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Chapter 5: In-Laws

Jamie sat alone at her kitchen. It was the afternoon. Caitlin was at school and Landon was at work. It was a week before their wedding. She was looking at the classifieds, looking for a new place for her bookstore. She had the insurance money from her former bookstore and it was more then enough to buy a small place. She really wanted to have her business back and be making money. She wasn't about to live off of Landon. Being her own boss meant she could set her own hours and not always have to be there.

Jamie jumped at the sound of her doorbell. She put the paper down and walked to her door. The doorbell rang once more before she opened it. She was surprised to see who was at the door.

"Mrs. Fisher?" Jamie asked. It was Rodney's mother and her former mother-in-law.

"Hello Jamie." She said politely.

"I haven't seen you since Rodney's funeral." Jamie said. After his funeral, The Fishers moved away from anything that reminded them of their son. That meant they wanted nothing to do with Jamie or Caitlin. Jamie knew they blamed them for Rodney's accident. If Caitlin didn't become sick, he would still be alive.

"Yes, I know. It was hard staying around when everything reminded us him." She said as she hung her head. It popped back up and she said "Can I come in?"

"Sure, come in, come in." She replied holding the door open for her mother-in-law. Adeline Fisher stepped into the house her son and Jamie once shared.

"It looks different." She said.

"Ah yeah. After Rod died, I decided that we needed a bit of a change. Would you like something to drink?" Jamie asked.

"Coffee would nice." She said still looking around the house. Jamie nodded and walked to the kitchen. Adeline walked into the kitchen just as Jamie started to pour the coffee. "Um, who is this"? He asked holding up a picture frame. Jamie looked over and saw who it was.

"That's Landon's son, Max." She said.

"Who is Landon?" She asked.
"He's my fiancé." She said.

"That's why I have come here." She said placing the photo down.

"Oh, don't worry, you can come to the wedding." She said as she took a sip of her coffee.

"No, that's not why I'm here. I'm here because we do not want you to get married." She said.

"What? Why?" Jamie asked.

"Rodney's only been gone almost two years. It's too soon for you to be getting married. You are pushing Rodney's memory out of your life and his daughter's life. She doesn't have many memories of him and now you are introducing a new man in her life that will want to be her father. She has a father and she needs to learn more about him before she has someone else in her life." Adeline explained.

Jamie was not ready for this. Of course she didn't expect her late husband's family to be happy for her, but she thought that they had some sense to tolerate her getting married.

"I've been through the 5 stages of grief. I accepted that Rodney is gone and never coming back. I'm trying to live my life." Jamie replied.

"You may have, but has Caitlin?" Her mother-in-law asked.

"She had a difficult year, but she's come to know and love Landon." Jamie said placing her cup in the sink.

"Like a father?" Adeline asked.

"Ah, yes." Jamie said. Adeline sat her cup down. She was finished.

"Landon is not her father." Adeline replied. 'Well, duh.' Jamie thought. She knew she had to be polite to the Fishers. After all, they still share the same last name. Not for long though.

"Both Landon and Caitlin have accepted that fact. Landon can never be her biological father but will be there like a father should be." Jamie replied. Adeline was getting on her nerves. She could tell because her neck was getting tight.

"Exactly." Mrs. Fisher said.

"Adeline, after Rod died, you and your husband wanted nothing to do with me and Caitlin. Why, all of the sudden, have you had any interest in our lives." Jamie asked as she crossed her arms. Adeline just stared at her for a few seconds. "Because you are married to my son. You are part of our family. Rodney may be dead, but he is still part of this family. Which means we have say in what you do." Adeline explained. Jamie almost busted out laughing

"No you don't. In our wedding vows, we said 'Until death parts us.' Since Rodney died, I can do what I please. Date who I want and marry I may." Jamie said. She was trying so hard to not to get in Adeline's face. Toning it down a bit, she continued "Rodney will always be part of our lives. I make sure to keep his pictures around for Caitlin and tell her about him when she asks. Caitlin will always know her father like he was still alive."

"That's just it, he isn't." Adeline said, pointing out the obvious.

"Ok, Adeline. You are not the only one affected by Rodney's death. I had to deal with guilt of making that phone to tell him that Caitlin was sick, but it was also his decision to come home early that day. He made the decision to tell his boss he was leaving early because he wanted to be home with his sick little girl. But he also had to deal with the guilt of betraying our vows and having an affair. Yes, Mrs. Fisher, Rod cheated on me." Jamie said, finally getting it off her chest. Her neck also felt better.

"Well, then, have a good wedding and a happy marriage. I hope you and what's his name are happy together and Caitlin loves her new family, since she is no longer part of mine." Adeline said. She went to the door and slammed it shut.

Landon sat back in his chair. It was still two more hours until he could leave and see his son and soon to be wife. He looked at the picture of Jamie that sat on his desk. Soon he could add a picture of them at their wedding. Soon they would be the family he always wanted. He and Jamie haven't discussed having anymore kids, but he sure wants one that is both of theirs.

"Looks like someone is here to see you." Eric said standing next to his desk.

"What?" Landon asked. Eric pointed and Landon stood up and saw Jamie walking towards him.

"Oh, Landon, we need to talk." She said.

"What about?" Landon asked sitting down.

"Do we really want a big wedding?" Jamie asked.

"What do you mean?" Landon asked.

"Can we talk in private?" Jamie asked before going any further.

"Use my office." Eric offered. Jamie followed Landon into Eric's office and he shut the door.

"Landon, I just want to know if you want the wedding we planned?" Jamie asked.

"Not really. It's not my thing. Maybe, It's because I'm a guy, but I wasn't that interested in the planning in our wedding, or even mine with Alison." Landon explained and then asked "Do you?"

"No, I had my big wedding. I think we should go to the Bahamas and elope." Jamie said. Landon took a second to decide.

"Now, that's more my type." He said before he kissed her.

Landon and Jamie laid together in the hammock as the gentle Caribbean breeze moved the palm trees. They sun was setting and it was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Only two days ago they made the decision to fly down here and they had to be on the island at least 24 hours before they could be married. They took Caitlin and Max out of school early and told them their plan. They were more exciting then the couple.

They watched their children chase each other and play in the sand. Before picking up the children, they discussed adoption and decided that to become a complete family, they should adopt each other's child. They will explain this to the kids after returning home.

"What now, Mrs. Carter?" Landon asked.

"Trying to explain this to everyone, Mr. Carter." Jamie said moving on top of him. She placed her hands on his chest. She looked down at her hands were a new silver band is now rested. Jamie then leaned down and kissed him.

THE END

P.S. What da ya think? I know it's been so long. I promise to try to keep my stories updated. Anyways, if the thing about the Bahamas isn't true, forgive me and if you want a me to make a trilogy out of this store, tell me. I am more then willing to. I do love this story and it has been fun to write.