Chapter 8

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It was early, just before sunrise when Beth awakened from a dream about her grandmother. Whether it was her subconscious or a real visit from her grandmother, she couldn't say, but it had strengthened her resolve. She knew what she wanted, and she wanted Wyatt. Now she had to trust that fate was on her side and would make sure it happened. It was such an about face from what she had been feeling the day before that she was giving herself whiplash. This falling in love business was an emotional roller coaster and she didn't know how she felt from one moment to the next.

This time on her walk, Beth bypassed Slave Row and headed to the dock. It was dark, with only the moon glinting off the water, but she knew the sun would start to rise shortly and color the sky with pink and purple hues.

The party the evening before had been a success. There had been enough of her family there for her to be comfortable, so Beth had laughed and chatted with the rest of them, pretending like everything was fine and always had been. She had managed, so she thought, to act like there was nothing other than a mild acquaintance between herself and Wyatt. She had even managed to flirt, if one could call it that, with Mave's co-star, Brandon Kenneth.

Beth closed her eyes and leaned her arms on the railing, listening to the birds and the wind that surrounded her, and she was peaceful in her decision that Wyatt was the one. She heard footsteps behind her and knew it was Wyatt without turning to look, and she couldn't help the little smile that came to her lips. Fate was already at work.

Wyatt moved to stand beside her, looking at the water instead of her.

"I hope you didn't take Brandon Kenneth's intentions seriously last night," he said in a gruff voice. Beth suppressed her smile as she thought he sounded jealous.

"Are you warning me away from a wolf?" Beth asked in a mild tone while knowing that he cared more than he wanted to admit. "Don't worry, I know what he wants, and it's not me." It had been before she had had her dream, so she had been a bit angsty, and perhaps she had played up to Mave's co-star a little more than usual in a subconscious attempt to make Wyatt jealous, but it seemed to have worked.

"What does he want then?" Wyatt asked.

"It's either Mave or Uncle Mason's approval, who knows." She shrugged. "Are you heading back to New York soon?" Beth still hadn't looked at him.

"I leave for the airport in an hour," he confirmed. "You sing well. I enjoyed listening to you last night." Now he was just making conversation, trying to keep it light as he mentioned the family's impromptu performance at the previous night's party. Her family had broken out into spontaneous song. It happened at most dinner parties they went to, and Beth sometimes forgot that it was not a regular happening for most people.

"Thank you. It happens a lot in my family."

"You're lucky to have such a close family, even with all of the problems you feel that it brings." Wyatt still felt hat she needed to be reasoned with, and why wouldn't he? She had had a couple of bad days, and she hadn't been herself. If she were honest she had been a bit of a drama queen, but in her defense, falling in love was not an easy process.

"I am." Beth looked up at him in the increasing light. "I had a dream last night." She informed him. This was the part where she gave fate a helping hand by unexpectedly shocking him.

"Most people do when they sleep." He sounded amused.

"Would you like to hear about my dream?" Beth asked, linking her arm through his. In part to keep him there but also to draw him close. Wyatt didn't answer right away, and Beth laughed. "It's not steamy. It actually starred my grandmother, Elizabeth," she reassured him.

"Sure," he agreed, and when he didn't pull away from her, she rested her head on his arm, enjoying his warmth.

"It was a moment of clarity for me. I was worrying and crying, and my grandmother came and put her hand on my shoulder and smiled. She told me to quit my fussing and tell her what was wrong. I unloaded on her and told her everything that was happening, with my work, my family, and you." Beth paused when she felt him tense.

"We're not going to go over this all again, are we?" Wyatt's voice sounded hollow.

"No, you've told me how you feel. You want to have sex with me, but you don't want me for keeps." Beth nodded, even though the words still hurt

"That's not what I said!" he exploded, and the birds in the trees above them took off in a burst of energy.

"No, but it's what you meant. Now can I get on with telling you about my dream, please?"

