Nothing Lasts Forever (9 page)

“Good for you Maggie. Hugs to the both of you and let me know when you get the room done. Bye.” Abby hung up relieved. Now she didn’t have to worry about Kevin coming home to a plain old room.

“What’s the big smile for baby?” Jon came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. She turned to him.

“Maggie said she’ll fix up a room for Kevin. I’m so glad. Knowing her, she’ll have all kinds of fun things for him to play with. I have to call my Mom.” She wasn’t sure how her Mother would react, but there was plenty of room for another person.

“Want to wait on that first so I can tell you what Sallie said. She mentioned we have to go through a bunch of stuff in the next few weeks, like parenting classes and background checks to make sure we’re fit.”

“Not a problem. I know I’ll pass. How about you mystery man?” Abby teased. She flung her arms around his neck. “I love you Jon Hatfield. We’re going to have a son.”

Jon held her face in his hands and in a slow, gentle move, he kissed her mouth. “I love you Abby. I want to get married.”

Abby blinked. “You what? You do? Now?”

He nodded. “I think it’s best if we get married. You know, it will look better for Kevin’s sake.”

Abby almost cried right there in the middle of the hospital. “Jon.” Her whispered word fell off her lips as she pressed them to his. “This is a big step.”

He looked in to her eyes. “Yes, and so is bringing a child in to our home. Your home. I’m living with you.” He laughed at those words at first then seemed put out. “Maybe we should get married and find another house together in case you try to kick me out. You know, equal shares and all.”

Abby grinned. “No way, Doctor Hatfield. It’s our house. I’m going to put your name on the deed too. Then you’ll know how much I trust and love you.”

He shook his head. “It’s not necessary baby. I already know.”

“Besides,” he teased, “If you kick me out I’ll still have the apartment above the Urgent Care Center.”

Abby swatted him on the back as he turned to run from her. “You won’t get far, Jon. I’m right behind you.”

They were laughing as they went back to Kevin’s room. He opened his eyes again and gave them a big smile. “Hi.”

“Good news, Kevin. I have Maggie working on your room. If you tell me what you like, I’ll text her details.”

“I get a room?” he said, his eyes wide. Abby looked at Jon. She had a hard time with that information. What kind of mother was she not to have a room for this child?

“Of course you get a room.” She needed him to forget the bad things about his former life. “Now tell me what’s your favorite toy.”

Kevin chewed on his bottom lip for a bit as he gave her words some serious thought. He petted Penny’s head and then it stilled. “Can I have one of those little airplanes that fly in the sky and there’s a thing you hold in your hand and drive the plane?”

“You sure can, Kevin,” Jon said. Abby watched the two as they talked about different toys and such. Her heart filled with joy. This would be her new life now. She couldn’t wait. Then it dawned on her.

“I can’t marry you yet, Jon!”

His head swung to face her. “What? No? Why not?”

Kevin watched the two of them. “Are you gonna yell?” His little eyes became fearful like a cornered dog and his heart rate monitor sped up.

Abby’s breath quickened. “Oh Kevin. Of course not. I remembered something important, that’s all. Sometimes I talk loud. Does that bother you?”

He shrugged as he let out a breath of air. “No. I’m good now that you’re my Mommy. But when my other Mom yelled, I didn’t like it one bit.”

Abby leaned over the bed and gave him a hug. “You won’t ever have to worry about that again. I promise.”

They stayed with Kevin until it was time for Abby to perform. Jon followed her out the door. “Hey. What was that all about? Why can’t you marry me yet?” He pinned her against the wall so she couldn’t run off.

“I love you and all but I can’t marry you yet.”

“No? Why not?” He nuzzled her neck.

“Because I promised my Dad he could give me away on our beachfront home when the day comes. I mean, we want Grandpa to be able to watch from his place in the heavens. I know it seems odd.”

Abby could feel Jon’s smile against the skin on her neck. “That’s all?”

