Little Moments: It Runs in the Family
Chapter 26: Tiny Steps
Disclaimer: Big shout out to Mark for creating this character I love to expand upon, and Elvis Costello for the songs that seem to fit her life!
A/N: Now that Sawyer and Ben are engaged, we're gonna see how this wedding will go down...if it happens, that is. Enjoy!
OTHOTH
Sawyer woke up early the next morning. Ben had tried to be quiet, but when his weight shifted off the bed, Sawyer could tell. Laying on her side, Sawyer glanced from Ben and his Daffy Duck boxers to the ring on her finger.
They were getting married.
A smile started to creep across the blonde's face as the sun came over the horizon. The morning light came through the window and Ben sweetly went to twist the blinds close. He thought she was still asleep and wanted Sawyer to get her rest. They'd stayed up late talking about the wedding; kissing and cuddling between ideas. So far the wedding would be simple. If things worked out Captain Turner, the kind gentleman who was at the helm of Ben's boat, would officiate a small ceremony on the Diligence. A reception would follow at the family owned music venue and bar, Tric. Brooke would make a dress. Charlotte would be Sawyer's lone bridesmaid, and Graham would be Ben's. They'd go with traditional vows and a quaint, three-tiered cake. Ben tried to sell Sawyer with an idea for Peanut Butter frosting but, the blonde knew better. Butter crème it would be. Ben could have Peanut Butter on the groom's cake if they had one. A DJ or a band, Sawyer and Ben would certainly have music, whichever was easier to come by. Colors, and flowers, and the date would be figured in the mix later, but they had a plan.
They were getting married.
Sliding her bare skin against the cool sheets, Sawyer pushed some of her hair away from her face and smiled at the guy standing by the foot of the bed. "You know..." Stretching so the sheets fell down her back, Sawyer arched her brow with a smirk, "It's probably a bad omen to run out on your fiancee right after you propose."
Folding one of his USCG shirts, Ben looked up and shook his head. Her tanned bare back momentarily distracted him. "Unconventional...maybe." The Coastie nodded, "But it might not be so bad." He dropped the shirt in the duffle bag and shuffled his feet towards her. "It might be more exciting to see me come home this time." He sat down on the edge of the bed and kissed her collarbone. "Besides you'll want to show off your promotion."
"Promotion?"
"Mmm-hmm." Ben nodded and pressed his lips below her ear. "I know how it works when we come back. The wives huddle together by the first post of the dock. The girlfriends are a little bit further away, and parents stand at the curb of the dock and Water Street. And the ones with kids are just trying to keep them out of the way."
"And what about fiancees?" She could still feel his kisses on her skin. "Fiancees with kids."
"Well..." Ben let his grin return and he grazed his cheek against hers before looking right at Sawyer. "That's kind of a tricky one." He kissed her softly. "You'll push the stroller where Miller and Bo can see the boat come in, accidentally on purpose holding out your left hand for any and all to see. Then once Captain Turner's wife makes a big commotion about it, you'll sit down on the bench and watch us file off the boat. You'll be far enough away see the other wives hug their guys and I'll come walking up to you, my duffle slung over my shoulder, and greet you like a fiance should." His lips pushed against Sawyer's one more time.
"And...and how's that?" She slowly opened her eyes and saw that his hand was up.
"With a high five."
Slapping his palm, Sawyer laughed. "Ben!"
He playfully moved off their bed and shrugged his shoulders. "You'll have to wait and find out."
"You suck, you know that." Falling back against the pillows, the thirty-two year old narrowed her eyes.
Ben started to put on his clothes and looked over to Sawyer. His head popped out of his undershirt and he could only smirk. "You'll live, OJ."
She watched Ben finish getting dressed and sighed. The light caught her ring and Sawyer was taken by it. They were getting married, and she could barely believe it.
