by Jaye Cox
"Let me go, let me go!" she screams and as one of the officers starts to put handcuffs on her, she manages to wiggle her way out of his grip and starts running towards us. My instincts kick in and I step in front of Tiny Dancer and so does Ty. Ruby, on the other hand, takes a few steps towards Natalie and socks her straight in the face, knocking her straight on her ass.
"Word of warning, bitch. If you mess with someone my brother loves, I will do more than knock you on your ass," Ruby says, as the officers pick her up off the floor. I don't say anything to her, because I’m already in enough trouble over punching Razor.
"Ruby and I will wait for you in the cafeteria. Come find us when you're done," Ty says.
"Thanks, we will," I say as he gives Ruby a ‘let’s go now’ look and they start to argue.
"What?" Ruby says, "...The bitch deserved it."
"When will you grow up, Ruby? You’re not a child anymore." They keep arguing as they walk out. Tiny Dancer walks into Tommy’s room. I can tell she is a little shaken up over seeing Natalie even though she is trying not to let it show. I stand at the door as she slowly walks over to the bed. Tommy has his eyes closed and she is hesitant at first, but walks over and sits on the side of his bed and hugs him. I have to admit, it does hurt to see the woman you love console another man, but if I want to be with her, it’s a package deal.
"Tommy, talk to me please," she pleads. He looks at her and starts to cry.
"I’m so sorry, Bells - it’s all my fault and they could have hurt you or the baby."
"But they didn't; we’re fine."
"I'm still sorry."
"Don’t cry, Tommy. You're too pretty to cry and it makes your face ugly," she teases, making him laugh.
"I know why you laugh now, Bells. Thank you for being an awesome best friend." They spend some time talking; both of them crying and a few hugs later, I can tell she is exhausted, but so stubborn she won’t leave. Tommy looks at me and I give him a look indicating I think it’s time for us to leave and he nods before telling her to go, he will be fine until tomorrow. Reluctantly she finally agrees to leave. We get to the cafeteria to find Ty and Ruby.
"Thank God," Ruby says.
"Stop being a bitch, Ruby," is Ty’s response.
"I’m not being a bitch, just thanking God they’re here, so I don't have to listen to you bitch me out anymore. Yes I punched a bitch but she deserved it. If the cops hadn’t been there, I would have done worse." They still keep bickering as we walk to the car. I have to laugh and I think I really like Ruby and her no bullshit attitude.
Once we get home I tell her to close her eyes. This isn’t how I wanted to show her the nursery, but maybe it will cheer her up. "Why?" she asks.
"It’s a surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"So bloody stubborn; just close them." She finally does as I ask and I walk her into Jagger’s room. When she opens her eyes, her reaction is everything I expected and more. She looks at me and at all the stuff. "This is why you wanted me to go out today?"
"It is."
"I love it, Rayne," she says, walking around the room, looking at all the furniture.
"It’s perfect. I love everything, thank you."
"We can look at it more tomorrow. Let’s get you to bed." I drag her from the room. If she had any more energy I think I would have had to pull her out kicking and screaming. I tuck her into bed and sing her to sleep.
She is the best thing that has ever happened to me and always will be. She has made me see I have a future. One I want to share with her forever and always.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Dear Jagger,
The last few weeks have been eye opening, realizing life is too short. We need to live for today and not wait around for tomorrow. Uncle Tommy is getting his cast off today, thank God. He is a big baby - but I owe him our lives. If he hadn't pushed us out of the way when the car was coming, we might not be around anymore. You are growing bigger everyday now and I can no longer remember what my feet look like. I love you to the moon and back baby boy and I can't wait to meet you soon.
Love Mummy
P.S. Daddy says you can’t come until after Christmas.
