by Lucinda Race
He popped the cork and poured two glasses. He raised a glass, but Peyton said, “Can I make the toast?”
He gave a half nod.
“I’ve known you for most of my life. I’m so thankful you had the patience and love to wait until we were both ready to begin a new life.” She clinked his glass. “You are my hero and my love. I can’t wait to spend the rest of our years together.”
“Peyton, you are and were worth the wait.”
In the early morning sun, Peyton and Jack walked hand in hand up the porch steps to her parents’ house. She squeezed tight; she was excited and nervous to tell Owen. She paused at the door and touched his cheek. “Ready?”
Jack nodded. “I’m more than ready. I can’t wait to hear what he says. Hopefully he’s as excited as we are.”
They walked in the front door. The house was quiet. She could smell fresh perked coffee. “Let’s go out on the deck.”
“Good idea.” He slid the glass door open, and before long, she could hear Owen call her name.
She called to him, “We’re out back.”
The sliding door whooshed open and the little boy hopped onto the deck with a thud. “Hey, Jack. Did you come for breakfast?”
“I did, but first I wanted to talk to you.”
“Did you hear that, Mom? Jack came to talk to me.”
She got up from the chair. “I’m going to get some coffee. Owen, hot cocoa?”
He nodded and plopped down next to Jack and started to talk about their next fishing trip.
“I’ll be right back.”
Jack would wait for her for the important part of the conversation. She left them to talk about bait and fishing lures. She filled three mugs and went outside just as Owen was saying he was ready to catch a super big fish.
Holding back her laughter, she passed Jack his coffee and Owen his cocoa. She perched on the arm of the chair next to her fiancé and looked at him over the rim of the mug as she took her first sip.
“Owen, I was hoping we could talk for a couple of minutes about something important.”
He slurped the cocoa and said over the next slurp, “Sure.”
“You know that we’ve been spending a lot of time together.”
The boy nodded. “We have a lot of fun, right, Jack?”
“We do. Which made me think about what it would be like if we could spend all our time together.”
Owen just looked at him. She had a flash of panic. What if he wasn’t ready for them to take the next step?
“I’d really like to marry your mom, and if it’s okay with you, I’d like to be your dad.”
His eyes grew wide. “You want to be my daddy, like for real?”
“If that’s okay with you.” Jack glanced at Peyton, and she gave him an encouraging nod.
“Is Mommy’s and my name going to be different from you? ’Cause most kids in my school have the same name as their daddy.”
“I’d really like for the three of us to have the same last name. We’d all be Price.” Peyton watched as the coffee sloshed in Jack’s mug, betraying his nerves. “What do you think? Should we get married?”
She held her breath.
“Yeah, that’d be really neat.” Owen jumped up from the chair and threw his arms around Jack’s neck. He looked at Peyton. “Can I tell Grammie and Grampy that we’re getting married and Jack’s going to be my dad?”
She was thrilled with his reaction. “How about instead you tell them we’re going to have a celebration breakfast and I’ll cook.”
Jack stood and pulled her up and pecked her lips. “How about I cook and you can help.”
“Can I help too? ’Cause that’s what families do, help each other, right?”
He grinned at the boy who would be his son. “That’s what our family does. We’ll meet you inside.”
Owen raced into the house, leaving the door open and calling out for his grandparents. Jack pulled her into his arms. “That went smoothly.”
“You’ve made me very happy. And when we have dinner at your parents’, he’ll tell the entire family our news the moment we walk through the door. Oh, shoot, but that will take away from Anna and Colin’s homecoming. I’ll talk to Owen and tell him we’ll have to wait to make the big announcement.”
“Are you kidding? Anna will be thrilled and it’ll be all the more reason to celebrate. But if it makes you feel better, I’ll talk to her ahead of time.”
She hugged him around his waist. “That’s a better idea and if she has any hesitation, I’ll talk to Owen.”
