Losing Him (24 page)

I went to reach out as she started to walk away and sat straight up in my bed. After looking around the room, I realized it had just been a dream. Still, that dream had hidden meaning. Heather was tired of my shit and there was a chance that I’d ran out of second chances.

I’d spent the entire day talking to my family members and letting them know that I had made the decision to ask Heather to marry me. They may not have been thrilled, but I felt obligated to let them know ahead of time.

It was easy for me to admit that maybe I could have been better to her. I’d just assumed that she’d always be around. The new version of her wasn’t going to take my indecisiveness.

After calling around, I’d learned that Van was actually visiting with Amy. I knew that I needed to act fast, so I dropped Jacob off at my parents and headed to North Carolina.

Since I was feeling optimistic, I took a one way flight and then a taxi to Amy and Conner’s house. They greeted me at the front door of the house and invited me inside. Amy even hugged me when I got into the living room.

They offered me a beer and I sat down on the couch. Sitting in the dining room was Van. She had a sewing machine out and was working on Heather’s dress. I saw her wave and then get back to work. A guy my height stood up and shook my hand. “Hey man, I’m Colt, Savanna’s husband. It’s good to meet you.”

I smiled. I could tell he wasn’t from around there. His accent was strong.  “Good to meet you as well. Thanks for letting me borrow your wife for this. I know it must be awkward.”

Colt put his hands up. “It’s all good. Savanna likes helpin’ people. Ever since our fiasco last year, she likes doin’ whatever she can. Life’s too short to have grudges. We ain’t kids anymore. Besides, I have no qualms with Heather, personally. Hell, she’s the reason I’m with my wife. I probably owe her a  thank you.”

I laughed. “I don’t think she sees things that way.”

He just smiled. “So, you’re plannin’ on askin’ her to marry you?”

“I am.” I felt good about it.

“Congratulations. I’m sure your son will be happy.”

I shrugged. “I haven’t asked him. Things have been crazy. This was a very fast decision after she kicked me out of her life. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not doing this to make amends. I’m doing it because I want to be with her.”

He got closer to me and sort of whispered in my ear. “Tell her you love her every day, man. It’s the most important thing you can do for your marriage.” Colt patted me on the shoulder and sat back down.

Conner came out with my beer and sat down beside his cousin. “You like football?”

Who didn’t?  “Of course.”

Conner popped a chip in his mouth. “Usually, Ty is here rootin’ for his team. We are die hard Kentucky fans. Colt played football there in college. He was badass too.”

I looked around the room and thought about being with people that Heather had assumed were always the enemy. I didn’t see them that way at all, but I had to ask. “So, tell me the real reason that you’re all being so nice to Heather?”

Amy scooted over and sat closer to me. “She saved my life. What kind of person would I be if I hated her? Every day that I look at my husband, or any of our children, I have Heather to thank. No matter what she did in the past, I think she’s made amends, don’t you?”

I took a swig of my beer and saw the guys’ kind of nodding like they agreed. Colt held up his beer. “I told you my reason. My cousins may have their own opinions, but at the end of the day, I’m thankful for what I got. I can’t live without my wife. She takes care of me and our kids. Life is too damn short for all that nonsense!”

“I hear what you’re saying. I guess I just have a problem with holding grudges. I mean, Heather had secrets for a long time. I had a hard time getting over the fact that she wouldn’t be honest with me.”

Colt raised his eyebrow and looked at his cousin, Conner. “Does she treat you good? Has she ever been unfaithful to you? Is she a good mother?”

“Yes, she’s all those things”

Conner cut in. “Man, you can’t hold things against her that happened that long ago. Look, Ty and Randa have their issues. I know they’ve been through a lot with Heather, but it was in the damn past. When I see Heather, I see a changed person. At the end of the day, it’s your choice what you do with your relationship.”

I sat down my beer and just looked at the three of them. Seconds before I could say anything, three little kids came running into the house. “Christian hit me with the baseball.”

A little girl held her hand on her head and cried.

