“She’s been different since we moved here. I was worried it was just holdover from the attack, but I’m starting to think it’s something else. I’m worried moving here was a mistake.”
“Now hold on, just settle it, boy, let me get my words out. You moving here so she can face this and prove everyone wrong is just what needed to happen. You’re right where you need to be.”
I looked at him worried. “I just want her to be happy, Sheriff.”
He rubbed his face. “She will be, once she sees that no one cares about that high school crap anymore.”
We heard frantic footsteps running into the house and up the stairs. The door banged open, slamming against the wall. “Stop, you have no right to tell him anything!” Addy shouted at her father.
Her face was tearstained and red, her chest heaving, as she glared hard at Daniel.
“I didn’t say anything, Addy, just that once you got past everything that you’d be happy.”
She shook her head. “You don’t know anything!” she shouted at him.
I had never seen Addy this upset. I ignored that I was in my boxers and climbed out of bed.
“Addy, baby, whatever it is, we’ll get through this together, okay?”
She shook her head again. “You won’t want me. You don’t know any better, Matthew. I don’t want to lose you,” she cried, and I pulled her into my arms, looking to her father for help. He looked so pained.
“Addy, baby, whatever it is, there’s nothing in this world that’ll take me from you, I promise.”
She sniffled and looked up at me. “I’m stupid,” she cried.
I kissed her forehead, and I heard her father protest, “You’re not stupid, Addy.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid. I’ve lived with you for over a year now, and all I see is a bright, beautiful woman whom I’ve fallen madly in love with.”
She shook her head at me again.
“Addy,” her father cut in, “You were behind, not stupid. It wasn’t your fault you had so much to make up.”
She hid her face in my chest. “I should’ve pushed her more. I didn’t want to go to school, so she didn’t make me.”
I squeezed my girl tighter. “It’s not your fault, baby. Falling behind doesn’t make you stupid.”
“She graduated on time, despite the fact that she was behind three years of schooling,” her father said proudly.
“Holy cow, Addy, you have to be a freaking genius!”
“Don’t,” she said, pushing me away, but I wasn’t releasing her. “Don’t make fun of me.”
I squeezed her to my chest. “Oh, baby, please, I’d never make fun of you. You have to see it, you have to know what you did was amazing, right? The fact that you stuck with it and graduated, when most people would’ve given up and dropped out, that just proves you’re amazingly smart. Three years, that’s so much information to pound into your head, and you did it. Don’t shortchange yourself because of the likes of big butt Jennifer. I’m sure she was just intimidated by you, baby. Woman, you’re even more amazing than I thought.”
She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes. “Really?”
“Yes,” I said, leaning down to kiss her. “I must be the luckiest man in the world for you to even give me a second look.” I gripped her, pulling her closer to me, as I rested my forehead against hers. “I’ve been so scared since we moved here. I was afraid someone was going to see you and snatch you away from me. I worried that you’d want them, because you have a history with them, and they’re better than me. Now that I’ve found out how much determination you have and how you made it through school despite everything…I don’t understand how you can put up with a loser like me, Addy, but I want you. I want you more than anything. Please, tell me you still want me, too.”
She looked at me like I was crazy for a moment, but then she saw I was serious. “Of course I want you, Matthew.”
I kissed her hard, with tears of joy on my face. “Really?” I asked.
She shook her head at me. “You’re such a goof. Of course, really.”
I smiled giddily at her. “It’s because I look hot in a tool belt, right?” I asked.
She giggled, and I tackled her on the bed. I didn’t know when Daniel had slipped out, but I was glad he had. I needed some alone time with my girl, and I needed to make her really mine.
“I want to marry you,” I told her.
“I know. I want to marry you, too.”
“I just haven’t had the money for a ring, but as soon as I get it, we’re getting married, I promise.”
“You haven’t asked me yet,” she said coyly.
