by jc santo
“I'm sure they can all assume. I told everyone whatever happened would depend on how you acted towards me once we were alone. If you’d continued to keep me at arm’s distance, then I would have kept that ring in my suitcase.”
I look down at the wedding band. J.C. told the lady at the front desk that a ring wasn’t needed; I just assumed it was something we would get later on since the wedding was so spontaneous. When the time came for exchanging of the rings during our ceremony, I was shocked when he pulled out the beautiful solitaire diamond ring.
“Let’s go inside.” My husband pulls me from my thoughts.
With a nod, we head inside, ready to introduce ourselves as Jared and Joanna Collins.
Perhaps it’s my imagination playing tricks on me, or maybe not, but when I go to hug my mom, I swear her eyes hone in on my left ring finger before she even acknowledges my hug.
“Hey, Joey,” her eyes shimmer with mischief, “how was your little escape?”
With an arch of an eyebrow I do my best to act angry. “As if you don’t know, Mom.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mija. I’m just wondering if you had a good time...do anything crazy?” She smiles big.
I immediately turn around and smack J.C. on his chest again; who also is wearing a mischievous smirk, one that I happen to find sexy as can be. Again, he feigns injury.
“What was that for?” he barely gets the words out around the laughter bubbling out. “I didn’t even do anything!”
“Whatever!” I laugh looking between my mom and husband. “You two had this whole thing planned!”
“I did no such planning, Joey. I happened to mention something about crazy things happening in Vegas. I can’t help it if J.C. took some intuition and sought out an opportunity to do something spontaneous. Although, he knew beforehand that I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
My eyes go back to J.C. for confirmation and I see it when he looks at me. The mischievous smirk replaced by a sincere smile.
“She’s right darlin’, I’d love to say I had this elaborate plan worked out ahead of time, but I didn’t. It really was a fly by the seat of my pants kinda thing. Only thing I had planned was that ring on your finger; bought it while I was deployed. Planned on holdin’ onto it for a while, but then the perfect opportunity came up while we were in Vegas; I couldn’t pass up the chance to make you my wife.”
I launch myself into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck and soak in everything he just said, while trying to hide my tears in the crease of his neck.
Truth be told, I wouldn’t have wanted our wedding any other way. I loved the small, spontaneous, private ceremony we had.
Hearing a small sob from behind me, I pull away from J.C.’s arms to see my mom and sister in law each with a tissue in hand and tears in their eyes.
“That is so sweet, Joey!” Christina practically yells from excitement. “So we have a new family member? Miguel! Get in here!”
Within minutes, my entire family is filling up the small living room, joining in on our exciting news.
Mom uses the opportunity to have Kandice help her to her bedroom. After a few moments of my finger being passed around, I pull away and follow them, Kandice excuses herself and I sit on the edge of the bed to talk with Mom.
“Are you okay with this, Mom?” I absentmindedly twirl my wedding ring around on my finger.
She nods her head slowly.
“Of course I am. Now tell me all about it. I want to hear all of the details.” She smiles and there doesn’t seem to be a hint of anger or resentment for not being included.
A grin breaks out across my face; the pure happiness I’m feeling is undeniable.
“It was perfect for us, Mom. I hate that you weren't there though.”
Remorse fills me knowing that we mistakenly excluded my mom.
“Oh Joey, don't beat yourself up over having a spontaneous weekend with the man you love. I was there in spirit; I'll always be with you in here.” She lightly taps my chest indicating my heart.
“I love you, Mom.” I wrap my arms around her neck and fight back tears. I know this conversation is more than us simply discussing her absence at my shotgun wedding.
“Joey, know that you have made me so proud with all that you have done. You’ve gone from an argumentative teenager to a beautiful, headstrong woman.”
Although my mom is saying good things about me, all my brain chooses to focus on is the loss of my baby months ago.
She must sense my train of thought without a word from me. Before I have a chance to argue that I wasn’t able to carry a child, she stops the feeble disagreement.
“You need to let that loss go, Mija. It wasn't anyone’s fault; the Lord just didn't feel it was time to make you and J.C. parents yet. He will grace you two with a beautiful child when the time is right.”
It is at this moment that I feel a strong set of hands come to rest on my shoulders. Without looking back, I know who they belong to. The strength yet gentleness they hold in them can only belong to J.C.
He doesn't interrupt my mom’s speech, just listens right along with me, soaking up my mother's words of wisdom.
“You two have the potential to be amazing together. I've known you for only a couple years, J.C., but I believe you are a great man for my Joey. You take care of her.” J.C. squeezes my shoulders and places a kiss to the top of my head.
“Joey, you let this man be there for you. He cares greatly for you, and I know he’ll take good care of you, but you have to allow him to do that.” I nod, understanding exactly what she's saying. I have always had the tendency to push people away in times of need—just like I did when I miscarried.
Mom leans over to rummage around in her nightstand drawer, looking for something. When she finally has the item in her hand, she sits back against her pillows.
“This was something your papa gave to me when we were first married.” She sets a small, recognizable charm bracelet in my hand.