Arms around each other, they strolled to the back door. Jack kissed her cheek. “I’ll let Mom know there will be two more for dinner. We can’t celebrate our engagement and upcoming wedding without your parents.”
Peyton brushed his lips with hers. “I love you, Jackson Price.”
31
Owen raced up the walkway when they got to Sam and Sherry’s house for dinner. Peyton’s parents were a few steps behind her and Jack. Her hand clasped his, hiding her engagement ring. Jack really wanted to do a grand announcement. Hopefully Owen could keep the news under wraps until everyone in the family arrived.
However, that hope was short-lived when the moment he burst through the front door, he shouted out, “Mr. P, Mrs. P, come quick!”
He rounded the corner to the large spacious kitchen and dining area and ran smack-dab into Sam, who steadied Owen and then looked over his head to the four adults trailing him. “Owen, what’s all the excitement about?”
“Me, Jack, and Mommy are gettin’ married!”
Sherry threw the towel she had been holding onto the counter and rushed around to scoop Owen into her arms and then hugged Peyton and Jack.
“This is wonderful news.” She kissed Owen’s cheek and then Peyton’s. “Jack, why didn’t you tell us? We’d have been prepared.” Her smile pulled in Mary and Ken. “After all these years, we’re going to be officially family.”
Mary held up a basket. “I brought the bubbly.”
Sherry set Owen on the floor and hugged Peyton again. “I’m so happy for you”—she patted her son’s cheek—“and Jack.” She tugged at Peyton’s hand. “Let me see the ring.”
Peyton held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. She flashed Jack a smile. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Sherry admired it. “Simply stunning, and it suits you perfectly. Elegant but understated.”
Sam set out a dozen glasses on the counter. Within minutes, Tessa and Max, Anna with Colin, and Leo wandered in, followed by Liza and the boys with Don, Kate pushing the double stroller, and Ben as the stragglers. Sherry poured glasses of apple juice for the boys into plastic wineglasses. With everyone talking at once, offering congratulations to the happy couple, the chatter was deafening. Peyton wouldn’t have it any other way. A sharp whistle brought the noise level down a few decibels.
Sam pulled himself up to his full height, matching his three sons. He waited until the last of the glasses were passed out. His eyes roamed over the group and his grin stretched from ear to ear. “I’d like to propose a toast to Jack, Peyton, and Owen.” His eyes found the little boy standing with his grandchildren. “Today, Sherry and I are the luckiest parents alive, with the exception of Ken and Mary. We are expanding our family not by one, but four. Peyton and Owen, Ken and Mary, welcome to the Price family.”
Glasses clinked and a chorus of congratulations for Peyton, Jack, and Owen echoed around the room.
Ken said, “If I may offer a toast.”
Sam held up his glass.
Dad stepped forward. He smiled at Owen, Jack, and finally Peyton. “Jack came to me and said he planned on marrying my little girl and wanted to be a father to my grandson. Without a second thought, I told him Mary and I were thrilled. For quite some time, I’ve been watching Jack with them, and without a doubt, they were meant to be a family.”
Peyton could tell her father was getting choked up. She was about to interject when Mom said, “Jack, you may be a Price, but you’re abou
t to become a Brien too.”
Liza piped up, “Does this mean I get to be your wedding planner?”
Peyton laughed. “We wouldn’t have anyone else.” She looked at Jack. “Before anyone asks, we haven’t set the date yet and we have a lot of decisions to make, and there is another wedding that we should all focus on first.” Her smile reached Anna and Colin.
Crossing the room, Anna pulled her into a hug. “Welcome to the family and”—she looked at Jack—“it’s about time.”
Kate put her hand up. “I’ve got dibs on making the wedding cake.”
“That’s an awful lot to ask.”
Kate’s face fell just a little. “I’m making Anna’s.”
Peyton said quickly, “Can it be chocolate?”
