Page 36 of Nick

“No, I can learn everything about you after we are married.”

“Can I kiss you goodbye?”

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her deeply. “I love you. I will see you in a few weeks. Be careful while I’m gone. Are you going to keep wearing these shoes? What if you trip?” I asked, looking at her high heels.

“Okay.” Opal took her shoes off, and she was barefoot. “I love you. I wish I had told you in Italy. That’s when I fell in love.”

“That’s when I fell in love too.”

“Are we getting married when I get back?”

“Yes, we will get married when you get back. I will have everything ready for our wedding.”

“Don’t overwork?”

“I won’t.”

“Are they going to keep talking, or can we go in there and congratulate them?” Grandpa asked loud enough for us to hear.

“We’re through talking. You can come in here and congratulate us.”

* * *

I didn’t wantto leave Opal, but I had a job to find two children who went missing in Tennessee yesterday. The sooner we got there, the sooner we could find out what the hell happened to the kids. We were landing in Memphis when I looked over at Asher, “When we get back, Opal and I are getting married.”

“What? When the hell was this decided?”

“When I found out she was carrying my babies. But it would have happened anyway. I love Opal, and she loves me. I can’t wait for us to marry.”

“I can’t believe she agreed to marry you.”

“Why?”

“She’s always been someone who takes care of others and does not think of herself. I’m glad she is changing her ways. So, are you going to treat her like she’s everything to you? Are you going to love her and only her for the rest of your life?”

“Are you her father?”

“No, I’m preparing you for her father. Believe me, the entire family will be there when you get back, and you will be asked a million questions about your love for Opal.”

“Thanks for warning me. I’m prepared for everything. Opal belongs to me, and I’ll ensure that she knows that and everyone knows it too. I’ll love her until I die and prove how much I love her daily.”

“Then congratulations, and welcome to the family.”

“Thanks, so we’ll all be related. Even Jax. I never thought about that.”

Asher laughed. “Jax likes to think he’s the leader of the family. Ignore him. It’ll drive him crazy.”

I was starting to feel like I had a family, and it felt damn good, even if it was Asher who made me have this family feeling. My family was all gone. My parents died when I was eighteen.

They were on their way to my high school graduation when a large eighteen-wheeler hit them head-on. I knew something was wrong because my parents would never miss my graduation. I saw a police officer walk over to my principal, and he looked at me. I almost started crying right then. I stepped off the stage and over to where the principal was.

I felt someone behind me and turned around. Hunter, Matt, Conner, and Jax stood there with me. They all put their arms around me when I was told what had happened. Kash was giving his valedictorian speech and stopped in the middle of it. He walked to where we were, and they all held on to me.

I guess I have always had a family and didn’t realize what to call them before now.

We had a home in Italy and here in Maine. After their funeral, I went to Italy for a year before college. That’s where I met Suzanne. She wasn’t on drugs at that time. When I joined the Army Rangers, we were married.

17

---