Securing the top button of his operational uniform, Ben brushed his hands down his shirt and pants to smooth it out. He caught his reflection in the bathroom mirror and grinned at himself, congratulating the sweet success of having Sawyer say yes. He hurried back into the bedroom to see Sawyer flinging on one of his big t-shirts. The hem of the shirt settled on her upper thigh.
Ben grabbed his duffle and looked at the door. "Drew will be here in ten minutes."
Silently nodding, Sawyer watched Ben disappear out of their bedroom. Sawyer had wanted to drive Ben down to the Riverwalk and send him off, but having two ten month olds made that harder than it needed to be. It was going to be a lot easier for Drew to pick Ben up, so they would have to worry about waking up the twins and strapping them in the carseats.
Sawyer was stirring sugar into her coffee when Ben walked out from the back. He put his bag down and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Miller and Bo are on strict orders to be on their best behavior while I'm gone."
With an arched brow, the blonde smiled. "Oh really?" Sawyer sipped her coffee and realized she needed more creamer when the bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
Smiling, Ben walked towards her and had to tell the truth. "Probably not. They were both asleep when I was talking to them."
"Well we're bound to have good days and bad days." Sawyer rested her coffee cup on the kitchen counter and walked closer to him. She'd seen the shadow of Drew's car pull up to the curb. "Hopefully more good days."
Knowing full well they had just another minute or two together, Ben pulled Sawyer into his chest and rested his cheek on the side of her hair. "I won't be gone too long."
"I know." A defeated sigh slipped from Sawyer's mouth. It wouldn't matter how much she fought it, Ben would leave no matter what.
"Have fun telling everybody." One of his hands slipped over her left one, feeling the contours of the ring he'd given her last night.
"I will." Sawyer pulled away from Ben and nodded, her smile showing a hint of sadness. She'd rather share the news with him at her side, but it wasn't an option she was afforded.
A momentary silence came between the two. This was always the worst part of it. Not necessarily goodbye, but a prolonged see you later. It was different this time. Harder. Now they had the babies and now they were engaged.
Raising on her toes, Sawyer pressed a sweet kiss onto the corner of his mouth and swallowed the lump in her throat. "Bye."
"Bye." Ben mimicked her movements and left a kiss on her lips before heading for the door.
It would be three weeks till he came home. It would feel like a lifetime, but Sawyer knew she'd be able to keep herself busy. Looking down, she knew the first major thing would be an announcement that would surprise everyone. It had surprised her, and she could only imagine it would knock a few people off their feet.
OTHOTH
Bo had woken up first and Sawyer had been ready for it. She'd laid out the twins' clothes before they'd woken up, had breakfast ready at the touch of a button, and had packed the diaper bag full for a day's outing. Like most Monday mornings, Sawyer would take Miller and Bo to Tric with her, but this time she didn't go straight to the office. Instead, the mother of two turned towards a familiar yellow house.
When she pulled up to the curb, Sawyer was thankful that Peyton was already outside. Her mom was watering window box flowers that looked wilted and sad. It was bad enough that Peyton was a mediocre cook at best, but she wasn't a very good gardener either. Music was her thing. Not flowers or casseroles.
Turning towards the street, Peyton saw her oldest getting out of the Wagoneer. She turned the hose off and placed her hands on her hips. "And what do we owe the occasion?" A smile as wide as the front porch beamed towards Sawyer, and Peyton started down the steps.
Sawyer hoisted Miller out from the carseat and was sure to hide her left hand under the little girl's behind. Peyton happily got her youngest grandson from the other side of the car and walked back into the house with Sawyer.
Lucas was sitting at the kitchen table diligently working on a crossword puzzle, unaware of the company that had just walked into the house.
"Luke, look who stopped by," Peyton called over her shoulder as she shut the front door.
Sawyer placed Miller's feet on the floor and held onto her hands. The long hallway to the kitchen was the perfect place for Miller to show off her new skills. Slowly guiding Miller's steps, Sawyer shuffled her feet behind the little girl towards Lucas.
