So this story came to a natural conclusion, like Pandemic restrictions. THanks so much for sticking with me through it this is the first pandemic dump story to be completed.. 3 trillion left to go I swear I keep finding them . Please enjoy this final chapter. ~s.K. I'm gonna go buy me a beer.

Acceptance

Tori

I found myself back in the home where Andre and I had made so many memories. It hadn't changed much since his passing. Me and the kids had left the place the day he died and stayed with Jade. We hadn't come back since. But now, it was time to deal with reality and get this place ready for sale.

This house held a mix of beautiful and painful memories. We didn't want to stay here without Andre. His presence was all around, and the absence was just too heavy.

I decided to tackle this task on my own, thinking it was something I had to do by myself. As I walked through the rooms, I started collecting the stuff that reminded me most of him. His awards, his favorite hoodie, that watch he always said he'd pass on to his son, if we ever had one. These things were like pieces of him, and I couldn't let them go.

It was a tough journey. I took down family pictures, packed up photo albums, and gathered his clothes and his huge collection of shoes for charity.

The pain was getting unbearable, and I felt like I was drowning in my own grief. Just when it all felt too much, my phone rang, and it was Jade on the line. Her words were a soothing balm, and I finally let my emotions flow, sharing my sorrow with the one who's been my anchor through it all.

Jade's voice was like a warm embrace, and her words felt like a soothing balm to my broken heart. She asked if I needed her there, and I could only nod, even though she couldn't see me. "Yeah," I managed to say, my voice trembling, "I packed everything, but seeing everything put in boxes... Just..."

She reassured me, promising to be there soon, and then the call ended. About twenty minutes later, I had sealed up the boxes that held the tangible remnants of our life together. There was the hoodie, though, the one that still carried his scent, and I had put it on to feel closer to him. I sat on our living room couch, the same one where we'd spent countless nights cuddled together, watching movies with the girls. I just breathed in, trying to hold on to the ethereal memory of his smell, so faint but still present. I hoped it would linger, but deep down, I knew it would fade all too soon.

Jade walked into the house using her key. She was on the phone, her voice calm and collected as she arranged for movers to pack my things and Take them to my new place. Her attention was also divided, with a professional house stager's website open on her phone. I knew she was taking charge of all the duties because, just like me, she found it hard to be in this house without Andre.

It was a bittersweet moment, the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, but one that was essential for our healing.

The week before, our realtor delivered the news that the house we had come to call our love bubble was being sold, and we'd have to move out. Without wasting a moment, I swiftly put in an offer, and the seller accepted it. This new development happened so fast that I didn't even have the chance to inform Jade about it.

When Jade returned from her production bubble, she found that neither Sirrah nor I were at home. Sirrah was working, and I had taken on the role of her wrangler. So, when I finally made it home, brimming with excitement to share the news with Jade, I discovered that she was at the hospital with Miri and Jordan. My grandson, Tobias, was born, and Jade was there to witness it. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of bitterness about not being there for my daughter's first childbirth.

In the midst of my mixed emotions, I had completely forgotten to tell Jade that I had purchased the house. That revelation came on the day the realtor arrived at our love bubble, all masked and tested, to close the deal. To my surprise, Jade was there too, and she expressed her desire to buy the house together. With that, we signed the bill of sale, solidifying our commitment to our love nest. The house that held so many cherished memories was now officially ours.

"Are you keeping the bulkier furniture?" Jade inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.

I considered for a moment before responding, "I think all I'm keeping are the instruments, Jade. We already have decent furniture, but I want this couch in my office. It belongs to the girls and me."

Jade nodded in understanding, but she added a name, "And Andre."

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and Andre," I confirmed.

Jade continued our conversation, "What about your office furniture?"

"Yes, please," I replied. "I'm going to need it. I have to admit I'm a bit jealous of your office. In fact, I've decided to take the guest house that Beck and Helena vacated. That loft is fantastic, and it has everything I need to get really creative in there. It even has a play area for the twins."

Jade chuckled, acknowledging my enthusiasm. "I'm totally jealous," she admitted.

Then, a wave of nostalgia washed over her as she looked around the place. "I'm going to miss this place," she sighed.

I agreed, but a somber note crept into my voice. "Yeah, but it just isn't the same without him, you know?"

Jade understood the sentiment and said, "Yeah, I know."

With our decision made, Jade asked, "Ready to go?"

I nodded, realizing there was one more thing I wanted to do. "Yeah, just let me gather the rest of his masters, and then we can go."

"Okay," Jade replied, her presence providing comfort as we prepared to leave behind the home filled with memories of the man we both loved.

