Part XIX: The One You Love
Katie sat up and found herself still in Sarah's living room. When she turned, she found Jessie sleeping. Her head was resting on the coffee table. Katie noticed bandages on her hand.
Typical Jessica Sammler…
She stood up and sat beside the sleeping blonde. She ran her fingers through Jessie's hair. Katie saw her clutching something in her hand.
The ring…
Jessie stirred and turned and gazed at Katie. The brunette stared back holding her hand. Slowly, she leaned in and touched the blonde's cheek. Jessie's eyes closed and she savored the touch. She felt Katie's hand cup her cheek which made her open them. Leaning a bit more, Katie stared at the blue eyes in front of her; they were scared. Katie's lips touched Jessie's softly. Letting go of the Jessie's hand, Katie cupped the blonde's other cheek to pull her closer. Tear's fell from Jessie's eyes. She let go of the black box in her hand, and put her arms around Katie's neck. Slowly they parted, resting their forehead against the other. Katie rubbed her Jessie's face dry with her hand. She turned her attention to the black box in the coffee table. She sighed.
"He said he wanted me back…" Jessie saw uncertainty in Katie's eyes.
It made her heart break.
"But I wanted to be with you…" Jessie continued.
Katie turned to meet Jessie's eyes.
"Only you Katie… Please believe me… I love you…" Jessie started to cry.
She was unsure if Katie would want her back. She was afraid she had lost the person she loves dearly.
"I do." Katie replied as her lips curved into a smile.
"I do." Katie said again, taking the box and knelt on one knee.
She opened the box gradually and took the ring.
"You could have been anywhere else but here with me. But here you are. Here. With me… Despite the fact that I left you in the cold without asking your part of the story… Despite the fact that I didn't call you back to tell you where I was… Despite my obvious shortcomings… You are here. With me…" Katie took Jessie's hand.
"Jessica Sammler, will you marry me?"
Jessie's tears overflowed.
"Yes! Yes! DEFINITELY A YES!" Jessie hugged Katie causing the brunette to fall back on the floor.
Katie smiled and captured Jessie's lips with hers, just in time for the sun to shine for the first time that year for spring.
----
"I came here for what?" Karen asked Eli who was totally clueless.
Graced shrugged her shoulders.
RING! RING!
Grace pressed the speaker phone.
"Hello…" Grace answered as Karen and Eli listened in.
I'm getting MARRIED!
----
Jessie was shopping in a local New York bookstore.
I wonder what Katie would like to read this week…
Jess!
Jessie turned and saw Tad waving at her.
"Hey how are you? It's been years…" Tad greeted nervously.
"I've been good. Married for four years now." Jessie smiled and showed off her ring.
"I see. What's that? You're selling Katie's apartment?"
"Yep… Flyers… We're planning to move to Boston next fall." Jessie replied.
"Are you happy?"
"Yes I am…" Jessie smiled and slowly backed away from Tad.
"I have to go. Katie's waiting for me…" Jessie waved and walked out the store.
"Take care Jess…" Tad looked on.
Jessie walked the streets of New York, the sun touching her skin softly. She reached a familiar coffee shop: Farafena.
"Hey…" Katie stood up from her seat and gave Jessie a kiss on the lips.
"Hey… Here I got you this." Jessie handed Katie the book she just bought.
They sat down and watched the rest of New York continue their daily routine.
"You know… You never really told me why you kissed me the first time we met…" Jessie asked as she rested her head on Katie's shoulder.
"Is it still important?"
"Not really… I was just… wondering…"
"I just wanted to know how it feels to kiss somebody like you…"
"What do you mean like me?"
"Someone who's probably straight…" Katie grinned and took Jessie's hand.
"Probably?"
"Yeah probably. Because you're totally gay now…" Katie laughed and drank her coffee.
There was foam left in her mouth.
"Yeah… Totally…" Jessie turned Katie's head to face her and kissed the coffee residue away.
-FIN-