With a laugh, Kate said, “I’ll make anything you want.” She picked up Ben, who was tugging at the hem of her top. She gave him a squeeze. “Try not to pick the hottest day of the year.”
“I was thinking cooler temps. Maybe a spring wedding next year.” She grinned at Jack. “But I need to consult with my fiancé first.”
He pulled her to his side and kissed the side of her head. “Whatever my bride wants, she can have.”
“Since that seems to be settled…” Sherry waved everyone toward the table. “Dinner’s ready.”
Dinner was the usual boisterous affair, children anxiously wanting to go play or have dessert first and then play. Wine flowed like water. Peyton soaked up every moment of the insanity. And her parents seemed to be enjoying themselves too.
Jack leaned back while he toyed with his wineglass. He wanted Anna and Colin to know how happy he was that they were home.
“Colin, when do you go back to work?”
“Next week. We’re going to take some time and clean out my house before putting it on the market.”
“Do you need help moving anything to Anna’s place?”
Colin took Anna’s hand. “We’ve hired a moving company. With the family preparing for the upcoming harvest, it just made sense.” He gave his future bride a smile.
Anna said, “Hey, family.” She waited until all eyes were on them. “We wanted to tell everyone when we were together, but we’ve decided to push our wedding off until next year.”
Peyton leaned forward in her chair. “Is it because we announced our engagement?”
“Not at all. We made the decision while we were in France. We’ve spent so much time away from our families and it might sound a little selfish, but we’d like to have an engagement party, plan a beautiful wedding, and just enjoy the process of preparing for our special day.”
Colin kissed her cheek. “Also, this way I can build up more vacation time and whisk my bride away on a fabulous honeymoon.”
Peyton gave Jack a worried look, one which he knew well. He could almost read her mind. “Anna, are you guys being straight with us? You already had this planned?”
“Definitely. That was the main reason we wanted to have the family get together, so we could tell everyone before plans went into overdrive.” She gave Peyton and Jack a reassuring smile. “I really want to enjoy all the festive stuff with our family and friends. And now it’s even better since Peyton and I can talk weddings all we want.”
“Did you set your date?” Peyton asked.
Anna smiled broadly. “It’ll be in the fall. Once we confirm the location, you and Jack will be the first to know so you can plan around us.”
Sherry came over and perched on the chair next to Peyton. “Two weddings in one year. We have so much to celebrate.”
“Mom, did you ever think your family would grow this much?”
Her eyes scanned the room. “Only in my dreams. When your father and I got married and we wanted to have kids, I had hoped we’d have lots of grandchildren, and finally we have our first granddaughter and four, no five grandsons.” She squeezed Peyton in a one-armed hug. “Hopefully we’ll have a few more in the coming years, and I’ve already told Sam that if we have to add on to the house to hold holidays, then we will.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I am one of the luckiest women in Crescent Lake.” Her smile included Mary.
“Mrs. P.” Owen had come over to the group. “May I have a glass of water?”
She stood up. “Owen, from now on, I’d like you to call me Mimi, since I’m your grandmother, and Mr. P is your Poppi.”
Owen looked at Peyton and then Jack. “Is it okay, Mom?” And then it seemed to hit him. “Am I gonna be related to everybody? Like, I have cousins and aunts and uncles too?”
Jack laughed. “Son, we’re one huge family now.”
Owen jumped up and shot his fist in the air. “Yes!”
The adults laughed and he said, “Mimi”—color flushed his cheeks—“may I please have a glass of water?”
She held out her hand. “Come with me.”
Peyton placed her hand over her heart and smiled as her son held her future mother-in-law’s hand.
Later that night, Peyton and Jack sat on the front porch at her parents’ home. Owen had been tucked into bed, and Mary and Ken had gone inside, leaving the happy couple to enjoy some time alone.
“What a day.” Peyton snuggled closer to Jack. He was so warm and she loved to be close. “It’s so good that Anna’s home. I can’t wait to hear all about France.”
