I went to see my mom upon arriving at the nursing home and found her dosing off in her chair with the television on. I moved beside her and knelt down on the floor to gently wake her.
“Mom. Hey, Mom, it’s Jackson. Wake up and I’ll help you into bed to be more comfortable.”
She opened her eyes and smiled at me.
“Jax. Oh my handsome boy. I can’t believe how much you look like your father. Where’s that wife of yours? Did she have the baby yet?”
I smiled at her as I brushed her cheek with my hand.
“Lacie is here, Mom. She just had to stop and speak with someone. No, she didn’t have the baby.”
My mom smiled at me.
“Oh good, I don’t want to miss that. She’s having a little boy, you know that, right?”
I smiled at her. “Okay, Mom. We don’t know what she’s having yet.”
She shook her head at me.
“No, I’m telling you. It’s a boy. You just wait and see.”
I let the subject drop, but Mom just stared at me.
“Is everything okay, sweetheart?”
I looked at her and figured I’d just tell her my thoughts. What could it hurt?
“I’m worried about Lacie, Mom. She’s not herself. She’s keeping something from me and it’s something that makes her think that she doesn’t deserve to be loved. How do I get her to trust me and tell me what she’s keeping hidden?”
My mom looked at me then reaching out to take my hand in hers.
“Time Jackson. Just give her time and all your love. That’s the best thing you can do for her. You can’t force someone’s trust. It has to be given to you. Love is also something to be given. Patience my dear boy. She loves you more than she lets on. She just doesn’t trust easily.”
Lacie walked in just after my mom spoke those words.
“Hi Gail. Sorry we’ve stopped in so late, but we just got back.”
She paused for a moment then said, “Am I interrupting something, should I come back?”
Gail beamed up at her and said, “Nonsense dear. Come, come.”
She reached her hands up to Lacie and she moved in beaming at my mom. She came in next to me taking my mom’s hands then bending to kiss her cheek.
“Now tell me about what you two have been up too?”
Lacie moved to sit in the chair next to my mom while I stood and watched them interact.
Lacie was telling Mom of the romantic dinner I had for her while visiting her hometown. She told her about her friends and their children. My mom’s face lit up while she talked. The love she felt for Lacie was clearly written over her face. When I looked at Lacie, I saw the same love shining back at her. This woman was truly meant for me. I couldn’t help but smile along with the stories she told of Trinity and Ella.
Once Lacie stopped telling her about the trip, my mom looked between the two of us and said, “You two are perfect together. Just perfect. I’m so happy. Jackson, I have never seen you this happy.”
I couldn’t help the love that vibrated through my soul for these two women.
“You’re right, Mom. I never have been happier than with Lacie. She’s definitely the woman I was meant to find.”
Lacie blushed at my words.
“Of course she is dear. You two are building a family. This is the most beautiful gift. Love, family and happiness. These are the gifts you have been given. Treasure each moment and do not let them go.”
My mom may have started progressing into her own world, but she was still a very bright lady. She’s right. I’ve been given a gift with Lacie and I am going to make sure that I treasure her with every ounce of my soul.
We stayed and talked with my mom a bit longer but we finally headed to the grocery store and Lacie stockpiled the cart while I watched in fascination as she ran through a mental list in her head, while sweeping up exactly what she needed.
“Lacie, this is a ton of food. Who is going to eat all of this?”
She smiled at me.
“You guys at poker night, and plus, I need to cook for the two of us. So we need food in order to eat. I’m trying to make this the only trip I need for the week. Then next week we can reevaluate what we need.”
I just laughed, “This is only a week’s worth of food? Oh my God Lacie, you’re joking, right?”
She shook her head at me.
“Just you wait and see. You are going to love eating healthier and you’re going to love having home-cooked meals.”
I pulled her to me and kissed her cheek, “I’m going to love coming home to you and having you in my bed. That is what I’m going to love. But if all of you comes with food as well, then I’m one hell of a lucky man.”
She beamed up at me, “Oh Jackson. Come on, let’s get this done and head back to your place.”
I let her go and left her to her shopping.
We unloaded the groceries at the house, everything was put away and it was finally time to have Lacie all to myself. I took her hand in mine and led her to the stairs leading to our bedroom. I pulled her to me and ran my hands down her back.
“I can’t wait to feel you, to taste you and to sink deep inside of you. I am not going to let you go.”
I felt her shiver in my arms. I kissed her, with soft, sweet, feathery kisses from her ear down her neck to that special place where her neck met her shoulder. I felt her melt against me and her hands move up over my back. Her soft moan came from deep within her and I couldn’t get my hands on her fast enough.
After we sated our hunger for each other, I wrapped her in my arms and held her.
“I could stay like this forever with you, Princess. I don’t ever want to not hold you in my arms.”
I felt her stiffen in my arms and I waited for her to relax again. Once she did, I spoke again.
“Does that scare you Lacie? Because if it does we need to talk about it. I’m never letting you go.”
She turned to look at me.
“You don’t know me Jackson. How can you say that? You’ll tire of me then we’ll go our separate ways.”
I pulled her tight to me and flipped her so that she was on her back and I hovered over her.
“Never Lacie. I will never tire of you. I love you, I want my life to be with you. I want children, I want to build a home here or in Timbuktu with you, I don’t care as long as it’s with you. Tell me what I don’t know about you. Tell me what is pulling you from me. Tell me what’s making you run scared. I warn you Lacie, I don’t scare.”
I stared into her eyes and waited. She took a breath and her voice wavered.
“I’m not who you think I am Jackson. I’m not a good person.”
I quirked my brow at her.
“I doubt that but continue.”
She stirred and I held her so that she couldn’t get up.
“Jackson please let me up. I can’t do this while you’re staring at me.”
I held her firmer, “Tough. Continue.”
Lacie closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“I never told anyone about Adam. I don’t want to talk about him, but I feel like I need to tell you so you understand how I don’t belong with anyone.”
I stroked her face with the back of my hand until her eyes opened again and met mine. There was pain there and fear.
“Princess there isn’t anything you can tell me that will make me believe that you are undeserving of love. Of my love, of a life fit for the princess you. No matter what I will still be here holding you when you are done telling me whatever it is that you’ve held to yourself all these years.”
She pushed at my chest until I let her go. She sat up turning her back to me holding the sheet to her chest.
“You don’t know that Jackson. Please don’t make promises to me right now.”
I came up on my elbow behind her and kissed her back.
“Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do Lacie. You’ll find that I don’t like to be told what to do. Please just tell me what I need to know.”