Page 79 of Anything For This Love

Abby

Nobody warnsyou how hard it will be to send your child to their first day of preschool, even if it’s in the same building where they’ve attended daycare for almost a year. It feels like she’s growing up too fast and time is moving at lightning speed.

I snap a few more pictures of Chloe before wiping at my damp eyes. Jacob helps her into her car seat and straps her in, planting a quick peck on her forehead.

“You ready?” he asks, leaning against the open door to his SUV.

“Not really, but I don’t think I have much of a choice.”

“It’ll be okay,” he assures me, coming around to pull me into his arms. “We get to pick her up at noon, so she’s not going to be gone that long.”

“It’s not that,” I sniffle. “It’s just that, next thing we know, she’ll be starting kindergarten, then going to prom, then graduating high school. She just needs to slow down.”

He rubs my back soothingly. “I know, but we’ll be here for all of it. Every memory and special moment, we’ll be right by her side.”

His words are a balm to my frayed nerves and I relax in his hold. My worry eases even more when we pick her up at noon and she practically skips to the car.

“Did you have fun today, Bug?”

“Yes! I wurned my wetters!” she answers adorably. Her happiness brings peace to my soul, making me realize we made the right choice to send her now instead of waiting.

Over the next few weeks, Arthur hits the campaign trail hard with Evelyn staunchly by his side. Jacob is in the process of getting the second branch of his engineering firm ready to open with many long nights spent at the office or with his nose crammed in his laptop, so we don’t get to see him nearly enough.

When it comes time for Caleb to go to trial for what he did to me, Jacob takes time off work to be by my side. Everything goes much faster than I expect and Caleb ends up taking a plea deal. He knows he won’t get away with his crimes and if the case goes to trial, he’ll probably receive a longer sentence.

I would never want to use Arthur’s position for my own advantage, but I can’t help but wonder if it helped in this situation. Did Caleb’s lawyers persuade him to plead out because of who my future father-in-law is? No matter what, I’m glad he’s going away for twenty years. He doesn’t belong out in the world where he can hurt anyone else. He belongs in prison. Hopefully twenty years will be enough for him to work through his anger issues.

September and October pass in a flurry of activities. Ethan’s band is nominated for best new artist at one of the country music award shows. We watch him and his band mates stroll up the red carpet and joke with interviewers. It’s so surreal seeing my baby brother on TV, looking like a celebrity. What’s even more insane is watching Tiff stroll casually beside him arm-in-arm, her hand resting on his bicep. I still have to do a double take when I see them together. It’s hard to wrap my mind around them as a couple, but I’m slowly getting used to it.

The renovations on our farmhouse are nearly complete by the first of October, as is the office space Jacob’s firm purchased in Lewisburg. His transition from city life to quiet country living is almost complete. I still can’t believe he made this drastic change for me. He did it so we can have a life together, a future, and a family that gets to spend every weekend and evening under the same roof. No more five-hour drives just to squeeze in a couple days to visit. No more watching him slip out of the house quietly while Chloe naps so she doesn’t have to see him go.

“Did our Halloween costumes come in?” he asks while we chat on the phone during our lunch break one day.

“They did and they’re perfect, but are you sure you’re going to be able to join us to go trick or treating?” With the election so close, I worry he’ll be needed back home.

“There’s no chance in hell I’m missing it. It’s my favorite holiday.”

“Really? That’s kinda strange.”

“Why’s that strange? You get to dress up like somebody else and eat a shit ton of candy without feeling guilty about it. Plus, the movies are the best.”

I laugh at this playful side. “No way! Christmas movies are way better. Christmas is the superior holiday.”

“LastChristmas was a superior holiday. I’ll give you that.” My face heats at his teasing tone, remembering last Christmas. It was magical, but not for the usual reasons.

“Are you blushing?”

“Shut up.”

He laughs, the accuracy of his assumption making me huff like a petulant child. “Anyway, I think I’ll make a rather dashing King in the North and you’ll be one hot dragon queen. There’s no way I’ll miss this opportunity. I’ll definitely be there.”

He makes good on his promise. With his curly black wig and black cloak, he walks with me and our little baby dragon as she collects candy in a jack-o’-lantern shaped bucket. Even though we’re less than a week from the biggest election of his father’s career, he’s trick-or-treating with his daughter. In moments like these, I can’t believe I ever doubted him. There was a time I prayed for someone to love us both like we were the most important people in the world, but to Jacob, we are his entire universe. He’s the answer to my prayers and more.

Tuesday night,my stomach is filled with butterflies. Polls are beginning to close and votes are being tallied. Jacob is with his father in Arlington, awaiting results. It’s a close race. I can’t imagine how Arthur feels right now. When I spoke to Jacob earlier, Arthur and Evelyn popped on our video chat to see Chloe. He seemed calm and collected, and when I asked him how he was doing, he shrugged. The manshrugged, like he wasn’t waiting anxiously to find out whether he’s about to become the next president.

“I’ve done all I can do,” he said casually. “It’s in the hands of the people now. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”

It was then that I realized he’ll be okay no matter what. He’ll still work hard to make a difference, regardless of his title.

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