I roll out of bed and waddle off to have a shower before Rayne wakes up. I’m taking Tommy to get his cast off today. It’s been a tough six weeks for him. I hate seeing my happy-go-lucky best friend depressed and since he found out about Natalie being involved in running him down and my kidnapping, he hasn’t been the same. He holds a lot of guilt and no matter how many times I tell him it isn't his fault, he won’t listen, it just falls on deaf ears. Rayne has been on suspension for beating Razor, even though Razor didn't press charges against him. It has been nice spending everyday with him - he has been a great help settling my nerves about going places on my own. I don't understand where the fear is coming from, because I feel safe now that Razor, Kandi and Natalie are in jail, where they will stay until they go to court. Tammie has been formally charged and shouldn’t face any jail time. I'm grateful she was smart enough to go to Rayne and tell him where I was; otherwise she would be facing some serious time as well.
"Tiny Dancer, I have to tell you how hot you look dancing around pregnant."
"Seriously you’ll scare me into labour one day."
"You know it’s our thing, you sneak off to shower and sing so loud and I use the word ‘sing’ very lightly, which wakes me up and because I love watching you, I sit and watch those sexy dance moves." I turn the water off and he hands me a towel. Now that I think about it, this has been our thing, him watching me in the shower.
"I can't believe I ’m living with a creeper."
"You love it."
"No, I love you. Now leave me alone to get dressed, I have to pick Tommy up soon for his appointment.”
"Is that today? Thank God - I can't take much more of his moping ass anymore," he says, watching me dry myself off.
"He’s not moping, he has been locked up around the house for weeks and his ex was a crazy bitch, how else should he react?" I defend him.
"You have me there but still he has been a pain in the ass."
"We should really tell your mum we won't be going on that baby-moon anymore."
"She’ll be fine with it, don't stress. We can just have an after-the-baby holiday." I feel a little bummed we don't get to go away but I didn't want to leave Tommy while he was in a cast and a little down. He is my best friend and coming into my third trimester, my doctor prefers that I don't fly anywhere now. My blood pressure has been a little higher than she would like and we are monitoring it. My father managed to get a blood pressure machine and he and Rayne make sure I check it every day. I think it’s a little over the top, but if it makes them happy I don’t mind.
It’s a beautiful day outside and I try to find a nice dress to wear, most of my knee length dresses are more hooker-on-a-Saturday-night short, now that my stomach is getting huge. I pull out a purple maxi dress and some flats. I have a nice new range of flat shoes now that my feet swell up and my toes start to look like little cheerios by the end of the day. I braid my hair and spray on some perfume and I’m ready. When I go to see where Rayne is, I can’t find him anywhere.
"Ty, have you seen Rayne? I have to go," I say as I walk into his room.
"He had to race out and help Morris jump start his car. He said to tell you to please not be angry and he will call you soon," Ty says. He can tell I’m pissed off.
"Please don't shoot the messenger."
"Shoot you, no. Put a pillow over your head in your sleep, maybe."
"Well nice chat Bells, but I’m on my out." We both head out the door together. He knows I get a little nervous leaving the house by myself. I feel silly needing someone to walk me out but he waves me off and I head to Tommy’s. It doesn't take long to get there. I make good time today and beat all the traffic, which only means we’ll get stuck in traffic on the way into the city. I let myself in and find him cooking breakfast.
"Shouldn't you be sitting
down?" I query
"I figured I get my cast off today, the least I could do is make you something to eat. Because I know my best friend; you would have woken up late, which you have been doing since you got pregnant, and then you would have only had time to eat or shower, your hair is wet so I take it you have not had breakfast," he concludes.
"You think you're so clever, don't you?"
"You know it’s true, Bells, or you wouldn't risk being late," he says and it's a bit scary, he is overly happy today. I’m almost tempted to ask him what drugs he is on to make his mood change so fast, he has been moping around the house for weeks. I’ve had to drag him out, occasionally threatening him with a pregnant woman’s mood swings, if he didn't do as I said. In the first few days after he was home from hospital, I took Sam with me to make him come over and hang out, because Sam can be very persuasive when she has to be.
