Loving Charley Page 16

  At the sound of the gavel pounding the desk, I jump up and almost leap across the partition to Cash, but I don’t have to leap far, because he meets me halfway. Embracing me in his arms, he presses his lips to mine then we hold each other tight and don’t let go until his mama makes her way to her baby.

  “Mama, I told you it would be fine. There was no need to worry. I spoke the truth just like you always taught me, and see where it got me… I’m free,” Cash says with assurance in his voice.

  “Well, not exactly,” his lawyer adds. Tessa and I give an eye roll, and I turn to face my friends. They take turns hugging me and then excuse themselves outside. I stay back with my parents, the Montgomery’s, Tessa, and Cash. Once his lawyer gives him the ins and outs of what the probation means, we exit the courtroom. Cash takes my hand in his, smiles at me with that perfect smile, and we walk toward our freedom.

  Cash and I make a pit stop at the restroom, and when we are about to leave, we are greeted in the hallway by Judge Reeves leaving for the day. She looks our way and smiles.

  “Thank you,” I say to her.

  “No, thank you, for having a man in your life that’s not afraid to stand up for what’s right. We need more Cash’s in this world,” she says as she exits the building.

  Wrapping my arm around his, I walk closely with him. “You know she’s right, don’t ya? The world would be a better place with more Cash Money’s.”

  He stops, turns toward me, and places his index finger under my chin. “Everyone needs their forever.” He brings his lips to mine in the doorway of the courthouse. “Especially one that undresses the defendant as he enters the courtroom.”

  “Now, what gives you that idea?” I smirk.

  “Knowing you since the age of four… that’s how I know, but you know what? I thought it was hot.”

  “I bet you did!” I say as I pull him through the doors into the bright sunshine and toward the start of our forever.

  Epilogue

  “Georgia, I can’t believe today’s the day! I don’t wanna leave ya!” I tell her as we finish packing my toiletries.

  “I know. Honestly, I don’t think I’m gonna make it through the summer without ya. You are comin’ back next year, aren’t ya?” she says with worry in her voice.

  “That’s the plan,” I say with a smile.

  “Good. If not, I’m gonna make a weekly trip to Grassy Pond for you and a burger from the Burger Shak.”

  We laugh, and I help her finish packing as well. Around eleven, Dad, Mama, and Tessa pull in with the truck. I’m beyond excited to see them and can’t wait to be home, but I hate to leave the Kluft girls.

  “Hey!” I say as I meet them all with hugs. “Cash really didn’t come?” I ask them.

  “Afraid so. His dad had to have him today. They tried everything to get it changed, but they couldn’t. Cash being Cash couldn’t let his dad do it alone,” my dad informs me.

  With sadness in my voice, I comment, “I guess I just thought he’d surprise me like he did before.”

  “Guess not!” Tessa states. Placing my hand on my hips, I give her the sarcastic really? look, and she laughs.

  We spend the next hour loading everything into the truck. By then, all the Kluft girls’ parents have arrived, and it is like one big family reunion. We joke about crazy things we did this year, what we are going to miss most about second floor Kluft, and then we are in tears by the time we finish.

  “Y’all wanna grab some lunch?” I ask them. They all kinda freeze and look to each other for answers. “Um, are y’all okay?” I ask quizzically.

  “Yeah, we just have a long road ahead of us,” Anna says.

  “I guess that’s true; I forget y’all have farther than me.”

  As our parents make their way back to the cars, we take a few moments to say goodbye. We make plans to visit Georgia’s beach house and to try to cross the Mason-Dixon line to see Hayden and Anna. If I do, that will be a first. We have a final big group hug, and we all are in tears by the time we go our separate ways.

  As I prepare to pull out of the parking lot, I can’t help but look back into the rearview mirror. This has been the roughest, yet best, year of my life. I discovered who I am as a person, what it’s like to stand up for what is right, set goals and obtain them, and find a support system that will last a lifetime.

  Just as I’m about to leave, I see Joe running toward the Honda. How the hell did I forget to tell him bye? Maybe because I know I’ll see him soon.

  Pulling my car to the side, I put it in park and jump out and walk toward him.

  “You weren’t leaving without telling me bye, were ya?” he asks with confidence.

  “Um… no.” I laugh. “I guess I’m just thinking about getting home; plus, I know I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “True. But actually, it will be next week. I’m driving back home tonight and gonna spend some time with Gran. Also, my parents want me to meet them to talk things out.”

  “Joe! That’s great! I know they love you, and no matter what, I do, too!”

  “Squirrel, you have a way with words, don’t ya?” He laughs.

  “You know what I mean! Piper, Cash, my parents, and of course, your Gran and I, all love you. You need to at least explain what they want to know. Who knows, it might be the start of your forever,” I say with a smile.

