Jericho ~ Present
IT TURNED OUT THAT IT hadn’t been Mick calling, it was Natasha, using his phone. She was with him and she was safe.
I’d hung up and told everyone what was going on, which caused shouts of happiness and an overall sense of relief to fall over the house. Dru and Millie had embraced, shedding a few tears over the knowledge that their sister was on her way home.
And I’d started cleaning.
My hands were shaking and I felt anxious, and since I needed to do something to keep myself busy until Mick and Natasha arrived, I started in the kitchen and worked my way upstairs.
I was in the closet, hanging the last of Natasha’s things and putting her suitcases in the attic, when Jackson called up the stairs, “They’re here.”
I ran down the stairs, skipping steps as I went, until jumping over the last few and onto the landing. Everyone was already standing at the door, but they parted when they saw me, allowing me to make my way to the front.
Mick had just gotten out of the truck and was walking around the hood, when Natasha’s door opened and she stepped down.
She had on her nightgown, with an oversized robe and too-long pajama pants on, along with some socks. She looked, tired, frazzled, and utterly beautiful.
I was there before she could take another step, pulling her into my arms and hugging her tightly.
“Are you okay? I love you. Did she hurt you? I’ll kill her. I love you.”
Natasha laughed as I babbled, and I swung her up into my arms, not wanting her to walk in just socks, and carried her to the house where everyone was practically busting at the seams to see her and touch her for themselves.
Once we crossed the threshold I put her down, and she was swept into hugs and kisses.
I could see she was feeling overwhelmed.
“Okay, guys, I know we’re all happy she’s home, but let’s get her inside and comfortable,” I said, then took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “What do you need?”
“A shower, and a fire to burn these clothes,” Natasha replied.
“Done,” I said, then, knowing everyone was still a little on edge and needed something to keep busy, I ordered, “Millie and Hector, you’re on lunch. Dru, Kayla, can you go upstairs and get the shower heating up? Jackson, start the fire out back in the pit. And, Mick, what do you need? Gold, the shirt off my back, tequila? Say it and it’s yours.”
“I could use a beer.”
“In the fridge,” I said, then walked up the stairs, still holding Natasha’s hand. Once we got in the room, Natasha walked into the bathroom and said, “Thanks,” stopping to kiss Kayla and Dru on their cheeks.
“Anything else?” Dru asked as they left Natasha alone.
“I guess just see if Millie and Hector need anything. Thanks,” I said, then followed Natasha into the bathroom.
“You need anything else?” I asked gently as she stepped under the steaming spray.
“No, I’ll be down in a minute,” she said with a small smile.
“I’ll just take these then,” I said, picking up the clothes. “Holler if you need anything.”
I went downstairs and outside to where Mick and Jackson were standing by the fire pit. Without missing a beat, I crossed the patio and threw the clothes into the flame.
Mick handed me a beer, which I accepted, and the three of us stood there, sipping beer, watching the cotton material turn to ash. Once there was nothing left, we turned to join the others inside.
True to her word, Natasha was back with us in no time at all, fresh and clean with her hair pulled back in a small ponytail.
“Better?” I asked, meeting her in the middle of the living room.
“So much,” she replied with a smile as she tilted her head back to look at me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too, Natasha, more than I can ever express in words . . . When I got home and realized you were missing, it was like my heart had been stolen from my chest.”
“I know,” Natasha said softly, “I felt the same way. And all I kept thinking about, was how much time we’ve lost . . . I don’t want to lose anymore.”
“We won’t,” I promised.
“Marry me,” she said, her fingers coming up to trace my face, as if committing it to memory.
“I think we already had this conversation,” I said, smiling for the first time in twenty-four hours.
“I mean now, right away. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
“I’ll see what I have to do to get the license and find a Justice of the Peace,” I replied, willing to marry her whenever and however she wanted. The sooner the better.
“You don’t have to do that,” Millie said, her arm around Jackson’s waist as they watched us. “We know of a place you can get married in two short weeks.”
Jackson nodded.
“We aren’t going to take your wedding, Mills,” Natasha said with a laugh. “But thank you, that’s very sweet.”
“You don’t have to take it, but you can share it,” Millie informed us.
Natasha put her arms around me and snuggled in, looking at her family as she said, “Thank you all so much for being here, not just for me, but for Jericho, and for showing him what having a true family is all about. This is what I’ve been trying to get him to understand, although I never thought I’d have to get kidnapped to prove it.”
Everyone chuckled.
I lowered my head to cover her lips with mine, starting off slow and soft, then deepening the kiss, putting everything I’d felt over the last twenty-four hours into it.
“I love you so much. Thank you for giving me your family, and for giving me you back. You’re the touch of cinnamon, that extra bit of flavor I need to spice up my life. You’re good for me.”