When Trinity wanted to be mad at me I had to chuckle. I knew how she felt. I didn’t want to share Lacie either but for them, I would. That little girl stole my heart. Ella was funny. She had the “eww boy” mentality. She didn’t want to be around me because boys were gross. I held back my laugh at the face she made while shaking my hand.
When Trinity asked if I was Lacie’s boyfriend, I shook my head yes. When she asked if I was going to marry her, I shook my head yes, and when she said that she was going to be in the wedding, I scooped her up and whispered in her ear, “Of course. We could never get married without you.”
We made fast friends, and I was thrilled when she hugged me and beamed her little grin at me. I wanted this. I wanted all of this. Watching Lacie with the girls melted my heart.
Shawn wasn’t sure of me. He shook my hand and seemed to size me up. I wasn’t sure how much of our story he knew. I was sure Abigail filled him in and I was sure he was being protective of Lacie. Once we went into the house and the girls took Lacie away, I knew it was time to make friends with Shawn. I asked him if we could talk outside. Of course he nodded his agreement and Abigail came along too.
We sat down on the front porch and I said, “Ask me whatever it is you need to.”
Shawn looked at me. “Do you love her? Are you going to protect her and take care of her? That’s all I really need to know. I want her to be happy. I want her to be safe.”
Abigail nodded in agreement to Shawn’s questions.
I took a deep breath then spoke.
“I don’t know how this happened. I especially don’t know how it happened so fast but Lacie is amazing. The first time I met her I felt it. I didn’t want her to leave. She laughed in the bar while we were talking and that laugh stole my heart. She made me feel things that I shut down a long time ago. I want to make her happy, I want to be the one to put a smile on her face. I want to watch the sun rise and the sun set with her beside me. I want to hold her when she cries. I want to hurt anyone who makes her cry. I want to lock us both in a room until I’ve had my fill of her which would be forever because I don’t think I’ll ever have my fill of her. I want to encourage her to write more, to do all the things she wants to do but has been too afraid to do. I never want her to walk away from me. I will do everything in my power to keep her.”
Abigail was crying and Shawn nodded.
“I know that you guys don’t know me but I need to ask some more favors of you.”
Shawn and Abigail nodded.
“First, I need her mom’s phone number. Second, Shawn I need you to go shopping with me tomorrow. Third, this needs to stay between us for a while, but I need to have your blessing to ask Lacie to marry me.”
Abigail gasped and nodded immediately. Shawn stood up and started pacing. I watched him move across the porch and I could see he was fighting a war within.
I stood and blocked his path.
“Shawn.”
He looked at me.
“I know this is going fast. I get that. I barely know her. I have got to be crazy, right? Let me ask you something. How long did it take for you to know that you loved Abigail? I want your blessing in asking Lacie, but I don’t need it. I will marry her regardless. I won’t let anything take her from me. After only spending two nights without her when she disappeared I was lost. I never want to be lost again. Maybe it is too soon. Maybe I am crazy, but I’m crazy about her. I will never let anyone hurt her. I will take care of her. I’m getting her out of that apartment and moving her in with me as soon as she’ll agree. That place is terrible and she deserves better. I want to give that all to her. I want to give her everything. I want to have children with her. Lots of children. I want to fill my empty house with her laugh and little mini-Lacies.”
Shawn held up his hands.
“What does Lacie want?”
I smiled at him.
“Whatever she wants, I want to give it to her. She told me that she loved me this morning. I haven’t told her it back yet. Every time I’m ready to, we get interrupted. But I do. I love her and I will give her whatever she wants. If she wants to sell my house and move here, I’ll do it. I don’t care. I’ll do whatever it takes to make her happy.”
Shawn looked at me. “If you ever hurt her, I’ll find you. I will make your life hell and I will make you hurt. She’s been through enough.”
I nodded at him.
“Absolutely I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Shawn reached out his hand and I took it.
“Thank you. This means a lot to me. I will call her mom and stepdad as well getting permission, but you two are important to her and I wanted to have your blessing first.”
Shawn nodded.
“You have it. What are we shopping for tomorrow?”
Jackson grinned.
“I want to get her ring.”
Abigail jumped up.
