As she pulled the covers up, she grinned, “This is a smaller bed than we are used to, think we can deal with it?”
Brandon laughed and headed out the door, “I think we can figure it out, we are good at being close.”
Brandon went to the bathroom, changed into a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt, brushed his teeth and headed back into the room. When he got there, he found Sarah laying on her back and Cooper curled up with his head on her stomach.
“I don’t think so dude, get up.” Cooper let out a low growl, “Don’t you start that shit, she’s mine, I’ll share, but you don’t get my spot.” Brandon climbed into bed pushing Cooper out of the way as he huffed and sighed. He pulled the covers up, draping his arm over Sarah, and drifting off to sleep with a smile on his face, content holding Sarah while Cooper started snoring at their feet.
Ch. 13 Thursday
Sarah woke the next morning to the smell of french toast and coffee. She rolled over to cuddle against Brandon for a few more minutes, but instead of Brandon she touched something hairy. Opening her eyes, she was confronted with Cooper on his back with all four paws in the air. She giggled, sitting up to scratch her eyes and stretching, waking Cooper from his slumber. There was a small sliver of sun peeking through the cracks in the curtain and as she looked around the room, Brandon was nowhere to be found, she half expected him to be on the floor after getting kicked out of bed by the dog.
She got up, pulled a hoody of Brandon’s on that was on top of his suitcase, went to the bathroom, then headed downstairs towards the kitchen. As she and the dog came down stairs, she found Connie in the kitchen working on breakfast. As Cooper began to beg for food, Sarah smiled sleepily and said, “Good morning, that smells wonderful.”
Connie turned, “Oh good morning sweetie, figured I would get something whipped up before the boys came back in. The coffee is right there, and there is creamer in the fridge.”
Sarah poured herself coffee, putting a little bit of milk in. After taking a drink, looking out the kitchen window seeing that more snow had fallen overnight, Sarah asked, “Where are Brandon and Ben?”
“They are back on the hill cutting up some trees Ben took down back in October. He got them limbed out then, that’s the brush pile over there. Bucking the logs is easier and faster with two people.”
Sarah sat down, staring out the window admiring the sun hitting the snow and pine trees. She was snapped out of her daydream by Connie.
“You’ve never seen snow have you?”
“No, well not up close. When we started the tour out in California, we could see it up on the mountains, but we didn’t have time to actually go see it.”
Connie brought a plate of French toast over, sat it in front of Sarah, “Eat up before it gets cold, there’s some in the microwave for when they get back.”
Sarah dug in and between bites talked to Connie about growing up in MississippI, her family, touring the country, but during a lull in the conversation, Connie said, “Sarah, I’m not trying to be rude, but your life and Brandon’s don’t exactly jive in my mind. How’s this going to work?”
Sarah took a drink of her coffee, “Well, technology makes things a lot easier. After he came to visit during October, we used Zoom pretty much every evening and when we couldn’t video chat, we talked on the phone.”
“That’s not the same as being in person together.”
Sarah looked down, “No it’s really not, which sucks.”
“So you live in Mississippi and tour 5 to 6 months a year. Where does that leave Brandon?”
“I want Brandon to be a part of it. He calls himself a homebody, but he has also talked about how he likes to travel and see different parts of the country. If you think about it, the schedule kinda works out. When I’m touring, he is off school for most of it, and when I’m not touring there’s not a ton of things for me other than studio sessions and the occasional media appearance. Amanda writes most of the songs, I just provide input and sing.”
“Honey, you know he’s not made of money so he can’t be flying to see you all the time, even though I think he’d run up every credit card to see you. I just worry is all, seeing how he looks at you. I’ve only ever seen that one other time from him and she broke his heart. She gave him an ultimatum, stay here with her, or go to Rutgers. We both know what he picked, he was a mess that first year of college. Ben had to convince him to stay once a week for the first semester.”
Sarah nodded slowly, “Connie, I’m not taking advantage of Brandon, he’s not some publicity stunt to make me appear normal to the press like some have said. He’s not an afterthought in my life, I want him to be part of my life, and me his. I care about your son a great deal, I have never felt so at ease around someone as I do him, and it has been clear that he doesn’t care about my music career. On the first night he came to see Morgan, we sat up until almost 1am just talking about random things. The first 10 minutes we talked about dumb celebrity rumors and my life on tour, but then it was all about me as a person. Hell even told me to take online classes when I’m not touring to finish my degree.”
“What degree is that?”
“I’ve always wanted to be a librarian, I’m surprised you didn’t hear Brandon complaining while taking my bag upstairs, it’s got 5 books that I’m currently reading.”
Connie laughed, “Okay dear, you’ve convinced me, you’re alright.”
Sarah smiled, “I promise you that I will do everything I can to prove to you that I only have pure intentions when it comes to Brandon and my’s relationship.”
The conversation was interrupted by Cooper barking as Brandon and Ben came in the back door.
“Well aren’t you two the prettiest things I’ve seen in the morning,” said Ben as he began to take his jacket off.
Brandon pulled his jacket off and started undoing his bibs when Sarah whistled, “Lookie there, my own little farmer.”
Brandon laughed, “I told you, less North Face, more Carhartt.” After hanging his bibs and jacket up, he kicked his boots off, walked over kissing the top of Sarah’s head. The four sat down and talked while Brandon and Ben ate and warmed up.
***
Around 11:30, Brandon’s sister, Carrie, her husband Sam and their newborn Emily arrived for lunch. After getting everyone inside and decoated, Carrie looked at Brandon, “So little bro, what’s the story on these pictures and the “girlfriend?”
Hearing the stairs squeak, Brandon turned to see Sarah coming down the stairs, “Well you could ask her yourself. Carrie, Sam, this is Sarah.”
“Oh shit, no one told me you were bringing her home!”
As Sarah joined Brandon, he laughed, “I figured mom would have told you.”
After introductions were made, Carrie looked at Sarah, “I’m so sorry, but I have to tell you, I LOVE your music!!”
They all laughed, Sarah smiled, “Well thank you, it means a lot. Brandon said you’re a new momma?”
“Yes, mom took Emily right when we came in, let’s go so you can meet her!”
Sarah and Carrie went towards the living room while Sam and Brandon stood in the hallway. “Dude, how the hell did you snag her?”