Two months later
Shelby and I went to Chicago with Gray the following Christmas. Kevin and his crew had finished filming the pilot and he shared the good news with everyone that the network had agreed to let them shoot a whole season. They would start work on it after the first of the year.
Kevin had a videotape of the pilot episode and the whole family got a private viewing during our Christmas party. It came out really great, and I smiled the whole time we were watching. It was a trip seeing characters that were based on Kevin and Gray, and it was also crazy seeing another girl make the role of Nikki come to life after I had read for the part. She did a great job, though, and so did the rest of the cast. We all gave Kevin a standing ovation when it was over.
I had absolutely no regrets that Gray and I didn't do the show, and I knew Gray felt the same way. During the pilot, Kevin ended up kissing the character of Nikki and when he did, I turned to look at Gray. He had his eyes closed and was shaking his head like he couldn't stand to look. He was sitting next to me on the couch so I nudged him.
He grinned at me. "I would have killed him," he whispered.
I laughed and kissed him on the cheek.
I loved how protective he was.
***
It had been a great night, and we still had presents to open. This was Shelby's first time to meet Gray's family, but she got along with his nieces and nephew just fine. They were playing in the living room while the rest of us sat around, talking and cutting up, and complaining about being too full while eating more food.
I got along really well with John Michael's wife, Ginger, and she and I had just come into the living room after helping Gray's mom in the kitchen.
"Jane was telling me you're opening a business over there in Memphis," Ginger said to Gray as we entered the room.
Gray nodded as he motioned for me to come sit next to him. "I was just telling John Michael and Kevin about it."
"I'm here too," his dad said.
"Yeah, but you already knew about it," Gray said.
Ginger and I got to the couch at the same time, and, seeing as how there was only room for one of us on the cushions, I took the liberty of sitting on Gray's lap.
"Personal security," John Michael said, filling in his wife as she sat down.
"Like security systems?" she asked.
"Bodyguards," John Michael said.
Ginger looked at Gray like she was trying to gauge whether or not to believe her husband, and Gray nodded.
I shifted so that I could look at him, and my movement must have made him think I was getting up, so he put his arm over me like a seatbelt. This delighted me way more than it should have. I rested my hands on his arms loving the feel of his muscles, and loving the fact that he was holding on to me.
"Jane's dad has a warehouse, some warehouses in town that he bought for future expansion, and he's letting me use one of them."
"You're renting it?" Ginger asked.
Gray shook his head. "I offered, obviously, but he's just letting me use it."
Ginger lifted her eyebrows.
"He gave him a motorcycle, too," Kevin said. "It's just like the one from the commercial where the guy's riding through the tornado, and then he comes out on the other side, combing his hair like Easy Rider." Kevin did an imitation, and we all laughed.
"I remember that commercial!" Ginger said.
Alan and Debbie agreed that they did as well.
"You don't remember that commercial?" Kevin asked, looking at Gray.
"I thought maybe it came out while I was overseas," Gray said.
Kevin shook his head. "It was before that. I can't believe you don’t remember it. It was hilarious. No offense," he added, looking at me.
"My dad meant it to be funny," I said.
"Was that your dad on the motorcycle?" Kevin asked.
I nodded and he cracked up laughing as if he loved that information.
"The one dad gave Gray is a replica of that bike, but Gray did ride the actual one," I said. "That's how my dad knew the style suited him."
"That was so nice of him!" Debbie said. "And letting him use the warehouse, too. I'm all excited about Gray starting a business."
"So you're going to be a bodyguard?" Ginger asked.
Gray shook his head. "I'm going to train other people to be bodyguards. A personal security company. I'll teach the guys what they need to know… martial arts, weaponry, etiquette."
"Etiquette?" Debbie asked.
Gray nodded. "People who are in the market for a body guard want to have somebody by their side who not only knows how to handle trouble but is also pleasant to be around. Sandra was telling me about one of her clients who needed a good bodyguard, and asked her what exactly that was. I knew right when she started listing attributes that I could train people to do that. It'll be my security firm, but I won't do any of the jobs personally. I'll just train the guys and put them in positions. I've been in touch with one of my commanding officers, and he knows several guys who would want such an opportunity. I plan to start working with my first group next spring after I get the warehouse set up.
"That sounds incredible," Debbie said. "I'm just so thankful about how everything's working out for you over there—and I'm just happy that it's so much closer. I can handle a day's drive, no problem. I'm just excited to have you back in the country."
"Speaking of being excited," Gray said, nudging his chin in such a way that made us all glance out the front window.
A black truck had just pulled onto the street. I knew what it was, and I squeezed his arm with excitement.
"Shelby, I got myself a Christmas present," Gray said, getting all the kids' attention. "You want to help me open it?"
"Awe we opening pwesents now?" she asked excitedly.
"Not quite yet, but I wanted to open mine," Gray said. "I ordered something for my apartment back in Memphis, and my friend just brought it over here."
Shelby looked at the door. "Is youw fwiend hewe wight now?" she asked.
Gray nodded. "He brought my present."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Just something I got for myself, so you probably wouldn't be interested anyway," Gray said nonchalantly.
He pointed out the front window, and we all watched as a fully-grown, glorious-looking German Shepherd dog hopped out of the pickup truck and stood next to the guy who had been driving. They both began walking toward the door together, and Shelby's head whipped around staring at Gray with the most precious stunned expression I have ever seen.
