Chapter 20
Jasper
It had been a month since we got my trust transferred to my name…
our names. My first call the next day was to George from Grove Hills Construction to pay the remainder of the bill.
After we were all squared away and he set a schedule to continue the work, I followed through on the promise I made to myself, and called Frankie.
Together, we planned a menu and I took them grocery shopping, which was as much fun or more than clothes shopping, seeing the way their eyes lit up.
It wasn’t that Gio hadn’t always provided generously for them, but it was a special treat for both of us, and I loved getting to have that time with them.
It had been a good distraction, too. I had been doing everything I could to keep myself occupied while waiting for the hot shop to be ready.
Now, that day had finally come. It was done.
The shop was really fucking done. I couldn’t believe it.
After everything I’d worked toward, it was actually happening.
Dressed in my logo’d shirt and jeans, with my hair tied back, I was ready for my official grand opening. Of course, I’d gone in as soon as George’s team was done and tried everything out, but I was eager to get to launch it officially.
“Are you ready?” Gio asked, peeking over my shoulder in the mirror.
I swear every time I saw him, I swooned a little. The man wore his glasses so well. I loved his sexy scruff and his silver and black hair, he was so handsome. I didn’t hate the way his eyes raked over me, either.
“I’m ready.”
Gio held his arm out and I hooked mine through it, feeling so proud and grateful to have him by my side. When I walked out of the bedroom, it was loud, louder than I expected. Loud until the noise stopped when Gio and I appeared in the living room.
“Surprise!” Eduardo said, holding his arms out to reveal a house full of people.
“What? What’s all this?”
“Well, we didn’t get to do a proper wedding reception for you, so I figured we might as well make it a two-for-one. Shop-warming party and reception.”
I felt my eyes well up as I looked around to see a lot of familiar faces.
Marley was the first to greet us, with Derek behind him.
Then there was Theo and Onyx, Collin and Harper, Dash and Evan, and Jason and Nico and their kids.
All these people who I’d met at Heartcraft, who’d known Gio for a long time, were all here to help celebrate us.
“Did you know?” I asked Gio.
He responded with a smirk. “It was Eduardo’s idea; I can’t take credit, but yeah, I knew.”
“This is amazing. Thank you, Eddie. Thank you everyone. I’m so happy you’re all here.” A house full of the people I loved, it was the greatest gift I could have asked for.
I followed Eduardo to the kitchen where the table and counter were covered with food.
“Nico cooked up some food from his family diner, and Dash put together some delicious charcuterie boards with his own smoked meats and cheeses. Jason brought enough pie for an army, and Marley did the floral arrangements.”
I looked at the bouquets that were the same yellow and purple theme he used for our wedding day. The tears released and Gio gently wiped them away and met my watery gaze with a wide smile.
Somewhere behind us, someone tapped a glass with a knife.
The distinct twinkling sound that was often heard at weddings to encourage the newlyweds to kiss.
Eduardo was right. We had missed this part.
I didn’t know it or want it then, we weren’t there yet.
I thought of our wedding night which consisted of a reheated meal and a movie.
Now, nearly two months in, we had more than made up for our wedding night, and it felt right getting to have this big celebration with family and friends, too.
The twinkling sound grew as more people tapped on their glasses. Gio shrugged and bent over me, kissing me lightly at first, and then the kiss deepened, like he wanted to devour me right there in front of everyone. Once so shy about showing affection, now he seemed happy to show everyone I was his.
Cheers erupted around us and I grinned against Gio’s mouth. I was deliriously happy. I could have forgotten all about my shop and stayed right there in that moment, but Gio put his arm over my shoulder and faced the crowd.
“Would you all please join us outside for the unveiling and shop demonstration?”
He led me outside and everyone followed.
Nicky, Noah, Yahir, Frankie, Eduardo, and all of our Heartcraft family.
A tarp hung down from the roof of the barn, blocking the entrance.
I tilted my head at the sight, before sliding my gaze to Gio.
That hadn’t been there yesterday. I felt a warmth bloom in my chest at the idea of Gio putting it up in order to make a more dramatic unveiling. He knew me so well.