“Oh hell no! You two are not ring shopping. I’m going. Shawn, you keep Lacie entertained and Jackson and I will go ring shopping.”
Shawn held his hands up in surrender.
“She has spoken. Sorry man, you are on your own with her.”
Jackson grinned, “As you wish Abigail. I figured you’d want some time alone with Lacie.”
She moved up next to me and slapped my arm.
“Oh I still want some alone time with Lacie and I will get it before you guys leave, but ring shopping there is no way I won’t be there for that. She’s my best friend, I know her better than anyone and I will be there when you pick it out.”
I nodded and we all sat and talked for a long while. I got to know them and how they met. Stories of high school and Lacie. How Lacie was after losing her family members. How Abigail was by her side through it all. The death of her father on the heels of losing her baby.
Some of the things Lacie had told me and some things she didn’t. I soaked it all in. We were laughing and Abigail was telling stories of her and Lacie growing up, the things that she talked Lacie into doing, when the door opened and Lacie came out.
I stood up immediately and moved to her. I kissed her cheek and she beamed at me.
“What’s going on out here?”
Abigail was laughing.
“Abs? What are you up to?”
I moved back to the chair I was sitting in and sat down pulling Lacie onto my lap. I know there was another chair, but I wanted to touch her, to hold her. Lacie sat across my lap as though it was the most natural thing. She watched her friends and shook her head laughing as Abigail repeated the story she was telling me. I barely heard Abigail and Shawn all I could do was watch Lacie. How she covered her face in embarrassment. The way her eyes crinkled in the corners as she laughed. The sound of her laughter coming from deep within her. The look of Lacie relaxed and enjoying life. Was there anything more beautiful?
The laughter died down and I rubbed Lacie’s back as we sat there in silence for a few minutes.
Abigail looked over at us then stood.
“I guess we should check on the girls. I think they wore themselves out waiting for you guys to arrive. I didn’t even feed them lunch and I assume they fell asleep.”
Lacie smiled at her.
“Yes, they wanted to watch a movie and before I knew it they were out.”
Shawn stood and said, “I’ll check on the girls. How about you make some sandwiches?”
Abigail nodded.
“Deal babe.”
Lacie moved on my lap ready to get up to help.
“I can help make sandwiches Abs.”
Abigail shook her head.
“No. You are fine as you are. Enjoy some quiet time before my girls steal you away from this man again.”
Lacie looked at me beaming. I was done. If I had any doubts, they were gone now. She was it for me.
Shawn and Abigail went into the house but to be honest I didn’t even notice. All I saw was Lacie.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
She beamed at me.
“I am. I love those girls. I’m sorry I deserted you though. Everything okay out here with them? They can be a bit overprotective.”
I shook my head, “All good, Princess. I love watching you with the girls. They love you so much. Especially Trinity. That girl is something.”
Lacie shifted in my arms, “I see you wormed your way into her heart. She rarely let’s anyone hold her, but yet you picked her up and were conspiring with her. What was that all about?”
I pulled her close and kissed her lips.
“It’s between Trinity and me.”
The kiss distracted her and she didn’t comment back, but she did lean in to kiss me again. This woman drives me crazy. The feel of her body in my lap, her lips against mine and the soft moan from her throat. It drives me insane. I broke our kiss and trailed kisses across her jaw, down her neck on to her shoulder. The spot where her neck and shoulder met, I nibbled and licked there and she moaned again.
“Jackson.”
My name was breathy on her lips. I loved it. I pulled her face to me, I took her lips and I swore I was going to die kissing her.
The door swung open and all we heard was, “Ewwww, Aunt Lacie, that’s disgusting. He’s a boy!”
Ella, I knew immediately. She was not into boys just yet and for Shawn’s sake I hope it stayed that way for a while, because she was going to be a heartbreaker.
Lacie chuckled against my lips.
“Times up. I hope you’re ready for this weekend and all the interruptions.”
I put my hand around her neck and pulled her in for one last kiss, “Bring it on. I got this. I know when I get you home I will be able to make up for lost time.”
I watched her eyes flare and she squirmed against my body and I felt the tremble go through her. Oh, my princess liked the thought of that.
My phone rang and Lacie smiled.
“Saved by the bell.”
