Episode 84
Episode 84
A Walk in the Park
SUMMER
The next few days consisted of me, Jack, and TJ spending loads of time with the Johansens and the Belangers. The ten of us all together made for a truly entertaining group. Every last adult fawned over TJ, building connections that I knew would last his whole life. It was all so bittersweet. While my family was through the moon happy to have a little one to dote on, Jack and Erik were knee-deep in the grieving process. Ellen had been a true sister to them. Even Irene and Henrik were having moments where they carried solemn, wistful expressions as we all showed TJ as much love as possible.
Yesterday, the funeral home released Ellen’s ashes. For now, they’re sitting next to an urn that holds Troy’s ashes. Apparently, Ellen hadn’t wanted to spread them. She preferred to keep her husband’s remains close. While the sentiment was sweet, it definitely wasn’t vibing with the guys. Erik and Jack had spent the better part of the day trying to figure out what to do with them as we walked through a park filled with naked green statues. Vigeland Park is a place that holds some special sentiment to Erik and Savannah, and they were eager to take TJ to it, so we all bundled up to brave the cold weather and set about seeing some naked art.
“So this artist is super famous for what again?” I asked Jack while pushing the empty stroller. TJ was walking about ten feet ahead, each hand held by Erik and Savannah. They really had committed to becoming more involved in TJ’s life.
“Besides the fact that Gustav Vigeland was responsible for all two hundred and twelve bronze, granite, and iron pieces, he designed the park itself.”
“His talent is obvious, that’s for sure,” I said while scanning the myriad of incredibly detailed sculptures. “And the nakedness? What’s up with that?”
Savannah must’ve heard me because she turned around, her face lit up with a big smile. “See!” She pointed at me. “I knew someone was going to ask the same question I did when we first visited.” She chuckled. “It’s weird they’re all naked, right?”
“Nekkid,” TJ spouted and giggled.
Jack grinned, the first of the day. His mind has been entirely on plans for Ellen’s funeral and not only her ashes but Troy’s as well.
“What if we put their ashes together, save a little for TJ, maybe in a necklace or a small sealed container and then spread them where they would want to be together as a couple?” I suggested.
Not only did Jack stop in the middle of the bridge, but so did Erik.
“That’s brilliant,” Jack whispered.
I looked from Jack to Erik, who was also smiling. “I love the idea,” Erik agreed. “And I know just where they’d want to have their final resting place,” he finished.
“ Troms?, ” Jack whispered.
“What’s Troms??” I asked.
“It’s a city in the arctic. It’s where people go to see the best possible view of the Northern Lights.”
My mouth fell open as it dawned on me what they were referring to. “We’re going to see the Northern Lights? Like the magical green, purple, and pink lights in the sky?” I gushed excitedly.
Jack put his arm around my shoulders and nuzzled my neck. “You want to chase the lights, solskinn ?”
“Heck yes!” I squealed.
Erik and Jack both smiled so beautifully I knew we’d solved a problem they had been stewing on for days.
“It’s where Troy asked Ellen to marry him ten years ago,” Jack shared.
“I’ll have the jet ready for takeoff tomorrow,” Erik offered. “I’ll have my parents look into booking suites for all of us.”
“Oh, so it’s far away?” I asked.
“Two or so hours by plane from Oslo,” Jack answered. “Really close to Finland.”
“This is so cool!” I squealed, wrapped my arms around my man and jumped up and down like a little girl who was just told she was going to Disney World. “We’re going to see the Northern Lights!”
“Well, we’re going to chase the lights,” he corrected. “Not everyone sees them when they go. It may take days if they show at all, but this time of year is prime for viewing them.”
I let out a loud raspberry. “It’s happening. There’s no way the Universe is going to cheat us out of seeing them when we’re trying to lay your friends to rest. Oh man, I’m so excited. Mom will lose it!” I blathered.
Jack chuckled. “You think they would be interested in going with us?”
My eyes practically bugged out of my head at the idea. Mom and Dad were as adventurous as I was. Autumn too. They’d be down to go and do anything, anywhere. Which gave me another idea that would be incredibly memorable and surprise Jack at the same time.
“Believe me. They will be so down!”
He chuckled and kissed my cheek. “Then we’ve got our plan.”
“Sum Sum!” TJ squealed from where Savannah was holding him on her hip. He was pointing at an angry looking baby statue that was primarily green in color, aside from a shiny gold hand. “Bayyyyy beeeee!” He spoke as he patted the hand.
“Oooh that’s cool!” I left the comfort of Jack’s embrace and went over to Savannah.
TJ immediately stretched his arms out for me and Savannah passed him off.
I rubbed the baby’s gold hand. “Baby is right, sweetheart! Like TJ.”
“TJ, TJ, TJ,” he repeated, followed by a bunch of mumbled Norwegian words I didn’t know, which bummed me out. Still, I was getting better and better at learning the language each day.
Jack downloaded an app on my phone and I’d been picking up bits and pieces. Jack claimed I was a fast learner and that filled me with not only pride but the desire to be even better. So every time I went to the bathroom, or was sitting in the car as a passenger, I took out my phone and learned a few new words. It seemed I was great at hearing and saying the words but not so good at the written form.
TJ cuddled against my chest and pressed his face to my neck. “You guys want to head back? TJ needs a nap,” I announced to the group.
“You guys go on ahead. We want to walk around a bit more,” Erik said while taking his wife’s hand. “This place holds some good memories for us.”
“Cool. We’ll see you for dinner? Our mothers are preparing another feast,” I reminded them.
“We’ll be back in a couple hours,” Savannah answered.
