Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Jenny
Igiggle at Raffe. He’s darting between trees on the other side of the lake. I knew he would follow me. I’m okay with that. I’m still proud of myself for going without his help, even though he was near.
Lexie and Kelsie are waiting for me on the patio when I return to the warehouse. Raffe comes around the side of the house and skids to a stop. The girls jump to their feet, saving him from having to talk to me … he’s a bit winded.
“Oh, good you’re here,” Kelsie says. “I hung my dress in the meeting room. We’ll have more room in there.”
“And privacy,” Lexie adds.
I look at Raffe, and he waves his hand, urging me to follow them. He’s still trying to suck in a full breath. It makes me chuckle.
“I’ll see you in a bit,” I tell him, and he nods.
I follow the girls into what looks like a boardroom.
When Kelsie unzips the bag with her mother’s wedding gown in it, I suddenly can’t breathe. I shouldn’t have laughed at Raffe. That’s karma for you.
“Oh, Kelsie. It’s beautiful.”
“There is a picture of Mom in her dress here somewhere,” she says, stepping over to a wall filled with pictures. She points to one. “Here it is.”
I walk over to it. It’s of Lily and my father on her wedding day. He’s walking her down the aisle. My heart equally rejoices and weeps. I’m happy she had him. I just wish I had a similar photo.
“She looks so happy.”
“Oh my god. Her and Dad are so in love. It’s quite sickening sometimes. He still picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder, you know?” She pauses to smack her own ass. “Yep. He smacks her ass and all. He doesn’t even care if my brothers and I are in the room.”
“Well, at least you won’t be having to witness that for a few months,” I tell her.
Both of the girls bust out laughing. Lexie smacks Kelsie’s butt. “That’s how all these babies be starting around here.”
We continue to laugh and joke as I measure her. “I think we just need to let the waist out a bit and then shorten the hem. How can you be shorter than your mom?” I ask, teasing her.
“I know, right?”
Raffe told me Kelsie was trafficked by a family member, and that Dan and Lily adopted her. She’s so sweet. She reminds me a lot of Lily.
“This will be an easy fix. I just need to find some sewing supplies.”
“Oh, I think Rachel had a whole box of sewing stuff at her house,” Lexie says. “I’ll go ask Raffe if we can borrow it.” She jumps to her feet and rushes out the door before I can stop her.
Kelsie hugs me around the neck. “Thank you so much. Mom is going to love this!”
Raffe peeks in the door. “I’m going to run over to the house. I’ll be right back.”
I give him a hesitant nod. He walks over and gives me a kiss … a good one.
“It’s okay,” he assures me. “It’s just a sewing kit. She’d want to help.”
I give him a tiny smile.
He winks at me and then disappears. Kelsie and Lexie both giggle.
“What?”
“Raffe is to die for,” Lexie says, pretending to faint in her chair. Her friend nods in agreement.
“Girls, you’re both getting married in two weeks,” I say, shaking my head.
“Obviously you’re too close to the situation to appreciate his beauty,” Lexie jokes with me.
They both stand up. “We’re headed over to the greenhouse. Do you want to go with us? We’re going to look at flowers.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I glance around, unsure of what to do.
“I’ll text Raffe for you, to let him know where you’re at,” Kelsie offers. “I know how crazy these men get when they don’t know where their ladies are.”
“Okay, sure, yeah. That sounds fun.”
I sit in the backseat as Lexie drives us over to the “junkyard.”
Lexie turns. “We’re here.”
Oh … it’s an actual junkyard.
A woman steps out of the house on the property. “You brought Jenny with you!” she yells, rushing forward. The minute I get out of the car, she gives me the warmest hug. I already like her.
“Come inside. I just baked a tray of pastries.”
She gives Kelsie a quick hug and then curls her arm through Lexie’s, walking beside her.
“JD and Elizabeth are like parents to Lex,” Kelsie whispers, falling into step beside me.
Walking inside her home is like walking into a warm hug. It’s so nice and cozy.
“The flowers are just going to be beautiful,” she says. “I’ve pulled a few combinations for you girls to see what you like.”
Lexie and Kelsie begin chatting to themselves, so Elizabeth pulls her chair close to mine. “I’m so excited to meet you. Daisy is my daughter. She’s told me so much about you.”
“I love Daisy. Ugh, and your little grandson, Jack? How cute is he?”
She laughs. “Brody said you pulled a gun on him. Is that true?”
“Oh. Oh, I wouldn’t have …”
She smiles, patting my hand. “We all know you wouldn’t have. Brody is a nice guy, and I’m sure it didn’t take you long to spot that in him.”
