. Instead, I saw what could have been. I saw us here with a family of our own.”
Brandon’s heart pounded fiercely in his chest. How many times had he imagined and wished for that very thing? He wanted to pull Summer in and hold her so tight she’d never get away, but he managed to hold still and keep listening.
“I’ve never allowed myself to think about what I threw away all those years ago because I knew it would hurt too much. So, I focused on what I thought I was saving by leaving.”
“What were you saving, Summer?”
“I thought I was saving you.”
Brandon wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulled her into his side, and whispered, “I’d rather have you.”
She nodded, and they stood in silence for several minutes. Both of them watched his family play in the lake. Brandon knew there were still questions he needed answers to, but he was content for the time being.
Eventually, Summer squeezed him and said, “Can we take this one day at a time?”
“Of course.”