Chapter 37
EVIE
Before I open the front door, I hear hushed voices on the other side.
“Smile,” a man hisses. Then a second later, “Shit, no, don’t smile. You’ll scare her.”
Doing my best to hold the laughter in, I open the door. Instantly, all four men straighten their backs and smile so broadly, all I see are teeth.
When I burst out laughing, the look on their faces become even funnier.
One of the men glances at the ones next to him, and grumbles, “I told you not to smile.”
I manage to calm myself down enough so I can reach out a hand to the first man.
“I’m Evie.”
A chorus of hi’s sound up. The one shaking my hand says, “Thank God you didn’t get your father’s looks. I was a bit worried when he told us he found you.”
Dad comes walking out of the kitchen. “I heard that.” Then he adds, “The one with a death wish is Dave.” Dad points at each of them. “Max, Axel, and Mike.”
Dad throws his arm around my shoulders, and says, “Team, this is my little girl.”
I start to feel a little awkward when they all just stare at me.
Axel is the first to move as he pulls me away from Dad and into the living room.
“Let me tell you about your old man. We were stuck in a shit hole –”
“Watch your language!” Dad snaps.
Axel rolls his eyes, but continues, “We were stuck in a poop hole. I mean an actual poop hole. We figured it would be the last place anyone would search for us. Luckily, I wasn’t stuck at the bottom.”
“Nope, that would’ve been me,” Dave says dryly.
I listen to them bantering while I take my time to look at each of the men.
Mike can’t be much older than me. He’s attractive in a boyish kind of way, but the second you look into his eyes, the boy fades to the background, and I see the same inner strength that Dad has.
Max could be in his thirties, it’s hard to tell. His light brown hair is shaven short, and his brown eyes never stop moving.
Axel looks like a big teddy bear with his thick beard.
Dave stands next to Dad, and I get a feeling they’re really close even though Dave is much younger than Dad.
I’ve heard so much about them and have been looking forward to meeting the men who seem to be like brothers to my father.
“Let’s get going,” Dad says. Actually, it’s more like an order. “I promised my girl fun.”
Only then does Dad glance around the apartment. “Where’s Rhett?”
At that moment Rhett comes out of the bathroom.
“I was worried there for a second,” Dad teases Rhett as he throws his arm over Rhett’s shoulder. “Team, this is my son.”
I cover my mouth when the proud look on Dad’s face makes my eyes burn.
“Yeah-yeah,” Axel growls. “You’re gonna make our girl cry on her birthday.”
That seems to remind everyone why they’re here and a chorus of happy birthday’s sound up.
Axel holds me tight as he gets up, pulling me to my feet.
“Our girl,” Dad says, trying to hide the smile that’s threatening to break over his face.
“We share rations and ammo, it’s only right that we share the kids as well,” Axel says.
The other guys nod in agreement, effectively out voting Dad.
On the way to the secret destination, I can’t contain my happiness and excitement.
Dad sneaked Rhett into the apartment while I was still asleep. They woke me singing happy birthday and didn’t even give me time to pull a brush through my hair before I had to open a mountain of presents.
My eyes start to burn with unshed tears when I think of the letters Dad gave me. They were the ones Mom wrote to him while she was pregnant with me.
I placed them under my pillow. I’ll read them tonight when I’m alone.
When we get to the destination, I’m surprised to see Carter, Logan, Jaxson, Marcus, and Ryan here as well.
“Hey guys, where are the women?” I ask once I’m out of the car.
“Once Leigh explained in detail what the chances are of someone falling to their death, they all chickened out,” Jaxson says.
“Fall?” I frown and then Rhett points to a huge sign I somehow missed. “We’re going bungee jumping?” I shriek.
“You know, guys,” Marcus says as he places his hand over his heart, “with my heart and all –”
“Shut it. Leigh cleared you. If I’m jumping, you’re jumping.” Jaxson stops him from backing out.
“Logan, are my affairs in order?” Carter whispers.
“Yep. Don’t even think about backing out now. You dragged me here,” Logan whispers back.
I chuckle as I ask Ryan, “You’re jumping?”
“I had a choice between jumping or staying with the women. You bet your sweet behind I’m jumping.”
Dad laughs, and he quickly introduces the two groups of men.
When we’re all schooled adequately on the jumping rules, Dad and Carter go first.
When they fall forward, their whoops and shouts echo around us.
Axel jumps with Logan, then Mike and Jaxson go, followed by Dave and Marcus. Max and Ryan get ready to go next when Rhett pulls me to the side.
“Please don’t think less of me when I scream like a girl on the way down,” he whispers.
“I won’t, and I’ve heard you scream. You don’t sound like a girl. Trust me,” I whisper back.
“I do,” he says, staring deep into my eyes.
“You do, what?” I ask a little confused.
“I trust you, Evie.”
“Evie, Rhett, you’re up,” Dad calls out before I can respond to the enormous bomb Rhett just dropped on me.
When I start to walk towards the left jumping podium, Dad calls out, “No, Evie. You’re jumping tandem with Rhett.”
“But, Dad,” I start to argue.
“For Rhett’s sake,” he yells.
“Oh, sure,” I say, changing my mind in a split-second which makes Dad and the others laugh.
They strap us in, and as we move to the edge of the podium, Rhett’s arms tighten around me.
“It’s going to be fun,” I say as I start to lean to the side.
“Evie.” The urgency in Rhett’s voice grabs my full attention, but it’s too late to stop from jumping as we fall over the side. “Maaaaaaaarryyyyyyyy meeeeeeee,” Rhett screams all the way down.
When I finally catch my breath, and we’re swinging from side to side, I press my mouth to Rhett’s and kiss him with everything I feel at the moment.
When the cord jerks, Rhett breaks the kiss, and breathless he asks, “Will you marry me?”
“Rhett Daniels, you sure know how to make a girl weak in the knees.” I wrap my arms around his neck and whisper in his ear, “Yes.”
He hollers so loudly, I press my ear against his chest, so I don’t lose my hearing.
When the guys up on the bridge hear Rhett’s crazy hollering, one of them shouts, “She said yes.”
∞∞∞
Dear Hayden,
I miss you so much. I can’t believe you’ve been gone for eight months already. You’re going to want to reconsider marrying me when you see me again. I’m huge!
I have a surprise for you. Our little bean finally decided to show us what SHE is. Yes!!! We’re having a daughter.
I hope she has your eyes. God, I miss your eyes most.
I can’t wait for you to come home so we can get married and be a family. Just you, me, and our darling daughter.
Please keep yourself safe. Our daughter is going to need you.
We love you, Hayden.
Your Joey & Little Bean.
Reading my mom’s words make me feel so much closer to her. She was excited to have me, and that makes all the difference in the world.