Four months later...

Gracie smiled as she held Dean's hand as they headed to her house for Christmas. "I can't wait for you to meet everyone." She said as they drove.

"Are you sure they'll like me?"

"Of course they will." She smiled. "My dad, my Aunt Jess, my Uncle Phil, the kids. Everyone will love you because I do."

He smiled at her. "I love you too, Gracie."

"Good. Then we can both get through this weekend." She smiled. He nodded as they pulled up to the house. "And it looks like everyone is here. Including my grandparents both sets. Wonder how my Aunt managed to get them all together." She knocked on the door.

"Gracie." Jess said with a big smile. "It's so great that you came." She hugged her and then looked at Dean. "And you must be Dean. Welcome to our home." She smiled and opened the door wider for them.

They walked in and she gave hugs to everyone. Then Randy came out of the kitchen. "Daddy." Gracie said with a smile and walked over and hugged.

"Baby girl." He said with a smile. "It's so good to see you." He looked passed her and saw Dean there. "And this is?"

"Oh, this is Dean." She smiled and took his hand. "Dean, this is my dad."

Randy looked at him and sighed. "Nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Orton." Dean said shaking his hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

"And I've heard about you too."

Dean laughed nervously. "All good I hope."

"Oh, we'd have met before now if it wasn't all good."

Dean looked at him. "Well it's good that it was good."

"Daddy." Gracie laughed. "Was grandpa like this with you when you met him for the first time with mom?"

Randy looked at Jerry and laughed. "No. He was worse."

Jerry laughed too. "That's a dad for you, Gracie." He replied. "We have to make sure the guy is good enough for our daughter. And I was tough on your dad. I wasn't too happy about my daughter dating a solider. I was worried he would marry her and take her away from me and he did. They got married and he took her around the country with him."

"Dad." Jess replied. "Now let's have a nice dinner and you all can interrogate Dean later."

They all gathered around the table. "Lord, thank you for your many blessings during this season." Jerry said as he said the blessing. "Bless this food and everyone here. Give us a safe Christmas and New Year. Amen."

"Amen." Everyone said and started eating.

"So Dean, tell me about yourself."

"I'm a junior at Baylor. I'm majoring in Business with a concentration in finance." He replied. "I did an internship over the summer working with the Houston Astros. It was a great experience."

"And your family?" Randy asked.

"I have a sister, Natalie. She's Gracie's roommate. And my parents. We're from San Antonio." Randy nodded.

"So, that's how you and Gracie met right?" Jess asked him.

"Yes, ma'am." He replied.

"Dean is very smart. He's been really helping me with my studies." Gracie said as they ate. Dean smiled at her. Randy noticed the look between them. His baby was in love. And so was Dean. He wasn't sure how he felt about that.

After dinner, they were all in the living room. Jess and Gracie were in the kitchen cleaning up leaving Dean with the guys.

Jess looked at Gracie. "So, Miss Gracie, how serious is this with Dean?"

"Very." Gracie smiled. "I love him Aunt Jess. More than I thought I could love anyone. I feel so much with him. Like I found something I didn't know was missing until I met him."

Jess smiled. "Then its time for your next letter from your mom. Your dad and Dean get one too."

"What?" Gracie asked.

"It's time for your next letter." Jess smiled and walked over to the shelf and took down a box. She got three letters out. "You can read it now or you can read it with Dean later on."

"I'll read it with Dean." She said taking the two letters from Jess. "How could mom write one to Dean?"

"Well, it's not address to Dean by name." Jess laughed. "It's address to my daughter's future husband."

Gracie nodded and they headed back into the living room. Later on, Gracie and Dean were in her room when she gave him the letter. "My mom wrote me these letters. Me and my dad. And she wrote one to the man I'm going to marry. And I believe in my heart that's you."

He looked at her and took the letter. "Well, I had planned to wait until tomorrow but given the letter." He smiled and took out a black velvet box. "Gracie, I love you and I would be the happiest person in the world if you would marry me."

She smiled and kissed him. "Of course, I will." She smiled as he slid the diamond engagement ring on her finger.

"Good. Now on to the letters." She smiled and nodded as she opened hers.

My darling girl,

The day has finally come: you've met the man you're going to marry. The man you'll spend the rest of your life with. Marriage isn't always easy. You'll fight. You'll annoy each other. But at the end of the day, it'll be the two of you against the world. Be good to him. Be patient with him. And love him with everything you have. Your dad interrogated him I'm sure. But if he truly loves you, nothing will scare him away. Be happy my love. Be happy all the days of your life. And never forget the things that made you fall in love in the first place. I wish I could be there to see this. To meet this man who has won your heart. But I am always with you and I am so proud of the woman, the wife and mother I'm sure you will be.

She folded the letter and wiped the tears. She felt Dean's arms around her. "I always get emotional reading her letters."

"I understand that." He replied. "Can I ask about the letters? Your mom's death was sudden."

She sighed. "It was but a couple of days before her death, there was an incident. And she wanted to be prepared just in case something more happened. So, she wrote the letters." She looked at him. "You should read yours."

He nodded and opened the letter.

To my daughter's future husband,

That sounds so weird to write. I can't imagine her getting married but I know the day will come and it obviously has. Thank you for loving my daughter so much. I know you do because you asked her to marry you. Marriage is a lifetime commitment and a truly a partnership. Never take her for granted. Always stand by her and up for her. Never be cruel to her or make her your slave. You are her equal as she is yours. Love her more each day and show her that. Show her each day how much she means to you.

You will probably be afraid of Gracie's dad but don't be. He only wants what is best for her. And if you love her and never hurt her, then I know he will be okay with you. I hate that I won't get a chance to meet you but I know you are good man. If you weren't, my daughter wouldn't love you so much. Be kind to her and she will be to you. And I wish you both nothing but happiness. And always remember how much you love each other and what brought you together to began with. And take care of my daughter.

He folded the letter and looked over at Gracie. "Your mom had a way with words."

"Yeah, she did." She smiled. "I always feel like she's with me when I read them."

"I promise you to always take care of you."

She smiled and moved closer to him. She kissed him and smiled when she pulled away. "I know you will. We have an amazing life ahead of us. And I can't wait for us to be married and start our life together."

Randy sat in his apartment later. His baby girl was in love. He still couldn't believe it. To him she was still his little girl not a grown woman who was thinking about getting married. He picked up the letter Jess had given him that Kim wrote. He opened it and started reading.

Randy,

This day has come faster than you thought huh. Our baby is in love and thinking about getting married. I know it seems like she is too young but if she is deciding this, then she is all grown up. I'm sure you are conflicted about things right now. But you had to know this day would come. And I'm sorry that I am not there to help you deal with this. But you can do this and let our baby go.

I know the man Gracie has chosen is a good man. And I'm sure he is a lot like you. Everyone always said that girls fall for me like their fathers. And I'm sure Gracie did. Our daughter is a bright, beautiful, kind, loving young lady. And I'm sure the man she has chosen is a compliment to those things. Give him a chance to be the man we always hoped she'd find. A man that loves her as much as you do. Be there to guide them both when they need it. And be happy for them.

I know you think you can't handle this but you can. I just wish I could be there to help. But I know you will see how much he loves our baby girl and how much she loves him. And I'm always with you.

I love you

Kim

Randy folded the letter and put it with the others. How did Kim always know what I needed to hear? Even though she had written the letters so long ago, it was like she had known all the emotions he would have. And it made him miss her even more.

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