Colt got up and walked outside. I could hear him yelling for his daughter. At that same time, Van got up and walked over to check on her child. Once she was sure the little one was unharmed, she sent her back outside to play.

“We come here for the kids to spend time together and all mine do is fight with each other.” Van put her hands in the air and walked back into the dining room. I followed her and looked at how much she had accomplished.

The beading that had been damaged was fully prepared. “It looks great!”

She smiled and ran her hand over the fabric. “Thanks. I’m pretty proud of myself.”

I touched her shoulder, making her turn to look at me. “I really appreciate you doing this, especially considering that you two aren’t exactly friends.”

She smiled and sat down at one of the chairs. “Listen, Jessie. I’m not going to lie to you. Heather and I have had our differences, but the bible says that we have to forgive. I’ve seen beautiful people taken from this world too soon. I’ve watched the people that I love suffer and have hardships. I’ve had my own demons to battle. At the end of the day I just try to see the positive in people. Honestly, I feel so sorry for Heather. For her whole life all she wanted was to be loved, first by a father that she never had and then by a guy who gave his heart to another, instead of choosing her. I can’t imagine what that kind of rejection can do to someone.”

“That’s why I want to make things right.”

She smiled and touched my arm. “Heather is going to be thrilled.”

“I’m sure she thinks this dress is lost forever.” I touched the fabric and smiled at Van. “Now I just have to pull this off.”

Colt came into the room and put his arms around his wife. They really were a good looking couple. “Darlin’, it looks as good as new.”

She turned her head and reached up to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, babe.”

I wanted to have what they had with Heather. It was refreshing to know that it was possible. “Now, I just have to get her to agree to marry me.”

They both laughed. “That would be a good start.” Colt added.

Van looked at her husband. “Just call her darlin’. That’s how Colt got me.” She giggled when she said it.

He leaned over and kissed her nose. “I hope that ain’t the only reason. I have other good qualities, you know.”

I put my hands up in the air. “TMI guys!”

“Sorry!” She said.

After we all shared a laugh, Van folded the dress into a box. I thanked them again for doing something so kind for us. They wished me luck and I was on my way to Heather’s.

This was it!

My last chance!

Chapter 36

Heather

I was flipping through the channels, debating on calling and talking to Jessie. He needed to know about the money and my intentions. After my late night drinking binge, I’d woke up wondering if I should  consider selling my mother’s house so that I could be closer to them. I didn’t want Jessie to have to suffer and be without his son. In fact, I wanted him to be able to see him whenever he wanted.

A knock at the door startled me and I realized that I wasn’t even decently dressed. My hair was a mess and I hadn’t even brushed my teeth. I yelled as I ran into the bathroom, not knowing who could be at my door. “Just a second!”

When I heard the front door opening my heart dropped. Only one person knew where the hidden key was kept. I finished brushing my teeth and didn’t even bother to look in the mirror at my hair.

Jessie was standing in the living room with a book bag around his shoulder and a big box. “Do I get a hug?” He asked.

“What are you doing here? Where’s Jacob?” I was realizing that he was probably here to talk to me in person. He wasn’t happy with my decision to leave and having to share visitation with me living so far away.

“We need to talk.”

“I gathered that, already.” I motioned for him to sit down on the couch.

“So, you’re not going to hug me?”

I smirked and tried to read his intentions. He was acting weird. “Hugging you leads to other things and I can’t do that with you anymore.”

He sighed and looked down at the big box. “I brought something for you.”

He sat down and waiting for me to sit next to him before he handed it to me.  “What is it?”

He sighed. “Just open it.”

I wasn’t really used to getting presents and had absolutely no idea what it could be. Jessie just sat there smiling, with a shit-eating grin on his face. I opened the package and couldn’t understand what was happening. As I stood up and pulled it out, I finally realized what it was that I was holding.

“This is my dress.” Immediately I began to cry. “How did you…Jessie, how did you do this?”

He pulled me into his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t cry.”

I looked up into his eyes and saw him smiling. “Why would you do this? I don’t understand?”