Peyton was walking step for step with Miller encouraging her granddaughter until something other than tiny steps caught her eye. Spotting something shiny on Sawyer's left hand, Peyton felt her mouth fall into an open-mouthed smile. Ben had finally asked her, hadn't he?
"Look at you go, Miller." Lucas was wearing a sweet grin on his face and he was holding his hands out.
With three or four feet to go from the older man, Miller's feet stopped cooperating and slid out from under her. Sawyer scooted herself over to the little girl and Miller her into her lap. "She's getting pretty good, huh?"
Peyton was still in a bit of shock, and could only bounce Bo in her arms.
"Good? She's gonna be walking on her own in no time." Lucas looked to the little girl and smiled brightly.
"But you didn't come over to show off Miller, did you?" Peyton had found her voice and arched her brow with a smirk.
Sawyer looked up to her mom from her spot on the kitchen floor and matched Peyton's smirk. Shaking her head, the younger blonde traced her eyes down her arm to the ring Ben had given her last night.
Lucas had not quite caught on and furrowed his brow in true Lucas Scott fashion. "Wha..." He looked to his wife and back to Sawyer. "What?"
Rubbing her right thumb down Miller's little forearm, Sawyer lifted her left hand by her face. "I'm getting married, Dad."
It wasn't shock on Lucas's face. It was pure joy. He'd known for a while that Sawyer and Ben would get married. He just wasn't sure when. It had, after all, been almost two years since Ben came to both him and Peyton one night asking them for her hand in marriage.
It was quite outside. The dark night had fallen over Tree Hill and the golden beams from his 4-Runner lit up the street in front of Lucas and Peyton's house. His nervous stare went to the dashboard clock and seeing that it was almost eleven, Ben regretted his timing. It was late. The last thing he wanted to do was to wake them up or keep them from their evening routine, but Ben couldn't wait.
After a small pep talk, Ben got out of the car and strolled up the pathway leading to Sawyer's parents door. His nerves doubled with each step, but he pushed past them and knocked on the door. The front porch light wasn't even on and Ben swallowed hard. It wasn't gonna happen tonight, was it?
Waiting for what felt like an hour, Ben stood on the front porch with the sounds of cicadas and a calm wind. With no answer and a sense of defeat, Ben turned around and started for his car. He knew he'd been too late. His feet stepped off the porch and he walked away with disappointment.
"Who's there?" The front door opened and a man's voice called out.
Spinning around on his heels, Ben was temporarily blinded as the porch lights came on. He walked toward the shadowy figure, holding his hand to the light. "It's me. It's Ben."
Lucas furrowed his brow and rubbed his hairline. Ben? What was he doing there?
"Luke, what is it?" Peyton stood behind her husband's shoulder and was tightening the belt of her bathrobe. When she glanced to the porch, her brow furrowed just like Lucas's had. "Ben, what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come so late." His feet made it back up the stairs. "I just..." He sighed and looked to the two people he had a tremendous amount of respect for.
"Come in. Come in." Peyton moved away from the door and waved him inside.
Ben shook his head. "It's fine. This won't take long. I uh..." His stammer was paired with a nervous tick. The Coastie rubbed his hands together and looked straight to Sawyer's parents. "I want to marry Sawyer, and I'd like to have your blessing."
Peyton was the first to react. Her eyes went wide and she propped her knuckles just above her hips with a happy laugh. Lucas looked to Peyton and had that same feeling rush over him. He wasn't as explicit with his body language, but he'd known Ben was the one for Sawyer all along. They both had.
Holding out his hand, Lucas shook Ben's with a grin.
"And don't get me wrong. This isn't because of the pregnancy. I've thought about this for a long, long time." Sawyer was five months pregnant but Ben wasn't going to marry her out of obligation. Ben was going to marry her because he loved Sawyer and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him if she'd let him.
