Part 11
Sarah woke just before dawn and looked over at Howie as he slept peacefully. Her heart was about to explode with love for him but she was also disappointed. She had been certain that Howie was going to propose last night but not once was marriage brought up. Now, in the early morning hours, she needed to think. She got up and pulled on her shorts and a T-shirt. Then she headed downstairs to sit on the deck.
As the sun started making its way above the horizon, Sarah heard someone coming down the steps. She expected it to be Howie but was surprised to see Kevin standing in the doorway. He was wearing a pair of shorts but no shirt and he looked like he’d just woken up.
She smiled up at him. "Hey, ‘Boo’. What are you doing up this early?"
"I wanted to spend some time with you today and I knew this would be the best time."
Sarah moved so that Kevin could sit beside her and she leaned against his chest as he put his arm around her. She rested her head on his shoulder and sighed softly. "I love this time of day."
Kevin smiled at her. "I’m surprised Howie isn’t with you."
With a touch of sadness in her voice that Sarah tried to cover, she said, "I didn’t wake him. I wanted to have some time alone."
Kevin heard it and asked, "What’s wrong, baby?"
Sarah looked up at him and had to smile. "You do know me too well."
"Yeah, I do. Now, tell brother Kev what’s wrong and I’ll see if I can fix it for you."
Sarah laughed, "Okay, Brother Kev. I was kinda expecting something to happen last night and it didn’t."
"What were you expecting?"
"Howie to propose. Kevin, I thought for sure that this would be it. He had a romantic dinner set up for me….one that I had described to him not too long ago. He told me that he couldn’t imagine his life without my love and that forever wasn’t long enough."
Kevin laughed softly, "Words from our newest song but he meant them, Sarah."
"Then why didn’t he propose?"
"Maybe he’s waiting for the perfect time and he didn’t feel like last night was it."
"It couldn’t have gotten any more perfect, Kevin. No….he’s not over the hurt of…"
"Stop it, Sarah! Howie’s LONG past all that happened and so are you. Listen to me and don’t you OPEN YOUR MOUTH THAT I TOLD YOU."
"Okay."
"You know Howie as well as any one of us and when he sets his mind that he wants something a certain way, that’s how it’s going to be. He has this WHOLE weekend mapped out in his head. He knows exactly what he wants and how he wants it to unfold. Stop worrying about it. It will happen."
Sarah saw the look in Kevin’s eyes. "You know what he has in mind, don’t you?"
"Yes, I do and I promise, you won’t be disappointed."
Sarah reached up to kiss Kevin on the cheek. "Thank you, ‘Boo’."
"No problem, baby. Now why don’t you go back up with him?"
"But you wanted to spend time with me."
Kevin smiled. "Truth?"
"Yes!"
"I knew you’d be up and I knew Howie wasn’t going to propose to you last night and I kinda figured you’d be upset that he didn’t. That’s the ONLY reason I drug my sorry butt out of bed away from a VERY warm body."
Sarah laughed, "I love you, ‘Boo’ and tell Ness I appreciate her giving you up for a little while to comfort me."
"I will. Now git your beautiful butt back up to Howie before he comes down and kicks mine!"
Sarah kissed Kevin again and then headed back up to bed. She undressed, climbed into bed, and snuggled next to Howie.
Sleepily, Howie asked, "Where have you been?"
"Went down to watch the sunrise and ended up talking to Kevin."
"What’s he doing up?"
"Not sure. ‘D’, I love you."
Howie hugged her close, his morning stubble tickling her neck, "I love you too, Sarah."