Chapter 10 - The Creek
The creek was peaceful.
That seemed unfair.
Garrett had imagined it as a monster for four years.
Instead, sunlight sparkled across shallow water.
Wildflowers grew along the bank.
Sarah stood several yards away with Penny.
Garrett approached alone.
He carried Jonathan’s wooden horse.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then he spoke.
“I’m sorry.”
The water continued flowing.
“I’m sorry I couldn't save you.”
His voice cracked.
“And I’m sorry I thought loving anyone else would betray you.”
Sarah lowered her eyes.
This moment belonged to him.
Garrett placed the horse near a tree.
Then stopped.
He picked it up again.
“No.”
Sarah watched.
Garrett returned carrying it.
Penny ran toward him.
“You kept it.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Garrett looked back at the creek.
“Because saying goodbye doesn't mean throwing everything away.”
He handed Penny the horse.
“You keep it safe.”
Her eyes widened.
“Forever?”
“As long as you want.”
Penny hugged it.
Then Garrett looked at Sarah.
“I’m ready.”
They rode home.
That evening Garrett unlocked Jonathan’s room permanently.
They transformed it slowly.
Not into Penny’s room.
She already had one.
Instead, it became a small schoolroom for children of ranch workers.
Garrett paid a teacher.
Sarah supplied books.
The man who once forbade children from entering his home now had six of them running through the upstairs hallway every weekday.
The butler suffered nobly.
Penny considered herself head student despite being the youngest.
Life grew.
So did Sarah’s belly.
Three months before the wedding, she told Garrett.
His face went blank.
Sarah panicked.
“Say something.”
Garrett sat down.
“Garrett?”
He covered his face.
Sarah realized he was crying.
“Are you unhappy?”
He looked up.
“No.”
Then he laughed.
“No, Sarah.”
He placed his hand carefully against her stomach.
“I’m terrified.”
“So am I.”
He kissed her.
“We're becoming very good at being terrified together.”
But Penny overheard.
Naturally.
“A baby?”
Sarah smiled.
“Yes.”
Penny’s face became extremely serious.
“Can we name it Biscuit?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Biscuit is a cow.”
Penny considered this irrelevant.
Garrett laughed.
May you like
And for the first time since Jonathan’s death, the idea of becoming a father again filled him with more hope than fear.
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