Part 6
Back at the condo, Howie showed Sarah around after putting on some music. As he fixed dinner, she wandered around looking at his awards and ended up at the fish tank.
Howie watched her and was glad to see that she was so relaxed. "Ready to eat?"
"Ummmmm....yeah. Smells good."
Howie set a plate on the bar. "What would you like to drink?"
"A wine cooler."
Howie got a wine cooler for her from the refrigerator and joined her with his own plate. He reached for her hand and took it in his. "You look so comfortable, like you belong here."
"You make it so easy. From the minute I met you, I knew I could trust you."
"Sarah, I want us to be together...as a couple."
Sarah got serious. "I don't know. I'm just getting out of an eight year relationship where he controlled me, cheated on me, lost my daughter, and ruined my reputation. I'm not saying I DO NOT want to be with you but I'm scared to get involved again."
"I understand all that, 'angel' but hear me out. I'm on the road a lot and that's hard on a relationship. I'm NOT going to treat you like Russell did...I have more respect for you than that. You can join me whenever you want to when I'm touring so seeing each other isn't a problem. Please, give me a chance."
"What about my job?"
"I'll take care of that if you need me to."
Sarah thought about it then asked, "When do you leave?"
"Right now, we're scheduled to leave at the end of September to do a bunch of personal appearances and the new CD will be out in mid-October. The actual tour starts at the end of October and runs through the spring."
"By then, I should know whether I got the teaching job or not."
"So you're saying....?"
Sarah smiled, "I'm saying that I want to be with you too."
"And you'll come with me on tour?"
"If we're together, I'll consider it."
Howie grinned, "Oh, we'll be together."
"You're mighty sure of yourself."
"Very. So, you don't mind the road thing?"
"No. It's your job and a part of you. Promise me one thing though."
"What's that?"
"We'll go slow."
"As slow as you want. You won't regret this."
"I'm sure I won't."
After dinner, the couple went back out to the beach and found a spot to sit. As they watched the porpoises playing out past the breakers and shrimp boats coming in, they talked about Howie's career, music, children, marriage, their goals, and family. Long after the sun had set, they walked back to the condo where Sarah made herself comfortable on his couch. Howie turned on the gas logs, turned down the lights, and put on some soft music. He got them both a glass of wine and joined Sarah where they continued their conversation from the beach. They talked well into the early hours of the morning.
Sarah fell asleep with her head on Howie's shoulder so he got up carefully. He got a blanket to cover her with and then gave her kiss on the forehead, "Sweet dreams, angel."
Howie made himself comfortable on the other couch and watched as she slept. She was more beautiful asleep. He couldn't believe that he had found the angel of his dreams and they had clicked from the first moment. 'God, how did I get so lucky? She'll never believe me if I tell her that I've known for a month that she was the one for me'.
Howie woke to Sarah's cries and he moved to her quickly. "Sarah....Sarah...it's okay...it's just a dream."
Sarah woke with a start and sat up on the couch. She realized where she was and began to cry, "Oh, god!" she said as he took her in his arms and held her as she cried. When she had calmed down, Sarah pulled away and wiped the tears. "Thank you."
"Any time. What were you dreaming about?"
"The usual, Chrissy running me down. I'm surprised that I even fell asleep."
"Why do you say that?"
"I'll go several nights in a row without much sleep, usually only a couple hours each night and then I'll crash with the help of medication. Ever since they told me what had happened, I have this same dream almost every night. I hate being alone at nights and Becca being away all the time is tough."
"That's why you weren't concerned about me taking you home?"
"You don't think bad of me, do you?"
Howie hugged her, "Not hardly. I'm glad you felt safe enough to be able to sleep."
"What time is it?"
Howie looked at his watch. "Almost five-thirty."
"The sun will be coming up soon."
"Wanna go out and watch the sunrise?"
Sarah smiled, "I'd love to."
Howie got up and took her hand in his to help her up too. She stood and was very close to him. She could smell his cologne and looked into those beautiful brown eyes. She felt herself falling and she didn't want to fight the feeling.
Howie put his hands in her hair and kissed her. He whispered, "Let's go watch the sunrise."
The two walked out to the beach and sat on the steps of the walkway that went over the dunes. Howie sat on one step and Sarah sat on the one below it in front of him. He put his arms around her and rested his chin on her head as they watched the sun come up. Neither spoke until the sun was well above the ocean.
Howie asked, "What do you have to do today?"
"I'm working late tonight."
"I want to see you again today."
"I'd like that. Howie," said Sarah softly.
"Yeah, 'angel'."
"Thank you for last night. It's been so long since I've felt this happy or this safe."
TBC