Reverie: a novel (Daydreams & Disasters Book 1)

by Drew Taylor

Deep down all women want to be made to feel important, special, and unconditionally loved by a man. Their man.

Katie McBride.

Noah is a wall. Beautiful, broad, and brick. Donald Trump would approve.

I answered that I loved the color orange before remembering I once thought the color made me feel like I was putting my brain in sport mode. I changed my answer to pink, but over the past year, I’ve fallen in love with the colors of the setting sun. “But the color brings me comfort instead of jostling my mind.”

I will light my torch and carry it high. Because I trust God not to let it catch everything around me on fire.

“Pink. But like, pale.” I respond, eyeing the man who has at least seven inches on my five-foot-five frame, even while we are sitting side by side. “And yours?” “Orange.”

You’re hot and obviously a reader since you asked me that question. We can be hot readers together.”

I don’t believe in past lives or reincarnation, but I believe in predestined, orchestrated events, expertly woven by the hand of the Creator of the universe.

I think my heart has stumbled into its home. But

Anxiety settles in my chest, and a million questions race through my mind. I hear the Enemy’s voice stirring doubt, and I counter with a quick, silent prayer for the Lord to battle it for me.

“I know I believe God is in control, so I wonder why I struggle to open my fists and surrender my plans. It’s like He has to pry my fingers off the agenda I’ve carefully crafted for myself.”

“Noah Ashley Ashton, you might not have experienced that type of love before, but I have no doubt you are a capable and worthy man. You deserve a love that stays. One that doesn’t fade away into the recesses of memory.”

Noah and I are reveling in the reverie of it all. It’s a fever dream.

“She used to always say that there is beauty in the bramble.”

My favorite thing was when he spoke so gently and lovingly about his grandmother, who is, according to Noah, the scariest and sweetest woman to ever grace this planet.

“Esme, you have to realize you’re worthy of an earth-shattering love. And more than that, if you want to write a novel, go write the best novel you can write.” He kisses me wildly and breathlessly, then he whispers, “I have every intention of sticking on your side like a starfish for the rest of my life,”

“Esme, I love your soul. I love your desire for passion. I love how you want to please your family. I love your hesitation and your wild abandonment. I love your heart. Esme, I love you. I didn’t fully understand that word until you. My readers were right. The male characters I wrote were not ones in love with a woman. Because now, I know what it feels like.”

“I don’t care if it’s too soon to tell you that. Genuine, earth-shattering love is deeper than a feeling. It’s a choice, as my mom used to say, and I choose to love you. You’re the only woman I’ve ever wanted to choose. Stay with me when we leave this place. Make a life with me in Juniper Grove or Hartfield or wherever else you want. Meet my family. I want to meet yours. And when you’re ready, Esme, sweetheart—” Noah pauses, removing his hand from my back and cupping my face, wiping at the liquid streaming from my eyes as it merges with the ocean water already there. “Marry me. Pencil me in. I will be waiting for you at the altar. Let me love you well for the rest of our lives.”

“Esme Samantha Prewitt, will you do me the greatest honor of being my best friend for life?”

“Esme, sweetheart. You think I’d ever turn away your request to be more romantic? I write the genre, baby. I’m all for inventing new ways to woo you.”

Esme, you are easy to love. Every laugh, smile, kiss, conversation… Every moment with you is easy. As natural as breathing. Don’t you want that forever? I do. I don’t say those words lightly or without intention, Esme. I haven’t known love in the past because I think God was waiting to bring me to you. So that I could choose you. And that’s how I know what we have won’t fade. Because every day, I’m going to choose it. You. Us.”

“I know I have so much more to learn about you, so please, take me to school, Miss Prewitt, because I want to learn. I want to do it every day by your side. I want to learn your soul.” He places his hand over my heart. “Your mind.” He moves his hand to cup my face. “And every inch of your body.” He kisses me and mumbles, “There’s no one else for me, Esme. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. Believe me when I tell you that. And I think you feel it, too. Heck, I’ll even take your last name as you suggested on that painting of yours.”

