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“Well, if you’re that excited about the engagement and that much in love with me, I hope you’ll be ready to marry me in two weeks.”
She froze and swore her heart stopped.
“Surprise! I stopped by the courthouse yesterday and reserved a date. Two Fridays from now, we will be getting married.
Kristen put her hand on her chest over her heart. “I think my heart stopped. I really think you’re trying to kill me.” Her eyes got wide, and she grabbed his hand, placing it in the same place. “Seriously, feel. Do you feel anything? I don’t.”
Jacob laughed. And wrapped his arms tight around her. “Your heart is fine. You’re breathing. Your heart’s beating. You’re just nervous. Now, when we tell Chad and Stacey tonight, we’ll have a date to tell them. They’ll need to get time off work, and we need to have some time to plan the party here. So, we have two weeks to get furniture in that house of yours and get those walls painted and floors finished.”
Kristen wasn’t dying; she wasn’t dreaming. This was real. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“There’s not much to think of. We’ll have Des do the cake, get some sandwiches and platters from Main Street Deli, and maybe a tent so we can have somewhere to sit and mingle. A dance floor. We’ll be at the courthouse, and when we come back here, our friends will be here to celebrate with us. Small and simple with the perfect ending. You becoming Mrs. Kristen Kempt.”
Kristen’s heart let her know it was working as the beat it was keeping suddenly sped up. “I like the sound of that.”
Jacob smacked her bottom. “Good, now get up, and let’s go ring shopping. We have a lot to do and just two weeks to get it all done.”
“First, let’s make sure Stacey and Chad know they have to come for dinner, and no is not an option.” Kristen sent the text to Stacey, and Jacob sent one to Chad.
Stacey left home early and found herself exactly where she wanted to be.
She needed time to herself without anyone telling her what she needed to do. All she needed was fresh air and nature. This state park was the perfect place. They used to come here with their parents. A nice long hike ending at a waterfall would do her good. Get her to focus and think things through.
She pulled over right before she got to the park to get gas. She leaned against the car as the gas pumped and glanced at her phone. A sigh escaped her. Five messages from Kristen, two from Tristan, and one from Jacob. “I guess I should answer Kristen and Jacob. Let them know I’m alive.” She spoke under her breath.
She answered them both and promised that she would be home tonight for their important family meeting that she absolutely couldn’t miss. Whatever that could be.
She made Kristen promise it had nothing to do with her and that Chad and Jessica would be the only other two there. She didn’t want any surprise guests, aka Tristan.
She read Tristan’s two texts. One apologized and said he realized he should have mentioned her, but they only kissed and messed around. He didn’t think it mattered. She let out a hard sigh. “That’s still more than no relationship in over a year. You lied—again. Why couldn’t you just be honest?” The second one just wanted her to text him. She just couldn’t right now.
She finished the short drive to the park, parked her car, silenced her phone, and started her hike. It was a perfect spring day. This is the season she loved best. Everything was coming alive, the birds were active, and the weather was amazing. She found a good pace and got lost in nature. Before she knew it, she was at the end of the two-mile hike.
The waterfall was magnificent. Stacey wandered around the area, snapping pictures on her camera. She then sat to have a snack and enjoy the scenery and view.
A memory of being here with her brother and parents shot into her mind. Jacob and her dad were off doing who knows what, and her mom was sitting with her on the rock she sat on now. They were talking about senior prom.
Stacey was going with her boyfriend, and Kristen was going with his best friend. Stacey’s mom told Stacey something then.Remember, Stace. Always stay true to who you are. Don’t let a guy pressure you into doing anything you don’t want to do or becoming something you don’t want to be. Stay your strong independent self, but don’t scare off the guys either. One day, someone will see how amazing you are. That’s a gift. Don’t let it get away.
At the time, Stacey wasn’t sure what her mom really meant. But those words meant everything now. Her strong independence was pushing away Tristan.
She pulled her phone out again and read his text. He swears he and Carla never had sex. Yes, they messed around, but can she really hold that against him, or is she just trying to find an excuse to mess things up like Jacob says she’s doing?
She breathed out.Oh, Stacey. Figure your shit out.
She pushed herself off the rock and started the hike back.
She walked slower. Really enjoying the scenery, but she made it back to the car quicker than her time to get there. Probably because the walk back was downhill.
She got into her car, turned on the radio, and drove the two hours home.
Jacob, Kristen, and Chad’s cars were the only ones in the driveway when she got there.
She couldn’t ignore the small feeling of disappointment that entered her heart. A part of her hoped that Kristen would have ignored her and invited Tristan over anyway. But then, thinking about it, she knew no one had his number.
Oh well. Let’s see what is so dire that she absolutely had to be home for dinner. She walked into the house, and everyone was sitting around the table snacking on a charcuterie board. “Why the fancy food, and where’s the beer?”
Jacob jumped up from the table. “Great. You’re here.” He pulled out a chair. “Here. Sit down.”