“Yes, isn’t it enough? I mean, you asked me to marry you and I figured you’d want to do it before we left here. You know, before we took Kevin back. But I can’t. Not yet, I made a promise.”

“Abby I love your loyalty. I can wait.”

“You will?”

He nodded, his face still nuzzled her neck. “I had no intention of whisking you off to some Justice of the Peace to marry you in a mock ceremony. I want you to have the wedding of your dreams.”

Abby grinned. “I hope you won’t regret those words. I have ideas of the finest fairytale wedding ever. The beach in front of our home will never be the same. You won’t recognize it. It will be spectacular and now Kevin can be part of it.”

Jon groaned.

Chapter 8

“Let’s go somewhere special tonight to celebrate our future wedding,” Jon said.

“Let’s. You know Jon, I don’t seem to be wearing a ring.” Her eyes locked with his in a puppy-like sad state. He wasn’t sure if she joked or was serious, but she was right.

Jon asked their driver to drop them off in town and pick them up next trip in. The older man nodded and said he’d drop them at the Wolfchase Galleria Mall and pick them up in three hours.

They walked through the mall hand in hand when Jon turned in to Robert Irwin Jewelers so quick Abby stumbled over Penny. “Jon? Where are we, oh!” Her head shot up to the name plate over the glass door.

He swung around and planted a long kiss on her lips to quiet her down. “Abby, you were right, now let’s get you the ring you need to announce an official engagement.”

“But Jon how are you-”

He held a finger over her mouth. “No words. No arguments. We’re doing this.” He stared in to those blue eyes until she nodded in agreement. He removed his fingers.

“Promise me Abby, you won’t say a word.”

“I can’t do that if you want an answer. Besides, how do you know what ring I like?”

“Good point. Here’s the deal, you may talk about the ring and that’s it, no other arguments. Deal?”

“Um, okay?” She didn’t seem convinced Jon thought, but she followed him inside and began to ask questions at the counter. Abby didn’t take long until she found something. “Oh Jon, look here. I found it.”

Jon bent over the counter to see a stunning two-tone diamond band holding a round cut diamond, it’s shank twisting around the center. He smiled at Abby. “It’s different, like you. Try it on.”

The salesperson didn’t hesitate to take the ring from it’s case and Abby squealed in delight when it fit perfect. “I can’t believe this fits me. It has to be the one. I don’t even want to try anything else on.” She kissed Jon square on the mouth and cried out again. “I can’t wait to show Kevin. Oh and Maggie. And my parent’s. Oh Jon, thanks!”

He nodded to the clerk to make the sale but when it came time to pay for the purchase, Jon realized he had no credit cards in his wallet. “Abby,” he said in a quiet tone. “I don’t want to alarm you but I don’t have my card, remember?”

Abby turned to stare. “I forgot.” Her face darkened as she realized there was no way to pay for the ring.

The clerk, a tall, young man with a stern, stiff face that looked as if he belonged in a funeral parlor instead of a jewelry shop stared at them as if they were up to no good. “Are you buying this one or not?”

Jon saw the joy fall from Abby’s face. “Not,” she said as she looked at the rings on the top of the counter. “Hey, what’s this?” She pulled the ring off her finger and shoved it back at the clerk as if it no longer meant a thing to her. Jon knew better.

“Abby.”

Her eyes stared at the rings. “What love?”

“I can call Jake. He’ll give me the money no questions asked.”

She shook her head. “No you won’t call Jake. I found something I love even more.” She picked up a small jewelry box and slid the ring from its case. She looked at the clerk. “How much?”

He stared at her, angry, as if she caused him to lose a big profit. “The price is on the box.” He crossed his arms over his chest and sighed.

Jon touched her shoulder. “Abby, our cards should be here soon. We had them sent to the campground office. We can come back.”

She swung towards him and this time looked him in the eye. “We’re getting a ring tonight. Before our engagement dinner. Because you didn’t even ask me yet to marry you in the proper way, so we are going to do this even if its backwards.”

Jon stared.

“Please. It’s important to me.”

He nodded.