“Yes, Noah Ashley Ashton, I’ll take your last name. But I'm not penciling you in. I’m writing your name down with a Sharpie.”

“No matter how two people come together,” Fetu says at one point during the night, “it’s the choice to remain that’s important.”

So Noah’s not perfect like in my book. He’s kind of a rogue it seems,

“I think for some people, it inherently changes them. Passionate, reckless love withstands the test of time. Their love never fizzles. Some people are so innately full of love that they breathe life into the dead instead of siphoning it from the living.”

“She’s the epitome of a Southern belle. Ever seen Hart of Dixie?” “I love that show!” “Georgiana is the equivalent to season one Lemon Breeland.”

The more I pray, the more I feel that God is telling me to go home. Keep trusting me. Take the path home.

Stability is important, but who you marry is the most important decision you can make outside of giving your life to the Lord. When the Lord brings that man into your life, you will know it. Just as I knew your father was the one for me.”

Like Alaska or something. I toss the paper towel into the trash, daydreaming of snow. Alaska. Honeymoon. Crescent Cove. There it is, sweetheart. Come find the real me, the deep voice living inside my head purrs.

I can’t wait to lay eyes on you again, my little author.

“Esme, sweetheart. Are you real? Am I lost in reverie again?”

It’s like my body and soul recognize him, but my brain hasn’t caught up yet.

anger. I watched your walls fall hour after hour when we were together. You started smiling and laughing, and I was—am—mesmerized. You opened up to me, and you trusted me. And you were a safe place for me to land.”

You're my landing pad, even with miles of memories between us.”

“I’d like to date you. I know you have a head-start in this relationship—” He laughs, and I notice his eyes misting over. “—but I’d like the opportunity to catch up to you. To,” I swallow over my next words, “fall in love with you again.”

But one thing remains: these Prewitt boys write in tune with the music of my soul.

“Hi, everyone. My name’s Noah Ashley Prewitt. I’m from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, twenty-nine years old, have a steady but flexible career, and I’m willing to relocate to Whitney so that you can keep your Esme close. I love her. She’s my world. I promise to cherish her, protect her, and take care of her until the Good Lord sees fit to split us apart.” Then under his breath, he sighs. “Again.” But his large smile doesn’t falter as he leads us through the hawk-eyed citizens of this nosy town and pulls out a chair for me to sit in. I sit down, flabbergasted over his words. It’s something a man in a book would do—stand in front of the town and declare his love for a woman.

I thought I’d try something quiet, romantic, and soft. A date fit for my introverted and a little anxious woman.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your consistent grace, Your unwarranted mercy, and Your everlasting, eternal salvation through Your son, Jesus. Father, I can’t thank you enough for bringing Esme back to me. All those nights I screamed, cried, and begged. All those nights I thought You’d given up on me.” Noah’s voice breaks, and I open my eyes to find his hand taking mine as my tears drip onto my steak. “Well, God. You heard me and saw me. And in Your timing, though I’ll never understand on this side of eternity why we had to take this journey, You brought the woman I want, the one I need, back to me. So, thank You, God. And please bless this meal to our bodies and our bodies to Your service. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

And my love for you will never falter or wane. Everyday, I will wake up and choose you.”

“I choose you, too.” I smile through my tears. “I love you, too, Noah Ashley Prewitt. Superhero of naps.”

“After we eat,” Noah says as we take our seat, “pick out as many books as you want. It’s on me.”

Marry me, Esme, sweetheart. Pencil me in with Sharpie.”

“Forever. And again, I promise to try really hard to escape my reverie in favor of real life with you.”

I know our bramble is beautiful. I’m typing this as I sit next to you while you read, and now I think it’s time we put the book down and cuddle. I miss your touch, my love.

She said she thinks that’s when she started to fall in love even though he was somewhere between the real and the reverie.

There is a sign with information about me and Esme, and then three stacks of Reveling in Reverie.

“If death soldered our souls, I’d die a thousand times over.”