Jade

I held Tobie in my arms as his mother took a moment to shower. Miri was already proving to be such a great mom, and my son, Jordan, was stepping up as a fantastic dad. However, the worry gnawed at me because Jordan was out in the world, working in an office as pandemic precautions relaxed. The new variant of the Covid virus was circulating, and that added a layer of fear to the mix.

Despite these concerns, we maintained strict protocols within our home. As people started leaving the bubble, we implemented a clear rule: if you lived here, you stayed in the main house. If you needed to work outside of the house, we had one of the guest houses set up for decontamination. Our vigilance was unwavering, driven by the need to protect the more vulnerable members of our extended family.

This was now our home, Tori's and mine. We had purchased it together as partners. Miri and Jordan lived in the West wing, while Tori and I resided in the East wing. Sirrah still had her room, and David and Holly occupied the in-law suite in the lower level. Harry and Meghan had settled into the largest pool house, which had three bedrooms. They were set up to stay there until the restaurant industry was back on its feet. It was a full house, but it felt like family, and that was what mattered most to us.

The decontamination house also had space for a 14-day quarantine, a necessary precaution in these uncertain times. We equipped it with a kitchen so that those in quarantine could take care of their own meals, avoiding the situation I had found myself in during the pandemic, living in my office.

Then there was the third pool house, which served as Tori's office and studio. She spent many days out there, immersed in writing music and recording her creations. The twins had a special play area in this house. They were growing quickly, reaching developmental milestones, and it was delightful to see their progress. This pool house was situated closest to the mansion on the east side, making it a convenient location for Tori's workspace.

We were settled here, happy and together. I was holding TObie when I heard the excited exclamation in the living room. I carefully walked in that direction with TObie in my arms. In the living room, Olivia was taking tentative steps toward her mother, who was enthusiastically cheering her on. It was a beautiful moment, and I felt so lucky to be a witness to my granddaughter's first steps. I wished my hands were free to record it, but fortunately, Sirrah had her phone out and was capturing the precious moment.

"Hey, trouble, are you getting this?" I asked Sirrah, wanting to make sure we had this memory recorded for the family.

"Sure am," she replied with a smile, focused on capturing Olivia's milestone.

Tori walked into the house from the studio and was greeted by a heartwarming scene. Each of the twins was perched on a hip, and she couldn't help but cheer for Olivia as the little one took her first steps. As she made her way over to her mother, Olivia looked so proud of herself, and it was a joyous moment for everyone.

I looked around at my extended family, I couldn't help but feel grateful. This was something I never thought I would have when I was just 18. Despite the challenges and surprises life had thrown my way, my life had turned out to be better than anything I could have imagined. It was a reminder of how love and family can bring unexpected and wonderful blessings into our lives.

About three weeks later, I stood in our backyard, feeling the weight of the ring box in my pocket. This was it, the moment I had been planning and waiting for. I had transformed our backyard into a romantic setting, complete with twinkling fairy lights and a beautifully set dinner table.

My heart raced as I glanced at the setup, making sure everything was just right. Tori was the love of my life, and I couldn't wait to ask her to be my forever. I had rehearsed my speech countless times, wanting every word to express the depth of my love for her.

As we sat down to enjoy a delicious dinner Prepared by Meghan together, I couldn't help but feel a rush of emotions. This was the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, and tonight was the night I would ask her to be my wife.

As we savored each bite of our meal, our eyes met, and there was a shared sense of anticipation and excitement between us.

After dessert, Tori finally spoke up. "Jade," she began, her voice trembling with emotion, "there's something I've been wanting to ask you."

My heart skipped a beat. I knew I wanted to ask something of her, so letting her say what she had to say first almost made me lose my resolve. I focused my attention to her. A joyful smile spread across her face, and she knelt down on one knee, revealing a stunning engagement ring. I gasped, not because I love Jewelery that much, but because this woman in front of me was everything I ever wanted. "Jade, will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I reached into my pocket and got down eye level to her. The confusion in her eyes gave way to pure delight, when I produced my own engagement ring. "I was going to ask you the same thing."

We both laughed through our happy tears, sharing a moment that felt like serendipity. In this beautiful twist of fate, we exchanged rings and heartfelt promises. As we kissed deeply, I slipped the ring onto her finger, and she did the same for me.

"I love you so much, Jade," Tori said, her eyes filled with love. "There isn't anyone better to survive a global pandemonium than you."

With a smile, I added, "I have just one condition."

Tori raised an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"We are getting the hell out of here for the wedding."

Tori chuckled. "Definitely. Anywhere you want, my love."

Fin