Page 161 of Redeeming Heart

He sighed and I saw the look on Meredith’s face when she entered the kitchen seeing Jonah sulking.

“He is just going to miss you a lot,” Meredith informed, giving Jonah a side hug and a kiss on top of his head.

“I thought you told all your buddies that you are happy about being the only kid at home where you will have time to watch your shows and not get interrupted?” I playfully teased.

His cheeks flushed making me want to chuckle, but I pushed it back not wanting him to feel as if I was humiliating him.

He shrugged. “I never had an awesome sister before,” He mumbled walking out of the kitchen with slumped shoulders. I heard the front door opening and shutting as he left.

I caught my father and Meredith looking at me. “He’ll be fine. He just needs to get used to the idea.” Meredith said.

“Have you guys decided on a wedding date yet?” I asked getting ready to leave before Jonah walked away.

My dad glanced at Meredith who smiled at me and nodded her head. “We decided on next year,” Meredith said, brushing her hand over her stomach and for a minute I didn’t immediately comprehend, but then I saw my father’s smile.

“You’re pregnant,” I noted.

A few months ago, I would have lost it, but since I am slowly starting to get over it and getting used to my dad moving on—I was happy for them.

Both endured pain over time and this baby is the power to give them a new beginning. “I am so happy for the both of you,” I embraced my dad and Meredith—hugging my dad a bit longer aware of how life-changing this is for him.

“I would really love to stay and keep congratulating each of you, but I really have to meet Brandon before the game and Jonah is pretty much almost halfway there,” I said ready to leave when my father passed something to me.

I noticed it was his car keys. “You can use my car until yours gets here.” For a moment everything around me stopped as I let his words sink in.

“You bought me a car…” He nodded, shooting me a grin.

“You’ve proven to me that I was wrong about you all this time. You came out on top even when I almost let you drown in your sorrows. I was the one who was wrong all this time.”

I lightly chuckled wiping away my tears and getting embraced with a hug from my dad. “Your mom was always right when she called you strong and courageous.”

“I just had to find it inside of me,” I murmured, pulling away when noticing I had a few minutes to get to the ice rink.

I said my goodbyes after congratulating them one more time before I had to leave. I got Jonah along the way and he made it obvious that he wasn’t speaking to me.

He stayed by my side though when we entered the ice rink and made our way over to our seats, but I made a quick stop when Brandon noticed us and called me over to the side.

“You’re late,” He said with a playful tone and giving Jonah a fist pump before leaning in for a quick kiss on my lips or so it seems, but he made it obvious to the people who were still second-guessing our relationship when he gave me a proper, toe-curling kiss that was going to leave me breathless for a while.

“Sorry, I just had to bring this along and show you.” I handed him my acceptance letter. “I got in,” I said with a smile and watched a huge grin appear on his face.

“I told you that you would get in,” He met me for a second kiss.

“I should trust my instincts, huh?” He chuckled—holding his hand against my cheek.

“I wish you can see yourself from my eyes. You aren’t just breathtaking, but the courage you carry around you is so strong that you encourage other people.”

“Here I thought you are the encouragement I lacked and got me back on my feet when I almost stayed down.”

He shook his head. “You don’t need a prince in armor to save you from a tower or a curse. You are powerful enough to do it on your own.”

“I did need a little push,” I gave him a quick kiss on the lips before leaving the railing to get to my seat when his coach called him to the center with his team.

“I always thought it would be nice to see you with Brandon, but all the kissing is making me nauseous,” Jonah complained—pulling his nose up in disgust.

I snickered at his attempt to express his opinion and bumped his shoulder lightly with mine when he reminded me of how I used to act around couples and love.

After Brandon’s game, we met my dad and Meredith with his parents at his mother’s restaurant to celebrate my good news.

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