#andy garvey

“I’m going to miss you,” I whispered pulling on a wagon string. I didn’t want Andy to leave. I wanted him to stay in Walnut Grove with me.

“I know, I’m going to miss you too,” Andy told me. I leaned my head against their horse and sighed. What was I going to do?

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you,” I choked, trying my hardest not to cry.

“Hey, come here.” He pulled me into his arms and o clutched to him as tight as I could. “It’s just Sleepy Eye, it’s not to far, you could maybe come with your Pa to deliver stuff. And maybe you could visit in the summer. We could do lots of fun things.”

I nodded, tucking myself into him, I didn’t ever want to leave this position.

“I know you don’t want to go, and you’re doing it for your Pa, so I’m telling myself it will be better for you too.”

“I know, I don’t want to leave anymore than you don’t want me too, but here it reminds him of Ma and he needs to get better.”

“I know.” I placed my head on his chest, trying to stop the tears.

“I’d say no tears but I’m about to cry myself.” I laughed a little and glades up at him. “All our plans, they’re never going to go away, okay? You’re still my girl, and we’re still going to get married and have a farm. That doesn’t go away just because we’re going to be away for a while.”

“What if you find somebody else?” I whispered, trying to push the hair out of my face.

“None of that,” he moved my hands and helped fix my hair. “You know you’re it for me, okay? You’re it. You’re the dream. Don’t want any of it if you’re not going to be with me, okay?”

“I know,” I hugged him again. “No goodbyes, okay? Goodbyes are forever and …”

“We won’t be apart forever.” He finished, running his hand through my brown hair. “I love you, Sarah, he told me softly.

“I love you too, Andy.” I whispered.

I looked up at him and felt my tears come again. Before I could wipe them away, he leaned down and kissed me. We kissed for a minute until we heard Pa come out of the house.

“I’m not going to say goodbye because I know you’re coming into Sleepy Eye with a delivery next week.” Mr. Garvey told Pa.

“Alright,” Pa told him.

“Be good to yourself, Sarah,” Mr. Garvey told me before going over to his wagon. “Albert, take care of yourself son.”

“I will Mr. Garvey,” we said together. I hugged Andy one last time before he got into the wagon.

“You have to go,” I whispered, pulling away.

“I know, be safe okay? Write to me.”

“I will,” I promised. “But you have to write too.” I told him, cracking a small smile.

He laughed softly. Andy hated writing. “If it means writing to you, you know I will.” He got into the wagon next to his Pa. “See ya, Albert.”

“Well clean it up for the new owners.”

“Thank ya, Charles.” Pa pulled me next to him and I leaned onto his shoulder. And put his hat on and I knew it was real. They were leaving. He was leaving.

We waved when Andy turned around and I tried to stop my tears but they just kept coming.

“Hey, stop your crying,” Pa told me. “Soon, Andy will be back here asking if he can marry you.”

“That’s still a year away,” I muttered. “I just want to go home.” I pulled myself away and started walking home.

“Sarah!” Albert called, but I kept walking.

“Leave her be, son.” I heard Pa tell him. “She’s hurting.”

I walked all the way home, Grace met me outside and I scooped her into my arms and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, Sarah.” Ma said rushing out of the house. “I know dear, let’s go sit down.”

“He’s gone Ma, he’s really really gone.”

“Mary’s in the house dear, why don’t you come in and we can all just have a nice chat.” Ma told me.

“Sarah?” Mary called my name and I walked straight into my big sisters arms. “Oh Sarah.”

“I feel like I’m dying. We had all these plans, we were going to start on the house and get everything ready but now we can’t.”

“Hey, it’s just a year. You’ve gone through worse.” Mary soothed and I hugged her tightly.

A few weeks later after we finished dinner, I was in the loft, trying to work on my studies but my brain wouldn’t focus.

“Hey,” Pa said climbing up the ladder. “How’s the studying going?”

“How do you think it’s going?” I muttered. “I’m sorry, I’m not a good mood and I’m taking it out on you.”

“It’s okay.” Pa sat down on the bed. “I talked to Mary today at the blind school, she said you were pretty upset.”

I am. “I’m feeling a bit better.” I lied.

“You know, I have a trip to Sleepy Eye tomorrow. I’m going to be staying with the Garveys for the night, how about you come with me, butternut?”

“You mean it?” I asked tiredly.

“Wouldn’t have offered it if I wasn’t for sure.”

“Oh Pa!” I hugged him tightly. “What do I bring? I’ve never been to Sleepy Eye before!”

“I reckon because we’ll be there Sunday you should take your Sunday dress.”

“But it’s new,” I stuttered, confused.

“So? It’s still your Sunday dress.”

“Oh Pa, I can’t wait to see him. I just can’t wait.”

“I know you can’t, that’s all you’ve been talking about since we set out! And before you ask again, look a head. Sleepy Eye is right there.”

“Pa!”

“I’m coming, Butternut, just calm down.” I smoothed out my new purple calico dress and waited for Pa. “Alright, lets go.”

He knocked on the door and Mr. Garvey answers if. “Charles! Oh, Andy come here!” Mr. Garvey hugged me tightly while he waited for Andy.

“Pa, what is it? I’m try to —” he stopped short when he saw me. “Oh, Sarah!” We rushed to each other and hugged he other tightly. “What are you doing here?” His voice was muffled by my hair, but he still didn’t let go.

“Pa said I could come with on his delivery.” I muttered into his shoulder.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” I cried.

“I thought the crying would stop now that you’re together.” Pa laughed at me and it made Mr. Garvey, Andy, and I laugh too.

“I’m just so happy.” I hugged Andy tighter.

“Can I show her the lake?” He asked Pa.

“I don’t care, just be back before dark!”

“We will,” he promised grabbing his hat and my hand before pulling me out the door.

“Here it is!” He said proudly. I looked out at the lake. It was beautiful.

“It’s so beautiful.”

“Doesn’t compare to you,” I shoved him lightly.

“Be quiet,” I giggled.

“Okay,” he tugged me to him and put his lips on mine. It wasn’t a long kiss, but it was sweet: When we finally pulled apart from each other, I pulled Andy back to me. “Wait.” He muttered.

“I thought I said no talking.” I muttered, trying to get him to kiss me again.

“No, shush,” he told me, pulling me to him. “You, this, I love this,” he placed his head on mine and I closed my eyes, basking in him. “I can’t wait until we can have our own place.”

“I love you,” I told him.

“I love you too.”

“Our dream is still going to happen.” I told him. We just have eight months until we can get married.”

“I know, eight months.” He sighed.

“Eight months where we can prepare for the world,” I told him. “Laura and I are teaching, so I have money that way. You’re working for your Pa, so you’ve got money too. And we can buy the old Edwards place and start our own…” Andy cut me off by kissing me again and I sighed.

“You’re dress is pretty.” He told me, gripping my hips tightly.

“You’re hat is new,” I commented:

“You’re still the pretty person I ever did see.” He whispered against my lips. And it made them tingle.

“You’re still the handsomest person I know.” I wrapped my arms around his neck and he hugged me tightly.