Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Emerie
It’s been a month since I started my new job and I’m loving the challenge of the position. I’ve learned so much from Shane, who is apparently my partner since we’re always on the same shifts. I won’t complain, because he’s got over a decade of experience under his belt and he’s not stingy about sharing his knowledge, which goes far beyond what I learned from my textbooks. I’m tired as I pull down the driveway to the farm, but it’s a good tired. We had a lot of calls, and while one was unfortunately a fatality, the rest are recovering nicely. That’s one good thing about working in Maggie Valley. In most cities, once the drop off is made to the hospital, that ends our involvement. But working in this small town, we’re kept in the loop as far as how folks are doing.
As I park my SUV, I notice an RV parked on the pad that Dale put in and realize my parents are home a lot sooner than I expected.
What in the world? I wonder as I get out of my vehicle then grab my tote bag full of my uniforms so I can get them washed. We have a service that the fire department uses, but I quickly found out that I’m allergic to whatever detergent it is that they use, so now, I bring mine home after my shift ends to get them washed and pressed. Miriam helps since she irons far better than I do, that’s for sure.
When I see another vehicle parked off to the side, a huge dually truck with Arizona license plates, I’m shocked. Damien went home briefly for a visit and since he came back, he’s been a bit mysterious. He found a job that allows him to work remotely, which is good. As long as he has the work done, they don’t care what hours he works, so on my off days, we’re free to spend them with Vinnie, or together as a couple.
He’s really something else, too. He hasn’t once put any pressure on me to become physically intimate, even though I know he wants me. I want him too, but I won’t give anyone a chance to gossip about us, so outside of some heavy making out, we’ve abstained from going all the way.
I hear the voices coming from the back porch, so I start walking along the pathway that’s been added. “Mama! Did you see? Grammy and Poppa are home! And guess what? Mr. Damien’s mommy and daddy are here, and his little sister! Her name is Dena and I’ve already shown her the baby chicks and Bonnie!”
My dad engulfs me in a hug as he whispers, “We’re so proud of you, Emerie.”
“Hey, Daddy,” I murmur with my head tucked into his shoulder. When another set of arms goes around me, I know it’s my mom and say, “Hey, Mama.”
“How’s my girl?” she asks.
“Tired,” I admit. “It was a busy shift.”
“Someone must have said the ‘Q’ word,” she surmises, giggling. She’s retired now, but she used to be a nurse at the hospital, so she understands the superstitions.
“The new probie, Doug,” I reply. “Trust me, Captain Irwin was still schooling him when I left this morning.”
That elicits chuckles as I finally turn to see the three newcomers, who are all beaming at me. “Hey,” I say. “I’m Emerie.”
Damien stands and walks over to me, pulling me in for a hug and a quick kiss. “I’d like to introduce you to my parents and my sister,” he says. “Mom, Dad, this is Emerie. Em, these are my parents, Don and Louise Strong, and my sister, Dena.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of y’all,” I say, walking over to shake his parents’ hands. Instead, I’m pulled into more hugs, which leaves me slightly perplexed since I don’t know these people outside of what Damien has shared. Still, I reciprocate since my daughter is watching me and she’s a little sponge, copying everything I do these days.
When I turn, I see Damien on one knee, a box opened up. “Damien?”
“Emerie, when I first came to Possum Creek, it was to fulfill a promise to my best friend by making sure the things he had for his family as well as you were finally brought home. I never expected to fall in love with you or Levinia, or his family. Yet, I did, and I believe this was all part of Levi’s plan.”
A few weeks back, I found something in the second notebook that was written to Damien, so I handed it over. Despite my curiosity, I didn’t ask what it said and now I suspect I know. Levi probably gave Damien his blessing to pursue something with me should anything ever happen to him, and if he was attracted to me.
By now I’m shaking, and tears are slowly slipping down my cheek as he continues. “But I love you and Levinia with every fiber of my being. Will you marry me?”
I don’t have to think twice; Levi was my past, but Damien is my future. “Yes!” I exclaim.
Vinnie claps her hands and says, “I kept the secret, Memaw!”
“You sure did, child,” Miriam replies. “Now, I think, since we’re all here, there’s no sense in waiting. What say we make an appointment down at the courthouse with the Justice of the Peace? We’ll get both of you pretty dresses, and then we can come back here and have a small reception.”
“What do you say, Emerie?” Damien asks as he slips the prettiest engagement ring on my finger.
“I say absolutely!” I reply, jumping into his arms with such force that he takes a step back.
Closing my eyes as I nestle into his arms, I send up a silent thanks to the man who sacrificed himself for our country. Thank you, Levi. For loving me, giving us your blessing, and making sure I’d always have the love and protection of your best friend, my world.