She got up and moved into the house as I answered the phone. My friend and the guy I brought on board at the office to be my partner, Trevor, was on the other end.
“Hey man! What’s going on? Where are you? I dropped by the house but you’re not answering.”
“Sorry Trev. I’m out of town. I had something I needed to take care of.”
Trevor laughed, “Something or someone?”
I grinned but didn’t like the innuendo so I set it straight.
“I’m with Lacie, my girl. We’re visiting her hometown and spending some time getting to know each other.”
Trevor hesitated.
“Okay. Are you still having poker at your place Tuesday night? Or are you going to be whipped now?”
“Fuck you, man. I’m still having poker night. Maybe if you’re nice, I’ll even let you meet her. Then you’ll see how bad I want to be whipped.”
Trevor laughed and said, “Wait till the guys hear this one. Man, I never thought I’d see the day. You with a girlfriend. What the hell?”
I looked toward the door of the house where Lacie had just gone.
“This one is special, Trev. Wait till you meet her. Don’t even think about turning on the charm either because she’s mine.”
Trevor laughed at my threat but I was dead serious. I would take him down. We talked for a few minutes he asked about a few contracts we were working on. I told him I left all the information with Lydia and he could reach out to her if needed. I would be back on Sunday but I planned on seeing my mom when we got back and didn’t want to be disturbed in the evening.
Trevor laughed then hung up. I moved into the house and watched the flurry of activity. Shawn was playing with the kids while Lacie and Abigail made sandwiches. I watched the two as they talked.
Lacie’s face was so beautiful. She was smiling, laughing and whispering to Abigail. Abigail would pause, eyes wide then she would beam at Lacie. I didn’t want to interrupt them so I moved in to help Shawn.
As soon as I entered the living room Trinity was coming to me. I sat on the sofa and she crawled up on my lap.
“Do you know how to play games?”
I nodded.
“What game?”
“I want to play Candyland but Ella says it’s a baby game. It’s not a baby game. Will you play wif me?”
Trinity looked like she was ready to cry.
“Of course I will play. I love Candyland.”
She squealed and jumped off my lap to get the game then set it up on the floor away from Ella and Shawn. I looked over at him and he grinned.
Trinity and I raced around the board on Candyland, we were deep in the game when lunch was called.
“Oh, Mom! We’re playing a game.”
Abigail said, “Now young lady. It’s already later than usual for lunch because you guys fell asleep earlier. Move it, go wash up.”
She stood up and had the cutest pout. She hesitated before going off. She reached out her hand to me. I took it and stood up.
“Come on. I’ll show you where to wash up so Aunt Lacie doesn’t yell at you next.”
I heard Lacie laughing so hard she snorted. I turned to look at her and she was hysterical.
“Okay. Thanks Trinity. I don’t want to make Aunt Lacie mad.”
I watched her and she shook her head still laughing.
It seemed that Trinity was my new best friend. When we all sat in the living room and Lacie was snuggled next to me watching Frozen. Trinity seemed annoyed, so she stood in front of me until I picked her up and put her on my lap. She curled up on my chest and watched the movie, softly singing along and giggling at Olaf. My mind could only imagine this with my own child. This was what I wanted. This was the life Lacie and I deserved together. Quiet times with our daughter, snuggled on the couch singing “Let It Go.” I kissed the top of Lacie’s head and she tipped her head up to meet my eyes. There were tears in her eyes. Was she feeling it too?
Before I knew it, the movie was over and Trinity was watching me watch Lacie. She had fallen asleep on my shoulder and she looked so perfect.
Trinity poked my chest and when I looked at her, she placed her little finger on her lips.
“Shhhhhhh, Aunt Lacie is sleeping.”
It was too much. This kid killed me. I nodded at her.
“You stay here and I’ll be right back.”
She wiggled off my lap and disappeared. I pulled Lacie closer tucking her so that her head was not at such a sharp angle and I slumped down with her to make us both more comfortable. Trinity came back and put a princess blanket over Lacie and moved in front of me.
“You stay here with Aunt Lacie and take a nap. I’m going to go outside and play so I don’t wake her up. Mommy said so.”
I chuckled and she shushed me again. She ran off with a wave and I let my head fall back on the sofa with the weight of Lacie on my chest then dosed off.