“No. Not long at all. He was very kind to me. I like to think that is why Rachel sent him to me first. He has a pure soul.”
The rest of our conversation flows effortlessly, and soon we find ourselves out in her greenhouse. “Do you recognize these?” she asks.
“They’re my rose bushes,” I say, squatting down to examine them. My gaze roams around her space, finding several plants I recognize.
“I thought they could come hang out here in my greenhouse until next spring, and then I’ll help you plant them at the warehouse. I’m propagating the things we couldn’t transport.” She points to several jars of water with slips of plants, tiny roots already forming down below.
“Elizabeth, I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” I look over at the girls. They’re trying to decide which colors of flowers they would like for their bouquets. “This is all still so new.”
She waves me over to two small chairs beside a record player. When she sees me eyeing it, she laughs. “I like to play music for my plants and for myself.”
We sit down, and she leans close to me. “I hid from the world too. For many years I remained in a nursing home … I just stopped responding to people. I did it to protect Daisy. Her father was insane.”
I take a deep breath because it’s nice to meet someone who might understand me.
“My heart ached for Jackson every day,” I tell her.
“And mine for Daisy.”
Just as the girls are figuring out the flowers, we hear a Harley pull up outside.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Raffe said he’d pick you up. That must be him,” Lexie says.
“Oh.” My arms drop to my side. “He’s on his bike.”
“Girls, why don’t you take Raffe inside and offer him a pastry. Jenny and I will be there in a moment.”
The girls instantly obey her. It’s easy to see they have a lot of respect for this woman.
When the door closes behind them, Elizabeth hugs me. She holds me tight. “I know it’s exhausting introducing yourself back into society, to life. Just keep doing it scared, and one day you won’t even remember what you were afraid of in the first place.”
I chuckle sadly. “I just gave Charlotte a pep talk about working through your fears.”
“Well then, you know what to do.” She leans away from me. “What are you worried about? Are you afraid of the bike?”
“No. I used to ride with him on his dirt bike all the time. It was one of my favorite things to do. I loved sitting behind him and holding on tight.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
“I love him so much it hurts. I guess I’m afraid of the nostalgia, the time lost, and the sadness that comes with it.”
“It’s a necessary growing pain. Let yourself experience the melancholy, but what you need to focus on is the feel of his leather cut beneath your fingertips.
The clench of his muscles as he maneuvers the bike.
Feel the power of it under your ass, the wind and the sunshine on your face.
The way his fingers brush across your leg.
The acceleration of your heart when he taps you, letting you know to hold on tight because you’re about to go fast. Take it all in, Jenny.
Stay in the moment, not in the time lost.” She pauses to tap my head.
“In a place that never existed because this is your life.”
“You’re right. Thank you for the conversation, the advice, and this.” I wave my hand over the plants that I know add more work to her already full plate.
“You’re welcome. You know, I think you and I are going to be good friends.”
“I would love that.”
By the time we get outside, Raffe is coming out of the house. His jaw is working back and forth. He’s worried about me, so I give him my best smile.
“See, I told you she was fine,” Lexie tells him.
He looks over his shoulder at her and then back at me.
“We were just talking about the plants and flowers Elizabeth saved for me.”
His face softens, and he finally relaxes. “Elizabeth has a green thumb. Your babies are in good hands.”
“Well, I guess we should get going. I’m excited to get started on your dress,” I tell Kelsie.
Raffe watches from his bike as Elizabeth and I say goodbye. When I finally approach him, he smiles. “You and Elizabeth seem to click. I wondered how you would get along.”
“We have a lot in common. I really like her.”
He nods in agreement. “I thought you might. I’m really proud of you for stepping out today,” he says, carefully placing a helmet on my head. His eyes are bouncing over my face. He’s nervous too.
When we both have our helmets on, he taps his against mine lightly. “You good with this?”
“I am.”
The way he smiles makes my heart sing.
He gets on first and then takes my hand, helping me on behind him.
I lift my skirt, glancing up at the front porch where my new friends are unashamedly staring at us.
The minute I slide my arms around his waist, excitement replaces the last bit of fear I was holding on to.
When he starts the motor, I close my eyes, taking in every sensation.
The women wave as we pull out. The Harley feels much more powerful than the speedy dirt bike he used to have. His bike is beautiful and sleek, and so is Raffe.
My soul breathes a deep sigh of relief. What the hell was I so scared of? This is living.
I’m living.
Raffe doesn’t take it fast. We go at an easy pace, his hand rhythmically brushing against my bare leg. It feels so incredibly good, I have an internal debate with myself on whether or not I’m actually in Heaven.