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“And if we want to have the kid conversation again sometime soon, then I want to marry you first.”
She looked at him. “So, are you proposing, John?”
He grinned. “Yes. Very badly. But yes. Ember. Will you please marry me?”
She hugged him, then kissed him. “I’d love nothing more than to be Mrs. John Sherlock.”
“I guess since I don’t have an identity, we can’t officially get married. But we can go through the motions. Call it a commitment ceremony.”
“I like that.”
“So while I’m gone. You can work on that.”
She nodded and wiped at a tear. “You really want to marry me?”
“More than anything.” He looked at thelasagna. “You can warm that back up, right?”
“Yes. Why?”
He stood, taking her with him. “Because we need to consummate this momentous occasion.”
She put her arms around his neck as he carried her to the bedroom. “We’re getting married.”
“Yes. We are.”
Ember later made it to the kitchen long enough to put the lasagna in the refrigerator. Then she returned to John. They talked about long-term plans for the first time, which included moving into their own house at some point. They both had no desire to move back to the city. They wanted to stay in Schaeffer Mills, and in a year or so, start a family.
Ember was curled up next to John. “Every time I think I can’t get any happier, I do. How is that even possible?”
“I don’t know if I believe in destiny or not. But it seems from the moment I woke up and saw your face above me, we started a journey that led us to this moment. We were meant to be together, Ember. I’m sure of it.”
John was up early the next morning in preparation of leaving. He didn’t even want to take time to eat, but Ember insisted. She made him some scrambled eggs and a piece of toast. Then it was time to walk him to the truck.
He threw an overnight bag in the truck, then took Ember in his arms. “I’ll be back by theweekend.”
“Promise?”
“Yes. Unless I meet someone else along the way.”
She laughed. “Don’t you even think about it.” She leaned her head against his chest. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
Part Two
Jake O'Connell
Chapter twenty-one
"It's been like supervising kindergartners."
Jake slowly drifted into consciousness. He stirred as he heard, “Dad?”
He opened his eyes and found Sage looking worried. He mumbled, “Hey, honey.” As he tried to focus on her and then his surroundings. “Where the hell am I?”
“Oh my God, Dad.” He tried to sit, and she stopped him. “No. Don’t. Take it easy. You’re fine. You’re home.”
Jake looked around the hospital room. “This doesn’t look like home.”
