Present Day
A serious concussion, lacerations on the head, neck and arms, a broken ankle which needed surgery and some bleeding in her brain. Those were the serious injuries but she was alive.
Mandie refused to leave her side. She had been so unbelievably scared that she had lost her that she needed to keep her nearby.
"Mom?"
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you doing?"
"Loopy…."
"That's better than being in pain."
"Yeah."
It had only been a few days and she would hopefully be going home in the next week, after her ankle surgery but Mandie could see everything wearing on Nickie.
"Mom? Tell me about Aaron again."
Mandie wondered if she didn't remember what she had told her before or if she just needed something good to hold on to.
"I remember, Mom," she said with a soft smile. "I just want to hear again."
"Okay, babe. He just turned two in December and he has blue eyes and dark hair. His dimples are so adorable."
"What happened to his birth family?"
"The mom is only eighteen. She can't take care of him anymore so she put him up for adoption."
"I can't imagine not wanting to raise my own baby. Even now."
"Maybe she simply doesn't have anybody to help her or maybe her parents aren't supportive."
"Would you help me? If I was in that situation?"
"Yes. Without a doubt."
Nickie nodded and closed her eyes. Her head was throbbing and everything was blurry. "I need to rest."
"Okay, babe. I'm right here."
Back to the Story, A year later, early July
It was a big year for the Thorntons. Early June, Isaac graduated with Mandie and they were off to college in September. Isaac to Cornell in New York and Mandie to Northwestern in Chicago.
In addition, it was time for the final preparations on Jonah and Raylinn's wedding. The wedding was two weeks away and the couple were taking possession of a small apartment in Bowling Green near the college. Jonah now had his basic degree and was starting a job at the same Web Design company he had interned for the summer before.
"Babe, we really need to go finalize the caterer and pick up your tuxes."
"Mmhm," he said, pulling her closer as they lounged on the large sectional that barely fit in their tiny apartment. It was a perfect make-out spot though.
"Joe," she said, pushing him a few centimeters back. "The appointment is in three hours and the drive is two hours and forty five minutes."
"I love that you love schedules," he told her with a big smile. "We will never be late for anything ever."
"Yep." She stood up and pulled him behind her. "Come on. If we hit traffic or something, we will be late."
"I'm getting kind of hungry. Maybe we should stop for a bite," he teased.
"You are a silly man. I'm sure glad I'm marrying you."
"I'm glad too. I'm not sure I can restrain myself much longer."
"Jonah! The things you say." She turned bright red which made her even more beautiful to him.
"Just speaking the truth."
He stopped her from pulling him out the door and grabbed her around the waist. "Ray, I love you so much."
"I love you too, Joe."
"I can't believe this is finally happening. It feels like it's been forever."
"It does but its been worth it. Slowing down and being patient. I feel like it's helped us grow up and actually be ready before taking this step."
He agreed although he was pretty sure, to date, it had been the hardest thing he had ever done. He knew though that their life together wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows. But he knew that whatever hardships they went through, if they did it together, they would come out stronger on the other side.
Present Day
Jonah and Ray stood in the foyer of their new small house in southwest Florida. "Well, babe, its small," he told her. "Kinda reminds me of our first apartment in Bowling Green." Then he laughed. "Too bad we don't still have that sectional. It was the perfect spot to make-out."
"We are too old to be making out on the couch."
"I disagree. Making out is something that never gets old, even when we do."
"Well, since Sidney still lives in Michigan, we do have more time to ourselves," she admitted.
Jonah nodded. It had been difficult to leave her behind. Yes, she was twenty five and yes, she had a steady job and a steady boyfriend, but he still liked to be nearby, just in case she needed him for anything.
Jonah sighed. "Okay, it looks like the movers are here. Let's let them in so that we can set up our office."
Jonah had his own Web Design company with two employees who still lived back in Michigan. Everything could be done remotely so he and his employees could live technically anywhere and still do their job.
"No working today though, Joe. You promised."
"I won't. I just want to be settled."
"And we are still going to go on our date to the beach, right?"
"Yes, dear," he said with a teasing tone.
She poked him in the sides and made him squirm. "Always sassy."
"That's why you love me." He stole a smooch and then opened the door. "Come on in, guys. Let's get this done!"
Jack and Elizabeth's condo, just outside Hidden Lake
"Gran?"
"Yes, Lizzie, dear."
"Is Nickie going to be okay?"
"Yes she is."
"When will she be coming home?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. She has to have surgery on her ankle this week so sometime after that."
"And Mommy and Daddy are going to bring Aaron home soon too, right?"
"Yes, that's right." Elizabeth patted her lap for Lizzie to climb up. "Now where were we?"
