The One

“You have an amazing heart, Whip. I love you more every day.”

“I have to say, I feel the same about you, Van Welch.”

She closes her laptop and sets it on the coffee table in front of us, reaching over to scratch George on the head.

“Okay, so tomorrow…” I start, wanting to be sure we are on the same page.

“Yes.” She presses her fingers to her chin, and I run a hand down the back of her hair. “The car is picking Mom up at the airport at nine. She and I are going to look at houses with the realtor at ten. You said you and Jack are going to wait here for the Jeep to be delivered, right?”

“Yep.”

The restoration is finished, and I’m excited to have her old friend back in working order for her.

“So exciting.” She smiles, and it still makes my heart skip when she’s happy, especially when it’s because of me.

I HEAR THE GIGGLING before they even come through the front door.

“So?” I meet Issi and Gayl in the front hallway, holding out a glass of Moscato for each. “What’s the verdict? Do we have a new neighbor?”

Gayl takes the glass and smiles. “Maybe. We’re still deciding.”

Issi takes hers, and I reach over to pull her to kiss me before she adds, “We saw two great houses. Not far away.”

“Great,” I add as we all move into the kitchen and Gayl immediately heads for the pantry, coming out with a bag of chips and pulling the ever-present bowl of M&M’s on our counter her way.

“How was your day? Is my baby back?” Issi cranes her neck to see out the back window toward the one massive storage building behind the house.

“She’s back. I have her parked by the back patio. Wanna go say ‘hi’?”

“Yes!” She bounces up on her toes and heads toward the back doors that lead off the family room. This is an old farmhouse, but it has been modernized and has a nice combination of sleek contemporary and rustic original features.

I turn to look at Gayl who is tossing a handful of colorful candies into her mouth, grinning at me. “You coming?”

She nods and pops up off the kitchen stool to follow me out the back door. A warm breeze greets us as the last of winter seems to be taking its leave.

We take the turn to the back patio, and there’s Issi, jumping up and down before swinging open the driver’s door and hopping behind the wheel with a squeal.

The hood is up. Jack was admiring the restoration job. Since we’ve become friends, I’ve come to know he has an interest in old cars. Has a couple he has fixed up himself over the years, and we are planning on starting a project car together in one of the garages here on the property. I need a hobby, it seems. I’ve never had one.

As we come close, Jack steps out from the front of the car and gives me a wave.

When Gayl starts running toward Issi, giggling and clapping, I see him freeze.

His eyes follow her all the way to the other side of the Jeep as she gets into the passenger door beside her daughter.

He draws one hand to his mouth, covering it as if to say, ‘What the fuck just happened?’

I walk over and give him a sympathetic swat on the shoulder blades. “What’s up, buddy?”

It’s against the guy code, but if it weren’t and I looked down, I’ll bet there was something up behind his zipper.

Because I know that look, it’s the same look I had the first time I saw Issi.

When he finally comes to, he lowers his hand to grip his chin and looks at me like a well just blew up in front of him.

“Who the fuck is that?” His mouth is open, and he steps over to me so he can see inside Issi’s door to where both the girls are sitting.

“That is what is known as, the one.” I nod and look at Issi, who blows me a kiss. “Otherwise known as Gayl, Issi’s mom.”

“Jesus Christ.” He grunts and I snort in sympathy. I know how he feels.

Gayl looks over and sees Jack, and in that instant, I know things are about to heat up. I see her freeze, one hand coming over to squeeze Issi’s shoulder as she mouths something to her, and Issi looks over at me, then Jack, and breaks into a wide grin, turning to her mother.

A moment later, Issi waves us both over, and I feel the tension from Jack in the air.

“Come on, buddy. No fighting it.”

“Fuck off.” He chides back but is a step ahead of me heading to the Jeep.

Twenty-one

Issi

EPILOGUE TWO

Five Years Later

“God!” I throw my head back as Van buries himself inside me from behind. “Harder!”