Chapter Thirty
JJ was beside herself with joy. So much so, she wasn’t sure how her body could contain it all.
She was in the passenger seat while Baz was driving, their two little ones secured in their car seats in the middle row. If she’d had the option, JJ would’ve been nestled back there with them, but the size of the car seats wouldn’t allow it, so here she was.
“I can’t promise I’ll get anything done ever again,” she told Baz, peeking over the tops of the seats to see her sweet angels. “All I want to do is hold them.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way,” he said, reaching over and patting her hand. “And if you don’t, that’s okay, too.”
“No, it’s not.” She chuckled. “There’s a lot to do.”
“There probably isn’t. Remember, my mom and dad have been by here since the babies were born.”
Yes, they had. She knew because Jules was keeping her updated, ensuring she was aware of everything she did, seeking permission even when it wasn’t necessary.
According to Baz’s mother, everything was set up and ready for when Noah and Naomi came home.
Their little clothes had been washed, their bottles cleaned and prepared for use, diapers purchased, blankets and sheets fresh and clean.
Since they hadn’t had the official baby shower, Jules and Wes had purchased the big things they would need, then promised the shower would be underway within days of their arrival at home.
JJ wasn’t too worried about the shower. It wasn’t necessary. Seeing everyone was about the most important thing that would come from it, as far as she was concerned. And whatever they needed, she had no doubt they would get.
“We’ll have to figure out their schedule,” she mused as Baz turned onto their street. “I hope it’ll be synced.”
She had read stories about twins whose schedules were opposite, making the parents crazy. Not that JJ thought she would go crazy. At least she hoped not. Then again, based on those very stories, she had learned sleep deprivation was a real thing.
Good news was, she had gone to bed early last night in hopes of the babies coming home today. And now, no matter how many hours she was able to sneak in, she would sleep better because she would be in her own bed, in her own house, with Baz and her babies nearby.
Baz pulled into the driveway and stopped the SUV, putting it in park.
“You ready to do this?” she asked, grinning.
“I’m ready.”
Taking a deep breath, she fought the urge to jump out of the car, trying to keep her cool. Her excitement was palpable. She couldn’t wait to sit on the sofa with her babies in her arms, not having to pass them off to a nurse who would spend more time with them than she would.
“You get the suitcase,” he told her. “I’ll get the car seats.”
She wasn’t going to argue since she could roll the suitcase and, as she’d learned a little while ago, a car seat with a baby in it wasn’t all that light.
JJ hurried to drag the suitcase out of the back. When she came around the car, she found Baz walking toward the house, a car seat with a baby dangling from each hand.
How did he do that? He lifted them like they were made of feathers.
Smiling, she hurried after them.
Baz had the door unlocked and open before she got up the porch steps. He opened the door, then waited for her to go in first.
JJ ignored her debilitating fear of walking into a house without knowing it had been cleared. That was a new thing she’d developed after some of the trauma of the past year. The last thing she wanted was for her babies to know their mommy was a fraidy cat. She had to be strong for them.
Somehow, she managed to step inside.
“Put them over here,” she said, gesturing toward the sofa. “I’ll get them out.”
Baz smiled at her, setting the car seats on the coffee table. “While you do that, I’m just gonna walk through, make sure my parents have cleaned it all up.”
Some of the tension eased in her chest. Not only because Baz was going to check the house, but because he was doing it for her without calling her crazy. At times, she felt a little crazy, but she also knew deep down that it was warranted. For now.
He took the suitcase with him, so JJ sat on the couch, staring at her sleeping angels. They looked so comfortable, secured in the seats. She hated to move them, so she didn’t, choosing to relax into the cushions and watch them sleep.
Never in her life did she think she would find so much joy in doing absolutely nothing, but this … this was perhaps the most complete she’d ever felt.
“My parents took care of everything,” Baz noted when he came back out. “You want something to drink?”
JJ was still smiling as she shook her head. “I’m pretty sure nothing will ever compare to this feeling.”
Baz came over, peeked at the babies. “What feeling is that?”
“This happiness.” She felt her chest warm. “I can’t think of anything that could make me any happier than bein’ home with them.” She looked over at him, grinned. “And you.”
