Chapter Twenty-Four #2
Jake slung his arm around her shoulders.
"Please don't. You don't know what she's like.
I'll bet Dad hasn't said a word against her—he's too decent to expose her for what she really is, but.
.." He paused. "I mean, she's my mom, so I love her.
But that's best done from a distance. I'll call her and tell her.
We'll maybe go see her at some point. But today's for Savvie and me, and for you guys.
If she were here, she'd make it about her somehow, and you can bet that she'd make things difficult for you and Dad in any way she could.
She..." He sighed. "I hate to say it, but she's not a very nice person.
Today's a big day for me and I want to share it with the people who mean the most to me, and that includes you.
" He smiled at her. "Does that put your mind at ease? "
She nodded but looked sad. "It does, and I love that you feel that way. I just can't help wondering if my children feel that way about me."
Jake tightened his arm around her shoulders.
"If they do, they're idiots. They can't think that you're a bad person because you're not one.
But maybe... maybe they're different. Maybe you're just not their kind of person.
" He made a face. "I hope that doesn't sound bad, but sometimes it's true.
There's nothing wrong with you and there's nothing wrong with them—there's just not a good match.
That's true for my mom and me, and it's okay.
In fact, it's great because I don't need to feel torn – it's natural for me to feel more loyal to you. "
"Aw, Jake."
He gave her shoulders a squeeze. "I hope I didn't mess that up."
She was beaming as she said, "No, you didn't. But don't you think it's time?"
He grinned. "Yeah, it is. I'm going to go steal her away from Dad. I'll see you there."
She reached up to peck his cheek. "You certainly will."
~ ~ ~
Savannah grabbed one side of the roll-up door while Jake grabbed the other, and between them they pushed it up until momentum took over and it went the rest of the way itself.
Jake grinned at her. “I reckon there’ll be more than enough money coming in soon to get an automatic door.”
She smiled back. “You’re right, but you don’t need to shell out for a door yet. It’s easy enough to do between the two of us.”
He came to her and rested his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her eyes. “I know, and I love that we’re such a great team, but we can save the pulling together for the important stuff.”
“Aww.” She pushed up onto her tiptoes to press her lips to his.
“I love you, Savvie.”
“I love you, too, Jake.” She looked around. “What exactly do you need to do? We can’t stay too long; we can’t just abandon everyone. And you know me, if you don’t watch me, I’ll get started on something and the time will fly by before I even notice.”
His eyes seemed to twinkle as he said, “Don’t worry. We won’t take too long. But this is important.” He grabbed the rope and started to pull the door back down behind them.
“Don’t you want to leave it open? It’s such a beautiful day.”
He looked out at the parking lot before shaking his head. “No, we should close it – it’s cold out there.”
“Okay.” She took a step toward her workbench, but Jake appeared beside her. “Want to put the radio on?”
She gave him a puzzled smile. “I can, if we’re going to be here long enough to need it.”
When he chuckled, he seemed almost nervous. “I know you like to listen to it. In fact, tell you what, forget the radio.” He took his phone out and fiddled with it. “Would you turn the speakers on and I’ll hook this up?”
She turned the speaker system on and left him to fiddle with his phone while she went into the back to put her coveralls on. She still didn’t know what they were here to do, but she didn’t want to go back to his dad and Jo’s place covered in grease and oil.
When she came back out into the shop, she stopped when she spotted him. He was standing there, grinning at her.
“What is going on with you?” she asked as she went to him.
“I got you something.”
When she reached him, he pointed to her workbench – there was a brand-new shiny toolbox standing beside it, and not just any old toolbox.
It was a professional-grade toolbox – tall, on wheels, with multiple drawers in glossy red – the kind she’d always dreamed of owning but never thought she could afford. With a big blue bow on top.
“Oh my gosh, Jake!” Her eyes filled with tears.
The way he smiled as he took her hand made her heart melt in her chest; she didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so happy.
“Come take a look.” He pointed to the middle drawer and said, “Open it.”
Her hand shook as she reached out and slid the drawer open. It contained a complete set of wrenches and …
“What’s that?” She leaned forward to get a better look at the little box nestled in there. It looked out of place – it was creamy-colored velvet with a little gold clasp.
“Jake?”
