“Of course,” I say, a bit too late considering the ring is already on my finger and I’ve accepted, but still I just wanted to hear him ask, and wanted him to know we need to be equals in all ways.
Despite his age, experience, and the fact that I trust him to make ninety-nine point nine percent of the decisions, I still want to at least feel like I have a choice…even though fate brought us together and my choice of partner in life was sealed instantly. Lucky for me I got the only man I ever wanted, and he got the only woman for him. Perfect…that’s exactly what we are together.
“I love you,” he says, spinning me around the room like I’m living the childhood I pretty much missed, hanging from the merry-go-round while it whirls at high speed.
“I love you,” I parrot, and our two lips meet.
“Let me outta here!” my mom cries, and we both laugh. Not at her, but because we both know that together, we’re going to work to get her back to a functioning adult, a proper part of society…and a respectable grandmother to our children, because Jake’s already decided that I’m pregnant.
And what Daddy says, goes. I’m a good girl after all.
Daddy’s girl.
Epilogue
Jewel
One year later
“Wow, that was one heck of an incline on that hill,” mom says, bending over at the waist with her hands on her knees as she stands in front of our home. “Mind if I grab a shower at yours?”
“You’re always welcome, mom. You know that.”
“I know, but living just down the street I don’t want to be a burden, all up in your business. You’re a recently married couple and you need your time together.”
“Which is exactly another reason why we love having you. And you know Jasmine loves you too,” I say, bouncing our little baby girl in my arms.
“And Jasper,” Jake says, coming out of the house.
“Ruff!” Ramsay barks, as if to say don’t forget about me.
“That dog is sure as heck hard to keep up with.”
“He’s been a blessing in so many ways,” I add, looking at the guy we took with us from our old home to our new location in Colorado. After mom finished rehab we wanted to make sure she had a completely fresh start, including all new people surrounding her.
Jake sold the house and we bought a new place in the foothills of the mountains, and he bought mom a place just a few streets over so we can make sure she stays on course. We’ve worked hard to break her of all her addictions and luckily Jake was there with enough experience to guide me through the process. He was quick to admit he’s not a professional of any sort but suggested we get mom ‘addicted’ to something healthy. And it worked!
She runs five kilometers each and every morning, with Ramsay accompanying her almost every morning along the way. They’re like the perfect couple although Ramsay might have some competition soon.
Apparently mom’s been crossing paths with some hot mountain climbing guy, as she describes him, most mornings, despite choosing different paths just out of curiosity.
I’m pretty sure these random crossing of paths isn’t very arbitrary and I’m expecting something to happen soon. As a matter of fact, I’m going to push the issue and see what I can find out right now.
“Did you see the rock climbing guy today?”
“You mean Mason?” As soon as she says the words she realizes she’s slipped.
“Oh, you know his name now?” I tease, now that I have more information about her mystery hunk.
“Just got it this morning, and he got my number and hopefully already called and left a message for later tonight. At least that’s what he said he’d do. Mentioned something about mountain biking at sunset with our dogs. Not sure how that works with the dogs in tow, but he said he knows how to make it happen so I trust him.”
Just like I trust my Jake.
“Okay. Just let me grab a shower real quick,” my mom says, stepping past me. Her body is rock hard now and it’s crazy to think she’s actually a pretty darn good runner. She barely left the house just over a year ago and now here she is entering races around town and placing respectably.
“Want to take the kids out back for breakfast?” Jake asks.
“I’d love to.”