“I can think of one thing that would make me happier.”
Surprised that he could possibly say that, JJ pursed her lips. “Seriously?”
He nodded, then right before her eyes, Baz eased down on one knee.
She sat up quickly. “What are you doing?”
Baz’s turquoise blue eyes blazed with what she had come to realize was pure, absolute love. She knew because she’d never seen it until him.
“Jessica Nicole James—”
JJ shook her head. “What are you doing?” she repeated, her heart beating triple time.
“You’ve changed my entire existence from the first day I met you.”
She continued to shake her head, although her heart was swelling in her chest.
“And you’re right, there’s not much that could be better than this moment. All four of us home, safe, healthy.”
Her head changed direction when she nodded her agreement.
“There is one thing that could make this moment absolutely perfect.”
“What’s that?” The words came out creaky and weak.
“If you’ll agree to marry me,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Will you marry me, JJ?”
That was a question she’d longed to hear. At the same time, she’d never felt the need to rush it. Not with Baz.
But now that he’d asked…
Her nod was fast, her smile even faster. “Of course I will. Yes.”
JJ threw her arms around him before he could get the ring on her finger.
She wanted to hold onto him for a minute.
He was the one thing in her life that she knew she could depend on, the one person who would be there to hold her together when she needed it.
They’d been through a lot together, and while she hoped they didn’t have as many speed bumps in the future, she wanted him to be by her side for all ups and downs, highs and lows.
“I love you,” she whispered in his ear.
“I love you, too.”
She pulled back to look at him. “You know if I change my last name to Buchanan, no one can call me JJ anymore. It won’t make sense.”
He laughed as he slid the ring on her finger. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out.”
JJ stared at the diamond that glittered on her finger. It was exactly what she would’ve picked out for herself. Not too big, not too small. The marquise-cut diamond was bold, the glitter intense. Both somehow suited her personality.
She looked up, met his gaze. “Do we have to have a big wedding?”
“Do you want a big wedding?”
She shrugged. As much as she’d loved helping to plan Brantley and Reese’s wedding, JJ wasn’t sure she wanted all the hoopla.
“Maybe something small, intimate. Family and close friends, only.”
Baz cupped her face. “Whatever you want. I’ll be there because you’ll be there.”
She smiled, then leaned in to kiss him.
And she realized, she’d been wrong earlier. It was possible to be happier than she’d been a few minutes ago. But nothing could ever surpass this. She was sure of it.
The day flew by before Atticus even realized it had.
The entire team was diligently working on following leads and tracing patterns in an effort to determine whether Kylie Walker was alive.
Brantley and Reese had spent hours in Johnson City with nothing to show for their efforts.
While they were driving around, Evan and Becs took another trip to the motel to talk to Decker and Meredith.
Unfortunately, they didn’t get anything more from them than they already had.
But not for lack of trying. According to Evan, Decker was agitated and definitely hiding something.
Charlie’d had the most success. She had shifted her focus from Allison Bogart to Juliet Prince, confirming that Juliet was in fact Martin Calloway’s daughter.
According to her update, they had undergone a private adoption, and it did not look like the Arondas had ever told Juliet that she wasn’t their biological child.
There was no trace of her ever attempting to have the records unsealed.
Charlie was also able to determine that Martin was the one who selected the parents, which meant he was well aware of where Juliet was at all times.
And more than likely, he had something on the Arondas that he could use to blackmail them if he needed to.
At least that seemed to be his modus operandi.
Not that the adoption confirmation had done anything to help them find Kylie, but it did point toward a possible motive and might help them determine Calloway’s intentions.
As for the DNA results from the blood they found in the house—which could clear up one enormous question—they hadn’t yet heard from the lab. According to Brantley, they would get something by the end of the day. He hoped.
Atticus glanced at his watch. It was after six, so he had to wonder what Sniper 1 Security considered the end of the day.
Most of the team had gone home, taking their laptops so they could be available if needed.
He knew the team, knew they were likely logging back on as soon as they had their personal lives situated for the evening.
Like Atticus, most of them spent just as much time online at home as they did in the office.