Chapter 42
“Dance with me?” Simeon stood and held out a hand to Abigail, who sat at one of the dozens of picnic tables that had been set up in Liam’s spacious backyard, with its view over the Serenity River. Abigail looked up with a smile, her features soft in the muted lights that draped the trees.
She set her hand in his and let him pull her to her feet, stepping close enough that he could wrap an arm around her. He led her to the open grassy area that had been set aside as a makeshift dance floor. Some of Lydia’s friends in the country music industry were playing a soft ballad, and Simeon wrapped his arms around his wife.
He had no idea whether it had been the church or the wedding ceremony or Dad’s sermon, but something had completely transformed Abigail this afternoon. She hadn’t stopped smiling once since they’d walked out of the church together. She’d stood close to him through the pictures, held his hand tight on the short drive from the church, kissed him when they’d arrived here.
And now that they were on the dance floor, she nuzzled in close to him and rested her cheek on his chest. He wondered if she could hear his heart, beating her name.
Simeon closed his eyes, pressing his hands to her back and letting himself savor this moment as it mingled with memories of their own wedding day.
“Simeon?” Abigail murmured into his chest.
“Mmm hmm.” He rested his cheek on top of her head, letting himself drift away on the sweet scent.
“Thank you.” Abigail pulled back enough that Simeon had to move his head.
“You’re welcome. For what?”
“For . . .” She licked her lips and swallowed. “For loving me like those verses your dad was talking about today.”
“Oh.” The word was more of a gasp, and Simeon crushed her to him, cupping the back of her head in his hand. “I’ve failed so many times. But I want to love you like that. Always.”
“I want to love you like that too.” She wiggled free of his grasp and brought her gaze to his. “Do you think— Would it be okay if I put my wedding ring back on?”
Simeon’s laugh was so loud that people around them stopped dancing to stare, but he didn’t care. “Yes, I think that would be very okay.” He reached into the pocket of his dress pants.
“You have it with you?” Abigail’s eyes widened.
“I was going to ask you to wear it last night, but . . .” He didn’t want to dwell on that. “It felt foolish to bring it along today, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“Good thing.” Abigail laughed and held her hand out to him.
Filled with awe, he took it into his and slid the ring onto her finger, the same way he had on their wedding day.
Applause broke out around them, and it took Simeon a moment to realize it was for them.
“Kiss her, you fool,” Liam called.
Simeon grinned and slid his hands across Abigail’s cheeks, bringing his lips tenderly to hers as the sounds of laughter and applause swirled around them.
When they pulled apart, Lydia was at the microphone. Guitar chords accompanied her warm, rich voice, floating on the night.
When we promised forever, how could we have known
All the years would bring us, how the time would flow?
There’d be fights and forgiveness, questions and fears
Hopes and promises, so many doubts and all those tears
There’d be heartache and hurt, mixed with laughter and joy
But through it all, we’ve found this love that nothing can destroy
Because one thing we knew then,
And we know it still today
Our love is built on something much stronger than clay
It’s built on the One who made us all the way back when,
You for me and me for you,
Oh yes, he made us—one flesh out of two.
Simeon pulled Abigail close, and they spent most of the rest of the night on the dance floor, taking only occasional breaks to talk to friends and family. They were among the last to leave, and by the time they said goodnight to Liam and Lydia and headed home, it was well after midnight.
But any tiredness Simeon felt disappeared the moment they stepped through the door of their house and Abigail spun to kiss him the same way she used to when they were first married.
Simeon returned the kiss, letting his hands explore her hair, her shoulders, her arms, her waist.
After a few minutes, Abigail pulled away, her cheeks adorably pink. “Have we ever talked about trying again?” she asked.
Simeon blinked, trying to figure out the context of the question.
“Sorry. Kids.” Abigail bit her lip. “Have we ever talked about trying to have kids again?”
“Oh. Oh.” Simeon’s sigh felt too heavy for the joyous evening they’d had. He hated the thought of telling her anything that could hurt her. But he wasn’t going to keep things from her anymore. Instead, he would be there for her, whatever happened. He took her hand in his. “Shortly before the accident, you were supposed to go to the doctor. For some testing,” he said gently. “Because of the miscarriages.”
For the first time in hours, Abigail’s smile dipped, and Simeon hated himself for it. She gripped his hand tighter. “What did the tests show?”
Simeon shook his head. “You canceled the appointment. You said you didn’t want to try to get pregnant anymore.”
She seemed to be weighing the information. “Did we talk about adoption?”
“We did. We went to a meeting, filled out all the paperwork. But then you said you couldn’t do it.”
Abigail’s forehead creased. “Why not?”
“I don’t know.” Simeon still hadn’t figured that out. “I had a feeling it was related to your depression. But by then you weren’t—we weren’t—talking much.”
“Okay.” Abigail looked thoughtful. “We should definitely talk more about that.” She tugged his hand, pulling him toward the stairs. “Tomorrow.”