Reckless Surrender :: Chapter Forty Nine

Hope was lying face up on Jennifer's bed. Jennifer bounced as she flopped onto the bed beside her. Hope smiled softly. Jennifer was more than a cousin to her. She was a sister.

"You're happy," Jennifer noted softly. Her smile was warm.

Hope sighed with content, "I'm happy."

"I'm so glad," Jennifer's smile broke into a grin, "You deserve every second of it."

Hope's smile faded, "For so long, I was just trying to survive. I was just trying to keep going. It became my new normal. It got easier. I got stronger… But I never really felt happy. I never thought I would feel like this again."

"In a lot of ways you are a new woman," Jennifer replied, "But in some ways you resemble your old self more than you ever have."

Hope nodded, "27 years of marriage makes it kind of easy to get lost without your other half."

Jennifer smiled again, "You're about to add to that number."

Hope laughed, "I hope it's at least 27 more."

"I have no doubts," Jennifer shrugged.

Hope sighed. For the first time in her journey back to Bo, she didn't either. She pondered how much they had grown.

"Do you?" Jennifer questioned, concerned when Hope didn't respond.

Hope shook her head, "Nope."

"Good," Jennifer smiled with relief, "The world is off it's axis when the two of you aren't together."

Hope eyed her cousin, "I wouldn't go that far."

Jennifer laughed, "Well, the universe is definitely not right. So do the rest of the world a favor and spare us."

Hope grinned, "It would be very stupid of me to ever leave that man again."

"I'm glad you realize that," Jennifer replied.

Hope sighed with content, "Are we going to get this party started or what? Where are Marlena and Kayla?"

"On the way," Jennifer scooted off the bed, "Don't worry. Your last night as a single woman will not be in vein."

Hope shook her head, "Please don't get carried away. We have a ceremony to be in tomorrow."

"I'm well aware," Jennifer nodded and reached for Hope's hands.

Hope gladly took Jennifer's outstretched hands and let herself be helped off the bed. Tonight she was cherishing friendship. Tomorrow she was remarrying the love of her life. Her heart soared.

Bo clinked his beer with Steve. They stood on the back patio of his home. He smiled to himself as he thought about the fact that it really felt like a home now that Hope was back in his life.

"Nervous for tomorrow?" Steve asked after taking a sip of his beer.

Bo shook his head, "Not at all."

"You don't think she'll make a run for it?" Steve teased, "I mean come on. You're a rough guy sometimes."

Bo glared at his friend, "Shut up man."

"I'm just kidding," Steve laughed, "I'm glad the two of you worked it out. I was never a fan of you with anyone else."

Bo bit his lip, "Yeah… me neither."

"You guys cooking yet?" Shawn interrupted as he joined them on the patio, "I'm starving."

"Get to work then," Bo replied with a smirk, "Meat is in the fridge."

Shawn shook his head and grabbed a beer from the cooler, "What are you doing out here? Watching grass grow?"

"We're chewing the fat," Steve replied with a straight face, "Hang out with your old man and me, and we'll teach you how to drink beer appropriately."

Bo couldn't contain a laugh. Shawn stared at the two of them.

"It's not that serious man," Steve chuckled at Shawn's reaction, "But you could learn a few things from the wise."

"The two of you are far from wise," John replied as he also joined them on the patio.

"Look, I think we all know that my young impressionable son could learn a few things from the guys here." Bo replied.

"I'm not that young," Shawn rolled his eyes, "I know a few things about marriage. Probably more than you since you have to try again."

"Ohhh," Steve howled, "Burn. Watch out Bobo. He's coming after you."

Bo shoved his son's shoulder, "Give it time. I'm sure you'll screw up once or twice."

"Or a million times," John added, "Marriage is tough."

"Then why do we do it?" Shawn questioned.

They all stared at each other for a moment as their conversation turned serious.

"Love," John shrugged, "The kind that you can't breathe without."

"Is that how you feel about mom?" Shawn asked Bo.

Bo sighed, "Yeah. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. She drives me crazy sometimes, but at the end of the day my life is nothing without her."

"Marriage is symbolic too," Steve added, "It's a public commitment. A promise to each other. That's why we do it."

John smirked as a twinkle crept into his eye, "Yeah… and there's nothing like claiming your territory with a ring. Just announcing to the world, that that's your woman."

They all laughed out loud.

"That's why you're really doing this isn't it Dad?" Shawn joked.

"Hell yeah," Bo replied, "Have you seen your mom? She's a hell of a catch. I see the way men look at her."

"Oh God," Shawn shook his head, "Stop."

"He's right man," Steve nodded, "She's a catch. Dudes will fall over backwards when she walks in a room."

They all laughed again.

"Well then it sounds like tomorrow can't come fast enough," Shawn replied, "You better put a ring on it."

Bo shrugged, "I already did."

"He caught her." Steve winked, "Hook, line, and sinker."

They four men continued their small talk while they enjoyed beer and each other's company. Tonight was about being men. Tomorrow was about celebrating love. As manly as they all pretended to be, each one of them knew better than to discount how much they needed the women in their life. Without love, they all felt lost.