“This is really good news, Ellen.”
She frowned and hugged her son. “Really? You don’t think it’s too soon, you know, after Troy…”
“I don’t. It’s been two and a half years since we lost him. It’s perfectly natural for you to want to branch out and meet people. You’re a beautiful young woman with a lot of life ahead of you. Troy wouldn’t want you to be alone for the rest of your life.”
Her eyes became glassy and she started to sniffle. “You’re right. Troy was selfless, especially when it came to me. I know I’ll never experience a love like his again, but I’m lonely, Jack. TJ keeps me busy during the day, but when he’s asleep, the house is so quiet. Then the memories of Troy and our lives before we lost him come back...” She shook her head and wiped her teary face.
I wanted desperately to push my arms through the computer and reach all the way to Norway so I could pull her against my chest and hold her close, letting her know she wasn’t alone in her grief. She had me, and she had Erik now that he was back to living life again. And above all, she had TJ.
“I will admit to many sleepless nights over the past couple years. Between the grief and the worry for Erik, you, and TJ, it has sometimes felt like the loss of Troy would destroy me. Then I found hope when Erik came out of his severe depression and married Savannah. And of course, now I have a future to look forward to with Summer.”
“Their wedding was so beautiful,” Ellen sighed dreamily. “And when should I expect the invitation to your and the mysterious Summer’s wedding?”
I grinned. “She’s not mysterious. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, Ellen. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“You can’t wait for me to meet who?” said the woman herself. She came padding into the kitchen, yawning, her long blonde hair wild around her face. She was wearing a short satin robe over what I knew to be her naked body. My woman slept in thenude, and I knew from past experience, if she was standing in one of her little robes, she was bare underneath.
I looped an arm around her waist and tugged her onto my lap.
She giggled at my shenanigans then kissed my cheek before turning to face the screen.
“Oh my goodness! Is that TJ?” She cooed to the toddler and waved wildly at the boy on the screen.
Ellen held TJ’s wrist and helped him wave. “Say hi to your new Auntie Summer,” Ellen encouraged.
TJ waved both hands, crushing the newest cracker into a bunch of pieces that flew in every direction.
All three of us laughed, and it felt so good to be sharing them with Summer.
“Hi, Ellen. I’m Summer.” My girl wiggled her fingers and smiled shyly.
“Jack has been gushing about you for days. I was just asking him when the wedding was and where it would be held.”
Summer adjusted her position on my lap and wrapped an arm around my neck. “We’re thinking soon, actually. We’re coming up on the harvest, and my mother believes we need to do it on the next new moon, which is technically in a week.”
Ellen’s eyes went wide. “A week. As in seven days?”
Summer yawned and nodded on a muffled, “Mmmhmm, new moon celebrates new beginnings. It’s good luck.”
“Wow, that was fast. I remember you said this Marriage Auction would be quick, but honestly, I didn’t really believe it. Jack, you’re going to be married in a week!”
“Do you think you can get the time off work? We’ll send the jet for you, TJ, and the Johansens. They’re going to be my next call. I know it’s fast but…” I held onto Summer and nuzzled her temple. “Why wait when you know it’s right?” She didn’t need to know there was a contractual time limit of one month. I’d rathershe think we met at the auction, fell in love, and just decided to get married right away. The finer details didn’t matter, and regardless of the contractual obligation, I was falling for my fiancée and didn’t want to imagine my life without her.
“It’s so true. After what happened with losing Troy so suddenly, I genuinely believe that we can’t count on tomorrow. We must live in the now,” Ellen agreed.
“I like this woman,” Summer said. “Ellen, you’re awesome.”
Ellen chuckled. “I’m glad you think so. From what I can see, and based on what I know about Jack, you’ve already made him a much happier man. Every call he’s been smiling more, less stressed, and more his old self than I’ve seen him in years.”
Summer ruffled my hair. “Aw, you mean this big lug? Yeah, I think I’ll keep him. I’ve grown quite fond of him in recent days,” she joked.
I laughed and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek.
TJ babbled his agreement.
“Would it be okay if TJ was our ring bearer?” I asked, feeling my neck heat at the request. I couldn’t believe I was getting married and choosing a member of the wedding party. Troy’s son. The closest person I had to the man himself would be there to see me commit my life to this incredible woman. Somehow that made it feel all the more real.
Ellen squealed. “Oh, how delightful! TJ, my love, you’re going to be the cutest little boy in a tux there ever was!”