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“You did?” Rhea looks at me with shock.
I’d forgotten about that.
“Monty thought you two were… well, he gave me this whole lecture about having a talk with my son about protection.” My dad’s face transforms into a smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “He’d be happy to see you two right now.”
Rhea wipes a few tears from her eyes. “Yes, he would.”
She gives me that look, which tells me she’s thinking about the one secret I share with Rhea. The one I’ve never told Sadie. Not because it would hurt her—hell, it might even put her at ease tomorrow. But it would only complicate things at this point.
Sadie touches my dad’s forearm. “Thank you for that story.”
“I’ve got more whenever you want them.” My dad smiles at her.
“I’ll be right back.” Sadie steps out of our circle, and I watch her disappear down the hallway toward the bathroom.
Lottie catches my eye and gives me a look that says Sadie’s breakdown is coming soon.
“He really did always think you two would get together,” Rhea says. “I know he gave you some hell over the years, but he knew how much you loved Sadie.”
“I wish he could be here,” I say.
“Amen to that.” My dad takes a sip of his drink.
Rhea and I drink too.
“Excuse me,” I say, walking away in the direction Sadie went, dropping my glass on a nearby table.
I lean against the wall outside the bathroom to wait for her. She comes out a few minutes later, dabbing her eyes. She looks up and startles.
“Jude.” Her hand goes to her chest.
I hold out my hand to her. “Why don’t we ditch this party?”
“It’s our party.”
“Exactly why it’s okay. People will think we’ve snuck off to have a quickie or something.”
She places her hand in mine, and I sneak us out the back door. We walk around the building and find the sun is just starting to set. My aunt Darla knew what she was doing when she had the barn erected here, overlooking the vineyard. It’s the most romantic view I’ve ever seen. Perfect for a wedding venue.
“Where are we going?” Sadie asks, interrupting my thoughts.
The truth is, I just want to have some time with her before we separate before the wedding. I miss her. I miss the old us. Everything lately has been about the wedding, and I get why—we’re throwing it together in two weeks—but I want to be with her away from everyone.
“I want to give you my wedding gift.”
She stops and pulls her hand from mine. “I didn’t get you a gift.”
“I don’t want a gift.” I reach for her again, but she doesn’t step forward. “Don’t worry, it’s not anything a usual groom would give his bride.”
I drove us here after picking Sadie up from her house, so we climb into my truck and head toward the unused old barn on our cattle farm. She doesn’t say much, her silence speaking more than words. Usually, she fills the space between us since I suck at conversation.
We pull up to the old barn, and I keep my headlights facing it since there aren’t any working lights in there.
“Are we going to open those barn doors to some prized cow or something? I’m scared.”
“No. Come on.” I nod toward it, and she climbs out of the truck.
“Um, Jude…”
