Always and Forever

by Jerry Cole

  After about an hour of slow walking, we headed to the car to get everything for the train. It was about three hours to get to the top, but it would be stunning. I had my camera ready for pictures and planned to step outside as often as I could.

  The girls sat together, and we sat near the parents. The train was small and older, but they offered us bottled drinks and water for the ride. We settled into the seats and looked on as the cars started the slow ascent to the top. There were endless miles of gorgeous land to see, and I smiled as I took it all in.

  This was my home. I planned to make that permanent with the love of my life and loved the idea.

  The ride was long, but with the view, nobody seemed to think about it. Everywhere you looked, it was a drop that offered green growth and rocks. I took a few pictures from the train, but most were taken outside.

  When we finally reached the top of the peak, that was over fourteen thousand feet and gorgeous. We stepped out and walked to a few places to take in the view before finding the right table for lunch.

  Evelyn outdid herself with the meal. There were hearty turkey and ham sandwiches, fresh-cut fruit salad, walnuts, and even cupcakes for dessert. “When did you do this?” I asked as she smiled at her daughters.

  “They helped me. We made most of it over the last couple of days and the fruit this morning.” She also grinned at Jim and Jill. “They were a good help, too. I love having you here with us.”

  “It’s great being here,” Jill assured her as she looked around. “I love my ocean, but this is amazing. There’s just something about it.”

  “Gorgeous,” Jim agreed, slipping an arm around her. We enjoyed the food and spent an hour up there as I wandered around to take pictures of the scenery as well as the group. When we boarded the train to head back down, we were all tired and quiet. I think I even fell asleep for a few minutes on Micah’s shoulder.

  We made the drive back to the house, stopping for a light dinner about an hour away. There were mostly hugs goodbye once we were there since everyone was tired. We dragged ourselves to my car and drove home, heading right to bed. Tomorrow would just be a bit of wandering around town, so that would be a lot easier.

  We all stumbled into our front doors once we parked for the night. Micah led me inside, and we locked up and grabbed water before dropping into bed. “We should shower, but I can barely move. Do you mind if I just pass out?”

  “Not at all. I’m sore as hell too, but that was worth it. I had a great time today.” Micah kissed me, and I pulled him closer for a moment, regretting my exhaustion. “I love you.”

  “I love you. This is all coming together, isn’t it?”

  “It is, and I couldn’t be happier about it.” We shared one more kiss and settled into our pillows to catch a few hours of sleep.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Micah

  We woke up later than planned, making love before Keller called his mom. She assured him that they were just catching up over coffee, and we had time to get ready. The vague plan was to hit Larimer Square for some shopping and lunch at one of the restaurants. Nobody had the energy to do much more than that, and Jill talked about maybe seeing a movie after we were done.

  We made coffee and a light breakfast before getting ready for the day. We both dressed in work jeans and button-up flannels with jackets, making me chuckle. We dressed similarly the entire time we knew each other, apart from my shows. I hadn’t performed since Moira died, and the rest of the band seemed fine with the break. We didn’t make it for family dinner there in a while, either.

  I needed to call them before too much time passed. I didn’t want to be that guy that abandoned them for my boyfriend and his life.

  Shit. Was I becoming him?

  We met Mallory and Talon in the driveway. He was free to join us today, and Mallory beamed as they slid into the back seat. I knew that the twins would be swooning over two musicians and hoped they didn’t feel left out by Talon’s presence.

  We drove to Evelyn’s house and went into the living room. It was loud with laughter and chatter, and I smiled as I took Keller’s hand. “There’s a part of me that can’t wait for the quiet,” I whispered into his ear as he chuckled.

  “I know. This is crazy, but everyone is having a great time.” He pecked my mouth, and we both looked at Jim and Talon, who seemed to be having a serious talk.

  The girls were in the kitchen, giggling about something. “This might be perfect. He’s already like that with Rick.”

  “Talon’s a good guy.” We both watched him for a moment.

  “I’m glad as fuck that she didn’t hook back up with Lance. He played the pity card so badly.” I grumbled as I thought back to the weepy calls he made to Mallory.

  “She already had Talon by then. He was in the past.” I reminded him as Jill headed over to us.

  “Thank you for yesterday. That was unforgettable.” She smiled and hugged both of us in turn. “How do you feel?”

  “A bit sore, to be honest,” I laughed as she gave me a sympathetic look. “Yesterday was great. I live here, so I don’t always think about places like that. I was like a kid when I visited you.”

  “I try not to forget all the blessings where I live, but being there every day changes things. I get that.” She looked at Keller. “Evie is doing so well. The girls are great with her.”

  “They have their moments. They’re teens and act like it, but we all talked to them after I got here. Evelyn didn’t want me focusing solely on her, and she’s happy that I’m living with Micah now.”

  “Is she ever!” Jill agreed as she looked around the room. Her face glowed, and eyes shimmered with warmth, and I shared a look with Keller. We both wondered if she might be thinking about moving here.

  We all got ready to leave, and Micah drove us to the oldest street in Denver, as far as shopping went. We found a parking garage and piled out of the car to the main road.