She looked at the price and nodded to the clerk. “I’ll take this.” She pulled some bills from her pocket and handed them to Jon. “Please buy my engagement ring. I need some air.” She turned her head and walked out the door in to the mall.

Jon stood there, uncertain, the bills crushed in his fist. He could make a phone call to Jake right now and get the ring of her dreams but she would be furious he didn’t do as she wanted. Instead he counted out the bills. “Keep that ring back for me, can you?” he asked the clerk as he handed over the money.

The clerk raised his eyebrow.

“A little old lady and Elvis robbed us blind.”

“Is that a fact?” The clerk began to smile.

“Afraid so. Look, I’m a doctor, I have money. I’m not some poor bastard unable to get my girl a ring. The cards are in the mail.” Even as he said the words, he could hardly believe them himself.

The salesman managed to laugh out loud. “You have no idea of the things I’ve seen and heard behind this counter. I’m about to feel sorry for you sir. I tell you what, I’ll keep the ring back for two days. Fair enough?”

Jon grinned and took the plastic bag with her cheap ring inside. He nodded to the jeweler. “I intend to come back for that ring.”

“I’m sure you do,” the man said.

“I’m a Hatfield. Of course I’ll be back,” Jon told him as he slammed the glass door. He looked around to see Abby sitting on a wooden bench. Brilliant, white, tiny lights surrounded a fountain in front of her as the mist from the water stirred the air. Jon sat beside her on the bench and listened to the sounds of running water.

He realized in that moment while the rushing water flowed its course he never asked her to marry him proper. He looked down at the plastic bag in his fist and pulled out the case. As he opened the top, he stared at the ring. Two hearts intertwined on a silver band while seven tiny fake diamonds stared back at him.

Jon smiled because this was typical Abby. She didn’t care how much a ring cost even if she could afford the most expensive diamond on the planet. Abby lived for the moment. He realized she wanted her dreams to come true, there was no waiting or planning or fixing. She was an adventurer, always ready to tackle anything that came her way. It was why he loved her so. It was why he was so desperate to marry this woman.

“Hey.”

He looked up to find the woman he loved stare at him with those blue eyes so brilliant he almost fell in to a trance. Jon dropped from the bench on to his knee.

“Jon?”

“Abby. I know I’ve done this all wrong and sometimes it takes me a few times to get things right. I’m sorry I couldn’t get you the ring you wanted, but I will go back for it, I promise.” She went to say something and then decided against it because her mouth stilled as she looked in to his eyes. “Abby, my love, I want to marry you. Not because of Kevin, although he is one of the reasons, but because of who you are. You’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, the woman I’ve dreamt about before I ever knew who you were. You’re my soul mate and life will never be the same if I don’t have you to hold every single day of my life. I love you.”

He reached up to brush away the tears that fell from her cheeks. “Jon,” she whispered and nodded to the ring.

“Sorry, baby. Will you be my wife, forever?” He took the ring from its case and slid it on her finger. He felt her hand brush against his cheek right before she kissed him so long and so deep it took his own breath away.

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

Abby gasped. “Oh look! I think this means our engagement is blessed.” He turned to see a large man dressed as an angel walk by, his hands held together as if in prayer. He nodded to them and kept going, his long white gown flowing against his long form.

“Oh crap!” Abby said next. This time Jon grinned when a man dressed in solid red holding a pitch fork followed the angel. Two pointy horns stuck out from the hood over his hair. “Are we doomed?” she asked.

Jon hugged her even tighter. “I think one of the churches brought their play or service here,” he laughed as more characters dressed in costume went by. Abby clung on to him, her face in his chest.

“It better be,” she said, her voice muffled.

“Come on, baby. Let’s go get something to eat.”

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“Jon, look! Wouldn’t Kevin love one of those?” She stood in front of the window watching as children, along with adults, put outfits on little bears and ninja turtles. There were even little stuffed ponies as well. He followed her inside the store and began to live for the moment, as she always did. Her enthusiasm for life began to roll off of her and on to him.