Forever More
Part 2 - Faith
Chapter Twenty
During the few weeks that followed Scott’s return into Rebecca’s and her children’s lives many changes and decisions were made concerning their future together. He was just a constant from that moment on. The fact that Scott wanted to be with Rebecca forever anchored every plan that they made.
Scott had told her that she didn’t need to work unless she wanted. He knew that it was more out of a necessity than a desire to be out in the work force. The decision was up to her and she chose to stay home. Financial needs were no longer a concern of hers as Scott’s new role as head of her household gave her a security that she had never known.
He never asked them to go back with him to the farm. He saw how happy the boys were in their new school and to uproot them again was not something that he was willing to do. He also found himself liking the area more and more, enjoying the quiet laid back little town and surrounding area. Even where they had lived before was getting to be more crowded and crime was growing. Here, it seemed, that life had taken a step back and they could breath easier knowing that the boys were safe.
Though out in the country they were not far in three directions from the large cities of Grand Rapids, Flint and Lansing to the south. Airports were more convenient than before as Scott found that he was less than an hour away from some.
He seemed to be able to be at peace up in that area. But more importantly Becky and the boys were there and therefore he was also.
A good friend who he had known for many years lived only a few hours north and Scott had been there on several occasions.
Tom owned several hundred acres of wooded land around a lake. He was a hunter, a naturalist and a conservationist. He loved that area of the Michigan wilderness and spent as much of his free time there as possible. But most of all Tom was Tom Knight. The tall, wild, insane rock musician and singer known for his outrageousness and general madness. He was very talented and aside from being a great friend Scott admired and respected the man so much for his musical ability.
Most of what Tom was to the public was an act. To know him was to see an entirely different caring human being. One who despite the image that many had of him was against drugs, did not smoke and drank rarely. Tom could have a good time without any of that and usually was seen having a better time than everyone else.
Tom stood a giant hovering over Scott with his six-foot five-inch build. They made an odd looking duo. When Scott had first mentioned Tom to Becky she almost cringed. She only knew the Tom who appeared on stage and through his music. Scott assured her that when she met him she would learn to love him. Besides, with Tom, you either loved him or hated him. There was no in between. Scott loved him, and she loved Scott.
Scott had made a few of trips back to his farm to get a some things and check on the horses who were now being looked after by a neighbor full time. Linda had been there and removed more of her things.
Returning home one evening he told Becky how disconnected he now felt to the place. Where once it felt like home it was now a cold empty building. He was home when he was with them, no matter if it was her farmhouse or the small frame home that they now shared. Rebecca was still shocked when he told her that he had been thinking about selling the place. It was getting more obvious to him that they were not going back there.
He went ahead and made all the arrangements and by mid November his farm was for sale. He had lived there for over eight years.
A few days after Scott had come back into her life he and Rebecca were lying in bed after making love. Now was their quiet time when he would lay and hold her or they would sit in bed and talk. She enjoyed these times alone with him the most. That night she sat up and they started to talk about everything that had happened during the day. They sat cross legged on the bed facing each other. She had something to say and was agonizing over the best way to bring it up.
"Scott, we need to talk about something," Rebecca finally said as she now wondered what her next sentence would be.
"All right." he sounded worried at her shaky yet serious tone.
She decided just to say it. "I’m not on the pill."
There she had said it. She felt better. He just looked at her and pursed his lips. Now she felt she had to explain. "When we moved up here I ran out and I haven’t found a doctor yet and besides," She took a breath, " I didn’t think that I was going to need them anymore."
He was still just staring at her.
They had been having relations for four days and she was just now mentioning that fact. She was sure that he would be upset.
When they had first made love so many months earlier, she wasted no time going to her doctor and finding a form of birth control. Then she worried alone that maybe it was too late already. Luckily it wasn’t. Scott never asked her nor did he ever offer any other means on his part. They had never discussed this. Now as she sat facing him on the bed she wondered what his reaction would be.
Resting his elbows on his knees he rubbed his eyes. "What do you want to do?" he finally asked after a moments silence.
His question made her think a moment but he spoke again before she took the opportunity to answer. "Maybe we shouldn’t do anything." He spoke so softly as he took her hand and held it in his.
They continued to sit looking into one another’s eyes and gaining the full impact of what had just been decided. They had taken another step, made another commitment to each other. She knew that he wanted her to carry his child.
When Jack died she had never in her dreams thought that she would ever feel the same for another man. Yet here she was, looking deep into the blueness of the eyes of a man that she not only loved so completeley but she was now very much wanting to share that love in the most beautiful and perfect way that she knew how.
Paula called out to the yard to Jon, "Scott’s on the phone!"
