“They’re brother and sister,” I remind her. I’m not sure what it is about these little balls of fur that turns my heart inside out.
“That’s right.” She nods. “Is she going to be an inside or outside dog?”
I look over at a grinning David.
“Whatever you want, baby.” He chuckles.
“She’s too tiny to be outside.”
“That’s what this one said,” Mike says, pointing at Jamie.
“Hey.” She hip-checks him, both of them grinning like fools.
“We got Ace a present,” I say, handing her the sweater.
Jamie turns to look at Mike. “See, I told you it was a good idea.” She turns back to face me. “He said, ‘Babe, dogs don’t like sweaters,’ but what do you know?” she teases him, her voice turning back to her own.
“Good impression.” I laugh.
“Hush it,” Mike says, grinning.
I watch as the two of them have some type of silent conversation, and my heart swells for my big brother and my friend.
“So,” Jamie says, “do you all have plans two weekends from now?”
I look over at David, who shakes his head. “Not that I know of. I’ll probably still be unpacking boxes,” I laugh.
David steps up behind me and places his hands on my hips. “It’s my life’s mission to get you unpacked and settled,” he whispers only for me before kissing my cheek.
“We’re thinking about a trip to the Florida Keys. My parents are there for a few weeks. We thought it would be fun to get everyone together, take a big family trip,” Jamie says, her eyes smiling.
“Uh-huh, what are you hiding from me?” I ask, studying her.
She looks over at my brother, and he gives her a subtle nod. “We’re getting married!” She jumps up and down with poor little Ace’s head bobbing with her. “We didn’t want to wait, and my parents are there, and yours said they would come… and a small beach wedding to seal the deal is all we want.”
“Seal the deal?” I ask her.
“Yeah, all that really matters at the end of the day is that we’re married.”
“Don’t you want the wedding you’ve always dreamed of?” I ask her. It’s romantic, but I’ve had the same vision for my wedding since I was a little girl.
“I never really dreamed of the wedding as much as the man who I would call my husband. I wanted the kind of love that consumes you and makes you whole at the same time. That’s all I need.”
My brother wraps his hand around the back of her neck and pulls her into a kiss.
“So in two weeks you’re going to be my sister?” I ask once he sets her free.
“Yes. We’re not really doing a wedding party. We’re going to invite Aaron and Whit, and Evan and Kinley, but we’re not sure they’ll be able to make the trip. But you two, we need you two there.”
“We’ll be there,” David assures her. He then holds his hand out for my brother to shake.
Just like that, we’re the last remaining holdouts. Not because we’re not ready, but because I’ve been irrational at best and let fear cloud what has been right in front of me all along. Turning in his arms, I hug him tightly, hoping he gets the message. I love you, and I’m sorry for putting you through so much.
We say our goodbyes with the promise to book our flights. On the way home, I can’t help but wonder if I waited too long. Maybe he’s over asking me. I can’t say that I would blame him.
She was quiet on the drive home, then disappeared upstairs to take a shower. I took Dixie out on her leash, which she seems to hate, before bringing her back inside and using the baby gates we bought to barricade her in the kitchen. I set up her bed and some puppy pads, which the store associate who could not have been a day over sixteen assured us worked like a charm. With Dixie sleeping soundly in her big comfy bed, I check to make sure the door is locked, turn out the lights, and head upstairs. If I’m lucky, Olivia will still be in the shower and I can join her.
“Damn,” I say when I see her walking out of the bathroom into our room. She’s already wearing one of my T-shirts. “I was hoping to shower with you.”