It was several weeks later before the hospital allowed me to go. They wanted to make sure that my lungs were back to full working condition. I also required several heart scans to make sure that I didn’t have a heart condition. Once I was given a clean bill of health, they allowed me home.

The sad thing was that my father had lost his job. He was basically given an ultimatum to either return home and return to work or they would have to replace him. He soon told them where to shove it and decided to move here so that he could be closer.

I was happy about that. He had already gotten a job in town at the art museum. They had taken him on as their graphic designer. They wanted to branch out more with marketing their events and I was super excited that he would now be here full time.

I wasn’t allowed to return to college yet. I had received several visits from my professors, which was so sweet of them. I had also received a bunch of flowers from my life studies professor with a report sheet. My portrait of Johnny on his arena field had meant I had passed with flying colors and he had recommended me for an internship at the museum. Five students were up for the position and the successful applicant would be appointed at the end of the school year.

I was now living with Johnny and the boys.

My first night away from Joy had been difficult. The police had visited me when I was in hospital but had also stopped by the house. They had informed us that Lucy was in custody and had pleaded guilty. She would serve time for what she did, and I was thankful for that. Thankful that she could no longer hurt us.

I thought it would feel wrong being back in that house. I thought it would be tainted with what Lucy had done but I was wrong. The nights, however, were a different story. Nightmares consumed me, and I would often wake up shaking. I tried not to let them overpower me, but I would either wake up terrified or I would be shaken awake by Johnny. The only time I managed to sleep peacefully was if I was in Johnny’s arms.

Joy came over a few nights later with her boyfriend to visit us. I was shocked at first and was secretly jealous. One hour with them, though, and I could see how much they cared for each other. I told her off for keeping secrets from me, making her laugh.

Lying in bed, I was pretending to be reading my worn copy of Jane Eyre. Instead, I was watching Johnny move stuff around, making room for all my books and art supplies. He had a super huge closet so there was more than enough room for all our clothes and sneakers.

He shoved some boxes to the side by his desk before joining me on the bed. I lifted my head, cuddling into his side.

“You enjoy watching me move all this heavy stuff around?” He cocked his eyebrow at me, giving me a cheeky grin.

I giggled, tossing the book to the side. I didn’t know why I even bothered trying. “You’re just too pretty to not watch.” I grinned up at him, laughing when he nodded his head.

“That is true.” He looked down at me, giving me a cheeky wink.

Leaning down, he pressed his lips to mine. I parted them, letting his tongue entwine against mine. He hadn’t pushed anything sexual on me due to the stitches that had yet to dissolve on my chest. I didn’t think he trusted himself to remain calm with me. Johnny could be very passionate when we were together, and he was afraid his lust would take over and hurt me.

I pulled back, wanting this to go further but I knew it couldn’t—not yet. I was still aching and in some pain. Sleeping in the night hadn’t been fun either. My father had suggested me seeking therapy to talk about what happened. Every night since leaving the hospital, I would wake up shaking from dreams of Lucy. Each night, Sammy and I would be too late, and I would have to watch Johnny die in my arms.

Johnny had been a champ and so supportive during the nights. Each one would always end with me squeezing him and falling asleep wrapped up in him. No matter how many times I apologized, he would just shake his head, shower me with kisses and rock me back to sleep.

I excused myself to the bathroom, letting him help me off the bed.

He hated seeing me in pain, but I think he secretly loved all the fussing and looking after me that he was doing. Johnny was a protector and he loved the extra protection duty that he had been doing. He knew I had no choice but to accept the help.

Leaving the bathroom, I was itching to draw something. I hadn’t done it in days, but my fingers were beginning to twitch now. Walking back into the bedroom, I gasped, my hands shooting up to cover my mouth.

Johnny was in the middle of his room, down on one knee, holding a small box in his hands with a blinding smile on his face.

“What are you doing?” I whispered. I was flabbergasted. Was he crazy? I had only just gotten out of the hospital. After everything that had happened, he was doing this.

“Tillie Jacobs.” He took a deep breath before continuing. “I have been in love with you from the moment I first saw you. I just didn’t realize it at the time. Back then, you were just some crazy girl living across the street from me. I had never met anyone like you and I know I never will again. You fit perfectly into my life and I’m confident I fit just as perfectly into yours.”

I sobbed, nodding my head at his words. He was right. We did fit perfectly into each other’s lives. I didn’t think I could ever be as happy with anyone else.

“You are my missing piece, Tillie—the one that makes getting up in the mornings worth it and the one that makes me happy to come home.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears, his love for me shining up at me. “You made me happy for the first time in my life and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. So…” He grinned up at me, his hand shaking as he opened the lid on the box. “Tillie Jacobs, will you do me the honor of being my wife?”

