17. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Caroline hadn’t expected me, so when she opened the door, surprise lit up her entire face.
She skipped right past her uncle and leaped into my arms. Brady put on a show of wounded pride, clutching his heart dramatically, but his eyes gave him away—he loved it.
So did I. If only the adults in our family could be half as accepting.
Caroline squeezed my cheeks in her tiny hands. “Are you still coming to my class next week for show and tell?”
I tried to respond through the cheek-squish. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
I glanced at Brady, who stood watching the scene like it was the best thing he’d seen all week.
“Caroline,” I said, “would it be okay if I brought your Uncle Brady with me?”
She nodded like I’d offered her front-row tickets to a princess parade.
Her mom, Kendra, appeared in the doorway, visibly pleased—whether for us or for her own social advantage in the Jackson family, I wasn’t sure. But I also knew she genuinely cared. That warmth didn’t need decoding.
I set Caroline down just as Brady swept her up again, earning another burst of giggles.
Kendra hugged me and whispered, “I had a feeling about you two.”
“Thanks for the chocolate-covered strawberries and hot chocolate.”
She laughed, and Brady shot us a curious look.
“What’s so funny?”
“Privileged information,” Kendra teased, brushing him off with a grin.
Brady didn’t press. “C’mon, Caroline—go grab your shoes,” he said.
She dashed off, her ponytail bouncing.
He simply took my hand, threading his fingers through mine.
When Caroline returned, she stopped abruptly. Her eyes went wide as she spotted us standing close, our hands joined.
“Are you boyfriend and girlfriend now?” she asked, head tilted, curious as ever.
Brady leaned in and whispered, “I wish I could say wife. Or at least fiancée.”
“We’re getting there,” I whispered back.
“Yes, ma’am,” he confirmed Caroline’s suspicions.
She threw her hands in the air. “I’ve been praying for it all week. I just knew it was going to happen!”
The faith of a child. Maybe I should get her to pray that our parents would all think it was a great idea. We could use all the help we could get.
Caroline was her chatty, happy self as we drove to the movie theater in Birmingham.
She gave us a review of the Christmas cartoon we were about to see.
From the sounds of it, her friends were giving it two thumbs up.
I hadn’t seen a cartoon in years. I supposed it was what I had to look forward to when I had kids of my own.
I loved being with Caroline—her enthusiasm was contagious.
The only drawback was that she insisted on sitting between us at the theater.
Brady tried to talk her out of it, but she wasn’t having it.
Brady looked longingly at me from his seat.
I winked at him and grinned. We had survived ten years apart. We could deal with two hours.
The best part of the movie, for me, was watching Caroline’s reactions and hearing her laugh hysterically at the silliest things. The more I was around her, and the more I thought about Brady, the more my biological clock kicked in.
I had been suppressing it for so long because honestly, I never thought I would find anyone I wanted to have children with.
Now that my first and only option was available, it kind of set things in motion.
I had thought a lot this week about having a baby, and admittedly, I was hoping sooner rather than later. I wondered if Brady would agree.
Caroline gave the movie two thumbs up. She also convinced her uncle we needed to stop for hot chocolate.
He was definitely a pushover when it came to her.
We stopped at a new place in downtown Kaysville called Macie’s.
It was a cute little restaurant, and apparently, they had great hot chocolate and desserts.
I wasn’t too thrilled to be out and about in Kaysville, but I figured we might as well come out and prove all the rumors true.
Sure enough, when we walked in together, a hush fell upon the crowd. We instantly became the center of attention.
Brady leaned close and whispered, “Just remember, I love you.”
I smiled, despite the wave of curious glances that met us the moment we stepped inside. It wasn’t hostility—just small-town curiosity, laced with speculation. A few faces offered tentative smiles. And a few offered silence.
Brady requested a booth, clearly hoping to sit beside me. But Caroline had her own agenda. She plopped herself firmly by me, radiating confidence. Brady gave her his best pleading look. She wasn’t impressed.
He reached across the table and took my hand, undeterred.
Our teenage server looked a little starstruck—nervous and blushing, sneaking glances at Brady as she scribbled down our order. I couldn’t blame her. He had a charm you didn’t forget quickly.