“She looks happy. Some of that is Colin, but I think she’s happy to be home.”
“It was sweet of your parents to recognize Owen as a grandchild. I swear he was walking on air after your mom asked him to call her Mimi.”
“It was comical when he announced to the boys that they were cousins.”
She snickered. “Ben was funny when he declared they needed more girl cousins. I thought your mom was going to fall off her chair, she was laughing so hard, like we could go to the store and get more girls in the family.”
“I wouldn’t mind giving him a sister, especially if she looks like her mother. Do you think Owen would like to be a big brother?”
“Are you kidding? He’s getting the life he always asked me to have. A dad, cousins, aunts and uncles, and more grandparents. I think your mom was right. This is the life I could only have dreamed of.” She tipped her face up and invited him to kiss her. “Thank you for making my dreams come true.”
“There is one thing I’d like to talk to you about. It’s about you buying a house.”
She half turned in the chair. “I was thinking about the money I’ve been saving for a down payment. What if we took that and put it into the kitchen remodel at your place? I know I’m not much of a cook but maybe I’d be inspired to learn.”
“Or we can sell my house and buy something together and start our life as a family with a home that has just our history.” He brushed her hair back. “It doesn’t matter where we live as long as we’re together, so it’s your choice.”
“Then I choose to finish the remodel at what is currently your home and make it our forever home on one condition.”
“Name it.”
“If I never learn to cook edible dinners, you won’t hold it against me.”
He chuckled. “Darlin’, the only thing I’m ever going to hold against you is me.” And to prove his point, he pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. “Just like this.”
“You say the sweetest things.”
He looked deep into her brown eyes. They grew wide. He was overwhelmed with how much he loved this woman. “You don’t have to worry. If you can dial a phone, there’s always takeout.”
He kissed her through her laughter.
She sighed. “Oh, Jack.”
Epilogue:
The Following Spring
Jack walked around the outside of the house. It was no longer just an empty shell—now it was a home where he was going to live with his family. Today he, Peyton, and Owen would officially become a family. He couldn’t wait to share this home with his bride and son.
Peyton had been busy packing and getting ready for the wedding, and was happy to turn over the
kitchen project to Jack. It had been completed in record time. The painters freshened up the main rooms too, in neutral shades. As a surprise for his bride, he hired a landscape designer to plant a butterfly garden in the backyard. Even the swing set with an extra big slide was installed and ready for his son.
Jack had spent the last several nights, with help from Don, Leo, Max, and Colin, painting Owen’s bedroom and setting up the new furniture to get it ready in time. The big move was scheduled for the day after he and Peyton returned from their honeymoon.
But today was the day he’d longed for. He would marry the woman he loved. He could picture carrying Peyton through the dark-green door and over the threshold later tonight. They’d spend their first night as husband and wife here before heading to Turks and Caicos.
His cell phone rang in his back pocket. It was her special ringtone. He smiled and said, “Good morning, my beautiful bride.”
“Good morning, my handsome groom.”
He could hear the smile and happiness in her voice. “I was just admiring our new front door.”
She dropped her voice to a hush. “Did you and the guys finish the junior area?”
“All set. I hope he likes it. The guys had a blast adding their special accents. For Leo, it was muscle cars and Don and Colin, sports memorabilia, and Max added a chemistry set.”
“That was really sweet of them.” Jack heard Mary’s voice in the background, but he couldn’t tell what she was saying. “Jack, I gotta go. Time for the hairdresser.”
“Have fun. I’ll be the guy in the dark-gray tux at the end of the aisle.”
Her laugh was musical. “I’ll be the girl in the white dress. I love you, Jack.”
* * *
Peyton felt like she floated on air down the hallway. She stopped to peek into Owen’s room. “Hey, kiddo. I’m going to get my hair done. Be good for Grampy.” He grinned. The gap in his front teeth made her pause. Time was going by lightning fast. “You sure are a cute kid, you know that?”
