Page 52 of Signed With Love

The next morning, I drive Jamison home. The doctor agreed he wasn’t dehydrated anymore, and his ribs would heal at home. Though he will have to avoid work for a while and keep taking his pain medication. He’s officially on medical leave for the next four weeks.

Rylee was discharged a few hours before him, and Finn drove her back to Casper. She recovered quickly and was back to her usual self. She blamed herself repeatedly for what happened, but I told her to stop. These are the dangers that come with the job, and I’m going to be strong enough to stay by Jamison’s side through the thick of it.

After three hours in the car, my man is extremely grumpy when we reach his cabin. I reach into the back of our rental car and grab our bags. I follow Jamison up the steps and inside. He turns to take the bags and tosses them in the entryway. He’s not supposed to lift anything or work for the next four weeks while recovering, but I have a feeling he’s going to be stubborn about that too. That’s okay. He’s stuck with me, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t work too hard.

Jamison goes to the kitchen to grab something to drink. I see his mother’s journal resting on the counter when I follow him. I lift the journal up and see my letter marking the page I told him to read. He always felt reading her journals was invasive, but I wanted him to know as much as he could about his father. Based on the journals and what my father knew, I wrote him a letter revealing my research.

I glance his way when he walks over and hands me his glass of water. Jamison picks up a letter and hands it to me. He must have written it before he crashed in the mountains. He was already ready to reach out like I was. After stealing a sip, I set the glass down and open the letter.

???

Hey, babe,

Thank you for telling me about my father. I can’t believe my mother kept it a secret for so long.

I don’t know if I’ll ever understand her reason for not telling me even though he passed before I was born.

I would love to fly out to the Copper River Valley with you one day. Thank you for offering to go with me.

I’m sorry for pushing you away, but please let me come back to you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making things right.

I couldn’t say the exact moment I fell in love with you. It could have been that first moment I saw you on my mother’s front porch when you were moving your parents into their home. Your head was tipped back, your gaze turned to the sun. The rays of light shined down on you, and it was the first time I hadn’t felt like flying away.

It could have been the first time you looked at me with a softness in your eyes. It also could have been the first time you spoke to me; the delicate way your voice wrapped around me, and your embrace became the only place I wanted to be.

Please, babe, let me come back to your arms.

Love,

Jamison

???

I set the paper on the counter and turn. I rise on my toes so he doesn’t have to lower himself to reach me. I steal his lips in a deep and passionate kiss. I get to feel his kisses and lose myself in his arms. Like him, I couldn’t pinpoint the moment I entirely fell, but all that matters is that in the end, I’m here with him.

Epilogue

Jamison

Claire is being gentle as I try to embrace her to deepen her kiss. Normally, her hugs are all in and she molds to my body. She’s highly aware of the bandages that wrap my upper body under the t-shirt I wear and refuses to get so close that she fears she’ll hurt me. The pain medicine helps, and I try to pull her deeper into my embrace again.

“Asher Jamison Thomas, I swear if you don’t stop, I’m going to quit kissing you.”

I immediately loosen my hold, our laughter filling my tiny kitchen. She also knows the last secret I have; she must have learned it from my mother’s words. My real first name.

I free my hands to sign. So now you know.

I do. Should I go by my middle name now? Danielle Davidson?

There’s a twinkle in her eyes, and I can’t help but lay the last of my heart on the line with her, the heart that’s pounding at a rapid rate in my chest.

No. Claire Thomas sounds better to me, though. If you are looking for a new name to go by…

It wasn’t the way I thought I’d propose to her, but I hadn’t given it much thought. I knew what I wanted, so I asked for it. I make quick decisions with little thought. Claire usually wants ample time to prepare, but that only makes her anxiety worse. Maybe she can live in the moment like I do.

She raises her hands and seems to be holding herself back. Then her hands hold my face as she rises up to kiss me again. She does this so I don’t have to lower down to reach her. I take this kiss as a fuck yes to my name idea, so my smile spreads across my face. When I try to draw her closer and slip my hands under her shirt, she smacks my hands away, breaking our kiss.

I want to show my fiancée exactly how much fun being Mrs. Claire Thomas could be, but damn, I need to get the ring to propose properly, because the thought of Claire being my wife sounds perfect.

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