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Jason
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Two months later...
“It’s so different here when it’s green and colorful!” Sara exclaims for I think the fifth time since we got here making me chuckle. I love seeing her eyes sparkle like they are now, causing her hazel eyes to appear golden.
“I heard you guys had fun here over the winter though?” my sister Theresa questions. Sara nods her head in confirmation. “I know my brothers are always doing something outside and it doesn’t matter what time of year it is, so it’s good he has you. You can help keep him in line too,” she teases. I grin broadly at the two of them, enjoying their chatter.
I grip Sara’s hand tightly as my eyes wander taking in everything around me. This barbecue to welcome Theresa home was really a great idea. She’s been through so much and I’m thrilled she’s finally back here where we can all help her out. My eyes wander to Matt standing next to our sister. I’m glad he made the effort to fly home to be here for Theresa. I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind if he moved somewhere around here permanently. We all moved around so much growing up, it would be nice to have the whole family end up in one place, or at least in one area.
Christian and Bree stand talking with my parents over by my dad manning the grill. Christian has his arms wrapped around Bree from behind with a huge smile on his face while she looks up at him laughing. They both searched and fought so hard to find their happy together, no one deserves it more. My mom arranges the snacks along the table, her smile never seeming to waiver. I think she’s just happy to have all of us together.
I focus my attention back to my girl. She hasn’t had an easy few months, but we’ve worked through everything together. She attends a support group for her eating disorder and I’m thankful for their help, especially with things I don’t understand. Although I always want to be there for her.
I’m even more grateful she entrusts me with everything that is her. She talks to me when she’s struggling and she talks to me when she’s happy, but she doesn’t talk to her parents or her ex anymore at all. It sucks that she had to push her family out of her life, but no one deserves that kind of toxicity in their life, especially not my girl.
At least she still has her brother, Stephen. She only told him a little bit of how she was treated by both her dad and her ex and as I expected, her brother completely lost it. He left the family business and got a job with a big corporation in downtown Portland. He’ll have to work his way up, but he’s a smart man and we all know he’ll prove himself quickly. Sara felt guilty, but he insists she did him a favor and constantly thanks her, fighting his own guilt and trying to do everything he can to make it up to her.
“Jason,” Theresa calls, waving her hand in front of my face trying to get my attention. My eyes flash to her and she laughs. “You’re so gone,” she mumbles, grinning.
“Yup,” I confirm, grinning with pride and love at Sara. I’m not about to argue when it comes to being gone for her. I’m happy to admit she holds my heart in her hands. Sara blushes deeply, glancing up at me from underneath her eyelashes and warming me from the inside. I pull her to me and place a chaste kiss on her lips. She melts into me causing my chest to tighten. I pull back, glancing down at her with both of us grinning like fools.
“Anyway, I was trying to find out when you were going to give Sara her birthday present?” she probes, wiggling her eyebrows.
Sara’s eyes flit back and forth between Theresa and me. “My birthday present?” she questions. “But this party is for Theresa, not me! I thought we were celebrating with Liz next week?”
“We are, but we kinda’ all went in together on a gift for you and the whole family wanted to be here to see you open it,” I inform her with a nonchalant shrug.
Her eyes go wide in surprise. “What do you mean, all of you?”
“Well, me, my whole family, including Bree,” I add glancing over towards her and Christian, “Liz and Blake and even your brother,” I finish. Her mouth drops open in shock. “I feel bad your brother and Liz and Blake can’t be here for this, but since you’re part of our family too,” I begin, trailing off.
“Jason,” she whispers her breathing becoming labored. I know how much it means to her that my whole family already treats her like one of their own. We may not be engaged like my brother and Bree, but I have no doubt in my mind or my heart we will be one day soon and everyone knows it.
“I guess, I have to give it to you now,” I tease. Tugging her by the hand towards the rest of my family now surrounding the outdoor table, I grin playfully.
As we step up to the table, my brother, Matt whistles loudly to get everyone’s attention. “Hey, your eldest is ready to stand on his pedestal and speak. Everyone, listen up!”
I shove him in the arm, a bit harder than necessary for his comment making him laugh and quickly stepping out of my reach. I shake my head with amusement. “Well, I just wanted to give Sara her birthday present from everyone and we thought she should be with family who love her and those who gave her this gift when she opens it.”
Sara blushes again as I reach into my back pocket for an envelope. I hand it to her grinning proudly. She smiles shyly, hesitantly taking it from me with all eyes on her. “Thank you,” she whispers. We all watch, as she opens the envelope and pulls out the paper inside, my mother already wiping tears out of the corners of her eyes. As Sara looks it over, her face scrunches up in confusion and a lone tear escapes. “I don’t understand,” she mumbles shakily, looking to me for an explanation.
“Well, we figured instead of all buying you a birthday present separately, we would all pitch in and help pay for your tuition. All of us together were able to pay for your fall semester,” I explain wishing I could do more.
She shakes her head, insisting, “This is too much.” Tears begin streaming freely down her cheeks.
I wipe a few away as I look into her eyes. “It’s not enough,” I tell her gruffly.
