Page 37 of More Than a Fling
“No mistaking you two for sisters,” Cal said as way of greeting Darcy.
Laughing Gabe said, “Ya think?”
“Wow is about all I got to say!” Cal said.
“Don’t we know it!” Gabe said.
Closing the car door after Darcy was buckled in, Sam grabbed his duffle bag and hoisted it over his shoulder, “Shamrock, I’m going to miss waking up to your freckles every morning.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” Darcy said, tearing up.
“It won’t be long before we’re cohabitating, if I have any say about it. Gabe let’s plan on meeting tomorrow around nine am to go over everything. I don’t start seeing patients until Monday, thank God!”
“See ya then chief. Get some rest,” Gabe said.
“I love you Darcy Morgan.” Sam said.
Eyes brimming with tears, Darcy said, “I love you too. Call me later…after your nap. Thanks for everything.”
“Ciao amore mio.”
* * *
Driving away from the farm both women were quiet, with Darcy struggling to contain her tears and feeling completely adrift upon leaving Sam, and Annie having her own emotional reactions to the growing feelings she had for Gabe.
After a few miles Annie said, “Aren’t we a pair?”
“I know, right?” Sniffling Darcy said, “I know it may not look like it, but I’m so incredibly happy right now. After Ryan was killed, I thought I’d never love again, and now, I love Sam so completely, it’s like the old cliché, he makes me whole again.”
“You two were meant to be. When I look at you together, it makes me want the same for myself. I won’t settle for anything less. It’s really beautiful to watch you two love each other.”
“You will find that kind of love Annie, I’m sure of it.”
“Darcy, things are moving so fast with Gabe. I really like him. It scares me because of his lifestyle. The music, the gigs, beautiful women at his beck and call, I feel so vulnerable.”
“When we love we are vulnerable. It’s a fact. It doesn’t matter whether they work in an office as an accountant or as a musician, relationships are built on trust. You’ll know what you need to know when you need to know it. The most important person you need to trust is yourself,” Darcy said.
“It’s hard for me to tell what the truth is sometimes. I lost touch with that inner voice for a while. After losing my way with Bradley, my ability to discern his twisted reality from what I knew to be true became difficult. If I said one thing, he would contradict it and tell me I was wrong and that I was the crazy one.”
“God I could kill that man! It makes me so angry when I think of how he treated you! Classic verbal abuse: control and define someone, put them on the defensive, tell them what they are thinking and feeling despite protests to the contrary, the Bradley playbook,” Darcy said.
“I’m so much stronger now. My life is really good, I’m happy, content with my career, my friendships, I didn’t want the complication of a man in my life…and yet I already feel like it’s too late to turn back now.”
“If it helps ease your mind, Sam loves Gabe, he respects him and sees himself as somewhat of an older brother to Gabe. He trusts him a hundred percent,” Darcy said.
Annie smiled at her sister, “Actually that does help a lot.”
“I’m glad. I really like him Annie, and he obviously has it bad for you.”
“Really? How could you tell?”
Annie’s eagerness touched Darcy. “Puleeze! He couldn’t take his eyes off you and they were smoldering. Very intense.”
“I guess only time will tell,” Annie said.
“Yep, we wouldn’t want to skip to the last chapter anyhow, would we? That would spoil the story.”
Annie laughed already feeling lighter from her talk with her sister. Darcy always made her feel like everything was going to be alright. “I am so glad you are home sis.”