by Harper Sloan
Then I move.
I jump off the stage and ignore the crowded bar full of people screaming and cheering. I only have eyes for the beautiful blonde staring at me with huge tears rolling down her face. I take the long path, going around all the tables before I even get close to her. I give everything I have while singing that song to her. Smile on my face and a love so strong for this woman that I feel the emotion of this moment filling my body.
My feet take me to her and I reach out to grab her hand before I drop to my knee. Singing the last word out clearly until the last note in the song plays.
“Well, darlin’? Make me the happiest man in the whole world. Marry me and give me everything this time?”
She nods, her head bobbing swiftly and her tears picking up speed.
“God, yes!” she screams.
I reach my hand out, not caring who takes it, passing off the mic. Before I move from the floor, I grab the ring that had been burning a hole in my pocket, and slip it onto her waiting hand.
Then I grab my woman, ignoring the catcalls that follow as I place an arm under her knees and another around her waist until I have her in my arms. She throws her head back, laughing through her tears and I carry her out the door.
To our future.
“HEY,” I WHISPER INTO THE wind. “It’s a beautiful day. You would hate it though. We had a cold front come in last week and it’s been so amazingly cold. ”
Silence greets me. It always does, but it doesn’t hurt anymore.
“I miss you,” I sigh, leaning forward and dusting some of the dead leaves off the headstone. “Molly has her first boyfriend. Well, she says boyfriend, but they’re eight. Lee’s having a hard time with that, but you would love how protective he is of her. He actually asked me if he could lock her up. ” I laugh, thinking about how adamant he had been about his grand plan of keeping his girl from any boys. “Anyway, she talked him down from that. I swear that girl could talk him into anything. ”
The wind picks up and I pull my coat a little tighter against my body before adjusting my scarf.
“She’s growing so fast, Jack. I look at her and I see so much of myself. You used to always say that. Even when she was a tiny baby you would pick out parts of her that were all me. But she acts like you. Sees beauty in everything. So full of happiness, that girl. I’m glad. I know that in my heart, regardless of the truth, that she got that from her father—you. ”
I watch some leaves fall from the huge trees that surround the area around me. Each one twirling and swirling on the way to the ground before settling.
“Jack will be six months this weekend. He’s such a good baby. And Molly is loving that her baby brother is finally big enough, mobile enough, that she can play with him more. ”
Looking back at the headstone, I smile, and start to climb from my kneeling position, careful of my slightly rounded stomach.
“Of course, it’s harder for me now with another one on the way. We haven’t found out the sex yet, but something tells me I’ve got another boy coming. Lee thinks you’ve played a part in making sure I have a little army surrounding me. I’ve got to say, he’s probably not wrong. ”
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I look around once more, seeing the fall weather settling around us and before I tell him goodbye, I look over at Lee leaning against our SUV waiting patiently with his long legs crossed at the ankles and his back against the door, while I have my chat with Jack.
“I haven’t told you in a while, but thank you. For everything you did to make sure that Molly and I were safe. For getting us out and bringing us to Hope Town. I wish you were still with us, but even in passing you set us up for a future of everything bright. I’m so happy, Jack. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss you, but Lee has brought something so special into our lives and I know somewhere you’re resting easy knowing that. ”
The wind picks up and I turn my head when I hear heavy footsteps fall in behind me. Lee gives me his knee-melting smile that hasn’t gotten any less brilliant in three years.
“You ready?” he questions.
“Always, Lee. ”
Lee turns his head and glances at Jack’s headstone. He doesn’t speak, but every time we come out here he takes a few seconds to just look.
“Are you ready?” I ask, smiling up at my husband.
His arm goes around my waist and I feel his hand over my pregnant stomach.
“Always. Just telling Jack thanks for handing me the world again. ”
His head dips and I get a soft kiss before we turn and walk toward the SUV. Lee’s hand moves from my waist and his warm fingers close around my hand.
“I love you, darlin’,” he tells me his eyes full of love and his dimple flashing.
“I love you back. ”
The End
