“I saw this house by accident but I think it was fate. A few wrong directions and I ended up here. As I drove by and saw it, I realized that it would be the kind of home I could spend forever in and I knew that my forever was with you and that you deserved a house like this. A fresh new start. Granted we had only known each other a short time, but it was long enough to know that I wanted forever with you, with Nate and Kaylee, and even Betty to some degree.”
He stopped to gather his thoughts before continuing again. “There never was any job to be done here. I lied to you when I brought you here. I’d gotten the keys from the realtor only a few hours earlier. I needed to see if your reaction to this house was as strongly as mine had been. Call me crazy, but I knew you’d love it, so imagine how pleased I felt when that turned out to be right.”
We were standing in front of each other. I could see the passion in his eyes. I knew he was telling me the truth.
“You loved it but I had plans to make it a home you adored. I just had to wait until the sale went through. The day I got the call I was so happy but that call came with a deal I couldn't pass up. That no person who could help out would pass up.”
“What are you going on about, Jess?” I was bewildered to what on earth he was talking about.
“The sellers of the house asked if I’d possibly cut a deal with them so I could take their furnishings in with the sale of the house. I turned down the offer until I was made to see why the offer had been made in the first place. The owners were selling because they'd had medical bills to pay. Big ones. They had to sell everything and move in with relatives just so they could pay it all back and afford to live.”
I covered my mouth. I thought I’d had it bad. Obviously my situation was nothing compared to theirs. “Oh no, Jesse. How awful for them. Did you ask what the problem was? Why they had medical bills that high?
Jesse nodded. “Yeah, sweetheart, I did and once I knew I took the deal. Their kid was sick, Willow. I didn't need to know any more details other than that. I took the deal.”
The man who stood before me took my breath away. He really was one of a kind. A gentle loving man who would give you the shirt off his back if he’d thought it would help you out.
“Once I’d gotten the keys I worked here as much as possible. I wanted to get everything perfect before I showed it to you and the kids. I was rushed off my feet but I kept telling myself it would be worth it in the end. Travis kept busting my balls, saying I’d had to tell you. He didn't think it was right I kept you in the dark and looking back now I realize he was right. All this heartache would never have happened if I’d just told you but I had it all planned out. The big reveal. It was meant to have been epic. Something to tell the grandkids, you know?” He broke off seeming so sad I ached to touch him, to hold him and tell him I forgave him but one thing held me back.
“Where does Melanie fit in?” I had to know why he’d go out with another woman if he felt as strongly for me as he's making out. The reasons for him not being in the office all fell into place but that one question needed an answer if I was to even consider what he wanted from the kids and me.
“I was here one evening, just finishing off the last few things when a car pulled up outside. It turned out to be the previous owners and they wanted to express their thanks for my generous help. They wanted to say thank you properly and suggested Neros. Of course I refused but they were having none of it so I reluctantly agreed. The day of the lunch they ran late and then to my surprise the one owner came alone explaining that her partner was on his way and be would there shortly.
“Melanie was the parent of the sick child?” I whispered, mortified I’d reacted to her and the situation in a bad way. Shame and embarrassment washed over me as it came home to roost just how stupid I’d been.
“Got it in one, sweetheart.” He took one step then another closing the distance between us.
“You have to know I love you, Willow. That kind love that you only find once in your life and you grab onto it with both hands never ever letting it go. That's my love for you, sweetheart. I’d don't want to ever let you go. Let any of you go. You have all lodged your way firmly in my heart and I wouldn't want it any other way. Now give me a kiss. I’ve missed those lips.”
“Wait!” I held up my hand blocking his lips from landing on mine wanting to say this before we lost the moment entirely. “I love you too, you kind, handsome, thoughtful and downright sexy man. I am so sorry I never gave you a chance to explain. I am sorry I hurt you. I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone else. Besides my children that is,” I told him, my heart filling with happiness for finally getting my feelings about him out into the open.
“Enough about what happened. We both did some things that we wished we could take back but it's done now. Let’s concentrate on our future.” Lowering his head to mine he gives me the sweetest kiss I've ever had. This kisses you only ever read about in books or watched in movies; it was that perfect.
“One last thing to show you,” he said as he ended our kiss.
“Another surprise? I don't think my heart can take anymore, Jess.” I laughed good naturedly.
“You’ll love this one, Willow,” he bragged as he lifted up his shirt showing me his last surprise of the evening.
I was blown away when I caught site of the tattoo that had been etched onto his perfect skin. An intricate pattern of vines swirled and looped over his left pec and over the top of his shoulder but what took my breath away was our names that were clearly visible amongst the design. I spotted not just my name, but Nate and Kaylee’s also, with the words family forever. I was speechless. This man continued to amaze me with his love for the kids and me.
“I’m the swirls of the design, the vines holding onto my family. Keeping them wrapped up and safe from any harm that might come our way,” he told me when he spotted my reaction.
“I’d finally found something I wanted to etch onto my skin to be there until I died. You, Willow. You, Nate, and Kaylee. You’re everything to me and now whoever sees my tattoo will see that too.”
My eyes filled with tears but this time they were tears of happiness, not sadness. I took the small step that distanced us and wrapped my arms around his waist breathing him in.
“I love you, Jesse,” I whispered, my heart feeling so full I felt it would burst wide open.
“And I love you too, Willow. Fully, completely for the rest of my life and beyond,” he returned just as passionately.
“Wow our rooms are amazing! There’s even a whole area for Nana to live in too!” Kaylee called excitedly from the first floor and just like that our perfect moment was blown but we didn't mind. We were going to be having lots of those in the years to come and I for one couldn't wait for each and every one.