Page 98 of XO

At the mention of her soon-to-be husband’s name, she gently shakes her head, biting her bottom lip while suddenly struggling with emotion. “We wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you, Jacob. And the fact that you and him are both here, alive and healthy—”

“Hey,” I coo. “Don’t cry, not now.” Taking her free hand in mine, she squeezes it while taking deep breaths.

“Vicki, we’re all meant to be here. Jase was meant to survive so you two can get married. And without this marriage, Rosie and I may never have reconnected.”

She nods in understanding. We all comprehend the power of fate and how it’s drawn us all together.

“I love you guys,” she blurts, holding out her arms. The three of us hug and giggle before fixing our outfits, carefully wiping tears, and straightening tiaras.

It’s a glorious day with the sun hanging in the sky like a diamond, a cool gentle breeze to curb the heat. The decorators were in early setting up white chairs on the lawn and sculpting the breathtaking archway of white lilies. Lanterns surrounded by more flowers sit at the end of every row, white rose petals sprinkled over the red carpet.

I see Jase, but he can’t see us. He’s just like his future wife, calm but eager to be with his lady. Down on the green opposite all the guests, the orchestra starts the procession music. Sandra, the wedding co-ordinator, springs out of nowhere, having spent most of the morning with the decorators, and with an eagle-eye, checks over Katy and Peter who are first to walk out. She repeats the process for Amber and Max before stilling in front of Jacob and me, her judgy eyes flicking between us.

“I’m not going to have a problem with you two, am I?” she asks, referring to the tense rehearsal.

Jacob and I look at each other, our smiles enough to prove our happiness.

“No,” he says, allowing me to thread my arm through his. “We couldn’t be more perfect.”

Epilogue

ONE MONTH LATER

“Let me take that from you, dear,” Nancy says, taking my teacup.

“Thank you.” I watch as she walks by her husband, George, and he pats her on the backside. Even after forty years of marriage, they still flirt. Jacob and I are at the Anderson’s after we spotted their privately listed house on a drive through the country. It hadn’t been intentional. In fact, it was because of me not being able to read maps that got us off the beaten track, and when we saw the majestic house from the road with the ‘For Sale’ sign, we just had to stop.

A huge white timber home with church ceilings sitting on fifteen acres of rolling green hills with a steadily flowing creek at the bottom, it had won us over the moment we saw it. George and Nancy welcomed us with open arms, despite only having just met. We learned that although they love living here, having raised their three kids until they all left home, Nancy and George can no longer manage the upkeep, especially with George’s arthritis. They’re looking at buying a condo and moving to the city where George can receive the care he needs. With tea done and dusted, she hands us both a glass of wine and joins us as we sit watching the sun setting over the mountains.

“Do you have any children, dear?” Nancy asks.

I shake my head. “Not yet. Maybe one day if it’s meant to be.”

Truth is, I’d love to have a little Jacob and Rosie running around. In fact, I can even picture them playing on these rolling green hills, and with bi-yearly surgeries for my endometriosis, my gynecologist is taking care of my ovaries to the point where he feels hopeful I should be able to conceive when the time is right.

Jacob squeezes my hand, having made it clear he would love children, but if it resulted that I couldn’t fall pregnant, he would be as content with the two of us. I look to Jacob who’s just as captivated with this place as I am, if not more. This was always his dream. The escape he needed to get“far, far away.”At least this time it’s not to Afghanistan. He turns to me, the corners of his lips twitching as he eyes my cleavage before turning back to the view.

Insatiable.

When I spin back to the other gorgeous view, I see movement coming over the crest of the hill closest to us. Two figures running together toward us. “What’s that?” I ask pointing.

“Oh, look…” Nancy beams. “Just in time.”

We all watch in silence as a large, white shaggy dog with brown feet and snout, and a tortoiseshell colored cat approach, then sit next to each other like good little students, their large eyes watching us curiously.

“Oh, hello,” I greet because the dog actually looks like he’s smiling. “Aren’t you two adorable sitting like that. What are your names?”

“Well…” George starts. “That there is Rocket and Hattie Mae.”

“Hello, Rocket.” He wags his tail, delighted with the introductions. “Hello, Hattie Mae.” The pretty cat purrs, and I take that as good sigh.

“They, ah… they come with the house,” George adds solemnly, saddened he even has to speak those words. “We can’t take them with us. Damn building manager has a long stick shoved up his—”

“George!” Nancy reprimands.

“Well, you know what I mean,” he grumbles with obvious disdain for the building manager.

My heart goes out to them. “You can’t give them to family?”

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