"So have we." Lucas started to grin as his daughter's future played out in his head. Ever since they'd met Ben Trammell, Lucas and Peyton both knew there was something special there. He wasn't just another guy. Sawyer needed Ben. Now she was getting everything she wanted; everything they'd wanted for her.
Peyton clapped her hands together and couldn't help but hug the thirty-one year old. "Oh Ben..." She moved away from him and bit her lip with a laugh. "You're the best thing that's happened to her."
Not in Ben's mind. She's the one that happened to him. She was the one that threw her orange juice all over him that morning so many years ago. It was Sawyer who'd made the first move. He was going to finish what she'd started. "I'm not even sure when it will happen. When I'll propose... You never know with her. I just wanted to go ahead and ask y'all first."
Peyton was wooed by his southern charm and knew her daughter had found a good one. She wasn't sold on Sawyer getting married, her oldest had been pretty vocal about forgoing the traditional route, but if anyone was going to change her mind, it was the handsome guy in front of her.
Leaning back against the doorframe, Lucas laughed and shook his head. "I honestly never thought this day would come." Massaging his fingertips into his brow, Lucas looked back to Ben. "But I'm glad it's gonna be you."
Feeling a sense of accomplishment, Ben swelled with pride. He knew it had taken a lot to tame Sawyer Scott. Hell, it had taken Ben nearly seven years so far. "Thank you" He looked back to the car, pointing his thumb towards it. "I uh...I should get back. Sorry for coming so late."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Peyton reached out, placing her hand on Ben's forearm with a genuine smile.
Standing in their doorway, Lucas and Peyton watched Ben pull away. The man pulled his high-school sweetheart into his side and pressed a kiss to her hair.
"Luke, she's gonna get married." Closing her eyes, Peyton sighed, not believing her own words.
"I know." Lucas was still shaking his head in a bit of shock. "I know." He repeated himself and then hit the porch light. Darkness surrounded them both and the pair walked away from the front door.
Peyton exchanged a glance with Lucas, the same one they'd shared when Ben had stood on their porch, and she felt her stomach fill with butterflies. It was happening. Their daughter was finally getting married.
OTHOTH
News of Sawyer and Ben's engagement spread through Tree Hill like a California wild fire. It had only been three days since it had happened, but it was all the town could seem to talk about. Literally everyone. Sawyer couldn't go to the grocery store, the bank; practically anywhere without someone bringing it up or offering congratulations. Seeing as she was the only one of the two in town, Sawyer was getting it from everyone- the people she knew, the people Ben knew, sometimes even strangers said something.
In a matter of just a few short days, Sawyer realized how popular their love story had become. Small towns seemed to thrive off of the drama that came from young love- love of any age, really. Tree Hill was no different. Considering Sawyer's whole family had shared the town's spotlight at one time or another, it should have come as no surprise to Sawyer that she was the talk of the town. But it did. And now there seemed to be an added weight of pressure when it came to the Scott-Trammell wedding.
The planning process was even elaborate. By no fault of their own, Charlotte, Brooke, Haley and Peyton had come together with their scrapbooks, magazines, and color swatches to help plan a wedding they'd only hoped would happen. Now that it was, they couldn't contain their eager attempts at helping Sawyer.
It was just Sawyer wasn't sure she wanted all of their help.
Sitting beneath the covered deck of Elija's, Sawyer sipped on a Coke and watched the river run by her as her best friend, mother, and aunts chit-chatted away about flower arrangements. Once the women had started talking about the various shades of purple and red, Sawyer had tuned them out. She gave them credit for their determination and heartfelt attempt, but Sawyer and Ben had made plans. Temporary, thrown-together ideas, but she knew what she wanted.
Sawyer didn't want purple or red anything.
Clearing her throat, Sawyer looked to the four women and shrugged her shoulders. "I love you all for wanting to help but I think Ben and I know what we want." Sawyer had agreed to go to lunch and discuss the wedding so she wouldn't be rude, and to quite honestly, get an afternoon away from the kids.
