Bad Seed

“I knew that if he took you from me, I would have nothing. This life I built? I built it on the memory of you. On the premise that, one day, I would have something to offer you that you could be proud to take. I built it on the idea that one day, I could offer it to you and you would gladly accept it. And I knew that if someone or something ripped you from me, none of it would matter. The business. The construction. This home. None of it would have meant anything because it would have always been missing you. I would’ve always been missing you.”

I reached up and wiped Theresa’s tears away with my thumb.

“I have always loved you, Theresa. And I’m nothing without you.”

I looked down at the ring in my hand, and I held it in front of her finger. My thumb traced circles on top of her skin as my mind swirled with things to say. But I had nothing else to say.

Only one question to ask.

“Theresa Peterson, love of my life—will you marry me?”

With one sweeping motion, she slipped her finger through the ring and wrapped her arm around my neck. She pulled my lips down to hers, and I embraced her, dipping her back as our tongues connected. Everyone erupted into applause, and I heard a bottle of champagne popping open in the background, and I could feel Theresa’s smile growing against my lips.

“A toast to the happy couple,” Glen said.

I helped steady Theresa on her feet as we each took a flute of champagne from his grasp.

“To a new and brighter future. Just to let you know, I’ll be visiting a lot.”

I chuckled and held my glass in the air, clinking it with Glen’s before pressing a kiss against Theresa’s head.

“To the happy couple!” Jane exclaimed. “I’m in charge of the bachelorette party.”

“Does that mean I get the bachelor party?” Hollis asked.

“No strippers,” Theresa said.

“Can we have strippers?” Jane asked.

“Is this a conversation I should be part of?” Glen asked.

“If you’re coming to the bachelor party, yes,” Hollis said.

The party got started, and everyone was talking away while sipping on their champagne. I looked over and saw Jim standing in the corner, the silent fisherman with his towering six-foot-eight form. Jane was leaning into him with that smile of hers on her face, and I could tell Jim was soaking up the moment. I figured I was wrong about Hollis. I guess he didn’t get his shit together with Jane after all.

But as I looked over at Theresa and watched her talk with her father, I knew the only thing that mattered was that I’d gotten it right.

I’d gotten my happy ending right.

We drank and ate and talked until night fell, then everyone began to trickle out. Jane left with Jim, and Hollis and Glen went to grab another drink in town. I tossed my champagne flute into the kitchen sink and listened to it dance around, but it wasn’t long before a body came catapulting into my vision.

“Catch!” Theresa exclaimed.

I caught her effortlessly in my arms, and I swung her around. Her hair billowed around her shoulders, and her smile was so big it shut her eyes. Alcohol’s warm glow flushed her skin, and her new dress fluttered around her body, and as I walked her into the living room, I held her close to my chest.

I sat us down on the couch and Theresa nuzzled underneath my chin as I gazed out the windows and into the yard.

I was damn glad I’d taken the time to get my shit together. To get my life in order. Glen kicking me out had been the worst thing that had ever happened to me, but later in my life it had turned out to be the best. Every moment, every misstep, and every argument had brought me to this point, with Theresa in my arms and my ring around her finger. I was glad I took the fucking time to be a better man for her because she was the best woman out there.

And she was all mine.

“I love you, Theresa Peterson Hooper.”

She sat up in my lap and straddled my legs, her hands tugging my shirt over my head. She ran her soft touch over my shoulders, gripping my arms before massaging her palms over my chest. Her eyes sparkled with the darkness of the sky and the innocence of the stars, and I gripped her chin so I could turn her gaze back up toward mine.

“I love you too, Grant Hooper.”

Then I guided her lips to mine for a kiss before I lifted her dress from her body.