To Say Goodbye (27 page)

“What’s this?”

“Open it, woman,” he teased, nodding toward it. She smiled coyly but obliged.

Inside, she pulled out an orange bikini.

“What’s this?”

“Your attire for our first surprise date.”

She raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

He walked closer, taking the bikini from her hands and setting it on the counter. “Well, you said you wanted to give this whole dating thing a go before you even consider being ready to go to the next level. So I figured a woman like you needs some pretty mind-blowing dates to be impressed.”

“Yeah, clearly, I’m super high-class.”

“Well, I’m not taking any chances. I am going to impress you if it kills me. So you see, I’ve planned twelve surprise dates. Twelve.”

“Twelve?”

“I figured twelve was a respectable number of dates to impress you enough to move in.”

“You think twelve dates equals moving in status?”

“No. But I think twelve amazing dates with
me
might equal moving in.” He flashed his killer smile. She just shook her head.

“Well, that might be true, but listen, if you’re going to impress your pregnant girlfriend, shoving a bikini in her face probably isn’t winning any points. I don’t even want to think about putting this thing on, let alone going anywhere in it.”

He nuzzled against her cheek. “Stop. You’re gorgeous. And while it is tempting to keep you here all to myself in this bikini, we do have somewhere to be. So go put that on, put something over it, and meet me in the truck in ten minutes.”

She sighed, but the sparkle in her eye told him she was enjoying this surprise thing, bikini or not.

_______________

“This is the best,” Sophia said, lounging in her inner tube.

“Agreed. See, I told you I was going to wow you.”

They floated down the lazy river at Great Wolf Lodge, inner tubes tied together, hands joined. There were kids splashing and other couples linked together nearby, but Jackson barely noticed them. All he was focused on was the beautiful blonde floating down the indoor river with him.

They’d driven three hours to the indoor water park, Jackson figuring a lazy river was a perfect way to end the week, a perfect new memory to make.

He’d been right. They spent the next few hours laughing, lounging, and floating their worries away.

When they were completely waterlogged, they dried off, putting some clothes over top of their swimsuits. They found a coffee shop and bakery inside the lodge, both getting the biggest cupcakes the shop had along with some herbal tea.

As they shoveled in the glorious pink frosting, talking about the date and how they would have to bring Logan back sometime, Sophia grew serious.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yeah,” he said, wiping chocolate crumbs from his mouth

“Why don’t you ever talk about Iraq?”

This had sort of come out of left field. He paused for a moment, catching his breath and contemplating how to respond.

“Sorry. Mood killer,” she said, wincing.

He shook his head. “No, it’s fine. It’s just... it was a rough time. I saw some stuff no one should have to see. I lost some people. It’s just not something I like to dwell on.”

She shook her head. “Fair enough.”

“Really? You don’t need to know anything else? You’re not curious?”

She put her spoon down. “No. Jackson, I love the man in front of me, no matter what happened in the past. Your past can stay there. I want to live here, in the moment. Whatever you went through, it made you the amazing, strong, sexy man you are today. That’s all I need to know. When you’re ready to tell me more, I’ll be here to listen.”

He nodded. “You’re amazing, you know?”

She shrugged playfully. “I mean, yeah, I am.” She winked, finishing her last bite of cupcake before leaning in for a kiss.

JACKSON

A
s the weeks passed, their connection morphed into the relationship Jackson knew they could have. He continued to surprise her, to date her, to get to know her.

The more he found out, the more he found to love. He loved the way she laughed hysterically at certain commercials, especially the one with a monkey in it. He loved the way she ate mustard on her French fries. He loved every piece of her, the sexy, the smart, the sassy, and the broken.

He just loved her.

Over the weeks, he continued taking her on surprise dates. He wanted to make sure they had a lifetime of memories, new memories, memories free of guilt. They went to another water park, they went fishing to a new fishing spot he’d never been to. They went on a picnic. They went to a drive-in. They took Logan to DC for a weekend, to a book fair, and to the aviary.