Even as she recounts where the small tarnished compass came from, memories of seeing it on her wrist, my father clasping it on her at different times of my young life, and finding it hidden in her nightstand shortly after my father’s death all quickly flash through my mind.
I'm surprised when my mom places something in J.C.’s hand. As her hand moves away, I see that it is the silver necklace with a small compass charm; my father never took it off.
“J.C., this was Julio’s wedding gift from me the day we married. I told him he was my compass; I knew no matter where life led me, I would always find my way back to him. And as awful as this battle has been, I know it is taking me back to my Julio. Shortly after we were married, he gave me the matching charm bracelet, Mija.” She directs her attention back to me. “I want you two to take these; I hope they mean as much to you as they did your father and I. I know that you two are each other’s due North.”
I look from where my mom’s hand is clasped with my husband’s, holding the compass necklace, impressed and awed that he's taking all of this in with just as much interest as I am and shocked that my mom is giving us these items that mean so much to her.
J.C.
“Mija, give me a few minutes with my new son in law, please.”
Even knowing that Pat has always liked me, a nervous feeling runs through my veins at her request.
Jo nods her head and gives both her mother and I small pecks to our cheeks as she exits the room.
“J.C., I know you have a good heart and you care about my Joey, we’ve already discussed this when you first arrived here. What I want to know is your intentions with her now that you’ve married her?”
“I’m gonna love her and take care of her, Pat.” I state, matter of fact.
“You sound very confident.”
“I am. I love her, Pat. It took me screwing things up completely and over six months of being away from her to realize that I don’t want to be without her. I don’t ever
want to do that again; I need her in my life. And I’ll do everything in my power to keep her happy from now on.”
She nods her head with a slight smile intact.
“That is exactly what I wanted to hear. You take care of her, J.C. She needs a good, strong man in her life. I know my daughter is stubborn so she needs someone who can handle her at her worst to deserve her at her best. I know that person is you.”
I look down, embarrassed at her assessment of me.
“I mean it, J.C. Don’t sell yourself short. Joey grew up seeing true love in her father and my relationship; she has never wasted her time on someone who wasn’t worthy. She’s also never done something so spontaneous as running off to Vegas and getting married either, I know she loves you.”
“I love her.”
“I know you do. That’s why I said you two are each other’s compasses. You will always take care of each other as long as you stay by each other through thick and thin.” I nod my head in understanding. “Now, onto the other reason I wanted to talk to you; I want you to go to that hotel first thing in the morning and check out. You never should have been staying there anyway; my home has always been open to you or any of Jo’s friends from Virginia. And now that you’re married to my daughter, you’re family so you definitely will not be staying anywhere but here with your wife and in-laws.”
I smile as I acknowledge her demand, “Yes, ma’am.” I walk to the bedroom door, ready to excuse myself, knowing that her pain pill is starting to kick in, when she stops me one more time.
“J.C.? How are your parents going to take this marriage? The last thing I want is for anyone to be unhappy with your decision or harbor any resentment towards my daughter over it.”
I whoosh out a breath. The thought of telling my parents that I, their only child, ran off and got married to a woman they’ve never even met, sends my anxiety skyrocketing. When it comes to all things women related, I know my track record isn’t great as far as my parents are concerned.
After the ordeal with Maggie, I never got close to another woman, choosing instead a ‘love them and leave them’ lifestyle. I can only hope that they will be open-minded and supportive that I’ve found someone I want to spend the rest of my life with.
“They’ll be okay with it.”
“Again with the confidence…”
“If they are upset or have any issues, they will be geared at me, not Jo. I won’t allow them to hold resentment towards her. She did nothing wrong, I was the one who suggested eloping.”
“I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again… you are a good man, J.C.”
I walk back over and gently kiss Pat on her forehead.
“Get some rest, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I expect you to be here when I wake up, young man,” she almost whispers, her voice already filling with exhaustion.
“Yes, ma’am,” I say through a chuckle.
A short time later, Pat is resting peacefully in her bed, Miguel has taken his family home for the night, Joseph, her younger brother, is out with some friends, and I am laying in Jo’s room with my arms wrapped around her.
We're supposed to be enjoying a movie together but my mind is elsewhere. I can't stop thinking of those charms Pat gave to us. It means so much to me to know that she thinks so highly of Jo’s and my relationship, but it also makes me sad to see her giving away prized possessions.
I haven’t told Jo what was said between her mom and I after she left the room, and she hasn’t asked.
Knowing that Pat pretty much demanded that I stay here instead of my hotel room, I still want another person to demand it with such conviction. Once again, I need to hear the words from Jo.
“Jo,” my voice pulls her from the trance she’s fallen into, “I should head back to my hotel, it's getting late.”
I stand and begin collecting my wallet, phone, and keys off the small nightstand.
“Stay,” she says from the edge of the bed, her voice barely a whisper.
I know she needs me tonight. Between telling her family about our impromptu wedding and the talk with Pat, she needs the comfort and security only I can give her.
I lift her chin up to meet my eyes and the longing is clear to see.