Brooke could understand, but a quaint boat wedding seemed too small. "But what about everyone else? I get a sweet wedding on the boat, but a big reception at Tric would be great." Brooke looked to Peyton for a little help.
"It doesn't have to be that big." The hazel-eyed woman looked to her daughter and nodded. She and Lucas had had a wonderful reception at Tric.
"And we don't have to purple or pink. Neutral colors work too." Charlotte had already had her moment of wedded bliss, and she remembered this was Sawyer's wedding not theirs.
"I don't think I even want flowers. Why spend the money?" Sawyer shook her head. "I don't have to hold anything." The younger blonde could tell she'd put the others in their place. "We want something small."
There was a silence between everyone that neared towards uncomfortable.
"Then lets think small." Haley nodded to the others and smiled kindly back to Sawyer. Charlotte's mom knew what it was like to have both kinds of weddings.
"Lets start with your dress." It was customary for Brooke to make it, so she looked to Sawyer with hopeful eyes. "What do you think of strapless with a sash under the bust?"
Watching her god-mother move her hands as she envisioned her design, Sawyer nodded. "Yeah. That sounds good." It was the best thing she'd heard all day.
As the women went on to talk about the dress, Sawyer felt a little more relaxed. She opened up to other ideas and even started to question some of her original plans. That evening when she got home, she had a full stack of reading material to study and go over. She started with a copy of InStyle: Weddings. Sawyer had learned that the time of year would depict the best wedding colors and most locations needed to be booked up to a year in advance.
"Shit. A year." Sawyer covered her mouth, regretful of her vocabulary choice seeing as Miller and Bo were playing just a few feet away.
Would the Diligence be booked up? Would a patrol ruin the wedding date? They didn't even have a date yet.
Dismissing the potentially large hiccup in not having a decisive location, Sawyer read on about the wedding party, the do's and don'ts of catering, and more about flower arrangements. After reading the words bride and groom for the thousandth time, her eyeballs and brain couldn't take it anymore. Sawyer tossed the magazine to the side and moved over to the spot on the floor where the twins were playing. "What am I gonna do?"
Bo dropped the ball he was waving in the air and crawled over to his mom and butted his head against her chest.
Smiling, Sawyer wrapped her arm around the little boy. "What do you think, Bo? Flowers or no flowers?" The little boy didn't say or do anything to help his mother out and she just laughed. "I didn't think it would be so complicated."
Miller wanted some attention too and pressed up against Sawyer just like her brother had. With both of her babies nearby, Sawyer was wondering if she even needed a wedding. It was probably more trouble than it was worth.
But Ben wanted a wedding, didn't he? Sawyer didn't need to have him home or to ask him that question to know the answer. Of course he did, and maybe a little bit of Sawyer did too, she just wished it was easier than the books and magazines made it out to be.
After she'd eaten something, got Miller and Bo fed and asleep, Sawyer went back to looking at wedding plans. Maybe this was the kind of thing you had to do in small doses? Before she got in too deep, a tone on her computer made her smile. Ben was calling.
Clicking a few buttons, Sawyer saw his face appear in a small screen and she smiled. "Good timing."
His grin spread when he saw her. "Yeah?"
"Ugh, yes." Shifting back into the pillows, Sawyer rested the laptop on her legs. "This wedding stuff is stressing me out."
Ben's grin turned concerned. "Stressing you out? What's wrong?"
"I don't know. Today I went to lunch with Charlotte, Mom, Aunt Brooke, and Aunt Haley and it was all just too much. There are too many colors to pick from, too many flowers, too many...everything. And apparently everything you choose depends on what time of year you get married. Ben, we don't even have a date."
The Coastie could hear her anguish. "Then let's pick one. When do you want to get married?"
"I don't know. The longer we draw this thing out, the more on edge I'll be, I'm sure." She laughed and sighed deeply.
It was late August now and Ben ran a few ideas through his head. "What about November?"