  “This is gorgeous. I bet it’s amazing around the holidays.” Jill gushed, and Evelyn smiled.

  “It’s so pretty. They have it all done up. When one of the teams here wins, they decorate, too.” Jim whistled when he heard her say that.

  “That’s pride. I love it.” Evelyn smiled, and the girls gave him a perplexed look. None of them were into sports all that much, and even we weren’t, but I appreciated the sentiment.

  We started down the sidewalk where the cars still drove, watching as the women darted into various shops. It was a mix of trendy ones and tourist traps, but Jill fell for it. She came out with several bags that Jim took from her, finally making the trek to the car to load up the back.

  We returned to the group as they discussed where to have lunch. I saw a storefront and tugged on Keller’s hand, telling him I wanted to go into a shop. He looked at the group and then me, choosing to follow.

  We entered, and I looked around at the candles and metaphysical items. I wasn’t over the top with this kind of thing but bought stuff now and then. “Cool place.” Keller looked around with a smile.

  “One of my favorite places.” We split up as he went to look around, and I headed for the counter. I knew the jewelry was kept there and greeted the cashier as I started to look through them. I never bought anything for Keller up until now, and while this wasn’t the item that would change everything, it was important. I found the sterling silver rings and moved up to the biggest size before finding one with a Celtic pattern. I tried a few on as I looked around for Keller, finding two that would fit us.

  “Can you price these without scanning them?” I winked as I asked the cashier the question, and the pink-haired girl blinked at me.

  “Yeah. I know the price.”

  “Take my card. I am going to see if this fits him, and if not, can I find one that does?” I pressed, and she nodded with a small smile. I handed her a credit card and took the rings to Keller, who was looking at the incense.

  “Hey. They have a great selection here,” Keller greeted me as I stood beside him.

&n
bsp; “Baby,” I started to say as he looked at me.

  “Are you breaking up with me?” He asked as I burst out laughing.

  “Hell, no. In fact, I just wanted to give you a little something that I found. It’s perfect, and the main reason that I wanted to come here in the first place.” His brows rose, and I brought the hand forward, holding the rings.

  “Shit. This isn’t… what I think it is?” His eyes widened, and I leaned down to kiss him.

  “No. That will be done differently, but I thought we could each wear one. I suppose it’s a promise ring.” I smiled and reached for his left hand. “I love you more than anything, Keller. I want you to know that I love being a part of your life and family. I want forever with you.” I chose that moment to slip the ring on his finger, and he let out his breath.

  “One for you?” He asked, and I held it up. “Get that on.” He grabbed it and slid it on my left hand before kissing me hungrily. We both knew it was a little too much for a shop, but Mallory’s voice broke our spell.

  “Guys? We want to get some lunch.” I heard footsteps coming closer and pulled away, seeing his face flush a deep pink. She rounded the corner, and her mouth dropped open. “What did I interrupt? Are you engaged?”

  “It took you so long to notice rings,” I told her sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. “No, we’re not. I promised that we would be down the line, but I’d never propose in a store like this.” I smiled and looked at Keller. “Want to get anything?”

  He grabbed a few things, and we headed for the counter. I told the cashier to add it to the card, and Keller narrowed his eyes at me. “She knew about this before I did?”

  “Of course not,” I lied as I signed the slip, and she handed me a bag.

  “Are you engaged?” The words came out in a whisper. “I recognize you.”

  “I'm not yet engaged, but I am very taken.” I smiled, and we walked out of the shop as Mallory burst into laughter.

  “You are such a drama queen,” she told me, and I laughed.

  “It works fine for me,” Keller assured her as he took my hand. We got back to everyone, and they asked if a burger place on the next corner sounded good.

  “Perfect,” I told them, and the group headed down toward the restaurant. Mallory walked with the twins and Talon, whispering something into his ear before he grinned at us. By the time we reached the table and ordered drinks, Mallory told everyone what I did in the store. “Oh, my God. I knew there were rings there and wanted one. I didn’t propose.”

  “No, you wanted two. Isn’t that basically married?” Mallory asked as she looked at my hand.

  “Everyone will know when I marry Keller. Don’t worry about that.” I looked down at my menu as Keller laughed, feeling uncomfortable.

  We changed the subject during lunch, talking about the stores and what else Denver had to offer. There were still a couple of streets to look at, and we all thought a movie might be a great way to finish out the evening.

  Something felt different between Keller and me as we kept walking. It felt lighter, but the connection was that much stronger. He went into some stores and bought Jill stuff and even the twins. Keller smiled the entire day and, at the movie, leaned comfortably against my shoulder.

  Evelyn invited us over for a light dinner after the movie, but we chose to go home. Our plans the next day were to drive along what was called The Million Dollar Highway.

  We went home with Mallory and Talon, and we all went to our homes to rest.

  Evelyn was packing another picnic the following day since we were just driving and stopping when we saw fit. She walked a lot today and needed the break, and I heard the views we were going to see were stunning.

  “You made my day,” Keller whispered once we were settled for the night. We had a lot to celebrate and did so as long as we could.

  “I have always wanted to buy a ring there. I just never had anyone to commit to like you.” I felt the metal around my finger and kissed him. “Do you like it?”