Jon came into the kitchen and taking the phone from his wife who was chatting, sat down at the table, "Hey, what’s up?"
They talked a few minutes and then finally Scott’s attempt to slowly work his announcement into the conversation wasn’t working and he just had to blurt it out.
"I’m getting married, Jon."
Jon sat there somewhat stunned and looked up at Paula who was curious as to why he had that look on his face.
"Say something," Scott finally insisted on the other end.
"Well, congratulations!" It had just shocked him since the last he knew Linda and Scott were not getting along that great and now all of a sudden they had decided to go for it. He really hadn’t expected that of Scott, not that he wasn’t happy for him.
He continued, "So when is this big event and do I need to wear rented clothes?"
Paula was now very interested.
Scott explained on the other end, "I don’t really know. We haven’t got that far yet. I just wanted you to be the first to know."
Jon changed ears with the phone. "Is Linda there? Paula is about ready to pull this thing out of my ear."
"Its not Linda."
Now Jon was confused.
Scott continued, taking another deep breath. "Her name is Becky. She’s the one I’ve been with."
Now Jon knew. This was the woman who Scott had been seeing for about the last year. Jon asked Scott to hold a minute while he told Paula.
Her face dropped as he told her the good news followed by the announcement that it was no one that they knew. She was shocked herself.
"There’s more." Scott added and Jon was almost afraid to find out.
"We’ve got two little boys."
"What do you mean WE?" Jon asked now more surprised.
"Well, Becky does, but I guess they’re mine. I get a packaged deal."
"What do you mean? I take it she has custody?"
"She’s not divorced," Scott explained, "Her husband died a few years ago."
"Oh." Jon almost felt like a fool for asking now.
Jon and Scott continued to talk and before the end of the conversation it was decided that he and Becky and the two boys would fly out to California for a visit where they could all meet and get to know one another.
Jon sat at the kitchen table with Paula wondering what had produced such a turn about in their friend. If Scott was happy and sure, then he had no doubt to question him. He and Scott had some great times in their lives but Scott wasn’t necessarily the kind of guy who ran headfirst into something as important as marriage. Well, not anymore, anyway. He had learned the hard way. If it was marriage he wanted he was sure Linda, even in all her independence, would have afforded him that. And children too, he thought. Some changes had drastically taken place in his friend and he wasn’t sure what they were.
It was true, Scott had changed. He started seeing his future further down the road and every time he looked Becky was there with him. He cared for her like he had never cared for anyone before. It was startling him too. Sometimes he would lie awake and wonder how he had ever given up everything that he had known in search of something so unfamiliar and consummate as he was now most surely planning to do. Then all he had to do was look down as Rebecca slept soundly and secure in the crook of his arm to know the reason.
Jon called Scott to tell him that Paula had given birth to a boy whom they named Matthew Scott. Paula was doing great and Scott talked to Kellie to congratulate her on her new baby brother.
Rebecca’s first experience flying with her children was quite memorable. They had driven into Lansing early in the morning and left the car at the airport. The boys were so excited and it was fun to see the expressions on their faces as they boarded the jet. Scott had Ethan and they were seated across the aisle from her and Kyle. They flew from Lansing to Chicago where they landed but did not have to change planes. One more stop in Denver and then up over the mountains where they finally landed in San Francisco. The mountains were so beautiful and she was only slightly fearful as they seemed to glide right over the top of them.
Being a novice at this type of travel and mostly trying to keep her children occupied and out of the way Rebecca left most all the necessary business up to Scott who was securing the car that was being held for them and then following him down to the baggage claim waiting as he pulled off three suitcases.
The boys were tired and a bit cranky by the time they finally got the car and had it all loaded. Scott promised them McDonalds and they made a quick stop. After making sure that everyone had used the bathroom they were back on the road.
The boys seemed to settle down after they had eaten and it even got quiet in the back seat as Scott drove through beautiful mountains on their way to Jon’s and Paula’s.
Rebecca was getting nervous now. She was about to meet Scott’s best friend and his wife. She so very much wanted them to like and accept her. She wanted the boys to behave. Scott kept reassuring her that she had nothing to worry about. These were two of the most laid back people that she would ever meet and as for the boys, they would be fine and, after all Jon and Paula were used to kids, but adding at the end that if need be they would just lock them in the trunk. Scott turned around to see if anyone had been listening. Kyle was asleep and Ethan was looking out the window.
Scott was anxious to see the new baby who was a little over three and a half weeks old. Becky had voiced her concern about visiting them so soon after the baby was born but Paula told Scott that everything was fine and she wanted them there. Still, she was nervous.