"November?" Sawyer repeated his idea and thought about it. "That could work."
"Yeah?" Ben's cute grin returned.
Sawyer clicked on the calendar and picked the second Saturday of the month. "November 9th."
"I'll be there." His flirtatious smile was even cute on screen. "I'll be the one down front."
The blonde felt herself blush. Ben made everything so much easier. Butterflies filled her stomach. They had a date; a real, true-blue date. "I love you."
Instead of saying it back, Ben asked a question that melted her heart. "How are Miller and Bo?"
Those winged creatures in her belly soared high when he'd asked about their children. If ever in doubt of how much Sawyer Scott loved Ben Trammell, one mention of Miller and Bo and Sawyer was reminded just how much she loved him- how much she loved what they had.
Their wedding wouldn't have to be extravagant or perfectly symmetric. The colors didn't have to match, and she didn't have to have flowers. She'd wear white and they'd say their vows, but the rest didn't matter.
OTHOTH
The dirt flew up behind Ben's 4-Runner as he pulled down the long drive aimed for his dad's house. Sawyer turned to look at the babies in the back and couldn't help but laugh as they wiggled to the beat of "Already Gone" by the Eagles.
Thankfully enough, the ride from North Carolina into Tennessee hadn't been too terrible. Sawyer and Ben purposefully left at night so Miller and Bo would sleep through most of the road trip, but once the family of four hit the middle of Tennessee, the twins hadn't been so pleasant. Thrown cheerios littered the car floor, one of the juice cups had been tossed to the back, and wails similar to an ambulance or firetruck came from Ben's car so loudly that Sawyer was convinced other motorist could hear. It was only when they got to Arlington, an hour or so away from the house, that the kiddos calmed down.
With six weeks left until the big day, Sawyer and Ben were taking a break from life in Tree Hill. There would be no wedding plans, no Coast Guard duties, no work at Red Bedroom, just time to take in the countryside.
September was about to turn to October and you could see the change in the leaves of early fall. Green had turned yellow, and some yellow was already burning into oranges and reds. Sawyer was taking in the view when she felt Ben's hand grab ahold of hers. It stayed there until he stopped the car alongside his dad's old pickup truck.
Ben got Miller and Sawyer picked up Bo. The old screen porch door creaked when Russ came out and he smiled at his family.
"Go get him, guys. Go get Pop." Ben set Miller down and pointed to his father.
Sawyer put Bo down and watched the two eleven month olds teeter-toter towards their grandfather. Tiny steps, with short strides, Miller and Bo were both walking and Russ was getting a front row view.
"Well look at that." Russ knelt down and held his hands out as the two little people slowly walked to him with giggles and blonde hair.
Ben looked to Sawyer and smiled. He'd seen them walk a million times since last week, but each time he watched his kids walk, Ben felt his heart race. Every replay felt like the first. Ben put his arm around Sawyer's side and walked towards the porch.
"Look at them go, Ben!" Russ was eagerly watching his grandchildren's steps and he stoop up to greet the adults. Sawyer and Ben's pace had outmatched the twins. "And look at you two..." Russ pulled Sawyer into a hug, "Getting married and such. 'Bout time." Russ had always been thought they'd end up together. He'd never expected to take so long, but he knew it would happen eventually. "I guess sticking it out was worth it, huh?"
Sawyer felt the heat on her cheeks and she nodded as she stole a glance towards Ben. Nine and a half years of dating was going to be nothing compared to the rest of their lives together.
"I'm just glad she agreed."
Cutting her eyes to him, Sawyer playfully smacked Ben on the chest. "If you had asked two years ago we'd already be married."
