Honey

Jake hadn’t eaten breakfast with us and I worried about him. When he’d come out of the office with Ford trailing behind him, he looked shell-shocked.

Now it was just Ford and me. Ed had come for Jamie to do chores for her horse.

“I think I messed up.”

I glanced up because Ford sounded almost feeble when he’d spoken. It was as if he’d aged twenty years since the last time I spoke to him.

“How?”

Sad eyes met mine. “I told Jake something I’d promised Martha I’d let be. She told me his knowing would do him no good.”

I came over and sat on a bar stool in front of him. “About Tara?”

He gave me a quick jerk of his head in agreement.

“Don’t worry about it. None of it changes that Jamie belongs to this family.”

His hand covered mine. “Maybe you can convince him to send me away. I’m a burden on him. He has more important things to worry about.”

“Now why would you think I’d ever do something like that? You are needed here with your son and granddaughter.” I thought about it for a second. “There are some things that maybe you could do to help your forgetfulness.”

Nothing at this point could stop the dreaded disease. But stimulating the brain had proven to slow the progression in some cases.

His eyes lit with hope.

“You could help Jamie be ready for school in the fall. You could work with her on basic math concepts like counting. You can also read books with her and point out the words as you read.”

His smile lifted my spirits as his seemed too. “I can do all of that. I think Martha kept some books of Jake’s packed away.”

There was a spring in his step as he walked away. His spry steps were fueled with purpose as he disappeared down the hallway.

While I had a moment, I stayed seated and placed a call.

“Hey.” Ashlyn sounded tired. “I guess you heard.”

“That Axel and his brother are in town? Yes, that’s why I sent you the warning text. But what I don’t know is if Diesel decided to pay you a visit.”

A gust of air whistled through the phone. “He showed up all right.”

It was clear she wasn’t happy about it.

“What happened?”

“What do you think happened? Two charged guys puffing out their chests. I offered to measure their dicks for them.”

I covered my eyes as I could only imagine.

“I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

“Sure,” I agreed.

Ashlyn hardly ever liked to talk about Diesel.

“Why don’t you tell me about what happened when Axel and Jake met?”

How did she know that? I asked her as much.

“Diesel said his brother was on his way to pick him up in your car.”

That would not endear me any more with her current boyfriend.

“Chris isn’t mad at me, is he?” I asked.

“Mad at you? No, more like I’m pissed at him. He acted like a total jerk to you because he knew they were in town but didn’t tell me. His jealousy is really starting to bug me. But again, can we talk about something else?”

So I told her all about what happened since I left her house. I didn’t give details about what Tara did to Jake. But I did tell her she tried to get him into bed with her.

“What a bitch!” she said.

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Does this mean you guys are back together?”

I grinned, though she couldn’t see it and thought about our delicious night together.

“He asked me to marry him.”

I had to move the phone from my ear for all her squealing.

When she finally took a breath, she said, “I can’t wait to organize the bachelorette party and bridal shower.”

“I haven’t said yes yet.”

I hated to burst her bubble, but it was the truth.

Ford came out of nowhere and said, “Take the boy out of his misery and say yes.”

My jaw dropped as Ashlyn squealed her agreement through the phone, obviously overhearing.

“We haven’t known each other long,” I said to both of them.

Ford chuffed. “It’s been months. You practically live together. You’ve gotten to know the best and worst about each other. What’s more to know? Besides, Jake doesn’t make rash decisions. If he asked you that means he’s determined to have you.”

He left with a wry smile on his face.

“Are you there?” Ashlyn said.

“Yes, sorry.”

“You’re going to say yes, right?”

I loved him. What was more I loved his family.

“We’ve only known each other a few months.”

“So. We got married to strangers, remember?”

I laughed. “And see how that turned out.”

“Yeah, Axel is great. He still wants you. You wouldn’t give him a chance and I get it,” she hurriedly said, knowing my objections. “You seem so much happier since you started working there.”

“I’m scared. What if it’s too soon? What if he’s only reacting to Tara showing up?”

I’d be lost without this family. I never really felt this way. My own mother never made me feel as welcome as Jake’s family has. What if my feelings for Jake were confused because of a need to belong?

“I get it. Giving your heart to someone is scary. But if you never take a chance, you’ll never know, will you?”

“I don’t know,” I said.

“Well, when you’re thinking, ask yourself, is it you can never see yourself marrying him? If you can’t, tell him no. If you can, then say yes. It’s not like you have to get married tomorrow.”

We talked a little more before we got off the phone. I stood there for a moment, wondering if I said no, could I sit through a wedding where Jake married someone else? As my fist balled, I was pretty sure I had my answer.