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes, not wanting to ruin the moment. We had endured enough of our moments being ruined and I wanted this to be perfect. I wanted us both to look back on this moment in the years to come with happiness.

I nodded, trying to pull my emotions together.

His eyes widened in surprise. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes!” I choked out, nodding my head.

He jumped up, taking my head in his hands and bringing my lips to his. “Say it again,” he whispered, pulling back and looking down at me.

“Yes,” I giggled, loving the happy expression on his face. “Yes, I will marry you.”

He took my hand in his, bringing it to his lips before taking the ring from the box. He stuffed the box back in his pocket and slid the ring on to my finger. Where it would stay for eternity as far as I was concerned.

He hugged me to him, resting his chin on the top of my head and rocked us from side to side.

He pulled his head back, looking down at me with the biggest smile, his dimples on full display.

“Let me take you out tonight,” he whispered, rubbing his nose against mine in an eskimo’s kiss. “We’ve never actually gone out to dinner, just the two of us. How about it?”

I nodded, grinning at him like a loon. Dinner sounded like a perfect way to celebrate.

Hours later, I was sifting through the closet, trying to find something decent to wear. Johnny was already dressed in his navy suit and tie, waiting downstairs for me. My hair was done, makeup was on, but I couldn’t find something suitable to wear.

I huffed, grabbing my dress that I wore the night Johnny proposed I move in with him. It wasn’t too short and had a cute frilly skirt on it. That would have to do. I paired it with a navy pair of ballet flats, not even attempting to wear the heels. I’d only wobble, fall over and break something.

“I’m sorry I took so long.” I sulked, staring at the floor. “I don’t have anything new to wear.” I was pouting. I hated that I didn’t look as trendy as he did.

“Hush now.” He took my face in his hands, pulling my gaze up to his. “You look stunning.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips before helping me slip my thin jacket on and leading me from the house into a waiting taxi.

“So where are you taking me?” I was excited. I’d never been wined and dined before.

Looking down at my ring, I wanted to pinch myself. I couldn’t believe he had planned all of this. The ring was beautiful—not too flashy—with one shiny diamond framed by tiny little stones.

He took my hand in his, bringing it to his lips before pressing small kisses to my knuckles. “You like?” he asked.

“It’s beautiful, Johnny.” I smiled up at him. “Simple and delicate.”

“The ring was my mother’s.” He smiled, looking bashful. “Just before you were released from the hospital, she took me aside and gave it to me—told me that she was proud of her boys and how we all stuck together.” He shook his head, a definite blush on his cheeks. “Told me that she had never seen me be that way with anyone else and that when you love someone, you love them. Nothing changed that.” He leaned down, pressing his lips to mine. It was a short and sweet kiss, but it was a promise of everything to come. Everything in the future that was waiting for us.

“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.

“I know.” He grinned, rubbing the tip of his nose against mine before the taxi came to a stop.

Walking into the restaurant, I kept hold of Johnny’s hand, still not one hundred percent confident on my own feet. He tightened his grip on mine, both of us following the hostess as she led the way through the restaurant. There were several couples and groups of people seated at tables.

I frowned when we passed several open tables, confused. Where the hell was she taking us?

She came to a stop at the back of the corridor, turning and giving us a polite smile before holding her hand out to the right, signalling our table tucked around the corner.

Johnny tightened his fingers around mine before nodding his head in thanks at the hostess. She politely nodded back before smiling at me.

I smiled back, trying to be polite. I gasped when Johnny pulled me around the corner before coming to a stop. Sat around the large table were our families: our parents Joy, Sammy, Logan, Chunk and Bex. Behind the table were eight silver balloons, all spelling out the word ‘CONGRATS’.

They all looked blindingly happy before we were inundated with hugs and kisses from everyone. I laughed when my dad and Johnny gave each other an awkward hug before ending with an awkward pat on the back.

“You look so happy, my sweet girl,” Joy whispered, holding my face in between her palms.

“I am.” I nodded my head, placing my hand over one of hers. “So happy.”

Her eyes filled with unshed tears before pulling me in to another hug, rocking me from side to side.

Taking my seat in between Johnny and Sammy, my eyes filled as I looked around the table. Everyone looked so happy.

After the food was served, Logan stood, taking hold of Gill’s hand and raising his glass of champagne.

“I’d like to raise a toast.” He smiled, looking down at Gill. Her eyes filled as she looked up at him with love. “Here’s to family. Whether you’re related by blood, marriage or love, it doesn’t change things.” He grinned, holding his glass higher. “To family.”

“To family!” everyone chimed before raising their glasses.

I clinked my glass against Johnny’s before pressing my lips to his.

Logan was right about family.

At the end of the day, family was not an important thing. It was everything.