When Sawyer had found out he'd be sitting on an engagement ring and proposal for nearly two years, they'd had their first big fight as a fiances. It had been bad. Tears were shed, there were threats of calling it off, and slamming of doors that all amounted to one thing. A few things really: an apology, an explanation, and a trip down South. Ben hadn't meant for Sawyer to find out about his will he or won't he waiting game, but she did. So not to encourage cold feet or anymore wedding drama, Ben asked her to go to Memphis to get away. Russ was due for a visit and the Coastie knew Tennessee and Sawyer were old friends. If anything would ease her overcharged mind or remind her that everything was fine, it was Memphis, and maybe a little Marc Cohn during the drive.
Now as the were on the southern soil, Ben knew Sawyer had put the postponed proposal behind her. They were back to were they needed to be, and they followed Russ inside as he scooped up his grandkids.
The first full day in Tennessee the family of four had Russ took them on the job with him. The Henderson's farm had a few animals that needed their annual check-ups, and Russ knew Miller and Bo would enjoy seeing them. So the twins chased duckings and then they were chased by a goat, they got to pet a horse and feed a pig. They were scared of the rooster but loved the baby lambs. In was an experience for them all, and Sawyer got it all. There was a camera around her neck and she was sure to have gotten the best moments from each animal encounter.
Ben walked over to Sawyer and made a funny face in the camera. She snapped the picture and turned to look behind her. Russ was chatting with Harriet Henderson, the farms owner, with the same kind of smile Ben wore. "Maybe they'll hit it off? She's divorced right?"
"Widowed." Ben corrected Sawyer but shook his head. "He won't do it though. He likes being alone."
"You think?" Sawyer wasn't convinced. Russ was such a good guy. He deserved to have love.
"I don't know of one serious relationship he's been in since I was little." Ben felt a little sad about it as it came out of his mouth, but it was just the way things were. "He's a catch. Handsome, good job, good house, good guy. I just...I don't think he wants to go through it all again."
"But he should. Maybe I'll go..."
Ben watched her walk towards his dad and went wide eyed. "Sawyer..."
She turned around and raised her shoulders. What was the worst that could happen? Sawyer kept walking to her soon-to-be father-in-law and fed conversation between the older pair hoping a spark might catch fire. But Sawyer quickly realized the flame she'd hoped for wasn't there. Russ loved his job and his grandkids. It seemed like they were the only thing he would talk about, and Sawyer glanced to Ben knowing he was right. Russ would be continue to be the gentle, kind-hearted bachelor that aged with grace and had a smile that could make the worse day better.
Walking back to Ben, Sawyer sighed. "You're right."
"I know." Ben smiled and they started to walk towards the kids together. "When he wants to, he'll find her. He's just been picky for the last twenty years."
Leaning into his side, Sawyer made a joke of it thinking of their own relationship. "At least you weren't picky."
"But I was." Ben laughed at her statement and shook his head. "Why do you think we kept breaking up and getting back together?" It was Sawyer he'd been picky about. Nobody else came close.
He had a point and Sawyer looked to her toes. She'd never thought about things like that. She'd only dated one guy seriously in the time she and Ben were broken up, and Nick never really had a chance. Ben was the one she'd been holding out for. She'd been picky too.
The tall pasture grass tickled her skin by her ankle and she could hear her heart in her ears.
"I love you, OJ." He'd turned to her and squeezed one of her hands with his.
Standing in the middle of a field with a barn on one side of them and livestock on the other, Sawyer looked up to Ben and whispered it back to him before kissing him softly on the lips. "I love you too, Ben."
That night under Tennessee stars, Sawyer slowly rocked back and forth on the back porch of Russ's house. The aged wooded rocking chairs creaked against the old porch floors, mixing nicely with the hum of the old Conway Twitty record that was playing just inside. The southern night was warm, warmer than coastal Carolina in late September, but Sawyer wrapped her arms around her chest anyway. She wasn't cold, she was comfortable. Ever since the first time Ben brought her home, Sawyer felt an easiness in Memphis. Be it Russ' warm hospitality or the sweet scented magnolias, the countryside had her heart.
"Seat taken?" Russ pointed at the empty chair next to Sawyer and smiled.
