Chapter 30

30

" I had so much fun last night," Faith said, reaching over and taking Destiny's hand. "Thank you for my birthday party."

"I think everyone had fun. Thank you for letting me make such a big deal out of your birthday. In case you haven't noticed. You're a very big deal to me."

Faith chuckled. "I'm beginning to get that idea."

"We may have a few singers between both of our companies," Destiny said as she drove out of Faith's parking lot.

"And our friends," Faith added. "Monica and Kim surprised me. They can sing."

"Did you see Bailey and Claire?" Destiny asked. "I didn't know they even knew one another."

"Now they get to work together and I think they are almost as happy about that as we are," Faith said.

Destiny pulled onto the Interstate and sped up.

"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Faith asked.

"When I take our exit you're going to know where we're going," Destiny said, "but you don't know what we're going to do."

"Okay, my mysterious girlfriend." Faith grinned and squeezed Destiny's hand. "I loved the song you sang for me last night. Will you sing it again?"

"Now?" Destiny asked, looking over at her.

"Why not?" She reached for Destiny's phone. "I know you have it in your music library."

"I have a playlist with songs for you," Destiny replied shyly.

Faith gasped. "You do?"

"I wasn't sure what song I wanted to sing to you for your birthday, so when I heard a song or remembered one I added it to the list."

"Babe," Faith said softly.

"Come on," Destiny said. "Don't you have songs that remind you of us? You could sing to me."

Faith smiled. "Yeah, I may have a favorite song or two about us."

Destiny took the Highway 71 exit towards Bastrop and Faith gasped again.

"Des!" she exclaimed. "Are you taking me to Lost Pines?"

Destiny laughed. "I knew you'd figure it out."

Faith giggled. "I can't wait to see the butterfly sanctuary. In the meantime, let's sing."

"Okay," Destiny said. "Did you remember the song I sang for you last night?"

"Of course I did," Faith said. "We heard it while watching TV. I can't remember what show, but I remember how it made us feel."

"It's an old song and I don't think anyone else had heard it until I sang it last night," Destiny said.

"But they loved it," Faith replied. "Here goes."

Music filled the truck and Destiny began to sing "How Glad I Am" by Nancy Wilson.

"My love has no beginning, my love has no end, no front or back and my love won't bend," Destiny sang. "I'm in the middle, lost in a spin loving you. And you don't know, you don't know, you don't know, how glad I am."

The music continued to play and Destiny looked over at Faith. "Sing with me."

Together they sang. "My love has no walls on either side, that makes my love wider than wide. I'm in the middle, and I can't hide loving you. And you don't know, you don't know, you don't know, how glad I am."

They sang together until the song ended. "That's our love," Faith said. "It may be an old song and the words are simple, but they're true."

"Okay, it's your turn," Destiny said. "What song are you going to sing for me?"

"Hmm, do I stay nostalgic or go current?" Faith scrolled through her phone. She chuckled and looked over at Destiny. "Okay, since we're talking about our love then I have to do this oldie but goldie because it's what you do to me."

The music began to play and Faith knew Destiny immediately recognized the song. "It's all true, but towards the end is the best part."

Faith began to sing "I Feel the Earth Move" by Carole King. The look on Destiny's face told Faith she loved the song and agreed with its sentiment.

"Here comes the good part," Faith said and sang along. "Ooh, darling, when you're near me and you tenderly call my name. I know that my emotions are something I just can't tame. I just got to have you baby."

Destiny joined in and sang to the end of the song.

"Thanks, babe," Faith said. "That was fun."

"Look at us doing new things," Destiny said.

Faith chuckled as Destiny exited the highway onto the road that led to the resort. "On the way back we'll do current songs."

"I have a few," Destiny said. "How long has it been since you've been out here?"

"Since we left Landscape Artists over three years ago," Faith replied.

"I'm sure it's changed."

"You did get us permission, right?" Faith asked.

"Yes, it's Sunday, so most of the guests are checking out," Destiny said. "They said it was fine to go through the sanctuary and we can walk down to the river if you'd like."

"I knew this was going to be the best birthday."

The Lost Pines resort was a place people could go to get away from city life. It was an oasis of sorts that offered a large pool with a lazy river winding around it, a golf course, tennis courts, spa, and several restaurants. It was built next to the Brazos River that offered trails down by the water.

The butterfly sanctuary was a garden constructed between two wings of the hotel. It featured a canopy of trees with tall native vines that made natural arches along the path made of pea gravel and wood chips. Flowering plants were all along the path that attracted butterflies passing through the region or native to the area. It felt like walking into a fairy land.

