Can't Let Go (41 page)

“No, Chloe cannot get rollerblades,” she jokes, since it’s been the argument around the house for a few weeks now.

Ignoring her, “Will you marry me?” I ask.

“Wasn’t that the question last night? Because if it wasn’t, we definitely need to work on our communication skills,” she comments, inching closer, making me hard again.

“Let me clarify. Will you marry me
today
?” I ask, and she bolts up.

“Today?”

“Yes,” I say, sitting up to join her.

“What? How?” She starts rambling questions as her head shakes back and forth.

“Details are all taken care of. You just need to meet me there,” I assure her.

“What about my dress?” She shuts her mouth and bites the inside of her cheek.

“You mean the dress you bought a few weeks ago?” I ask, cocking my eyebrow at her.

“How did you—”

“It doesn’t matter, but it’s arriving as we speak.”

“Did you see it?” Her face sulks down into a frown.

“No, I would never spoil the sight of you on your way down the aisle to become my wife.” I place my finger under her chin and lift it up to me. “I love you, Kailey. Become my wife this evening at five-thirty.”

She sits there on her knees, her naked body bare for me to admire. “Yes.” She encases her arms around my shoulders and I pull her down to me. “Wait, we don’t have a marriage license.”

“My parents’ pastor is going to do it, and he’ll sign off on the paperwork once we go to the court house and get the papers.”

“Oh my God, I’m getting married today!” she happily exclaims, and then she looks down at me. “To the most amazing man.” Then her lips brush against mine, but I need a little more than that before I have to share her with others. So, my hands bring her into me more, and she gladly joins me on one last time before we become Mr. and Mrs.

I SIT ON the bed in the guest room alternating between staring down at the ring Trey gave me just five hours ago and my dress that Jessa brought with her. Contemplating how changed my life has become, tears fill my eyes with a happiness I never thought I could have with anyone, let alone Trey.

Chloe opens the door and comes in and sits on the bed. Her hair is all curled in twirls and pinned back with ribbon throughout. “Sadie do your hair, Chloe?” I ask her, and she nods. “It’s beautiful.” She nods again. This is so very unlike Chloe not to be talking, especially when she’s been all dolled up.

“Are you okay, sweetie?”

“So, are thinks going to change?” she asks in a low voice.

“Why would they change?”

“You’re marrying Trey. Do you love him more than us?”

“NO!” I screech before calming my voice. “Chloe, just because I love Trey doesn’t mean I love you any less.”

“How do you know you love Trey?” she asks me, sitting up on the bed and crossing her legs.

I touch my hand to her heart. “I feel it here,” I say. “Just like I did when you came home and when Tara and Drew were born.”

“There’s enough room for all of us?”

“Yes, more than enough.”

“Now you and Trey will become a mommy and a daddy?”

“We sort of are already. But eventually maybe we’ll have a baby one day.”

“And your heart will grow more?” she asks.

“Yep, it will just keep growing.”

We’re interrupted by a knock on the door. Sadie peeks her head in. “You ready for hair and make-up?”

“Not just yet. Can you do me a favor and ask Trey to meet me in his room?”

“Is everything—”

“It’s fine, we just need a little family pow-wow beforehand,” I say, nodding my head in Chloe’s direction.

“Gotcha,” she says and shuts the door.

Chloe and I walk down the hallway and sneak into Trey’s room. He runs in a few minutes later, panting and sweaty. He’s still in his jeans and t-shirt.

“What’s going on?” He sits down on the bed on the other side of Chloe.

“Chloe’s a little worried about how large our hearts can grow,” I mention, and he raises his eyebrows my way before turning back to Chloe.

“It can grow as much as you want it to,” Trey says.

“Mommy and Daddy told me I made their heart grow tons,” she remarks, and we smile. “Now their hearts are with the angels.”

“Maybe. Do you still love them in your heart?” I ask, and she nods.

“So, if Trey is my bidadodgical daddy and you’re my aunt, but kind of like my mommy and you’re going to be married—”

“Chloe, what is wrong, baby?” Trey pats her knee. “You know you can tell us anything.”

She looks up at Trey. “Does your heart love me?”

“Oh, sweet girl, you were the one that taught my heart to love.” He takes her hand and my heart sores with how at peace they’ve become with their new relationship.

“There’s enough room for all of us? Tara and Drew, too?”

Trey chuckles and then straightens his face. “Yes, I love all of you. We’re a family.”

“But families have mommies and daddies. Timmy has two mommies and daddies. Veronica only has a mommy. Ricky has two daddies and a mommy. My mommy and daddy are in heaven. You and Aunt Kailey will have a baby like Aunt Jessa and you’ll be its mommy and daddy—”

“Chloe, we’re all a family. You may not call us Mommy and Daddy, but we are. We take care of you, Tara, and Drew like a mommy and daddy would. Me marrying Trey just makes it official.” I try to make her understand.

“Official?” She looks up at me, complete confusion all of her face.

Trying to think of how to put this in terms a five-year-old can understand, I say, “When two people who weren’t family before want to be a family together they get married.

“Really?” she says excitedly.

“Yes,” Trey confirms.

“Only two people?” she questions.