When she was met with silence, she continued. "My grandmother asked me what I wanted, really wanted." Beth swallowed hard. "I went back and forth a few times, still in an unsure state of mind while I talked it out, but finally I said the words, and when I did, my grandmother smiled." Beth bit her lip and cleared her throat, she could see her grandmother so clearly. "She smiled at me like she had known what I wanted all along, and she was pleased that I discovered it too." Beth reached up and discreetly wiped a tear. The moment had been so real, and her heart still filled with the love she felt from her grandmother as she thought of the dream.

"You know what I want more than anything?" Beth asked, looking up at Wyatt, who, in turn, looked down at her. He also reached up and wiped a tear that she had missed.

"What do you want more than anything, Beth?" he asked in a gruff voice as if he was fighting tears too.

"I want you." She gave him a watery smile.

"Beth-"

"Hush, I'm not done with my dream." She looked away from him and turned her attention to the pink sky. It was as if she could feel her grandmother's hand on her shoulder, telling her to be strong. "She told me to trust fate, that it would all come out the way I wanted it to in the end, and I only needed faith and patience. So, that's what I'm going to do."

"What, you're going to wait five more years, then what?" Wyatt sounded angry. "What you're saying, how you're saying it, it's not fair to me. It's as if you're trying to guilt me into loving you."

"No, Wyatt. I promise that is not my intention. This is me being honest. You are under some sort of misguided thought that I don't know my own mind because I'm too young and innocent to understand how I feel, and that's not fair to me. So, this is me telling you, in the most direct manner I can think of, that I do know my own mind." Beth took a cleansing breath before she continued. "You haven't told me why you don't want me and that's not-"

"It's not that I don't want you, it's that-"

"That's not what this is about," she placed her hand to his lips. "I don't need to know what your reasons are because I'll only argue them now, and this isn't the time or the place. What this is, is fate allowing me to see you one more time before you leave, and to give you something to think about."

Beth took another deep breath. "I have always known my mind. I am innocent and sometimes naive, but I am strong and determined, like all of the women in my family. You don't think the time is right for us right now, for whatever reason, and I hear you when you say it. But listen to me when I say I'm going to wait for you and trust fate, whether it's one month or five years. I will live my life, but until my gut tells me there's no chance, I will wait."

"Why Beth, you have so much to offer, you are so young. Why wait for me? I know I don't deserve it." He shook his head.

"It's simple. I love you, and I believe that you do deserve it." She felt him tense. "I felt it that night we first met. I was nervous and shy at first, but after we started talking, we connected. I have never connected with anyone that way. I felt as if I had known you my entire life. I wasn't sure I loved you, but I knew what I felt was special. Then when we met again," Beth put her hand on her stomach. "I felt it here. Five years and it was more powerful than I remembered."

The sun was almost up, and the sky was a glorious shade of pink. "It is so beautiful here, how can you stand to leave it?" Beth asked, letting the previous subject go. She had said what she wanted to say. She knew he wouldn't say words of love back, Wyatt wasn't ready. She had no clue what he was afraid of or what was holding him back, but she would give him time.

"It's not my home," he said absently.

"Home is where you make it, Wyatt." She turned to look at him. "I hope you find it one day." she cleared her throat. "I know a kiss is out of the question, but I hope a hug is acceptable." Beth stepped away from him, turning to look into his eyes. He was focused on the horizon across the water, and she could see his jaw working as if he was attempting to hold back what he wanted to say.

"I don't want you to or need you to say anything, Wyatt." Beth rushed towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tight, willing him to feel her love. It took a minute, but eventually, his arms pulled her close. She rested her head on his broad chest, and it felt like it had when he had held her in his arms while she had fallen asleep.

"You are the most frustrating woman I have ever met!" Beth felt him place a kiss on the top of her head, and she squeezed him once more before she stepped back with a brave smile.

"I hope I'll see you soon," she whispered.

He looked as if he was going to object to her words.

"I won't look for you or seek you out. I'm going to listen to my grandmother and trust that fate will intervene. I promise," Beth assured him. "Have a safe trip back." Then with one last look at him, she nodded and headed back the way she had come.

She had said her piece, and now she had to trust in something greater than herself.

"You better be right about this, Grandma!" Beth whispered under her breath as she fought the urge to run back in his direction and hold tight to him. Her newfound self-confidence was going to take considerable willpower.

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