"Shut up and feed me already or we will be late," I remind him as he passes me a plate of pancakes.
"I will get dressed while you eat then we can leave in five," he says grabbing his crutches. I devour the pancakes in record time. He’s right, I really was hungry.
"Come on Bells, let’s go. You know how I hate being late."
"Oh someone thinks he is funny today. I think I prefer the moping Tommy better."
"You know you love me," he says.
"Be careful or you might have an accident and need a crutch removed from your ass."
"Let’s go before I say anything else that might make you want to physically hurt me. Race you to the car."
"Let’s not get too excited, Tommy." We drive towards the city and I knew we would hit peak hour traffic. I keep an eye on the clock and hopefully we will make it to his appointment on time.
We get to the hospital clinic with only minutes to spare before he gets called in. His doctor is an older man who explains what he is doing today and what he should expect. Tommy tells him he’s broken other bones before and knows the drill. The doctor comments on how awesome his cast looks; Dex spent hours drawing a wicked dragon with flames and a few skulls and flowers on it. After the cast is off his leg smells horrid, nearly bad enough to make me vomit and it looks all white and pasty.
"Touch it, Bells, go on," he taunts, pointing his leg towards me.
"Touch me with that thing and it will need a new cast." While the doctor is giving him some spray and paper towel to clean off his leg, I get a text from Rayne.
RAYNE: Get Tommy to drop you off at the gardens and come to our spot.
ME: Why?
RAYNE: I have lunch and to say sorry for skipping out on you this morning.
ME: Okay.
RAYNE: Love you, Tiny Dancer
ME: Forever.
RAYNE: And always.
I ask Tommy if he is okay to drive and he says he can't wait. It’s been way too long. He drops me at the park where we have had quite a few picnics. Now that it’s spring it’s absolutely beautiful, with all the flowers in full bloom. Once I'm there I look around for Rayne’s car but I can’t see it. I walk to our usual spot and see everything is already set up so he has to be here; maybe he went back to his car to get something. I sit down and start eating some grapes he has out, I'm starved. After a few minutes I start to think he has left and has given up waiting for me. I pull my phone out of my bag when I get a text message from Rayne with a link that says play me. I click on it and see it’s Rayne.
"Tiny Dancer, I love you with everything that I am, and when I heard this song on the radio, it was perfect just like you are perfect for me. Please listen to the words; this is Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. I have only listened to this song once before and didn't pay any attention to it, but as Rayne’s voice fills the speakers and I listen to the words, tears fill my eyes - the song is just perfect. He always knows the perfect songs that have the perfect meaning. Music is how Rayne likes to express his feelings. When he sings the last line of the song, I hear a noise and look up through the tears. I have to laugh, because there is Rayne, riding up on a white horse, in a suit. I watch him ride the horse over to me like he is an expert. Once he jumps down off the horse he looks at me and smiles; my heart is beating so fast, I think I might possibly pass out.
"Tiny Dancer, I know I once said I would never be your Prince Charming who would ride in on a white horse and save you. I now know I was an idiot. I will ride a white horse and sweep you off your feet whenever you want me to. I love you. I knew the moment I first saw you when I was still in high school, I wanted a girl to look at me the way you looked at Tommy and here I stand today, with the same girl who looks at me like that every day. You are the other half of my soul, Tiny Dancer I feel whole every time we’re together." He drops to one knee and I’m crying just from all the thought he put into today - my heart is beating out of my chest.
"Isabella Elizabeth Preston, my Tiny Dancer, will you do me the honor of being my wife? To spend forever and always with me?" I think I’m in shock. I look down at him and let out the breath I was holding and as it sinks in I start to nod.
"Yes, yes, I will marry you," I say, launching myself at him and knocking him onto the ground. He sits us up and puts the most beautiful princess-cut engagement ring on my finger. It’s simple yet elegant; everything I ever wanted in a ring. I smile to myself; the only person who knew about this ring was Tommy. As a kid I used to plan my wedding, and I think every detail should still be embedded in Tommy’s brain.