“But...” she begins.
I immediately interrupt her, “I love you. We all love you. You should have family and friends you can depend on to help you. You’ve worked hard to get where you are and you deserve to be able to finish your last year of school without having to wait. Use the money you’ve saved towards your last semester and your bills. Since you won’t move in with me yet, you still have all of those,” I tease her.
She wants to be done with college when we move in together. She wants to prove to herself that she can make it on her own first. I know she can, but I want her with me. Seventy-five percent of the time I’m at her place or she’s at mine anyway. Working at the pub is the only thing that seems to get in the way, along with the occasional girls’ night for her and Liz. I’m definitely happier though when I know she sleeps through the night without any of her horrible dreams. I can’t guarantee that if she’s not in my arms.
She laughs through her tears and buries herself in my chest. “Th...thank you,” she stutters. Taking a deep breath, she attempts to pull herself together as she gently pushes herself away from my chest. She looks into my eyes and I can see her love shining in them before she turns her gaze on every other person surrounding us, repeating, “Thank you, thank you so much. I’ve never had so much...so much love,” she whispers with awe.
We all grin back at her, everyone taking their turn hugging my girl. Matt goes last and when he lingers too long for my taste, I smack him in the back of the head. He chuckles softly and lets her go. “So, when are you and Christian going to tell me more about this business you’re starting?” he prods.
Christian overhears and steps up with Bree in hand. “I know, can you believe it? Me teaming up with our big brother?” Everyone laughs except me.
I just shake my head at my brothers before adding sarcastically, “Yeah, don’t know what I was thinking.” I throw my free arm around Christian. “Do you want to explain?”
“Well, anyone who knows us knows we are always doing something outdoors, so we decided to make a business out of it. The plan is to offer different activities to people throughout the year like kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, cross-country skiing.”
“I get the idea, keep going,” Matt presses grinning.
“Well, we can do groups, families, individuals, but we’ll offer limited instruction, training and education depending on the activity. Or we can act as a guide on trails or in the water since we know the area in all seasons,” Christian explains.
“We both finished first aid and CPR training and we are working on a few additional certifications for the recreational side of things and we both have the business side already with our degrees and dad. If it goes well, we could always expand into other areas, hire more staff in different areas of expertise, things like that. In the meantime, we’ll start basic and figure it out, but with just our local marketing we’re already getting a lot of inquiries and have a few groups scheduled,” I add feeling my excitement growing.
“That’s really cool!” Matt exclaims.
“Maybe if you move your ass back here, you could work with us,” I suggest.
“That’s a fabulous idea,” my mom exclaims squeezing in between all of us and focusing on Matt. “All my boys working together,” she grins.
“Thanks a lot, big brother,” Matt smirks at me.
I burst out laughing. “Good luck!” I wrap my arm around Sara and pull her with me as I retreat.
We slowly stroll towards the blue of the lake. The water is completely calm in the afternoon sun and quiet for a Sunday. It’s still too cold to swim in, but I’m surprised there’s not a few people out on their boats on a day like today. We stop a few feet from the rocky shore and Sara wraps her arms around my waist fitting perfectly snuggled under my arm. “It really is beautiful here,” she murmurs reverently.
“Yeah, it is,” I concur. Tipping my head down, I kiss her on the top of her head. I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, feeling completely relaxed for the first time in a while.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Sara mumbles into my chest.
I ignore her comment and tilt her chin up so I can look in those beautiful hazel eyes. “Are you happy, Sara?” I prod, hoping I already know the answer.
“Extremely,” she whispers her confirmation. “Are you happy, Jason?” she echoes.
My lips twitch at the corners as I fight my grin. “Emphatically,” I answer releasing my smile. I lean down and press my lips to her soft ones. I move slowly over her mouth and let my tongue slide along the edge of her sweet lips. I tuck my tongue back inside and nip at her bottom lip before brushing my lips back against hers.
A loud whistle, followed by my brother Matt’s voice swiftly shatters the illusion of being alone. “Pull your face away from your girl so you can get your ass over here and feed her!” he yells. I pull away from a blushing Sara, just as I hear Matt yell, “Ow!” We turn towards my family making me chuckle at my mom’s glare focused on Matt.
“Come on, Mom. Isn’t it about time Jason actually gets harassed for once?” Christian asks innocently.
“Yeah, it’s his turn,” Matt adds, ganging up on me. “Ouch! Theresa, what was that for?” he prods.
“I was feeling a little left out,” she claims defiantly and shrugs like it doesn’t matter because she knows Matt won’t do anything about it, especially since her accident.
Sara bursts out laughing, causing my head to reflexively turns towards her. I love that tinkling sound! I sit at the table pulling her down next to me. The happiness on her face appears all encompassing. I can’t resist placing another chaste kiss on her mouth when her face lights up. She looks at me blushing and slightly surprised.
“I love you,” I reiterate.
She smiles at me as we settle in for dinner with my family. I can truly say I’ve never been happier than I am in this moment, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure the same is true for her from now on as long as she’ll allow it.
The End
