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“Uh…nothing…nothing’s wrong, Em. I just wanted to give you one of your presents now while it’s just you and me.”
“I thought we were doing presents in the morning with Ireland?”
“We are, it’s just for this one…for this one I wanted it to be just us,” he says as he reaches up into the tree and pulls a thin foot-long box out from its hiding place amongst the branches. “Here you go, baby.”
I swear I see him shaking as he hands it to me. I take it out of his hands as quick as I can just to end his misery. He’s clearly on edge about this gift, and frankly, I’m starting to feel edgy myself.
“Open it,” he says impatiently.
Under the ribbon in the center of the box is a card that says, ‘Gracie’ on it. I look up at him and give him a little smile, but his face remains serious. I open the little envelope and as I start to read the card Jonathan speaks the words aloud for me.
“No regrets, Gracie. Live today like it’s your last and along the way kick some ass,” he leans in and whispers in my ear the next line written on the card. “I’ll love you always and forever and wherever I may be. Love, Your Georgia.”
I love him so much, but I’m incredibly confused and he can tell by the look on my face.
“Before you opened this, I wanted you to hear the words that you live by to remind you to live life to the fullest. I also wanted you to hear words that I live by so that you know that no matter what you say after you open this gift, I’m still here and I still love you. I’m not going anywhere, Em.”
Now even more confused I just stare at the flat, thin, foot-long box in my hand. It’s clearly not a ring box, and he isn’t down on one knee so I couldn’t be more confused.
“Just open it,” he prompts me. He seems a bit more at ease, and there’s finally a smile on his gorgeous face.
I wish I felt more at ease because I am scared to death.
I untie the ribbon and slide the lid off the box. Thank God there isn’t any wrapping paper on it to draw this whole thing out any longer. Once the lid is off, I open the tissue paper inside and see a key and a pink dog leash. I’m not sure exactly what I am looking at, and I just keep staring at it not believing that he is asking what I think he is. He doesn’t give me too long to think about the items in the box when he hops up and holds a hand out to me. He helps me to my feet, but doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Before you say anything, I have a few things to show you.”
He guides me to the hallway that leads to his bedroom, but he stops in front of the office door next to it. He opens the door and I cannot believe the transformation in this room. It went from a dark, messy catch all to a soft, light, comfortable living space complete with a beautiful white desk, shelves, and bookcases.
“I thought this would be a nice place for you to study and grade papers.”
I walk into the middle of the room and cannot believe what I’m seeing. The shelves are partially filled with some of my favorite books, as well as framed pictures of Ireland, Jonathan and I. It finally hits me that he hasn’t let me over here much the last two or three weeks.
“Is this why you’ve kept me away lately? You were making me an office?”
“Shhh…there’s more,” he says as he takes my hand and leads me across the hall to the spare bedroom aka his home gym.
He opens the door, flips on the light and steps aside. “What do you think? Do you think she’ll like it?”
If I thought the office was amazing, then I was mistaken because this room…this room is fit for a princess.
“Oh my God! Jonathan! What have you done? Did you do all this yourself?” I practically screech as I turn and take in the dreamiest room that any little girl could ever hope for.
“I did, but I got some advice from your mom, Cami, Alex, and Gabby when it came to some of the decorations. But I did do it all myself.”
I am so gobsmacked that I let the fact that all the girls knew about this go by. I can’t take my eyes off every little detail of this room. The walls are painted a light pale green and there are light pink accents everywhere. The bed in the center of the room is what little girl’s dreams are made of. It’s white and covered in pink, fluffy bedding with throw pillows galore. To top it all off it has sheer white netting that hangs down on the sides of the headboard and looks like it can be pulled around the bed. There are adorable white curtains and a little white sofa with a fluffy pink rug in front of it. He also remembered to include a bean bag chair similar to the one at Mick’s. There are so many other decorations and little details that I know I’m not taking it all in right now. There is just too much to look at.
My vision starts to blur from the tears pooling in my eyes. He is asking me what I thought he was. I turn to him to answer him, but I am shushed by the shake of his head and the kiss he places on my lips.
“One more room,” he says taking my hand yet again and opening the French doors to his bedroom.
The changes to this room, are a bit more subtle, but still, they make such a difference. The room is still masculine yet soft at the same time. He’s added throw pillows and blankets to the bed in feminine colors that blend perfectly with his beige bedding.
On the wall above the fireplace is a large, framed, black and white picture of me and Ireland from our day at the zoo back in October. We aren’t looking at the camera, but at each other, and we both have the biggest smiles on our faces. At first glance, I already know it’s my new favorite picture. On the dresser, there is a framed picture of just me and one of Jonathan and I together in Savannah.
To say I am overwhelmed with love would be an understatement.
Still holding my hand, he guides me into the master bathroom where I see my favorite lotion on the counter.