  Shrugging his shoulders, he replies, “Could be.” He gives me a hug and tells Tessa bye before turning and making his way back to his dorm. I’m sure gonna miss him, but I’m glad to know he’s part of my future, too.

  Taking a cleansing breath, I put the Honda in drive, and we make our way toward Grassy Pond. Tessa and I cut up the entire way home. We get honked at by truckers and sing to the top of our lungs. I’m so lucky to have a sister like Tessa. She’s one in a million, and I’ll never take her for granted.

  When we enter Grassy Pond, the smell of summer lingers in the air as we drive with the windows down. I get excited the closer we get to the farm. The feeling of home overwhelms my body, and I start to cry.

  “Char, are you okay?” Tessa asks with concern.

  “Yeah, I’m fabulous. I’m just glad to be home.”

  “I’m glad you’re home, too. My workload is going to decrease a lot!”

  “Yup, nothing’s changed,” I say to her with a laugh.

  We all take turns unpacking the truck and Honda. When we unload the last box from the Honda, I make my way to my room. Taking a minute to collect my thoughts, I think about my freshman year. It’s hard to believe it’s over. As quickly as I made the decision to attend Southern, my first year has come to an end. I reflect on the people, memories, and experiences I had this past year, and then I think about this summer. I’m so happy to be home, but without the Kluft girls, it’s gonna be rough.

  I shake my head as I stare at the stack of boxes in my room. How in the hell did all this shit fit in that tiny room? I start to unpack when Tessa enters the room.

  “Are you gonna help me or go missin’?” I ask her.

  “What do you say we both go missin’?” she answers.

  “Whatcha thinkin’?”

  “I was thinkin’ a little ride around the farm might be fun or going swimming at the pond.”

  I scan all the boxes in sight. I’m definitely not looking forward to unpacking, but procrastination isn’t in my nature. Tessa gives me a look, and how am I to tell her no?

  “So, which one is it… ridin’ or swimmin’?” I ask her.

  “Both.”

  “Aight.” We grab a swimsuit and stop and talk to Mama for just a minute before heading to the barn to grab our four-wheelers. We spend the next hour ridin’, racin’, muddin’, and just livin’ life in the moment.

  As we slow down on the lower end of the field, I glance at my watch, and Tessa knows exactly what I’m thinking. “When are they supposed to be back?” she asks.

  “Around supper, I think.” Cash went with his dad to a cattle sale a county over. I can’t believe he didn’t
help me move home, but I think he just wanted me to spend the last moment with my friends and not focus on us.

  “That’s not too bad. Are you ready to go for a swim? You look a hot mess.”

  “Always keepin’ it real. I might just start callin’ you HJ,” I joke.

  “Huh?” she asks, confused.

  “Hayden Junior,” I reply.

  “I like her, so I’ll take it.” She guns it toward the pond, and I follow right behind. As we approach the pond, I’m caught off guard when I see Cash’s four-wheeler, and I give Tessa a puzzled look. She smirks and picks up speed. He’s back and didn’t call? Something’s not right. The closer we get to the club, I notice Tessa trying not to laugh.

  “You knew, didn’t you?!” I ask as I slide off my four-wheeler and turn to look at her while wiping the mud off my legs and pulling my hair back through my ball cap.

  “Who knows?” she questions with a shrug.

  Not sure of what to make of the situation and wondering why Cash would have lied, I turn to face the club, only to be met by the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. Cash is propped against the club’s ladder in a pair of Rock & Roll Cowboy jeans and a Memphis Snap shirt. His hair has been freshly cut, and his face is clean-shaven. In his hands, he’s holding a bouquet of fresh daisies from his mama’s flowerbed, and when he sees my mud-covered self, he grins and pushes off the ladder and begins to walk toward me.

  I look back at Tessa, and she winks before taking off toward the house. It’s obvious that I’ve been set up, but I have a feeling as long as it has something to do with Cash Money, I’ll love it.

  “Fancy seein’ you here,” I say as I get within speaking distance.

  “Well, let’s just say that I wanted to surprise ya.”

  “That you did, but look at me,” I say as I point at the mud.

  “Personally, there’s nothing hotter than a girl that’s not afraid to get a little dirty,” he says as he hands me the flowers and kisses me gently.

  “Thank you.”

  “Are you hungry?” he asks. “I made us supper.”

  “As long as it’s PB&J’s.” I wink as we lace our fingers together.

  “How’d you know?” He takes my hand and guides me to the ladder.

  Taking the final rung, I am in awe when we enter the club. Cash has made our own private supper with candles, Choice Cherry Gold, and PB&J’s on my mama’s fine china. “Ohmygosh, Cash! You did all of this?” I inquire.

  “Guilty.”

