“I’ve always known that.” I lean back in my chair and cross my legs. “This sentimental stuff isn’t like you. What’s going on?”
He takes a deep breath and says, “I’ve asked your mom to marry me.”
Okay, that was the last thing I expected to hear from him, but while I am shocked at his words, I couldn’t be happier.
I slap my hand on my knee. “That’s fantastic news! What took you so long?”
He laughs.
“Did she say yes?”
He laughs more. “Damn straight she did.” He takes a bite of his food, which I’ve now noticed he has not touched since it was brought to the table. Damn, he must have been nervous. “Are you really okay with it?”
“Oh my, of course I am.” I lean in and grab one of my fries. “Now it’s my turn.”
“Oh?” he says with a glint in his eye. Jayden had the same glint, and it makes me smile. There are so many times I see Jayden in him.
“I’ve asked Sawyer to marry me.”
“Did she say yes?” he asks, repeating the question I asked him.
I grin. “Damn straight she did.”
We both laugh.
When we leave the restaurant, Harold stops me in the parking lot. “Jake, I’m so proud of you and couldn’t be happier that you have found someone to love. Jayden would feel the same.”
“You know, it took me a long time to realize it, but I know now you are right. The Jayden we both knew would have never wanted any of us to live in the hell I experienced after her death. She sacrificed so much for me during her life. Why wouldn’t she want me happy after her death? I totally get it now.”
I’ve learned to take the good with the bad and to smile when I am upset. I love what I’ve got and will always remember what I had. I have no regrets. People change, and things go wrong. I take one day at a time and live.
As I drive away, a famous Robert Frost quote comes to mind.
“In three words, I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life.
Life goes on.”
The End.
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Stay tuned for your bonus story, Malia’s Curse.
Malia’s Curse – Amy Cecil
Copyright © 2019 Amy Cecil
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