He pursed his lips, holding back a smile, and held an arm out to indicate for me to step forward.
Standing in front of the barn, I faced the crowd.
Family. How big the word had grown since I’d met Gio.
Looking at all the faces of those who came to celebrate with us, I felt truly honored, blessed, to have so many people cheering me on.
After years of trying to fight for any kind of approval from my parents, I no longer needed it.
I had people who genuinely cared about me and about my dream and were here to witness it come true.
“I can’t express what it means to have you all here.
I once was fortunate enough to travel to Venice, where I was introduced to the beauty and wonder of glassblowing.
It sparked something in me that had been scratching beneath my skin without a name.
Once I found it, I knew it was right. So many of you have your own passions, so I believe you understand what that feels like. ”
I saw heads bob around the group. Artists, crafters, a group of people who resonated with the need to create. Something my parents could never wrap their heads around. I found my people. People who would encourage creativity in whatever form it took.
“I worked and trained and collected, in the hopes of some day having a studio of my own. Gio…” My voice cracked with emotion as I looked at my husband.
“Gio opened his home to me and gave me room to grow my dream. Thank you. There aren’t words big enough to express how grateful I am that you helped me get here. And you all…”
I looked at my kids all huddled together, and my eyes misted, making my vision blurry. “I’m so thankful that you welcomed me in and let me be a part of this family. You are all so important to me, and I love you all deeply.”
Gio lifted his glasses to wipe a tear from his eye which only made my own tears flow freely.
I didn’t care. Let them flow. I wasn’t trying to keep up appearances or worry about what people might think.
These people weren’t here because they expected anything of me or wanted anything from me, they were here because they cared.
“Without further ado. Welcome to Kiss My Glass.” I announced. Eduardo ran forward and pulled a rope that released the tarp, revealing the open doors of the barn. A gasp left me as I turned around to look. Above the doors was a large wooden sign with my logo on it.
Gio walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him and stared at the sign in awe. “What? How did you… when did you…?”
He kissed my cheek and said, “I commissioned it from Theo. Do you like it?”
I turned in his arms and threw mine around his neck. “I love it. It’s perfect.”
Staring up at him, overcome with emotion, I couldn’t hold back the words I’d been keeping to myself.
“I love you, Gio. I love you so damn much I didn’t think it was possible.
I know we were taking time to lay the groundwork and build on it, but I need you to know that.
I love you and I know we will continue to build this life together and it’s only going to grow with us. ”
Gio grinned wide and tugged on one of my curls.
“I love you, too. I’ve been saying it to myself for a while, the words sitting on my tongue and in my heart, but they’re yours now.
I never pictured a life with a partner, let alone a husband, but now that I have you, I can’t picture my life without you in it.
I love you, you make me ridiculously happy, and so, so damn proud every time I see you with our kids.
I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share a life with. ”
Needing to say it one more time, loving that the words were free at last, I whispered, “I love you, Daddy.”
Gio’s arms tightened around my waist, lifting me up until our mouths crashed together. With his hold on me, he spun me around, until my head fell back, and I was laughing, just overwhelmed with joy.
When he set me down, he met my gaze. “I love you, beautiful, now go show them that breath control you’re so good at.”
I pecked one more quick kiss before walking into the shop. I grabbed the leather apron which now had a hook to hang from, along with several others that would be available for Yahir, or anyone else interested in learning at my no-cost glass studio.
The glory hole stood in the center of the room, looking like a portal to hell. Fuck, it made me happy to see it set up. Everyone gathered inside, with Jason and Nico holding onto Parker and Emily to keep them safe.
“Who’s ready for a demonstration?”
Another round of cheering sounded, pumping me up to show them what I could do. This was a moment I’d been waiting for for a long time. I grabbed a blowpipe off the wall. It was a hollow tube that would allow me to blow into it to help create the shape of the glass.
Standing with the end of the blowpipe in the glory hole, I felt the peace that came over me when I worked. It was a dance, a dance with fire and molten glass, each step choreographed to a rhythm the glass demanded.
