Page 54 of Signed With Love

Never. You can’t give them up. She’s resigning from work. She loves her work and her students. I would never make her give up her life to move to Casper. I’ll come to you.

She’s worth someone giving up their current life to be part of hers. I’ll find work in Anchorage. I refuse to spend any time away from her, so my plan was to rent out my home, quit my job, and go to her.

But what about flying? Your job? Your life here?

I want you. Everything else I’ll still have, but it will be even better because I’ll see you every day.

Claire nods and looks back at her hands, the ring on her finger. I check the time by the clock on the stove. When I turn back, Claire is watching me, her head tilted to the side.

I’m getting hungry, I explain my sudden distraction. Not much can distract me from Claire, but my stomach is growling.

You didn’t have any food, so I didn’t have anything to make you.

Norma’s? I can take it to go so you don’t have to wait.

I could eat waffles, Claire signs, then rises from the table. She slips on her shoes and reaches for my car keys. I’m on too much medication to drive, so I appreciate having her help. I’ll owe her when I’m back to a hundred percent. I’m pretty sure I can think of several ways to thank my fiancée.

I shut the door behind us and follow her outside. I glance at Billy and Gloria’s place. With everything going on, I’ve really kept her from time with her parents. Even I’ve been missing them, so I’m sure she has been. The days with her dad searching for me don’t really count.

I catch Claire’s attention before she can climb into my Jeep. Want to ask your parents to join us?

She smiles. Thank you. I bet they would like that. We make the quick walk up to their cabin. Billy and Gloria grab their stuff, and we all climb into the car. This family has become my family, and I couldn’t ask for better people to have in my life.

We arrive at Norma’s a few minutes later. I keep my fingers intertwined with hers as we search for an empty booth. There is one I see, but Chadwick catches our attention, and Claire walks toward him instead. There is enough room for her parents if we push a few extra chairs over. Norma doesn’t seem to mind. She brings some coffee over as I slide Billy a chair.

“Is that a ring on my daughter’s hand?” Billy asks.

Oh, shit. I forgot to ask him first. Hey, I’ve never proposed to a woman before. “I want to marry your daughter.”

“I’m happy to hear that,” he says. “You make my daughter happy.”

Claire hugs Finn, Chadwick, and Rylee. Gloria squeezes right in next to them.

“She makes me a better man,” I reply to Billy.

“Well, just promise me you'll treat her right. Not that I had any worries. Why do you think I couldn’t remember to pay my rent on time?” Billy adds with a chuckle.

I start laughing. “Why do you think I quit offering to pick it up?”

Billy’s hand lands on my shoulder as we walk to the table.

Claire’s hand is in Chadwick’s, and his gaze flicks to mine. “Don’t fuck this up, brother.”

“Wasn’t planning on messing it up,” I say but sign as well. I want to make sure my girl knows too.

Norma drops off some menus to Gloria and Billy. “Happy to see you two back with us. What is everyone having today?”

“The strawberry waffles, please,” Claire says. “Thank you.” She intertwines her fingers with mine.

I spend the late morning with those I care about. I share with them my plan to head to Anchorage. We will be coming back to Casper at least once a month. I’ll keep my house to possibly rent out, and I’ll spend the next four weeks recovering before I talk to Mitchell Reyes, the SARs coordinator in Anchorage. He wanted me to join their team once before, so I hope to get the job again.

All I know is this girl beside me is my best adventure, and I’m ready to live it. I kiss her knuckles and smile. I use my other hand to shove a bite of her strawberry waffles into my mouth.

Epilogue

Claire

Eight months later

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