“Well, some families are different. It depends on who’s in the family.” I’m really trying to think on the spot here.

“We’re family, and Trey is going to be a part of our family, and we’re in each other’s hearts.” She pauses like she’s working out a math problem in her head. I’m just about to speak, when she pops out with, “Then we should all get married.”

Trey bends down in front of her and takes her small hands in his. “Chloe, you understand that marrying someone is a big deal, right?”

She nods her head. “Uh huh, and since you’re my bidadogical daddy and you shared me with my Mommy and Daddy, so their hearts could grow, I’ll share you with Tara and Drew, and they can have a Mommy and Daddy again, too.”

“That’s a wonderful idea, sweetie,” I speak up, since Trey seems a little overwhelmed at the moment, but he soon finds his voice.

“Yep. Tara and Drew might not understand what’s happening, but—”

“I’m going to tell them we’re gettin’ married!” She jets out of the room.

Trey stands and pulls me into him. “I have a feeling we’re only at the start of these questions,” he says.

“I know, but you handled that pretty well,” I compliment him.

“Well, thank you. You had me terrified there for a second. Thought you were going to run out on me.” Just as my heart was at new heights a moment ago, it sinks that he still doubts my commitment.

“I told you, I’m done running,” I say, and he cocks his eyebrow. “Yeah, yeah, I had one last time, but give a girl a break, that was pretty unpredictable.”

“As much as I want to stay here with you all day, I have to get to the store. See you at five-thirty. I’ll be the devastatingly handsome one staring at his hot-ass fiancé about to walk down the aisle.”

“Why do you have to go to the store?”

“If I’m marrying all of you, I can’t only have jewelry for you.” He kisses me on the cheek. “I love you,” he says, walking out of the room.

“Crap!” I mumble to myself. I scramble down the hall, saying quick hellos until I land on Dex. “Oh, thank God. You need to go with Trey right now.” I point to him walking to the car. “Buy a ring. I don’t have a wedding ring for him. Make sure it fits, but do it on the sly. Now go!” I push him toward the door and wait for him to jog over to Trey. I release a breath when Dex slides into the passenger seat and they pull out.

I run upstairs and grab my phone, texting Dex.

Kailey: Send me pics.

Dex: you expect me to do that how?

Kailey: distract him. Figure it out.

A half hour later, my phone is going berserk as Dex hammers off pictures to me. I finally decide on a traditional silver one with a few lines along each side. Explaining I’ll pay him when he gets back, he says no problem. There’s something to be said about someone else planning your wedding.

I RUN INTO the mall, not sure exactly what I’m looking for. Dex came along with me, but he seems to want to do his own thing, so I left him at the last jewelry store. I wonder what exactly he’s getting–something for someone? Maybe he’s actually ready to put some jewelry on Chrissy. Finally, when I get to the third store, the nice sales lady shows me a case of children’s jewelry and thank god it’s a lot cheaper than adults’. I’ll be paying off Kailey’s ring for some time, and I don’t need to tack on more debt.

Jen & Caden planned well for the kids’ future. The house is paid for and they were left plenty of life insurance money, which Kailey and I are making sure is managed by a reputable investment firm. Right now we use a little bit to cover monthly expenses, but once Kailey is out of school and I have a regular job, not an internship, it's important to us that we take care of the kids and everything that comes with being a parent. When the time comes, the kids will receive a really nice financial settlement. So being frugal is important, but these pieces of jewelry represent our commitment to them, and I want something that can withstand the abuse and last.

Deciding on two charm bracelets for Chloe and Tara, each with a heart charm dangling from it, I search for Drew. I want something masculine, but heartfelt. The sales associate shows me a bracelet with a silver plate where I could get his name engraved on it and points me in the direction of the engraver. Not bothering to find Dex, I head that way and beg the young kid to push me ahead of the others. I give him a nice tip and call Dex. He’s waiting for me by the doors, and we rush back out to the car.

“You didn’t buy anything?” I ask, noticing his empty hands.

“Nah, I’ll wait until I get home.”

“I thought you’d finally claim her with a ring?”

“I’m not about to steal the attention on your day.” He laughs and slides in. “Not to mention, I don’t need jewelry to claim her. She’s mine, and I’d like to see someone try to steal her away.” The car fills with both our laughter; two previous bachelors that didn’t believe in love until the ones we were meant for claimed our hearts. I’m happy to see Dex finally came around, even though it appeared to take forever.

I have about a half hour by the time I get back to put on my suit and make sure everything is set. I spot the rental car in the driveway, which means Clyde and Holly are here, so I definitely don’t need to worry about the kids.

FIVE-TWENTY-FIVE, I step up to the end of the aisle with the pastor next to me. The family guests have made their way to the white chairs, and since I have such a large family, they’ve filled both sides. As the sun begins to set, my little ones walk down the aisle. Tara dressed in a pretty lilac (I only know it’s lilac because the girls just about strangled me when I called it purple.) dress with white tights and lilac shoes, while Drew matches me in a black suit. As Tara tosses a handful of rose petals onto the white liner, Drew reaches down and picks them up. Eventually, my mom walks up the aisle and takes him into her arms as he swats at her perfectly made-up face.