When I pulled the glowing orange blob of glass out of the fire, I put my mouth to the other end of the blowpipe.
I took a deep breath and blew out slowly, rotating the pipe as I went.
The people behind me let out “oohs” and “awws” as the blob began to grow into an orb.
With another slow breath, it stretched into an oval shape.
I appreciated the sight as much as those watching.
It never got old seeing hard glass transform into something different, manipulated by breath and tools.
I used a few techniques with the tweezers, pulling at the taffy-like glass to shape it, until finally I had a vase with scalloped edges.
Showing it off to everyone, I got a round of applause, before I put it in the large kiln.
Shutting the door to the glory hole, I turned the heat down, and took a bow.
“Thank you everyone. God, that felt so good to do again. I really appreciate you all being here for this shop-warming. Now let’s go eat all that delicious food.”
“Yay, food!” Emily and Parker shouted.
It was immediately followed by all of the adults echoing them. “Yay, food.”
They filtered out of the barn and went back to the house. Gio stayed behind and watched me with a look of wonder. “That was amazing, Jasper. And really fucking hot.”
My brows arched as I took in his darkened eyes behind his glasses. “Oh, yeah? You know what? Glassblowing is always such an adrenaline rush, it makes me really horny. Like I’m just getting warmed up and could put my mouth to use in other ways.”
Gio bent down and kissed me, his tongue pushing into my mouth and tangling with mine. A groan sounded from him as I rolled my hips into his, feeling his hardness. I pulled back enough to look him in the eye. “Do you think they’ll miss us if we don’t show up right away?”
Gio hummed in his throat and I could see he was considering it, but his eyes darted to the door, and I already knew that I’d have to wait. “I think there are young kids here, which means they are unpredictable and could show up at any time.”
I sighed and took a step back allowing us to both adjust ourselves and cool down. “Yeah. I suppose so. Raincheck?”
Gio smirked and gave me a nod. “Now, that is a check I will happily accept.”
He held my hand and gave it a kiss, leading me into the brisk night air. We didn’t walk to the house right away, both of us needing a minute to cool off, and I leaned against him, surveying the barn and the logo sign once more. It was perfect. My life was perfect. Well… there was one thing.
“Gio?”
“Yes?”
“What do you think about Parker and Emily?”
He turned to face me with a questioning look. “I think they’re adorable kids. Nico brings them by Heartcraft sometimes to visit Jason at his pie booth. Why?”
“Have you ever thought about it?”
Gio’s fingers toyed with my hair. “Thought about what?”
“Having kids? I mean, we have kids, but children, like raising them?”
A beautiful, hope-filled look shone on his face. “I have.”
“Is that something you see in the future?”
He hesitated for a moment. “I told you once that I had a vision for us, something I was trying not to let myself get too eager about and allow us to be in the present. I’d be lying if I said a child wasn’t a part of that. But… I don’t know. I’d be an old dad.”
“They say children keep you young,” I teased. “Besides, you’re not that old. You’re only forty-two.”
Gio looked into my eyes, searching, as he asked, “Is that something you want?”
“I never thought about it before you. My family is cold and unloving, I didn’t want to pass that on as a parent. I understand, now, what a family can look like, and there’s so much love here. So much love I want to share it. So my answer is yes. I want to be a dad some day, when we’re ready.”
A smile stretched his lips and his eyes welled up behind his glasses. Gio kissed me again, not a heated one, but one filled with promise and hope. “Some day you will.”
When we walked into the house, we were immediately met with the twinkling of glasses.
Gotta give the people what they want, I thought, and obliged them by stretching up to kiss Gio, despite the several we’d shared on the way here.
It didn’t matter. It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
This lifetime, the next. From Queen Beeatrix, the first, to Queen Beeatrix, the ninety-first, generations of bees would bear witness to our love, as would the generations of people that would grace the land of the McNeely Honey Farm.
What started with a frame—a building, a marriage—grew with work and a solid foundation into a permanent fixture—a shop, a family—tempered and unbreakable.