While we waited for our hot chocolate and pie, Caroline launched into a full classroom exposé—who was nice, who wasn’t, who picked their nose, and who made the best friendship bracelets. She was like the Kaysville edition of The Enquirer . If I ever needed the inside scoop, she’d be my first call.
Brady and I couldn’t stop smiling. Her chatter filled the booth, and for a moment, it drowned out everything else.
I tried to keep my attention on her, and on Brady—on the sweetness of the night.
But the quiet glances from other tables tugged at me. Not cruel, just . . . watchful.
I hoped that if we chose Kaysville as our forever, people would come to see us for who we were—two people in love. Not an Eaton and a Jackson. Just husband and wife.
A few brave souls stopped by to ask about my aunt. I was happy to share that she was recovering well and would be coming home Sunday. The conversation didn’t flow much beyond that. They stared at our joined hands, and Brady noticed. He raised mine to his lips and kissed it.
Caroline blinked at the gesture, then summed it up perfectly.
“Uncle Brady, you sure like to touch Miss Ellie a lot.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Brady gave her a playful wink. “That’s because I love her.”
“You love her? Does that mean you’re going to marry her?” Caroline practically shouted.
The room fell silent.
No one openly stared—but the weight of curiosity pressed in from every direction. People sat straighter. Eyebrows lifted. Forks froze midway to mouths. It was the kind of hush reserved for Sunday sermons and surprise proposals.
Brady didn’t hesitate. He turned to me with a wicked grin and said—just as loud as Caroline had—“Darlin’, nothing would make me happier.”
I swear, three separate tables choked on pie.
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. After all these years, we still sent ripples through Kaysville just by being in the same room.
I watched heads lean in to whisper, watched fingers fly across phone screens in a flurry of urgent updates. Brady just grinned. He knew he was stirring the pot—and he reveled in it.
We finished our pie and hot chocolate, then made what could only be described as a theatrical exit. Brady helped me with my coat and made sure to plant a kiss on my lips—not discreetly, not shyly, but sweetly and with a touch of bravado.
He was a troublemaker. And I adored him for it.
Caroline, however, was disappointed when she learned we were taking her home. “I thought we were having a sleepover,” she pouted. “All three of us.”
Brady leaned down and whispered in my ear, “I agree. I’m ready for a sleepover with you.”
I playfully smacked his arm.
He laughed.
***
Later that night as we sat cuddled up on the couch at my aunt’s place, watching While You Were Sleeping —well, at least pretending to. Brady dropped a bombshell on me. One I wasn’t the least bit prepared for.
“Ellie, would you do something for me tomorrow?” he asked as he trailed kisses slowly down my neck. His warm breath cascaded down my skin.
“Anything,” I said without thinking, totally mesmerized by him.
His head popped up, eyes enlivened as if I’d just handed him the jackpot.
I quickly realized my mistake and braced myself while waiting to hear what I had just got myself into. I had visions of going to the courthouse. Then I remembered thankfully, they were closed on Saturday. Maybe Vegas?
Aunt Lu would hate Vegas more than the courthouse.
“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”
I laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. “Of course.”
“And my parents?”
My laughter died on arrival.
Brady tightened his hold around my waist. “Please, darlin’.”
Saying yes to Vegas would have been easier.
I sighed and closed my eyes. “Brady—” I had no words.
“I know what I’m asking.”
My eyes fluttered open. “Your parents hate me.”
“Your aunt hates me, too, but that’s not going to prevent me from trying to win her over for your sake.”
“And I appreciate that more than you know. And I see your point, but you know there are some differences.”
“I realize that. But I also realize you aren’t going to move forward until we can get our families on board—at least somewhat.
More than anything, I want to move forward with you.
I love you, and I’m ready to confess that before God and everyone.
” He paused. “Darlin’, I’m trying to be patient.
Poorly,” he smiled. “But is it so bad that I’m impatient? ”
“It’s not horrible.” I grinned.
Brady leaned his forehead against mine. “Remember all our plans. How we were going to change this town? We still can.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do. Ellie, our love has survived ten years apart. That says something.”
I supposed it did. People had been trying from the beginning to keep us apart, but somehow, we always found a way. Even now. And Brady was right, I wouldn’t feel good about moving on with our relationship until there was some peace between our families.
How could we have that if I kept running from his?
I exhaled loudly. “All right, I’ll have dinner with you and your parents tomorrow night.”
What did I just agree to?