Page 16 of In This Moment
One Year Later
Every fall on the first Saturday in October, the Baxters and their kids met at Hanson’s pumpkin patch. The big day seemed to come earlier this year. But Luke Baxter didn’t mind. He could hardly wait. His family looked forward to this almost as much as they looked forward to Christmas.
Luke drove their black SUV into the parking lot, and his wife, Reagan, pointed to a van in the row of cars closest to the cornfield. “Ashley and Landon are here.”
“Good.” He sighed. “I really need this.” Luke had been so busy at the office, so caught up in a number of high-profile cases, that he hadn’t been back to Bloomington since the Fourth of July.
“Makes me think of last time we were here.” Luke reached for Reagan’s hand as he looked for a parking spot. In the back seat the kids were laughing and talking about seeing their cousins. So for now in the front seat he and Reagan had this moment to themselves. He smiled at her. “Remember the Fourth of July?”
“Mmmm. One of the best moments this year. Or maybe ever.” Reagan turned to him. “You know what I thought that day?”
“What?” The lot was crowded, but right now Luke didn’t care. He loved this time, talking with Reagan.
“I sat there beside you on that bench at the park, my head on your shoulder while those fireworks lit up the sky, and I couldn’t get past it.”
“That was a beautiful night.” Luke glanced at her. “But not as beautiful as you.”
“Thanks.” She smiled. “But that wasn’t what I was thinking.” She leaned closer and kissed his cheek. “I was thinking the Fourth of July is a celebration of freedom. And there I was sitting beside one of the most well-known freedom fighters of our time. Centuries after we won our independence, my husband was working to keep this country free. Like the celebration was as much for you as it was for our nation’s birthday.” She paused. “I’m so proud of you, Luke.”
He felt her words to the center of his heart. He saw a car pull out ahead of them, so he stopped and faced Reagan. “You thought that.”
“I did.” She smiled. “I still think it. But that night, that moment. The fireworks, you beside me. That park bench.” Her eyes held his. “I’ll remember it forever.”
“I’m glad you told me.” Luke had never loved Reagan more. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“Well.” She sat back in her seat. “You’re taking us to the corn maze, for one thing.” Her laughter was soft. Just for him. “I do love a good corn maze. As you know.”
Luke laughed. “That’s all it took, huh?”
“A corn maze and you, Luke.” She gave his hand a quick squeeze as he pulled into the space and killed the engine. “God has given me all I could ever want or need.”
Their eyes held for a moment as Tommy popped his head up between them. “So we are doing the corn maze today, Dad?” At fourteen, Tommy was nearly six inches taller than he’d been last year. And his voice was deeper. He sat between his sister, Malin, who was nine, and brother, Johnny, who was already five.
Luke smiled at the kids. “Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Just don’t get lost like last year.” Reagan grinned at him and then at the kids. “Remember? We had to make a search party to find your father?”
“Yeah, Dad.” Tommy laughed. “For someone so smart, you might want to use a compass app.”
“Very funny.” Luke chuckled as he climbed out of the SUV and grabbed the picnic basket from the back of the car. He shaded his eyes and scanned the nearby field. Twenty yards away he spotted Ashley and Landon and their four kids, along with Brooke and Peter and Kari and Ryan and their families. Their father and Elaine were also among the group.
Dayne and Katy would join them a little later. They were flying in today from Los Angeles.
Luke felt the joy of this together time all the way to the center of his soul. After weeks of courtroom battles and fighting for the chance to even mention God’s name in public, today would be a very great respite.
“I love our family.” Luke put his arm around Reagan’s shoulders. “I need time like this. Especially when life gets crazy.”
Reagan looked at him, a bit of concern in her eyes. “You’ve been doing it again.”
He didn’t have to ask what she meant. “I’ll cut back. I’m sorry.”
“Some cases need more time at the office.” She kissed his cheek. “I know that. But just... be careful, Luke. Please.” She looked at the kids and back to him. “This matters.”
“Absolutely, it does.” He held her close. She was right. He was staying late at the office a couple days a week. It was important work, but if he wasn’t careful things would get as unbalanced as they’d been a year ago.
It was Ashley who spotted Luke first. She left the group and hurried to meet him. In a blur of motion, she threw her arms around his neck and then did the same to Reagan. “It’s been way too long.” She grinned at them both. “This day is going to be perfect! I love fall!”
The group snagged four picnic tables and set their things out.