“Addy Stratton, wielder of pepper spray, keeper of my heart and the house, woman of my dreams, sweetest angel to ever walk the earth…”
“Now you’re just hamming it up.”
“Am not, you’re an angel, my angel, you can’t deny you rescued me the night you picked me up,” I said, kissing her nose and grinding against her a little. “Now shush, I’m trying to propose to my woman.”
She snickered.
“I’m nothing without you…no, that isn’t right. I don’t want anything without you is so much better. You’re everything to me. Without you, I’m a homeless man with barely the will to survive. You made me live and not just get by, but happy, really happy, Addy. I want to make you happy, too, and I promise if you’ll marry me, I’ll do my best to make you happy for the rest of your life.”
She was looking up at me with a huge smile and hopefully happy tears in her eyes.
“So?”
“So what?” she asked.
“Will you marry me?”
“Well, it’s about time you asked,” she teased, and I gasped in false offense. “Yes, I’ll marry you. You’re the only one I want,” she answered.
“Thank heavens for that, because I suck when it comes to competition. It’s not pretty when I beg.”
She smirked at me. “Oh, yes it is.”
I groaned. “Please, don’t make me beg.”
“See, irresistible, and you were begging not to beg, just adorable,” she said and kissed me.
I rolled my eyes. “I hope you still love me when I’m old, fat and bald.”
She giggled and pinched my butt. “I will, just don’t lose this,” she said, giving it a smack. Was it sick of me to love that she spanked me? Yes, Addy, I’m a naughty boy, I was thinking. She must have been a mind reader, because she spanked me again. I attacked her lips, letting her know I loved it. Thankfully, I wouldn’t have to do anymore begging tonight.
Chapter 21 - Things that Aren’t
I came home from a job to find Addy talking on the phone. She was smiling and giggling. “Hey, honey, who are you talking to?”
“Your mom,” she said and walked toward the kitchen.
“My mom?” I asked. “Did she want to talk to me?”
She looked back at me and smirked. “No, she isn’t happy with her son. Turns out he moved and only sent her a postcard with his new address.”
“Hey, at least I sent it,” I groused.
“Your dad says hi. He’d also like to know if this new house has a nursery in it.”
I made to get the phone from her, but she dodged me, laughing hysterically. “You’d better watch out, little girl, I’m coming for you,” I warned, as I rounded the table. My girl squealed and ran out of the kitchen, into the back hall. The house was designed in such a way that it let a person run in a full circle through the downstairs. Once I was sure she was off speed in one direction at full speed, I turned back, running to cut her off. I only just missed her, as she darted up the stairs. “It’s a dead end, beautiful. I’m coming for you!”
She slammed the bedroom door, laughing hard. It didn’t take me long to get it open and tackle her on the bed. I pinned her hands above her head and reached for the phone.
She bit my ear, sucking it softly and distracted me.
“Addy?” I heard my mother call, pulling me back from my distraction.
> I lunged at the phone, snatching it from her. “What’s this about, talking to my fiancée and not me?” I asked.
My mother answered in a squeal, shouting at dad that I had finally done it. Then she quickly got back on the phone and asked if Addy was pregnant. “No, Mom, I haven’t knocked her up. She agreed to marry me without any duress.”
“Oh, baby, I’m so excited. Did you get her a ring?” was her next question.
“Not yet, I’m still saving up for it.”
“Don’t bother, baby, you can use granny’s wedding set. She told me she wanted you to have it, so you could be blessed with a long and happy marriage like she was.”
I looked over at Addy and swallowed hard. “How soon can you send them to me?”
“Matthew Martin, you’d better not be thinking of getting married without us there.”
“I, um, we haven’t set a date yet,” I looked at Addy, “but I don’t want to wait long,” I said, pleading.
“I’m ready when you are,” she said from under me, getting me excited in a way that was just not appropriate when speaking with your mother.