"Uncle Jonah and Aunt Ray's wedding. I bet it was romantic."
"Yes it was. It was on the beach behind our house, near the fire pit."
"That was their place."
"Yes it was."
Back to the story
Jonah looked around the now empty beach/yard at his parent's house. There were seemingly hundreds of twinkle lights and tiki torches. There were roses and lilies scattered around. The white chairs that their thirty guests had used were back with the rental company. Now, all that was left was him, his gorgeous new wife in her flowy, lace gown and an empty dance floor.
He led her over to the small area and held her close, singing quietly to their wedding song.
"Well I know there's a reason
And I know there's a rhyme
We were meant to be together
And that's why,
We can roll with the punches
We can stroll hand in hand
And when I say it's forever
You understand
That you're always in my heart,
You're always on my mind
But when it all becomes too much,
You're never far behind
And there's no one that comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way"
She loved the song when they had picked it. She loved Keith Urban but when Jonah sang it to her, she felt beyond loved.
"Its getting late," she mentioned, laying her head on his chest. "I think its time to go to the Inn."
He ran his fingers through her loose curls, definitely ready to move forward. She was his future and she filled his heart all the way to the top with love. His lips found hers in a deep, insistent way she had never known. "Yes, let's go, Mrs. Thornton."
A week later
It was time for Jonah to start work and it was killing him. The last week of just him and Ray had been the best time of his life.
She wrapped a robe around herself and walked into the bathroom where he was brushing his teeth.
"Hi, babe," she said, letting her fingers trail along his lower back as she walked past and turned on the shower.
"Hey," he said after spitting and swishing. "What do you have going on today?"
"I'm going grocery shopping and I need to register for next semester. Anything in particular you want for lunches or dinners?"
He set down his toothpaste and smiled at her.
"What?"
He chuckled. "You're my wife."
"Yes, babe. I think that fact is very well established."
"No, I mean, you're doing wifely things." She blushed. "I don't just mean those things," he told her, pulling her into his space. "Grocery shopping...cooking and asking what I want to eat. Its...a different side to you that I'm not used to yet. I kinda love it."
"Me too," she admitted. She stood on her toes and gave him a long smooch. "A lot," she said, dropping her robe and getting in the shower.
Jonah laughed and moved the shower curtain. "I love you. Have a good day."
"I will, you too."
That afternoon when he got home from work, the apartment smelled heavenly. "Is that roast beef I smell?"
"Yep. With asparagus and parmesan roasted potatoes."
He stepped up to Ray and gave her a long hug and then a kiss hello. "I missed you today."
"Me too."
"Did you get registered for fall semester?"
"Yes and since you never told me what meals you want for this week, I called Elizabeth and she filled me in on what you like."
"You called Ma?"
"Yep."
He nodded. "How are they?"
He missed them. It was weird not being in Hidden Lake.
"Good. Oh, babe," she whispered, sitting on his lap at the table. "You miss them."
"Yeah." He sighed and held her tight, resting his lips against her neck. "But, I'm with you. I'll be okay."
His parents and Hope were missing him too. Hope seemed off, always wandering into his room and asking for Joe. "I see him, please, Mama?"
"I know, Hopie. I miss him too," Elizabeth told her, picking her up. "We will see him soon, okay?"
At three and a half, Hope could be distracted pretty easily so while Cece napped, Elizabeth took Hope to the kitchen to make cookies. Pink ones at Hope's request.
"Mama? Where Daddy?"
"He's working, babe. Remember?"
"He painting," Hope said with a nod as she stirred the dough and snuck a piece of it.
"That's right."
"I want to do it too."
"You want to paint?"
"Yep. Like Daddy."
"Okay. After we make cookies, we can get out your paints."
"Okay. Mama, where Joe?"
"He's living with Ray," Elizabeth repeated yet again.
"They live far away."
"Not too far."
"We go see him?"
"Maybe."
"I ask Daddy."
Elizabeth kissed Hopie's curls. "I love you, sweet girl."
Present Day
Lizzie listened to her Gran tell her and Papa Jack's love story. She didn't think there was too much left to tell. Daddy and Mommy still needed to get married but she knew the rest. Then came Nicki and her and soon Aaron.
"Gran? We're almost done, aren't we?"
"Almost done with what, dear?"
"The love story."
"I suppose you know most of the rest don't you, Lizzie?"
"Yeah."
"You know what, my love?"
"What, Gran?"
"Your own story is still starting. What do you wish for?"
"I want to find someone to love too. And have babies. After I make partner at T and T. Like you did. Do you think it matters that my last name is Thornton and not Thatcher?"
"Not one bit, Lizzie dear. Not one bit."
The end!
Hope you enjoyed this story!