Jack pushed the stroller while I carried TJ and he slept against me. It felt perfectly natural to be carrying him. I stroked his hair as we walked and took in the beautiful view of what seemed like endless, lush greenery. Oslo was absolutely stunning. I didn’t think I’d been anywhere in the world more beautiful.
Jack broke the quiet during the walk back to the car. “You know, I never expected to see you being a mother so soon or ever. I wasn’t sure that was in the cards for us, seeing as our marriage was only supposed to be for three years.”
“Psssshhhhaaawwww,” I blurted. “I knew you were special after our elevator fiasco.”
He shook his head and grinned. “That’s not even a little true.”
“Okay, that’s fair. I knew you were hot, smug, and I wanted nothing to do with you,” I teased.
“You know, we still have to eat pizza from the place you used as your fake phone number.”
I snorted and covered my mouth so I wouldn’t wake TJ. “I forgot about that.”
“Baby, I’ll never forget it. The first time I asked for a woman’s phone number and she gave me the wrong one. My pride took a big hit, but it also made me want you ten times more.”
I shrugged. “You embarrassed me. Then you were snobby but still kind enough to help me through the elevator thing. Except for the panties…”
His gaze heated, and he licked his lips. “I’d give just about any amount of money to get into your panties right now.”
“Shut up!” I pushed at his arm as we made it to the car. “You can’t get me all horned up when I’m holding a sleeping baby. Jeez Louise!”
“Can I get you all horned up once we get TJ home and settled in his bed?” His dark eyes sparkled with salacious intent.
“Abso-fuckin’-lutely.”
“Then let’s get our boy home and in bed so I can get my woman into bed.”
I rolled my eyes, but the idea still made my heart beat faster and my cheeks heat with excitement.
* * * *
The flight to Troms? was incredibly opulent. I’d never get over flying in a private jet. My parents, however, were living their best life, having the flight attendant pour multiple top shelf cocktails while oohing and aahing over every detail. When Erik asked for an ice cream for TJ, and they had it available on the plane, cone and all, you would have thought he’d asked for a million dollars cash to be delivered. They were blown away.
I was a nervous wreck. I’d started second guessing my big surprise, unsure if Jack would appreciate it or not. Even after talking to my mother, who was through the roof excited, and Autumn who’d told me the idea was sooooooo romantic, I was still worried the timing was off. Regardless, my heart was in the right place, and my gut told me this was exactly what was needed to help Jack through one of the hardest times in his life.
“You good, solskinn ? You’ve been really quiet,” Jack whispered, dipping his head close to mine.
“Just thinking about tomorrow night when we chase the lights,” I half lied.
“It’s going to be whatever it’s meant to be.” He took my hand and kissed each of my fingertips, then nibbled on the very tip of my pinky, making me giggle.
“There she is. I much prefer my sunshine smiling,” he said and pecked me on the lips.
I hummed and pressed my lips more firmly to his, deepening the connection.
“ Kysse, kysse, kysse ,” TJ banged on the tray in front of him with the hand not holding a dripping ice-cream cone.
Jack chuckled and leaned across the seat to kiss TJ on the top of his head.
“Dada Yak!” he cooed, all smiles, his sweet face covered in vanilla ice cream.
My heart was so full watching Jack dote on TJ, wiping the mess from his face and tapping his nose while making silly faces. He was so good with him, completely committed to the little guy’s happiness. He was already becoming a great father, and as I looked around the plane, everyone watching the two interact, it was not lost on anyone else either. Even Savannah gazed at the two dreamily and rested her head on Erik’s shoulder.
“That’s gonna be you one day,” she sighed.
“And I can’t wait, elskede ,” Erik murmured, his eyes on Jack interacting with their nephew. “Whenever you’re ready. No rush.”
Savannah and Erik were a great couple. A love match from The Marriage Auction. Madam Alana sure knew her stuff. Which reminded me we hadn’t touched base with the woman in weeks.
“Has anyone heard from Alana?” I asked.
Savannah nodded. “My sister Dakota keeps in contact with her, but I don’t think they’ve talked in a couple weeks. Last I heard they were heading back to France. Usually, she does that in between quarterly auctions. What I do know is they’re really excited about the twins.”
“They’re considering building a house near the Goodall ranch,” Henrik interjected. “We’re actually considering the same since Savannah and Erik bought a house there.”
“You bought a home in Montana?” Jack sounded a little hurt. Obviously, this was news to him.
Erik shrugged. “When the twins come, Savannah wants to be close enough to help out. We were planning on being there most of the first year. I hadn’t had a chance with all that has happened to update you.”
“Maybe we should consider the idea if everyone is planning to commune together,” Jack said. “How often do you plan to be there?” Jack asked Erik.
“We were thinking half the year,” Savannah answered. “I mean, I’ll go wherever Erik is, but my sister means the world to me, and she’s having twins. Even though she’s as tough as nails, having children is so far outside of her wheelhouse I want to be there to not only help, but to be a real part of the twins’ lives.”
“Makes sense. If Autumn was preggers, I’d be all over that like bees to a flower,” I butted in.
“Sisters always have each other’s backs,” Autumn responded.
“Damn straight,” I air high-fived her from across the plane.
“Damn, damn, damn!” TJ squealed.
“Uh oh, we’ve got a parrot on our hands,” I reached out and tickled TJ’s socked feet and watched him shriek with joy. “I’ll have to mind my word choices.”
The rest of the group laughed and continued discussing Montana. I didn’t care if Jack bought a house there. Like Savannah, I could be happy just about anywhere as long as I had Jack and now TJ. Of course, we still needed to figure out where we’d live most of the time, but that seemed less important than the three of us being a real family.
An official, legally binding one.
I just hoped Jack felt the same way after my surprise tomorrow.