CHAPTER TWENTY
Another Concert
Friday evening couldn’t come soon enough.
Luke walked through the front door, loosened his work boots, and smiled when he saw Emily waiting in the kitchen.
She was wearing her favorite pair of jeans, cowboy boots, and a light blue flannel shirt.
Luke leaned against the doorway.
“You look beautiful.”
Emily looked up and smiled.
“You have to say that.”
“I don’t.”
“You don’t?”
He shook his head.
“I get to.”
Emily walked over and kissed him.
“I missed you.”
“I was only gone until five.”
“I know.”
“I missed you too.”
She grinned.
“Good answer.”
? ? ?
They climbed into Luke’s pickup just before sunset.
“So,” Luke asked, “who are we listening to tonight?”
Emily held up two concert tickets with a huge smile.
“A country concert at the fairgrounds.”
Luke laughed.
“I think you’re trying to make this a tradition.”
“I absolutely am.”
“I can live with that.”
? ? ?
The crowd was already gathering when they arrived.
The smell of barbecue and fresh kettle corn filled the evening air.
A local singer opened the show before the headline band took the stage.
Luke looked over at Emily.
“You hungry?”
“When am I not?”
“I walked right into that one.”
She laughed.
“You sure did.”
A few minutes later they were sharing barbecue brisket, fries, and fresh lemonade while people around them laughed and danced.
? ? ?
As darkness settled over the fairgrounds, the music grew louder.
The band launched into a slow love song.
Luke smiled.
Emily laughed immediately.
“No.”
“What?”
“I know that look.”
“What look?”
“The dancing look.”
Luke held out his hand.
“I make no apologies.”
Emily shook her head, smiling.
“You are impossible.”
“But?”
She slipped her hand into his.
“But you’re my impossible.”
Luke gently pulled her close.
They swayed together beneath the string lights while couples all around them did the same.
Halfway through the song, Luke whispered,
“Remember when we thought we’d never get here?”
Emily looked into his eyes.
“I do.”
“We’ve still got a long way to go.”
She nodded.
“But look how far we’ve already come.”
Luke smiled.
“I like the sound of that.”
? ? ?
After the concert ended, they wandered slowly toward the truck.
The night air had cooled, and the fairgrounds buzzed with people talking about the show.
Emily reached into her purse.
Luke looked over.
“What are you looking for?”
“My keys.”
“We drove my truck.”
She froze.
“Oh.”
Luke burst into laughter.
“I was wondering how long it would take.”
Emily playfully shoved his shoulder.
“I’ve had a long week.”
“I know.”
“You are never going to let me forget this.”
“Not a chance.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I walked right into that one.”
“You sure did.”
? ? ?
The drive home was quiet.
Emily rested her head against the window.
Luke reached over and held her hand.
“Everything okay?”
She smiled softly.
“Yeah.”
“What are you thinking about?”
She looked out at the lights of small Oregon towns slipping past.
“I was just thinking…”
Luke waited.
“…that this is exactly the kind of life I always wanted.”
Luke smiled.
“It is?”
She nodded.
“I don’t need anything fancy.”
He squeezed her hand.
“I just need this.”
Luke glanced over.
“This?”
“You.”
For a moment, Luke couldn’t think of anything to say.
He simply smiled.
Sometimes, the best moments didn’t come with fireworks or grand gestures.
Sometimes they were found on a quiet drive home, with country music playing softly on the radio and the person you loved sitting beside you.
And Luke wouldn’t have traded that feeling for anything in the world.