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“What did you say when she told you that had her running like the building was on fire?”
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean, nothing? Be a little more specific.”
“I froze.” I slam my hand on my desk. “I fucking froze, Janine! I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to ask her to marry me eventually, but I wanted to do it right, not because she is having my child. I want to marry her because I love her.”
“Then prove it to her and ask her like a normal man in love. Be creative. Fix it. I’m sure she was scared.”
59
AURA
“It’s been three days, Judy. He hasn’t come home. LJ is wondering where he is, and I told him he is busy with work,” I tell her, taking a sip of my chocolate shake, seated at the booth in the diner.
“Give him time, love. He’ll come around. Maybe he is wrapping his heart around the idea. That man loves you. He almost killed Bradley for touching you. The man is head over heels in love with you since he was a teenager. Has he called?”
“His personal assistant has called me, but I ignored it. I feel bad telling Exie that I fell pregnant. I was married to her brother.” I shiver. “Feels weird.”
Judy leans over the booth and gives me a friendly shove. “She will be happy for you both. She is even siding with you over her evil parents, and she went to him for help. That is love, honey. Not everyone gets a second chance at love.”
I trust Judy and tell her everything going on with Lane’s parents. She even agreed to help me out with my jewelry business. She needs the extra money and has agreed to help me make more jewelry for the next pop-up store and orders that need to be fulfilled. I have been making them by hand, but my fingers are starting to hurt.
I get a message from Camila that LJ is ready for his lunch. He was working on a virtual project with other kids on the computer, and I headed over to the diner to catch up with Judy and visit Nancy.
“I have to go.” I grab the takeout order and head to the house.
I get in the back seat, Henry closes the door, and a text comes through.
I look at my phone, and it’s from Janine.
Janine: He doesn’t know I’m sending you this text. I know you are upset with Kalum and his reaction, but something is waiting for you at the house. Please give him a chance.
Me: I’m sorry for ignoring you. I was scared, and I miss him.
Janine: I know.
Henry parks in front of the house, and he heads inside with the food. I stop when I see it. The sun is high in the sky, and the blur of tears makes the light around me look like a kaleidoscope of colors.
The Jeep.
The Jeep I wanted to buy from Lane all those years ago is restored in its full glory with big mud tires and the convertible soft top. Memories from my mother telling me about her adventures in her Jeep come flooding back. Lane never told me what he did with it, and I never asked when we moved from Spencer. My fingers grip the black handle of the door, and I open it. The smell of refurbished leather hits me. I look at the note and the football jersey inside it.
I pick it up and inhale the smell. Kalum’s cologne and his scent. It’s a Spencer football jersey. I pick up the old notebook paper and read it.
Even through loss, there are still amazing and beautiful things in this life. The best part of mine was meeting and falling in love with you. I hope you love your gift and would love to be part of your journey. I love you, Aura. Happy eighteenth birthday.
Love,
# 68 Kalum St. Claire
I choke on a sob as his words from the other night in the hotel room by the harbor come back to me. He bought it. He kept it all this time. I take off my coat, thankful for the sun even if the clouds are covering it and pull his jersey over my head and run into the house.
I gasp.
Tears are streaming down my face, and my two favorite boys are waiting for me, both down on one knee. LJ with flowers, and Kalum with a black velvet box. There is a huge sign made of construction paper colored with crayons that reads.
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