Jon heard Scott’s car drive in. Paula was upstairs with the baby right then and he yelled to her but she had seen them drive in. She said she’d be down in a little bit. Jon started out the door picking up his curly-headed daughter and went out to meet their guests.
He had wondered who this woman was who had such an effect on Scott’s life so much that he was willing to give up everything he had, his home, his relationship with Linda. Linda was a very beautiful woman and Jon could only surmise that anyone who had stolen his heart away from her must be incredible.
As he got out into the yard he saw the car doors open and Scott holding the seat forward as two boys crawled out of the back. He thought how odd it seemed to see Scott with a family.
He saw Becky on the other side of the car. She was not at all what he had expected. She was plainer. While pretty she seemed to be more on the average side. But he could tell right away that she was charming and down-to-earth. There were no airs about her. He could also see in Scott’s eyes the love that he not only had for her but also the two mopped-headed boys who stuck close to his shirt tail.
Scott made all his introductions as he took Kellie from Jon and hoisted her up on his shoulders where she immediately grabbed onto his long hair and held on.
They started toward the house as Jon informed, "Paula is upstairs feeding the baby right now but she will be down soon."
"How is that baby?" Scott asked Jon and then seemed to direct the question more to the little girl perched on his shoulders.
"He’s fine." she answered.
Kellie was a little over two years old and seemed to be able to talk a mile a minute for someone so tiny. Becky could tell that Scott just loved this little girl as she giggled and wiggled on his shoulders.
They entered the kitchen just as Paula appeared through another doorway holding the baby. Scott gave her a big hug and told her how great she looked. She handed the baby to him and he sat down at the table as Kayle and Ethan checked him out with Kellie climbing on the table next to them looking on. Scott was busy counting fingers and toes and it was Jon who introduced Rebecca to Paula.
Scott was right. Rebecca liked Paula right away. She was not what she had been expecting either. And as they all gathered there in the kitchen of this large old home she felt like she was among friends right from the beginning.
Paula was easy to talk to and never once seemed to be judging her or making her feel uncomfortable because she had been friends with Linda, which is what Rebecca had been worried about.
The entire rest of the evening was so nice. Jon threw some steaks and baked potatoes on the grill and a few hamburgers for the kids. Paula made a salad in the kitchen while Rebecca got to hold the baby and talk to her. Paula made them all feel right at home.
After finally getting the two young boys to sleep in a large room with a double bed and getting Kellie tucked in and the baby put down for a few hours, the four of them sat outside and talked. Paula and Rebecca laughed and found out that they did have a lot in common. Both liked to sew and loved flowers, both found it odd that the other would actually grow their own vegetables and can their own fruits.
It was nearly one o’clock in the morning when the girls finally called it a night. Paula showed Rebecca to another large bedroom. As she left her she turned and offered, "You know, they will be out there for HOURS. When those two get together you had might as well forget about anything else."
Paula was right. It was nearly four a.m. when Rebecca finally felt Scott slip under the sheets next to her. She rolled over and put her arm around him and they fell asleep.
Jon crawled into bed as Paula was just about finished nursing the baby and was ready to put him back into the crib in their room.
When she came back to bed Jon asked her what she thought of Becky.
"I like her a lot."
Jon said that he did too and it was great to see Scott with someone who seemed so down to earth, but admitted that at first she wasn’t what he had expected.
"But I think that he’s really happy. I think he found the person that he’s been looking for all his life."
Paula agreed, then added, "She’s me."
Jon looked over at his wife. She was right. Becky did indeed seem to be her counterpart. Maybe that was why they hit it off so well.
Scott had always told Jon, more or less, how he envied him for what he had with Paula and how great she was. They had a wonderful home and two beautiful children and a marriage that seemed to endure even Jon.
He turned to Paula, "By god, I think you’re right."
"Of course I am," she laughed thinking that Jon was a little slow to catch on.
The weekend flew by so quickly but before it was over Rebecca and Paula became good friends. It was Paula’s idea, but they all agreed that the wedding would take place there at the ranch. Paula ran with the idea and practically had the whole event planned in her head before Scott and his new family flew back to Michigan.
A small outdoor wedding was decided upon and Paula knew the perfect spot to set up the whole ensemble and taking Rebecca out to their back yard she laid out everything as if she was seeing it unfold right in front of her eyes.
Picking a date Scott and Rebecca decided on March seventh of the coming year. The weather would be nice in that part of California at that time. It wouldn’t be a large wedding but would include several of their closest friends and family, none of Scott’s whom Rebecca had met yet.
Scott had talked to his mother and to his two brothers Mike and Chris and his sister Marie on several occasions. He had told them that he and Becky had moved in together and that he was selling his farm and now had called them with the date for the upcoming wedding.