"Is this a puppy dog?" she asked stiffly.
Gray gave her a nod. "His name is Prince. He's two years old, and he already knows some tricks."
"Is Pwince weally going to come to youw apawtment?" she asked, barely able to contain herself.
"He's supposed to," Gray said. "But I haven't met him yet, so you have to help me decide if he's a good fit for me or not."
Gray patted me, and I stood to let him answer the door.
"Oh he's a weally, weally good fit fow you," Shelby assured him as he took her hand and they walked to the door. "What does he have to fit in?" she asked, sounding a little reluctant as they headed that way.
The other kids followed them to the foyer, so Prince had a welcoming committee. I couldn't quite see what was happening at first, but within a minute, the dog pranced into the living room with all of the kids at his side. All of them were trying to get their hands on him at once.
"Where's Roxy?" Ginger asked, looking around.
"She's sleeping in her kennel," Debbie said. "She hardly ever comes out of it anymore, even when the door's open."
Gray stayed at the door for another minute. If I leaned over just right, I could see him talking to the guy who brought the dog, but I couldn't make out what they were saying, so I didn't bother leaning.
Prince was so sweet and patient with the kids, and he sniffed around while they all followed him, each with a hand on his back. Before long, the guy left, and Gray came back into he living room.
"What does he have to fit in?" Shelby asked. She regarded Gray with a expression of worry. Prince was big, and I could tell she was nervous about hearing what it was that he had to fit into.
"He doesn’t have to fit anywhere," Gray said. "It's that thing around his neck that has to fit."
Shelby's hand moved to Prince's collar. "It fits," she said quickly, sounding relieved.
"No, there should be something on the collar—something really tiny; you'll have to look for it. We need to see if that thing fits.
All the kids gathered around Prince to find this tiny thing Gray was talking about. (Meanwhile, Kevin was serenading us with the song Purple Rain as a tribute to the dog's name.)
"I neveh meant to cause you any trouble."
Kevin sang the song softly but with dramatic showmanship that had us all smiling.
"I neveh meant to cause you any pain."
"It's a ring!" John Michael's oldest girl had been playing detective with the rest of them, and she smiled at all of us with an amazed look on her face.
"Ooooh, baby, I love your waaay,
everydayyy.
Wanna tell you I love your waaaay,
everydayyyy-ayyy."
Kevin had abruptly switched from Purple Rain to the new song, obviously catching on faster than I did. His song change was clearly meant to serve as an impromptu soundtrack for the surprise, and it still took me a second to figure out what was going on.
"It is a wing," Shelby said, agreeing with Gray's niece once she saw it. "How did Pwince get a wing on his collaw?"
"I asked the man to put it there," Gray said.
"Oh, well, it fits!" Shelby called in a relieved tone.
"We don't need it to fit Prince," Gray said. "We need it to fit your mom."
"Wanna be with you night and day!"
Kevin sang the words out, making me crack up.
I cried and laughed at the same time, feeling so completely overwhelmed and loved and surprised. It took a minute to get the ring off of the dog's collar and onto my finger, but just like that, I found myself staring down at a sparkling diamond.
Most of us had stood up during the commotion, and before I even knew what was happening, Gray dropped to both his knees right in front of me.
He wasn't the type to get on his knees. He was most definitely always in control. But he smiled up at me as if kneeling in front of me in this extremely vulnerable position was a pleasurable thing for him to do.
"Ohhhhhhh,
myyy looovee,
my darlinnnn,
I hun-ger for
yourrr touch,
alone,
lonely niiiiights."
Kevin switched songs, serenading us in a low tone with the a little Unchained Melody.
It registered in my mind how hilarious he was, but I didn't look at him. Neither did Gray. We just stared at each other.
"Jane Bishop, the very best gift I ever got in my whole life was delivered to me by a man who gave his life serving his country."
Tears instantly and relentlessly began streaming down my face.
"Seth left me a treasure map, Jane, one that led me to you and Shelby. I'm so grateful to him for that. I really am."
I blinked, and tears continued to fall onto my cheeks. Gray had a hold of my hands, so I wiped my face with my shoulders.
"Marry me, Jane. Let me be the one to take care of you and—"
I dropped to my knees, falling into his arms.
"Yes, yes, yes, Gray. Oh, my gosh, Gray, yes."
He kissed me and then he stood up, helping me to my feet in the process. I had gotten so torn up from his speech that I held onto him by the waist and buried my tear-soaked face into his chest.
"Awe you cwying?" Shelby asked, coming up to us.
"Yeah, but it's from happiness," I said.
Kevin continued to serenade us. He actually did it in a low, respectfully romantic tone. It was wonderful and hilarious, and I knew I would look back on this moment and love it. I scanned the room and realized that the other women were wiping their eyes. The sight of them made me want to cry again, and I had to blink and concentrate on not completely losing it.
"It's from happiness," I repeated, reaching out to rub Shelby's head.
"But does it fit?" she asked.
I let out a little laugh at her precious question since she thought it still pertained to the dog.
"Yes, it fits," I said. "It fits perfect."
"Does that mean we get to keep Pwince?" she asked.
I nodded.
"Is he gonna live with us, ow Mistew Gway."
Gray and I glanced at each other with a smile.
"Both," I said.