Chapter Forty-Three
Alan
Jessica didn’t exactly leap at the idea of this being a real marriage.
But then again, why would she? She hadn’t chosen to be with me. Marrying me was just a better option than marrying Kevin.
I wanted to believe that had we had enough time to properly date, she would have. But that wasn’t our situation, and I had no idea what the hell the best course of action was. That was unfamiliar territory for a guy like me. I prided myself in knowing what to do in every situation.
But I’d never met a girl like Jessica.
And I’d never had so much to lose.
Or gain.
****
Jessica
Ruthie woke up as we pulled into Brian’s garage, so instead of going straight to Lainey and Adam’s, Alan suggested we go inside so I could nurse her in private.
He was sweet as he helped make me comfortable on the sofa in the living room—propping pillows around me before asking if I wanted a blanket.
I gave him a soft smile as Ruthie latched to my breast and said, “I’m good, thank you.”
“Are you thirsty? Do you need a snack?”
“No, I’m okay.”
He picked up the remotes on the coffee table in front of me. “Do you want the TV on? How about some music?”
“Just sit and talk with me.”
He chuckled as he sat on the couch next to me. “Yeah, I can do that.”
I adjusted the receiving blanket covering Ruthie as she nursed. “You know, I don’t even know your middle name or how old you are.”
“It’s James, and I’ll be thirty-six next month.” he cocked his head. “Come to think of it, I don’t know your middle name either, or your birthday.”
“It’s Rose. And my birthday is October eighteenth.”
“You’ll be twenty-three then?”
“Twenty-three,” I echoed wistfully.
“We’ll have to go somewhere to celebrate.”
“So soon after our vacation on the Cape?”
The corner of his mouth turned. “You mean our honeymoon?”
“Aren’t they the same?”
“I guess, but I think a honeymoon needs special recognition. While I’d venture to say all honeymoons are vacations, not all vacations are honeymoons.”
I pointed out, “Yeah, but most honeymoons don’t include newborns.”
“That’s true, but ours does. Our first anniversary will be just you and me,” he promised. “And we’re going to do something special for your birthday, too.”
“Like what?”
“Anything you want.”
“Anything?”
“You name it—the sky’s the limit.”
“Can we go to Savannah?”
****
Alan
Savannah? Georgia?
That’s an odd request, given I said the sky’s the limit.
“Baby, I’ll take you wherever you want. But any particular reason you want to visit Savannah? Do you want to catch a Savannah Bananas game or something?”
“Oh, that sounds fun! Yes, I’d like to do that, too. But I really want to visit my sister.”
“She’s not coming to the wedding?”
Jess sadly shook her head. “No. After the church excommunicated her, my parents don’t talk to her.”
“It’s not your parents’ wedding.”
“I know; and I did invite her. But honestly, I was sort of relieved when she said she thought it would be better if she didn’t come.
It would have just made everyone uncomfortable.
But I miss her, and I want her to meet Ruthie.
” She quietly murmured, “And you,” as she switched the baby to her other breast and readjusted the blanket.
I wished she didn’t feel the need to cover herself in front of me. I understood it, but it didn’t mean I liked it.
But I did like that she wanted to introduce me to her sister.
“We don’t have to wait until your birthday. We can take an overnight trip this week.”
She shot me a look, and I was reminded that my future wife was still very much under her parents’ thumbs.
“Okay, yeah, I get it. But what if I flew her here for a few days?”
“You’re really sweet to offer, but I’m going to have a lot to do in the next couple of weeks. I’d feel guilty if she came all this way, and I didn’t spend enough time with her. Let’s just wait until my birthday if you don’t mind.”
“Whatever you say, baby.”
The conversation earlier with my brother popped in my head, and I thought this was a good time to bring it up.
“You know I consider us equals, right? I’m not under any illusion that I’ll be in charge of you in any way just because we’re married.”
She shrugged. “You’re the one with the real job. I’m just making a little over minimum wage.”
“So? Just because I make more money doesn’t mean shit. Besides, my money is our money.”
Her smile seemed pained when she replied, “Until we get divorced.”
The idea made me sad, but I tried to look on the bright side—well, the bright side for her. “You’ll be a college graduate then and won’t even need me. Not to mention, you’ll have spousal and child support. I don’t ever want you to worry about money.”
“You’re taking a big chance on someone you hardly know.”
“I know enough. But if it eases your mind, we can spend the next two weeks getting to know each other better.”
Her face lit up. “I’d like that.”
“Me, too.”