There was no mistaking the love that shone in his gorgeous brown eyes as he came closer.
“What’s that for?”
He chuckled as he took hold of it. “It’s for you.” He took the box out and got down on one knee, still holding it up to her.
He flipped it open, and her throat closed up and tears stung behind her eyes when she finally understood what was going on.
He reached for her hand, and she clung on tight.
“I know it might be too soon, and we can take all the time we need, but …” He cleared his throat.
“I love you, Savvie. I love you with all my heart and want to spend the rest of our lives together. I’m not saying we need to get married next month, or even next year.
But I couldn’t wait to ask you. I need you to know that it’s what I want.
” He squeezed her hand. “I’m hoping that it’s what you want too. ”
She nodded as the tears streamed down her face. “I do, Jake.”
He slid the ring onto her finger. “Thank you. I want you to have that ring on your finger so that you know … you were always on your own before – but you never will be again. You’ve got me now – now and forever.
I hope whenever you see it on your finger the ring will remind you of the future.
I fell for you the day I met you and …” He chuckled.
“Shit, I guess I’ve said everything except what I really mean – will you marry me, Savvie? ”
She nodded vigorously, and her voice came out as a croak. “Yes! Yes please, Jake. You know I love you, and I know I always will.”
He got to his feet, and she flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck as he claimed her mouth in a kiss that she wanted to last forever.
When they finally came up for air, he tightened his arms around her, lifting her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he spun them around. She clung to him when he let go of her to take his phone out.
“Are you going to tell your dad?” she asked. “Did he know this is what we came here for?”
He chuckled and glanced over toward the office. “We can talk to him soon enough – and the rest of them – but there’s one more thing I want to do first.”
She clung tighter to him, and fresh tears came when music came through the speakers and he brushed his lips over hers.
“It struck me that night at The Boathouse – this is our song.”
She swiped at her wet cheeks, knowing she was grinning like an idiot as she nodded.
The first chords to Carson Tate’s song The Only Way to Fall drifted on the air, taking her back to that night they first danced and Jake sang the words to her.
She let her feet slide back to the ground, and Jake tightened his arms around her as they swayed to the music.
Her heart felt as though it filled up and overflowed as he sang every word to her while they danced a dance that was more of a shuffle in their coveralls – but to Savannah, it was the most perfect moment she could imagine.
I’ve been the kind to hold back my heart,
Keep both boots on the ground.
Love’s a long road full of stop signs,
So I’d just turn the truck around.
But then you smiled like summer lightning,
Hit me where I stood –
Now I’m learning you don’t fall halfway,
When you fall, you fall for good.
’Cause the only way to fall is all or nothing at all,
You’ve gotta let go, baby, take that call.
It’s a long way down, but I’m not scared at all –
If you’re falling, I’ll be there to catch you.
Yeah, the only way to fall…
Is all or nothing at all.
We could play safe, stay on the edge,
Talk ourselves right out of the dive.
But love don’t wait on second chances –
It wants to feel alive.
So take my hand, don’t look below,
Let the sky be what it is –
If the ground comes up too fast,
We’ll meet it with a kiss.
Let the world keep on spinning,
Let the risk feel like flight.
We might fall, but we’ll fall together,
And that’s what makes it right.
Yeah, the only way to fall is all or nothing at all,
You’ve gotta let go, baby, take that call.
It’s a long way down, but I’m not scared at all –
If you’re falling, I’ll be there to catch you.
Yeah, the only way to fall…
Is all or nothing at all.
As the final chords floated away, Savannah clung to Jake’s shoulders. “I have to be the happiest girl in the world, Jake.”
He rested his forehead against hers and looked deep into her eyes. “And that’s just one more thing we have in common – see, I’m the happiest guy in the world. Do you like it?”
She didn’t know what he meant for a second, but then she brought her hand up between them – the ring! “It’s perfect, Jake. I’ve never seen one like it before, and I love it!”
He pressed a kiss to her lips. “Good. I needed it to have two stones, not just one.”
She kissed him again. “Thank you. I love that. It’s you and me, isn’t it?”
He nodded.
When she held it up to admire the way the diamonds caught the light, it hit her that she was wearing her coveralls. She gave him a wry smile. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather marry someone who dressed a bit better than I do?”