“Okay.” With a small nod, I remove my stuff from my pockets and place them back where they were. My shirt and jeans are discarded on the floor and my body is quickly molded to hers again.
“I love you, Jo.” I place a small kiss to her neck, right behind the ear.
“I love you, too.”
I just needed to hear her say she wanted me here.
Jo
I wake up to a loud roaring from outside my window. Quickly, I get my bearings about me; first realizing that I need to beat Joseph for thinking ten-thirty in the morning is an appropriate time to mow or do any sort of yard work, and secondly I realize I'm in bed alone.
The thought of J.C. leaving early this morning crossed my mind, but I quickly push it away; I want to give him and our relationship the benefit of the doubt. If he left, I know he has a good reason.
Taking a fast shower, I head out into the living room to see my brother, Joseph, on the couch and my mom in her chair. No sign of J.C.
Walking by Joseph, I playfully smack him on the back of the head.
“Agh! What was that for?”
“For mowing so damn early in the morning! I could still be sleeping but your noise woke me up.”
“That wasn't me!” he states, tossing his hands up in a surrendering motion.
I glance over at my mom when I hear her snickering.
“What?” I ask, confused.
“Maybe you should walk outside, Mija.”
The urge to question this cryptic behavior and conversation is strong, but to save time, I do as she suggests.
Stepping out on the sidewalk, I'm blown away at the transformation in front of me and the sight of J.C. shirtless and covered in sweat. My eyes don't know which to take in first; the sweat droplets as they cascade down his well-defined six-pack, which I only briefly noticed the couple times I’ve seen him shirtless, has gotten more chiseled since his deployment, or the complete transformation of my mom’s front yard.
Obviously, the abs win.
What woman wouldn't stare at them? The damn things look like something out of a fitness magazine.
J.C. notices my staring and chuckles as he wipes sweat off his forehead with his forearm.
“You tryin’ to catch flies?”
“What?”
“Your mouth hangin’ open like that, gonna catch some flies. That's what my mama used to say to me as a kid.” He walks up to stand in front of me and I'm still slightly awestruck by him. “You see something you like, darlin’?”
“I uhh,” clearing my throat to remove the lump that's lodged in there, I try again, “I was just coming out to see what's happening with the lawn. Mom said I needed to come see.”
My eyes can't help but fall back to his bare chest again.
He holds his arms out to the sides, wide open in a welcoming gesture. “By all means, check it out,” he grins.
The double meaning of his statement isn't lost on me. So I do exactly as he says, and take it all in. The chiseled chest and stacked abs, the tan skin and light sprinkling of chest hair, the thick, trimmed beard that's grown in nicely, all courtesy of his recent deployment.
My husband is sexy.
I know a lot of women believe that about their man, but mine is the stuff that Tegan’s romance novels are inspired by. There's not a doubt in my mind that I could spend all day right here, standing in the front yard staring, and still not have my fill of J.C.
While that idea actually sounds incredibly fascinating, my ogling is interrupted by the object of my desire’s mouth.
“Ya know, you could at least look at the yard for a second. Don't get me wrong, I love that you can't seem to take your eyes off me, but I'm startin’ to feel like a piece of m
eat here, darlin.”
I can't help the twinge of embarrassment at my gawking.
“Sorry,” I reply, finally able to pull my eyes away from J.C.’s body.
Turning around, I finally take in the front yard. The overgrown flower beds that my father planted are now thriving with a beautiful assortment of flowers, the weeds have been pulled from around my mom’s birdbath, and the mildew has been cleaned off of it as well. The grass has been mowed, mulch had been added in the flower bed and the hedges have had a much needed, long overdue trim.
It looks as though a professional landscaping company was here.
If not for the sweat and dirt covering J.C., I wouldn't believe he did all of this himself. Astonished, and completely disregarding his sweaty state, I walk up and wrap my arms around his neck, burying my face in his pec to hide the emotions itching to come out.
“Thank you,” I choke out.
“Hey, this ain't nothing. I used to work for a landscaping company in high school.” He pulls back and looks at me fully. “I always wanted something I was good at and that I liked doing. I never planned to make the Navy a twenty-year career for myself. I almost forgot how much I enjoyed doing this, at least I know I’ll have something to fall back on when I decide to get out.”
I'm still mesmerized by all of this.
“How? Why? What made you do all of this?”
“I know Pat has mentioned that she loved to garden before, and it was something she enjoyed doing with your dad. I figured this might bring her a little bit of happiness when times are tough in the future.”
A sad smile graces my face. He’s right, mom will love that her garden is once again vibrant and beautiful; I know that it will bring her joy.
“It’s perfect, J.C.” I notice he’s added a small bistro style table and two chairs with cushions that match the rose buds right beside the garden. I can already picture Mom out here enjoying this.
“I hired a landscaping company to come out once a week and keep it up for the next six months.” At my astonished look, he shrugs his shoulders. “I didn’t want it to overgrow again and I know your mom can’t tend to it herself like she wants; I thought it was the best option.”