They ate fancy dinners. They visited mom and pop restaurants. They went shopping, swimming, ice cream eating, and all sorts of things in between. They did all of the cheesy dating traditions he, not long ago, had sworn off.

Things weren’t rosy. There were still moments of melancholy, dates that hit her hard, dates that hit him hard. There were moments of indecision, moments he wanted them to move faster, moments she needed to slow down.

They were navigating tricky waters, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

He came with his own share of baggage, too. Chloe was none too happy when he told her about the baby. There were screaming fights, attempts to sabotage his time with Logan, and copious amounts of expletives. But they were navigating those waters, too.

Together.

_______________

“Are you nervous?”

“No. I’m excited. Why would I be nervous?”

“Gretta. I’m sure she’ll have something to say about it.”

“First, I don’t stress about my sister and what she thinks. Second, she’s going to be thrilled. She loves you. Are you nervous?”

“I mean, a little. I just don’t want to curse us.”

Jackson reached over to squeeze her hand, one hand on the steering wheel.

“You’re not cursing anything. It’s fine. The baby’s going to be fine.”

“I know it’s silly, but I just feel like the more people we tell, the more we press our luck about this pregnancy. I’ve already lost a baby. I’m so scared.”

“We’re not losing this baby. I promise.”

Seeming content, she shifted the package on her lap, the silver wrapping paper crinkling.

“You’re right. I’m sorry. This is a good moment, and I don’t want to put a damper on it.”

“You could never put a damper on this. Baby, I’m so excited. Getting to share some good news with my family for once is such a godsend.”

They’d already shared the news with her parents last weekend. Sophia’s mom had embraced them both, tears dampening his shirt as she exclaimed how happy she was. He’d been worried about how they would react, worried they’d feel he’d taken advantage of the situation. They’d felt nothing but joy. They were thrilled at the prospect of a grandchild and at Sophia reclaiming her life.

Now, it was his family’s turn. He’d told his mom he was bringing Sophia to Sunday dinner. She’d been animated at the news, talking a mile a minute about new casserole recipes she could try and Pictionary games they should play.

The only thing he was nervous about was that she would literally explode with joy at the news. His mom loved Sophia, and she loved babies. Her heart was going to burst.

When they arrived, he put the truck in park. Sophia turned to him, handing the package over.

“You sure? This was your idea. You can give it to them.”

“No way. This is your moment, your good news.”

He kissed her hand as he took the present. “It’s our good news,” he corrected before they got out of the truck and marched toward the front door.

_______________

Inside was the chaos typifying Jackson’s family. Louis and Jonathan were playing poker at the kitchen table, Jackson’s mom barking orders at them to vacate, so she could set the table. Jace ran around with a marker, Gretta chasing after him, pleading with him to drop it.

“Sophia! Jackson!” the boy exclaimed, running at them.

Jackson passed the present to Sophia and caught the boy in his arms, lifting him to the sky as was their tradition.

The boy, marker still in hand, doodled on the wall before anyone could stop him.

“Jace! Look what you’ve done!” Gretta shrieked.

The boy giggled. “I decorated way up high.”

Jackson couldn’t help but laugh, causing Gretta to give him a death glare.

“Wait until Grandma sees what you did,” Gretta chided as Jackson returned Jace to the ground.

“Wait until Grandma hears what?” Mrs. Gauge said, turning from her food prep to saunter into the living room where the impromptu decorating had occurred. Her eyes followed everyone else’s stares and landed on the drawing up near the ceiling.

She simply shrugged. “Oh well. Your grandpa needs to repaint in here anyway.” She fluffed Jace’s hair before the boy tore off into the kitchen, marker now mercifully in his mother’s hand.

Jackson’s jaw flew open. “If I had done that as a child, you would have murdered me.”

“Yeah, same. What is this softening up stuff, Mom?”

Their mom just shrugged. “What can I say? He’s way cuter than both of you were.”

They both scowled but eventually agreed. Sophia laughed.

“Now will everyone just simmer down. We’re going to scare Sophia away,” she said, leaning over to hug her. “What’s this?”