She shook her head and watched him sit down. "How many did y'all get?"
"Oh I don't know." Russ scratched the back of his neck. "I reckon we got about twenty. But it probably ended up being about seven on account of Ben momentarily losing the top." Russ and his son had gone lighting bug catching with Miller and Bo just a little while ago. They'd trapped them in a mason jar and poked holes in the top so the bright, blinking bugs would live. With a bunch of them in one jar, it sure make for a neat nightlight.
"We held one out for them to see and Bo almost ate it." Russ's laughter was smooth and contagious.
Sawyer laughed and shook her head. "I believe it. He almost ate Trout's dog food the other day."
"When Ben was about three he got into the laundry room and drank the detergent. His Mama called poison control and I was sure we were gonna have to go to the hospital."
"Did you?"
"No. I was fine." Ben walked outside and sat down on the banister that wrapped around the porch. He seemed proud that he'd survived a cup full of Gain. Miller and Bo were fast asleep but he held the mason jar out and looked the Sawyer. "Wanna help me get more."
"Since you lost the others?" Standing, Sawyer laughed and headed down the steps into the yard.
"It wasn't my fault." He hurried down the steps to follow her. The specks of yellow floated through the air and Ben raised his hand to grab one.
"Excuses, excuses, Benjamin." Playfully looking over her shoulder, Sawyer walked towards the clothesline Russ used for sheets and towels. He'd always said the electric dryer didn't compare to the sun when it came to linens.
Eyeing her through the darkness, Ben followed her through the sheets and ran after her when she started to run from him. "Where are you running off to?"
Sawyer felt herself start to laugh and she took a sharp left towards the pecan trees. She wasn't sure why she was running, but it was exciting.
It didn't take long for Ben to reach her. He wrapped his arm around her torso and swung her around. She was facing him and her heavy breath was hot on his skin.
On the porch, Russ started to get up and looked one more time at his son and Sawyer. They were really something else- a good looking couple who had more love for one another than either of them knew.
Sawyer heard the screen door on the back porch shut and she looked up to Ben. The moon was bright in the reflection of his eyes. "I have an idea."
"Yeah?" He lifted his brow waiting to hear.
"What if...what if we got married here. In Memphis."
"Here?"
"Like, right here, before we leave. On Saturday." Sawyer was grinning and pushed her bare feet into the soft grass.
"Before we leave." Ben laughed. They were there for a week. They only had five days left.
"I know it's fast, but I don't want to wait. I wouldn't be that hard to put a few chairs out. I'm sure the Piggly Wiggly can bake a cake. You can rent a suit in town and Brooke can overnight my dress. I just...I want something that's us." Even though it was dark, Sawyer could visualize a countryside wedding. "So what do you think?"
Stunned at her change of plans, Ben let it sink in and then he thought it over. "I think it's crazy, but we can make it work. Pastor Bartlett might be free."
"My parents can fly down."
Ben nodded, "Charlotte and Graham too."
"The people who want to come will make it work." They were talking in revolving sentences with grins and wide eyes.
"They'll have to."
"It'll be great."
Ben kissed Sawyer and wrapped his strong arms around her body. "I grew up here." The emotions running through his mind coincided with his heart.
"I know." Maybe that was why Sawyer was so drawn to it. It made her feel closer to him. "I love you." Sawyer met Ben's lips in a sweet kiss and she'd never felt so happy.
All the planning, all the color choices, the food, the unnecessary stress had been for nothing. The wedding they'd both wanted had been right in front of them the whole time, it just took a little searching.
OTHOTH
Alright, so they're getting married at Russ's. Who saw that coming? If any of you read the last chapter of little moments, you'll remember Peyton was drawing a picture when Haley came and talked to her. And that picture was a hint of what was to come :). With such a rushed wedding, will everything go as planned? What problems will they encounter and with either of them get cold feet? Tune in next time to find out.
Review Please!