"Wow," Faith exclaimed as they walked up to the entrance. "I knew how we constructed it and hoped it would turn out, but I never dreamed it would grow and bloom…"

"Into this," Destiny finished.

Faith nodded and slipped her hand into Destiny's. "It's better than I imagined."

They walked along the path and immersed themselves, letting the garden tantalize their senses. There were beautiful and unusual plants to see and their noses were treated to exotic and sweet scents. As they walked deeper into the garden the world fell away and they were just two people, in love, experiencing something they had created together.

"Let's sit," Destiny said when they came to a bench.

"The bench even blends in with the foliage," Faith said. "I wasn't too sure when we first put it here."

"Things had to grow around it, but it fits," Destiny said.

"Maybe that's what we did," Faith said, turning to Destiny. "We had to grow, but we fit now. We're not perfect, but?—"

"We're perfect together," Destiny said. She reached into the bag slung across her shoulder and pulled out a small box with a bow on it.

Faith's eyes widened and she looked from the box to Destiny's eyes. "Uh, babe..."

Destiny grinned. "It's not that kind of ring, but…open it."

Faith chuckled. "What have you done?" She untied the bow and opened the box to reveal a silver band. "Oh, babe, it's beautiful."

"I wanted to get you something you could wear that would remind you of us, but wouldn't get in the way of your work," Destiny explained. "Do you see how the band widens then raises into a little orb?"

Faith nodded.

"It's a droplet," Destiny said. "It can be a little droplet of joy you felt that day or a little droplet of our love, whatever you want it to be."

"When I look down at it or feel it, I'll think of our love wrapped around me," Faith said. "Put it on me."

Destiny slid the ring onto Faith's finger and she held it out to admire it. "I love it, baby." Faith leaned in and cupped the side of Destiny's face. "Thank you." She pressed her lips to Destiny's and felt truly loved. She knew Destiny's love came with no conditions, no agenda; she loved Faith and wanted to live this life together. This might be the most perfect moment of love Faith had ever felt. Here, immersed in this beautiful place they'd created with their own hands, expressing their love in a sweet kiss and their hearts beating as one.

Faith pulled away and looked into Destiny's eyes. "Do you feel it?"

Destiny nodded. "Instead of a droplet, it's a moment."

Faith nodded. Destiny felt it too!

They stared at each other, locked in this sweet moment.

"Uh, I've been thinking about something," Faith said.

Destiny raised her eyes and waited.

"Are you sure you don't mind living in the tiny house behind the shop?" Faith asked. "We don't have much of a view." She raised her hand and swept in front of them, gesturing to the beauty.

"I don't care where we live as long as I'm with you," Destiny said.

Faith smiled. "I had a feeling you'd say something like that. We're going to be busy with the project, but I was thinking after that…" Faith trailed off.

"After that?"

"We could look for a bigger place and make Fields of Green a reality, not just a one project thing," Faith said. "We could combine Lush Fields and The Green Thumb."

Destiny smiled. "I'm listening."

Faith shrugged. "We could move the tiny house somewhere that isn't also our business."

"And get a bigger building and yard that would hold all of our equipment and inventory," Destiny added.

Faith nodded, a hopeful look on her face.

"We'd be doing this like we used to talk about?"

"Only better," Faith said, "our businesses have grown, but so have we. I'm a different person, Des. Thank God you still love me."

"You're not an altogether different person," Destiny said. "You're the person I've always had faith in."

Faith could see the twinkle in her eyes. "I'm glad you did, but what's different is that I have faith in myself now, too."

"And you can trust your feelings, babe," Destiny said. "We have so much love and we have to let it make us strong, especially when the doubts creep in."

Faith nodded. "I know things aren't always going to be like this. We'll have challenges, but we have to make room for the happiness."

"I feel like that's what we've been doing," Destiny said. "We put the past behind us. No matter how it happened, we're together now and that's what's important."

"I know what it feels like to be without you and I never want to feel that again. I trust you. I'm not afraid to tell you what's in my heart because I know you won't leave me."

"I'm never letting you go," Destiny said.

"You don't have to because I'm holding on." Faith smiled and leaned in for a gentle kiss. "Let's sit here a little longer then walk down to the river."

"Whatever you want, birthday girl."

"You've made it hard on yourself, babe," Faith said with a playful grin.

"I have?"

"Yep." Faith nodded. "You'll be trying to top this next year on my birthday and I don't know how you can do that."

"You let me worry about it." Destiny put her arm around Faith's shoulders and they sat back on the bench, watching the butterflies, surrounded by their love.