  “Love it. I would have picked this myself.” He pressed his mouth to mine again, and I moaned against his lips. “I want you.”

  I had no problem letting Jim take the wheel the following morning, choosing to sit with Keller in the second row.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Keller

  The highway was winding in parts, and my stomach twisted right along with it. We had plenty of water, and I even ate some candy that Jill gave me for such occasions. We stopped enough to where I could get some fresh air and take pictures, so the feeling went away. Once the road straightened for a time, I felt better and watched as the road dropped to valleys of green. There were the same rocks that I fell in love with on my first hike here and the nature that called to me.

  By the time we reached a place called Crystal Lake, I was ready to eat. We made our way to a picnic table, and Evelyn unloaded more sandwiches, carrots and celery, chips, and homemade cookies for dessert. I knew in one bite that my mom made them and smiled at her as the burst of chocolate hit my throat. “You made them.”

  I loved those cookies my whole life growing up. They got me through bad days at school and the nights, after Dad left. They symbolized comfort to me, and she smiled at me.

  “I made them for you, and I thought the others might enjoy them.” She smiled as everyone took a bite out of curiosity.

  “Are these chocolate chip cookies?” Mallory asked as Mom, and I laughed.

  “Yes, but on crack. Mom threw this recipe together when I was little, and it was instant addiction.” I replied as Micah raised a brow.

  “Please give my mom this recipe,” he pleaded before taking a second bite.

  “Did you forget you have an oven? I’m sure Keller knows the recipe.” Mallory sipped her water as Micah rolled his eyes.

  “If I made these, I would eat them all. If they were served as a dessert, I could manage to stay under twenty.” Everyone laughed at Micah, and I shrugged in agreement.

  “They’re amazing, Jill. I’d love the recipe,” Evelyn told her before they shared a long smile. The women were getting closer by the day. I loved seeing it but knew that Mom was leaving again. She was also staying at the other house in three days.

  We finished lunch, and some people stayed at the table while Micah and I went to the edge of the lake to make our way around. It wasn’t huge but offered a gorgeous view, and I wanted a few angles.

  “We’re going to start you a website for these photos. People can order them and maybe even custom sizes. What do you think?” Micah asked as I grinned at him.

  “I’m already a journalist. When am I supposed to have time for that and to be your boyfriend?”

  “We work as a team. We can upload pics at night once everything is set up nice, and the orders can get printed elsewhere. You might just have to communicate with some of the customers.” Micah paused as his eyes widened. “Fuck that. You need a showing.”

  “Slow down. I take average pictures with a mediocre camera, according to many photographers.” I shot a tree on the shore across me with a gorgeous meadow of wildflowers behind it.

  “There’s nothing mediocre or average about you, baby.” I blushed and walked forward, seeing a path leading into some trees.

  “I wonder where that goes,” I called back to him, striding forward.

  “We’ll come back here and explore to your heart's content. Right now, we’re with a whole lot of family.” Micah caught up to me and grabbed my shoulder. “I love the part of you that wants to see the world.”

  “It’s frustrating at times.” I smiled as he kissed me.

  I took some more pictures, and we headed back to drive to the next stop. I felt better as we got into the car, and Jim took the wheel. “I kind of like this. Maybe we need a large vehicle like this, Jill.”

  “For just us?” She shot back as Keller smiled beside me. “I don’t think so.”

  We drove and stopped to check out the beautiful sights. Evelyn packed a snack of fruit for everyone to hol
d us over until we made our way back to find a place for dinner.

  “She’s back to being herself. She always used to do this,” I told Micah as we walked to the bathroom at the steakhouse everyone agreed on.

  “She looks happy. Maybe his leaving wasn’t a bad thing for Evelyn. It did give her you, and now she has another family.”

  “That’s true. He’s just an asshole for always leaving when things get bad.” I washed my hands, and he stepped out to join me.

  “I won’t argue that.” Micah wrapped his arm around me and kissed my hair. Two men walked in at that time and stared us down, and we made our way to the table.

  “I forget that people are like that sometimes,” I murmured as we ate dinner, listening to the others talk.

  “There’s always someone,” Micah reminded me, and I nodded. “We have a whole table of people that don’t care about that. Strangers don’t matter.”

  “I know, I know.” The meal was peaceful since we didn't see the men at all during that, but they were in the parking lot as we all filed out. They called something out, and Jim froze before turning around.

  “What did they just say?” Mallory hissed as I stepped forward.

  “Don’t, Jim. It’s not worth it.” Mom was beside me, pleading with him to just walk away. The man muttered something else, clearly drunk, and Micah moved forward to stand with us.

  “Get your drunk ass home. We don’t care about what you have to say.” Micah sounded so calm, and I turned to look at him.

  The man started forward, but his friend took one look at Jim and pulled the slob away by one arm. We all watched until they got in a truck and started the engine.

  “Neither of them should be driving.” Jim pulled out his phone and reported them, giving the dispatcher the license plate number. “I’d probably do that anyway, but it would be good to be there when they're taken to jail. Assholes.”

  “They said something to us in the bathroom,” Micah admitted, and Jim stared at him.