Page 55 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 3

“This woman really is the sun shining on a cloudy day,” Erik hooked a thumb toward me.

Jack burst out laughing, a much-needed break in the tension. It filled my chest with relief and joy.

“What can I say, I’m aptly named,” I smiled.

Jack padded over to me and cupped both of my cheeks. “Are we getting married, raising TJ, and having a bunch of babies?” he asked, his gaze laser focused on mine, his expression more severe than ever before.

“Yes, yes, and hell yes!” I cried out and looped my arms around his neck, plastered my body to his, and kissed him fast and hard.

“Jesus Kristus,” Erik murmured.

Savannah took that moment to enter through the front door, a bundled-up TJ in her arms. When he entered, the boy saw me and screamed, “Sum Sum!” and toddled over to me, his arms out wide.

I scooped him up and blew kisses against his neck until he was squirming and howling with delight. Then he turned around and put his hand out, his fingers grabbing at Jack.

“Dada Yak, Dada Yak,” he said and then spoke something in Norwegian.

“Ah, come here, buddy,” he grabbed TJ and put him on his hip, naturally balancing him like any dad would. Then he spoke quietly to him, and TJ’s eyes went to Erik.

“Unca Rick!” TJ repeated in broken English.

“It’s Air-Rick” Erik sounded out for TJ.

“Unca Rick!” he blurted, pointing at Erik and then said, “Sabby!” his pudgy hand waving at Savannah.

“Uncle Erik and Auntie Savvy is correct, buddy. Good job!” Jack spoke in English, then I think he repeated it in Norwegian. Which reminded me I needed to download Duolingo or Rosetta Stone to start learning Norwegian.

“Sooooo, how did it go while I was gone?” Savannah walked over to Erik and cuddled against his side.

“Jack has declined our offer to raise TJ. He and Summer are still planning to get married, raise TJ, and apparently have more children right away.”

Savannah’s eyes seemed to bulge at how surprised she apparently was. “Well, okay. That settles that. Of course, we’ll be available to support and help raise TJ in any way that’s needed.”

“I was trying to express the fact that we would be best suited to raise the boy,” Erik continued, and Jack glared, his body becoming rigid.

Savannah patted Erik on the chest. “Honey, just because you’ve got a new lease on life doesn’t mean you can push your desires on everyone else. Me, yes. Your parents, probably. Jack…uh no. He’s a grown man who has been present in TJ’s life. He’s likely to be the best source for TJ’s immediate happiness, especially during this transition period. He’s going to miss his mom a lot. Jack is a regular part of his life, as are your parents. We’re new to him. What he needs most right now is stability. Jack can give him that better than we can. And if in two or three weeks, or later down the road, Jack finds he’s not ready to be a father, we can discuss this again.”

“Thank you, Savannah. I appreciate your contribution, but I won’t be giving TJ up in two or three weeks. Not in a month or a year. I know what it’s like to not have a stable parent in your life or any parent for that matter. TJ will never feel alone or unwanted.” Jack’s gaze shot to mine, and I nodded. “Summer and I will raise TJ as though he were our own child.”

“Understood. That doesn’t mean we won’t be here ready to give a helping hand,” Savannah offered. “TJ has family that loves him. I believe that’s the most important thing.”

“Me too. I’m sorry I got so angry,” Jack said, looking at Erik.

“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have come at you like that. It wasn’t right. You have been in TJ’s life the whole time. I guess I just didn’t realize that you were ready for all of this. I’m seeing now, firsthand, that you have changed too.”

Jack smiled as I ran my hand along TJ’s soft hair as he pressed his head to Jack’s neck and started to close sleepy eyes.

“We’ll be okay,” I said to Jack, but meant it for all of us.

“We will. We have each other,” Jack murmured.

“We have family,” I reminded him.

Both Savannah and Erik came over, and we had a long group hug.

“Oh, and don’t forget, my parents and sister will be here soon,” I said.

“Your family is coming here, to Norway?” Erik asked. “Why?”

---