Mom must have heard, because she squealed excitedly. “Matt, we’re going to a wedding! Baby, let me call my boss. I’ll bring the rings, and we’ll have ourselves a baby, I mean a wedding!”
“Mom…” I tried to get her attention.
“Oh, does she have a dress? I still have my dress, baby, and I can alter it to fit her if it needs done. Does she want to use it? It’ll save on the cost. Oh, I’ll have to bring my good punch bowl, too. I haven’t ever used it, got it as a wedding present, but now we can pull it out and use it! This is going to be wonderful!” she squealed again. “Oh, honey, don’t get up, you’ll throw your back out again!” she suddenly shouted at my dad.
“Well, then give me the phone, woman, I want to talk to my boy!” I heard my father shout to my mom.
I looked down at Addy who was giggling.
“Oh hush, you. They’re bringing the rings, a dress and a punch bowl,” I grinned.
“A punch bowl?” she asked confused.
“Don’t ask me.”
“For the reception, of course!” my mother shouted at us over the phone.
“Mom, I don’t know if we’re even having one. I’ll have to talk to Addy first.”
“Well, I’m bringing it just in case. Now, I’ll get off the phone, so I can call my boss and get off for my boy’s wedding. Oh, this is so exciting!”
I looked at Addy, knowing she had heard what my mom had said, but she just giggled. I leaned down and kissed her. Thank goodness, my girl was perfect.
It was not twenty minutes later that my mother called back again. “I’ve got a five-day vacation starting next Tuesday. We can be there on Wednesday, and we can get to work on getting things together for the wedding on Friday. We’ll have to leave Saturday to get home on Sunday. I have an evening shift,” my mother managed to spit out without even taking a breath.
“I, um…” I started, but my mother cut me off again.
“Don’t just stutter, boy, give the phone to your bride, we’ve got planning to do.”
Addy looked at me expectantly, and I handed the phone over to her. She started talking to my mother and smiled at me, giving me a wink, before she left me sitting alone at the kitchen table. I shook my head at her and decided I had better go tell Daniel we were getting married. I didn’t think he would be opposed to it, but it seemed to be going kind of fast. I didn’t want him to feel like we’d had this planned all along and left him out of the loop.
I walked out the front door and headed down the street. Our neighbor, Joe Riley, was busy trimming his hedges. I noticed he was only wearing underwear, and they had deer printed all over them. The band on them said “Bush Nipper.”
“Hey, Matthew, my wife, Helen, found a website with specialty shorts like yours. These ones are for trimming bushes,” he said, pointing down at them.
I gave him a closed-mouth smile, as I did my best not to laugh at him, which wasn’t easy. “Nice work, Joe. Looks like they’re working for you,” I said, waving him off and hurrying to Sheriff Stratton’s house. I lucked out, catching the Sheriff at home. I knocked on the door and then stepped inside, knowing I was always welcome.
“Come on in, Matthew. Good to see you, Son. How’s my girl?” he asked cheerfully.
“Good, but busy,”
“Busy, with what?” he asked.
“That’s what I came to talk to you about. I asked her to marry me, and she said yes.”
The Sheriff’s face split with a huge smile. He got up and patted my back. “Well, congratulations, Son.”
I laughed nervously. “Thank you, Sir, really. I came here, because I have a bit of a problem, though.”
His eyes narrowed at me. “You didn’t knock my baby girl up, did you?” he growled.
“No! NO, NOOOO!” I said shaking my head. “We haven’t even…we’re waiting…I’m not…we don’t...”
“Fine, fine, Son, now what seems to be the problem?”
“My mother,” I said plainly.
“She don’t approve of Addy?” he asked offended.
“No, I mean she loves Addy, the problem is, she found out we’re engaged, and they’re planning the wedding.”
“I don’t seem to be catching the problem here, Son.”
“It’s set for next Friday. They got off as fast as they could, when they heard we didn’t have a date set, but wanted to do it soon. My mother decided next Friday was soon enough.”