  “Don’t say that again,” I joke. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you, Char-coal,” he says as he takes a step closer, placing his hand on my cheek and pulling me in for a slow, heart-warming kiss. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

  “Me, too.” I eagerly try to meet his lips once again. He fulfills my request and holds me tightly. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was a goodbye hug, but I know we won’t have any more of those.

  “You wanna eat?” he asks nervously.

  “Sure, but I need to clean up a little or at least wash my hands.” He tosses me a wet rag and then I sit across from him at our private supper. He begins by pouring Choice Cherry Gold into wine glasses, and we fix our plates. During supper, we enjoy each other’s company without interruption. We laugh, talk about what happened when I left the Kluft girls, what I want to do this summer at home, and I bring up the idea of transferring to be closer to him even though I told Georgia I’d be back. Of course, Cash loves that idea, but as always, he wants me to enjoy college.

  As the sun begins to set, Cash plugs in his iPod and begins to play our song. Taking my hand, he helps me stand and pulls me into him, and we dance to our song in our club without a care in the world.

  When it ends, he pulls me in for a kiss and then slowly pulls away. “I wanna show you somethin’,” he says and points toward the ladder. Making our way down, he guides me to the pond. Taking in all the elements and checking every nook and cranny, I don’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

  “Everything’s the same,” I say.

  Clearing his throat, he turns to me and takes my hands in his. “Char-coal, everything’s the same. Since the first day we met until right now, everything has been the same. You and me. You have always been my forever regardless of the trials we have faced. This pond is ours, along with the club, and these memories that will never be tarnished or forgotten. I want to start our forever,” he says as he pulls a little black box from his jeans and takes a knee. Opening the box, he asks the question I’ve been waiting my entire life to hear, “Charley Anne Rice, I’ve loved you as long as I’ve understood what it means to love someone. You are my one and only, the one that gives me reason to breath, and I want to make you my wife.”

  Grinning from ear to ear, I can’t help but answer him with one question, “Cash Money, what you wanna marry me for, anyways?”

  Shaking his head as he stands, he replies, “So, I can kiss my Char-coal anytime I wanna.” He doesn’t wait for an answer; he kisses me with desire, hunger, and as if his life depends on it. Wrapping my arms around him, I fall deeper and deeper into his kiss, and then he pulls away abruptly. “I take that’s a yes?”

  “Yes, Cash Money!” I exclaim and then pull him back to meet my lips.

  He pulls away one more time. “Don’t you wanna see the ring?”

  “Cash, I wouldn’t care if it came outta bubble gum machine as long as you’re the one that gave it to me.”

  Taking the ring from the box, he slides the carat and a half princess-cut diamond onto my finger. It’s perfect. Once the ring is on my finger, I waste no time expressing my feelings to him. He lifts me off the ground and carries me back to the club. When we are inside, we focus on each other and enjoy being alone together.

  “Tessa knew the whole time, huh?” I ask him.

  “Yup, everyone knew, but you.”

  “Everyone?” I look at him with a wrinkle in my brow.

  “Yeah, our parents, Tessa, Piper, Joe, and the Kluft girls all knew. I had to have all their permission.”

  “No wonder they were shooing me out of the parking lot! Those little huzzies! And Tessa let me look like this. I should have at least taken a shower before.”

  “Char-coal, I wouldn’t have you any other way. Just think. It’s a story to tell our grandkids one day, but if you wanna get rid of the mud, I know of a way,” he says with a sly grin.

  “Cash Porter Montgomery, are you suggesting we go skinny dippin’?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Does this mean you’re gonna break your promise?”

  “Hell no, if I’ve made it this far, why stop now?” he asks with a laugh.

  “Well, let’s just see about that,” I say with a wink as I shimmy outta my cutoffs and tank before jumping from the window. If I can’t have Cash all the way yet, I guess skinny dippin’ will have to do for now.

  About the Author

  Casey Peeler grew up and still lives in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. Her first passion is teaching students with special needs. Over the years, she found her way to relax was in a good book.

  After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neal Hurston her senior year of high school and multiple Nicholas Sparks’ novels, she found a hidden love and appreciation for reading.

  Casey is an avid reader, blogger (Hardcover Therapy,) and now author. Her goal is to one day be an author who is recognized nationwide like Jamie McGuire, Colleen Hoover, Tiffany King, and Amanda Bennett.

  When Casey isn’t reading, you can find her listening to country music, spending the day at the lake, being a wife and dance mom, and spending time with friends and family.

  Her perfect day consists of water, sand between her toes, a cold beverage, and a great book!

  Connect with Casey:

  Facebook:caseypeelerauthor

  Twitter: @AuthorCasey

  Instagram: caseypeeler

  Books by Casey Peeler

  Full Circle Series


  Loving Charley

  Finding Charley

  Loving Charley

  Southern Perfection

  Crashing Tides

  Our Song (A Country Music Novella)