He took a deep breath and brushed the hair out of my face. “I did it because I love you. No, I did it because I’m in love with you and I’d love for you to be wearing it when we walk down the aisle together.”

I was taken aback by his words. “You’ve never said that to me before.”

“Yes I have,” he argued.

I shook my head. “No. You said it only when I asked you to.”

He pulled me into his tight hold and kissed the top of my head. “Well, it’s true. I guess the thought of you leaving made me realize what I wanted.” He grabbed my face again and looked right into my glossy eyes. “I love you, so much. You’re an awesome mother and a perfect companion. I’m sorry for all of the shit that I’ve put you through. So what do you say? Will you be my wife? Will you marry me and come home to me, not because I’m asking, but because you want to.”

I couldn’t help but sob. For the first time, in the whole time we’d been together, I was finally getting the devotion that I always wanted from him. It was almost too much to ask for, but I still didn’t hesitate with my answer. “Yes. Of course I’ll marry you.”

We kissed and held our lips there. The moment was perfect.

A little while later, after I’d finally calmed down enough to speak again, we sat down on the couch and I told him all about the bonds and the opportunities that it would give us. It wasn’t like Jessie needed or cared about the money. He lived comfortably and needed for nothing.

I was shocked to learn that Van and Amy had helped him preserve and repair the dress that I thought I’d lost forever.

It wasn’t just that though. Hearing Jessie say those three words, was the best feeling that I’d ever had besides giving birth to my son. For so long, all I wanted was to hear him say those words to me, without being asked or pushed to do so.

Just when I thought that I could move on, those three words changed everything.

Who was I kidding? Jessie showing up on my doorstep was good enough for me.

That night Jessie wanted to take me out to celebrate. Before we headed out, I grabbed two of my mother’s most precious collectables. She’d purchased two crystal angels that always sat in her window box in the living room. After making sure they were all cleaned up, I found two boxes and wrapped them.

I was more surprised when we pulled up at Amy’s house and they asked me inside. I’d never been welcomed like that before. Jessie carried in the two boxes, while Van and Amy grabbed my hand and gawked at the ring I had on my finger. “Oh my God! I guess we know the answer!” Amy announced.

“It’s beautiful,” Van added.

I looked at them both and just started crying. They each just stood there comforting me, like I’d never done them wrong. It was surreal. “I don’t know how I could ever thank you for what you’ve both done for me. I don’t know if I’d have the ability to forgive like you have. I’ll never forget your kindness.”

Van hugged me. “When we were little, we promised we would be professional ice skaters together. Do you remember that?”

I was still crying, but starting laughing. “How could I forget? We duct-taped our shoes to look like ice skates and pretended puddles were our rink.”

She laughed. “Your mother made you that costume and everything. You looked like a princess. I was so jealous.”

I couldn’t believe it. Van was jealous of me? “Why? You had two amazing parents and a happy family, while we struggled.”

“I used to sit in front of my mirror and wish that I’d be as beautiful as you,” she admitted.

I covered my mouth with my hand, while in shock. “Seriously?”

She nodded. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride, Heather.”

I cried more.

Finally, I turned around and handed the girls the two boxes. “I brought something for each of you. Can we sit down so I can show them to you?”

We sat down and they opened the boxes and pulled out the two angels. “They’re beautiful!” Amy announced.

I watched both girls admiring the angels. “They were my mother’s favorite. She loved angels, but they were her most precious ones that she owned. I remember she saved up to get them. Anyway, this past couple of months haven’t been easy for me, but somehow I had these two little angels that helped me through it. Maybe things happened for a reason. I know my mother believed that.” I looked down at my hands trying to gain composure before I couldn’t talk anymore. “I want my two angels to have these. You’ve helped me more than you’ll ever know and I didn’t even deserve it. I owe you so much.” Then I turned to Van. “My dress is beautiful again. I don’t know how you did it, or why, but I will never be able to thank you for what you did. You are the most beautiful person that I’ve ever met in my life.”