Daniel sat down and rubbed his chin.
“We have the rings and a dress covered, even a punch bowl. I’m not even sure what to do with a punch bowl,” I said, pulling at my hair. “I just want you to be okay with us moving so fast.”
“Boy, you’ve been living with my baby girl for over a year now. You haven’t been moving fast enough. I think it’s about time you made an honest woman of her. Congratulations.”
I looked up at him surprised. “Really, Sir, you’re okay with the wedding being next Friday?”
“Sure, I think I can get it off. I should probably take the day off before to help with stuff, too. I need to put in a call to Reverend Wright. We’re going to need him, and you and Addy should get down to the courthouse and get your marriage license. Don’t want to be caught without that.”
“Yes, of course.” I was suddenly feeling very excited. I started for the door.
“You take good care of my girl, Matthew,” Daniel warned.
“Always, Sheriff Stratton,” I promised.
He nodded in acceptance of my answer, and I went running home to Addy. I burst in through the front door, startling her and causing her to jump and fumble some old silver serving tray that we had gotten out of that Freecycle stuff.
She glared at me for startling her. “Yes, Dottie, I have a tray, but I don’t think we’ll need a reception. I don’t really know anyone here.” She looked at me uncomfortably and mouthed the word help.
I motioned for to her to give me the phone, and she passed it over. “Hi, Mom, what trouble are you stirring up now?”
“I was just thinking, most churches have reception halls. We can probably have a little get-together afterwards, a little dinner if you will, before you run off to the house. You need to give me her father’s number. We’ve got a lot of planning to do.”
I looked over at Addy and gave my mother the Sheriff’s number. Addy looked at me confused, and I shrugged.
“I have to go, honey, so much to do. I’m so happy for you, baby,” my mother said. “I can’t wait to see you again, and your new house.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing you again, too. I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, baby, bye-bye,” she said and hung up.
“What did you give her my dad’s number for?” Addy asked confused. “He’s going to think she’s some crazy telemarketer or something.”
“You should probably warn him about her calling. I’ve already talked to him about us ge
tting married so soon. I wanted to be sure he was okay with it.”
She looked at me concerned. “Are you okay with getting married so quickly?”
I pulled her into my arms and hugged her, kissing her forehead. “Yes, definitely, it’s about time we make it official and announce to the world that you’re mine. Are you okay with my mom taking over?” I asked, a little worried she would say no.
“Yeah, your mom is great, Matthew. I’m afraid she’s going to be disappointed by our little wedding, though,” she said nervously.
“Never, my mother will be thrilled I’m getting married to the woman of my dreams. We could do it at the courthouse, and she’d be fine with it. Honestly, honey, I think she’s just trying to make it special for you.” I leaned in, puckering my lips, asking for a kiss.
She rolled her eyes, but gave in. “Fine, but make sure she knows this is a very small town, and very few people are likely to attend the wedding.”
“I’m sure your father will talk some sense into her,” I stated in a sure tone, when in reality, I didn’t know what the heck would happen when those two got together.
Chapter 22 - Addy
Tuesday was here before I knew it, and my mother was standing on my front porch, looking around our house and neighborhood. Unfortunately, Joe was outside in a pair of underwear cleaning his windows. These boxers had ducks on them and said “I like it wet” on the waistband. I shook my head, as my mother looked at him confused.
Once we stepped inside, she asked if he was using my underwear.
“No, Mom, he just happened to find out I had interesting underwear and thought he’d give them a try himself. Unfortunately, he believes they’re shorts and wears them outside a lot.”
“Well, hopefully, he has things under control in them,” she said, waving her hand around her lower region.
“Maybe I should get me some,” my father chimed in smirking.
My mother just glared at him, but when she thought I wasn’t looking, she winked at him.
I had just finished showing them around the house, when Addy came hurrying in. “Dottie, I’m so glad you made it safely,” she said, hugging my mother.
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