Sophia pulled from the hug and handed the box to Mrs. Gauge, eyeing Jackson. Jackson nodded.

“It’s a gift for you and Louis.”

“For what?”

“Just open it, Mom,” Jackson ordered.

The whole crew ushered themselves into the bigger, airier kitchen. Everyone gathered around as Louis and Margaret carefully pulled the silver paper off the box. Jackson held Sophia’s hand, squeezing it.

Margaret opened the box and pulled out an elegant silver picture frame.

It was engraved with the words “World’s Best Grandparents,” as Margaret read.

“Does this mean?” Margaret questioned, looking at Jackson. He nodded, beaming. Margaret practically leapt across the table, rushing to squeeze both Jackson and Sophia into the tightest hug accompanied by shrieks at a dangerous decibel.

“I’m so thrilled. This is the best news! I knew you two were going to get together.”

Jackson felt himself blush. Margaret continued to squeal. Once Margaret would let them up for air, the rest of the family gathered around, and congratulations flew.

In that moment, Jackson’s heart almost imploded. To see his family so joyous over the news, to see them rallying together to congratulate him and the woman he loved, it took his breath away.

He’d been through so many obstacles in the past months. He’d had so many dejected moments, so many times his family had to help scoop him out of the gutter.

Now, looking around, especially at his mom, he saw sheer happiness. His life was turning around. Good things were coming his way.

The woman he loved was standing right beside him, carrying a baby who meant everything to him already. His baby.

He fought back a tear, knowing Gretta would never let him hear the end of it if he started crying. As his mother continued her interrogation of Sophia about baby showers, baby names, due dates, and everything else baby related, he leaned down to kiss Sophia on the cheek.

She’d brought happiness back to him, to his family. She’d handed him redemption and hope when his world was nothing but bleak.

Looking at her here, with his family, he saw a lifetime of happiness, of kisses, and of chaotic family gatherings before them.

He was happier than he’d ever been.

JACKSON

I
t was on a Thursday about two months after Jackson had moved into his house when it happened.

Life changed again. If he weren’t careful, he’d get whiplash.

Sophia showed up at his doorstep at six o’clock, unannounced, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. She carried a picnic basket.

“Hey,” he said after kissing her on the cheek. “You know you don’t have to ring the doorbell, you weirdo.”

“I wanted to.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “Everything okay?”

“Yep. It’s all good. You busy?”

“Well, I was thinking of watching the baseball game, eating steak, and drinking beer. You know, the bachelor life. But I guess I could squeeze in some time for you.”

She punched his arm.

“That freaking hurt.”

“Wimp. Come on. I have a surprise for you better than steak and beer.”

She grabbed his hand, and he let her pull him out the door, into the muggy summer night.

The sun was warm on his face as he walked beside Sophia. He offered to take the basket from her, but she swatted him away.

“Hands off.”

“Hope that’s not the motto of the entire night.” He nudged her. She nudged him back.

They strolled, silence filling the void between them. They walked casually like they had so many times. She leaned on his arm. It felt easy.

When they reached their bench—they probably should get a plaque for it at this point—she paused, ordering him to sit. He obliged, and she sat beside him, setting the basket on the ground.

He stared at her expectantly. She just smiled. She pulled two champagne glasses and some grape juice from the basket. She poured them each a glass as he eyed the label.

“Hazards of dating a pregnant lady.”

“Hazards I’ll gladly accept. What’s this?”

“This is us celebrating. Official date thirteen.”

He smirked. “I’m the one who is surprising you.”

“Yes. And you delivered as promised. You gave me twelve amazing dates. You gave me so much more, though, Jackson. You gave me time. You gave me time to move on, to really, truly move on. You gave me time to be certain about all this.”

“I’m patient when I want to be. Plus, it wasn’t really a punishment, you know.”

He clinked her glass and took a sip of grape juice, his gaze still locked on her.

“The thing is, when you brought me to this bench for the first time, I was a broken woman. I couldn’t manage to see past my own driveway let alone into the future. I thought it was over for me. I wanted to just cease to exist.”