Page 74 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“I was thinking that all I ever wanted was a family of my own. People that I could love unconditionally, who would love me the same in return.”

“And?”

“And I had no idea I would have to lose so much in order to achieve it.” I covered the sudden sob that tore from my throat.

Summer grabbed my hand and dragged me out of TJ’s room, into the guest room we were sharing. “Jack, Ellen did not die because you wanted to have a family. She was in an accident. Just like Troy. You didn’t manifest them losing their lives so you could have their son. You are gifting them the highest honor by raising TJ on their behalf. Don’t let grief twist your mind up. You and I were already on our own path toward being a family, remember? In a few days, we were supposed to get married on the farm.”

“And now we’ll be at a funeral.” I gulped, letting the nastiness out.

“Yes, you’re right. We’ll be sending Ellen to the afterlife while we’re still here, continuing our journey. Only this time, we have a little boy that will be coming on the journey with us. Who knows? Maybe this was always meant to be. Maybe this was also part of our destiny. The Universe has spoken. We’re goingto be parents sooner than expected. So what? We have tons of support.” She pointed to the wall that led to the living space where I could hear the crew carrying on, downing bottle after bottle of wine and sharing memories of Troy and Ellen.

“You make it sound so easy while I’m second-guessing every decision I’ve ever made. Everything has to change for TJ.”

She shrugged. “That’s what you do when you raise kids.”

“Well, where are we gonna live? In California? In Norway? When are we going to get married? When does TJ need to be in school? Ellen had him in a daycare pre-school type thing. What about your business? What about Johansen Brewing? I’m the CEO. I can’t just neglect my commitments and neither can you.”

“Holy goddess, Jack! Slow the heck down. We have lots of time to figure every last one of these things out.”

“It will only get worse as the days go by.”

“How? Tell me how it will get worse,” she fired back, her tone heated.

“Because you could get up and leave me and TJ at any moment!” I slumped to the bed, my head in my hands, the truth a gaping open wound between us.

Summer approached, and I grabbed her hips and put my head against her stomach, needing her close.

She ran her fingers through my hair, her nails scratching down my scalp.

“There it is. That’s what’s really bothering you. Ellen left you. Your real parents abandoned you. All the moms you trusted in foster care ultimately left you. Troy passed on. Erik went off on his own for years and left you alone to handle it all.”

“Summer,” I rasped, my emotions gritty and raw as I dug my fingers into her hips.

“You’re worried I’m going to leave you. But Jack, that’s not going to happen.”

I lifted my head and stared into the prettiest eyes I’d ever seen. “You have no good reason to make this mess your life.”

“No reason? What about love? I love you, Jack.I love you.I’m not going to wake up one day and choose another life. Baby, I choose you, and I choose TJ.”

“Forever? Not just three years?”

“You really think I give a fuck about that marriage contract? It’s already a whisper in the wind. I’m marrying the man I’m in love with, and adopting his son. That’s the life I choose.”

I let her words sink in and finally…they did.

“I’m not falling in love with you anymore,” I admitted, my soul reaching for the only woman I’ve ever wanted to spend my entire life with.

“No?” Her lips twitched knowingly.

“I’m alreadyin love.”

“Yeah, baby, I know you love me. You show me every time you look at me. Every time you kiss me. Now get up here and kiss me good enough for it to last through more wine and our family bonding time,” she instructed.

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Do I even want to know what they are doing?”

“Mom’s doing everyone’s tarot cards. Autumn is reading their palms and telling them their futures. So yeah, kiss, then we gotta get in there.” She hooked a thumb toward the door.

I stood up, tunneled my hand through her glorious hair, and kissed her with all the love I had within me. When we were done, she was wobbly on her feet.

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