"You saw me before we officially met?"
"Only once, when you came for a school tour. Tommy was helping me train."
"You were that skinny guy?"
“I will tell you about it another time. Do you like the ring?" he asks.
"It’s stunning."
"A beautiful ring for a beautiful girl," he says as I start to cry again.
"Don’t cry, you're too pretty to cry and it makes your face ugly," Tommy says from behind me. I turn around and see all my friends- no, all my family standing behind me. I can't believe they’re all here and were all in on it and I cry even more. I couldn't have imagined this is where life would have lead me, but I’m grateful every day for my new family and for Rayne and Jagger. The guys all do their silly hand shake and pop open some beers. Sam shows me some of the pictures she took and my father tells me how proud he is of the woman I’ve become. I can't believe Rayne had planned all this and everyone helped him make the proposal perfect.
"Okay, now it’s time for you all to go, so I can spend some time with my beautiful fiancé" Rayne says.
Everyone says their goodbyes. Rayne has pulled out all the stops with the beautiful proposal, having everyone here and now finishing it off with a picnic. He listens to all the plans I had as a child for my wedding and says he is happy as long as he gets to spend the rest of his life with me. We both agree we want to wait until Jagger can walk and be the pageboy. We spend the rest of the afternoon talking about our future and how we envision it to be. We of all people, know things don't always go the way you plan them, but we are happy to live for now even though it's fun picturing how our lives will be in ten years. As long as we are together, happy and healthy, I really don't care where we are or what we’re doing.
EPILOGUE
RAYNE
Standing at the altar next to my brothers, is one of the best feelings. People always talk about getting cold feet before getting married - not me. I know Tiny Dancer is it for me - the love of my life. I look forward to spending every day of the rest of my life with her- forever and always.
"Are you nervous?" Ty asks, fiddling with his tie again.
"Why would he be nervous, he gets to spend every day with a hot piece of ass?"
"Boston!" Ty and I both say at the same time. I swear that kid doesn't have a filter.
"What?" Boston says.
After I proposed, we had talked about when we would get married. I would have married her the day I proposed if that were possible. At first Tiny Dancer wanted to wait until Jagger could walk to be our pageboy. She seemed happ
y with her choice until she had to testify in court; she decided life is too short to wait. So after we found a celebrant and when I say we I mean when she found a celebrant and put in the forms - we were able get married in one month and one day. Today is that day. She has been what women call a ‘bridezilla’. The celebrant asks everyone to take their seats as the sun is going down. We chose to get married in the gardens and now the sun is setting, it’s starting to look as magical as she had tried to explain to me. With the fairy lights over the arch and the candles in mason jars to make a pathway to the altar, the whole thing actually does look magical. Tiny Dancer picked Elle Goulding’s, How Long Will I Love You, to walk down the aisle to, when the music starts to cue us to our places. Sam is the first to walk down, she is already crying and Sam doesn't cry often. I must admit she looks amazing. Tommy is next; she insisted he be her Master of Honor. I would say he looks handsome - but that would just be a bit weird. Once Tommy is in place, and I hear the music cue for Tiny Dancer to come out, I look up and I can't believe I would have ever been able to imagine she could look more beautiful. I'm at a loss for words as she walks towards me, her arms linked with Richards and I no longer hear the music - all I can hear is my heart beating.
Everything is a blur and all I see are her beautiful eyes looking at me. I love when I look at her, she can truly see me, for the second time in my in my life, I cry tears of happiness - she is breathtakingly perfect. I want to pinch myself; this cannot be real, my life cannot be real. How does someone like me deserve this?
When she stands in front of me, all I see is her but now I can hear her heartbeat along with my own. The celebrant starts talking and I’m still in my own world. It gets to the part we have to say our vows and we each wrote our own vows to the other.
Tiny Dancer you are my inspiration, my heart.
You are the light in my soul
You teach me how to laugh
You teach me how to love
