Rifiuto: Non Miriena
She looked up as he slipped into the room. A look of relief crossed her face, mirroring the relief that washed over her shoulders. He went to her, wrapping her in his arms and holding her against his chest, tucking her head beneath his chin. She curled into him, snuggling down, silent. "I'm sorry, for the way she reacted. She's normally not-"
"It's okay, Zane." Jo whispered, running a hand over his chest. After a moment, she grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled away to look up at him. "She just cares about you. It's understandable." Then, she leaned up, capturing his lips in a kiss. He nudged her lips open before taking control of her mouth, tasting every nook and cranny of her in a way that made her knees weaken. Like everything Zane did, this tasting of her was thorough and passionate all at once. It was one of the things she loved about him- even after all this time, all the trouble they'd gone through, all the pain they'd suffered, they still discovered things about the other that maybe they didn't know before.
"I'll come back later, you're both busy." The pair broke apart, to see Brigetta in the doorway, an extra set of blankets in her arms. She set the blankets on the chair by the door, giving them both a quick once over. Jo buried her face in Zane's jacket, her lips swollen, a blush tinging her pretty cheeks.
"Mom-" But she was gone, and Zane turned to look at his fiancee. "You gonna be okay? I'll be right back." She nodded, accepting his kiss before letting his slip out of the room and head down the stairs. Zane silently made his way through the brownstone into the kitchen. "Everything all right?" She looked up, from fixing dinner.
"Yeah, I... I'm fine." Zane watched his mom, raising an eyebrow.
"You sure? Because you don't seem fine." He said, going to her and leaning against the counter. She sighed.
"I just... I guess I'm in shock. Getting a call from your son, and finding out that he's going to be coming home for a visit, and then to discover that he's bringing a woman home that he's become engaged to... especially since I just got off a big assignment, well... it's a lot to take in, Zane. Not that I'm not happy for you, but... it's sudden, isn't it? This engagement? Do you even know her?"
Zane sighed.
"Yes, mom, I know her. I know her better than I know myself. I love her. And I'm going to marry her." He watched his mom go to the island and take a seat. "Mom, Jojo's my other half. And... as cheesy as it sounds, she's my soulmate. I was... living but not really living... existing in that crazy ass town, looking for someone to share that crazy, insane life with me and... and then... then I realized that someone already shares my insane life. Jo. I love her, and so yes, Mom, I'm going to marry her. She's my life. And whatever life I have, whatever life I carve out for myself, I'm going to carve it out with Jo by my side. Got it?" She nodded, glancing down at the mail sitting on the island counter between them. The top letter caught her eye, and after a moment, she got up, going to Zane and wrapping him in a hug.
"I'm sorry, Zane, I just... it's been a long couple of days. I'm just tired is all." She looked into his face, brushing his hair out of his face. "Now, why don't you pour a couple cups of coffee and take them into the living room. Go spend some time with Jo. I'll be in in a few minutes and then we can catch up." He nodded. Once he was gone, Brigetta picked the envelope off the stack of mail and silently read the address.
She opened the letter slowly, her eyes skimming the words as her heart began to pound.
Finally, after all these years, her prayers had been answered.