Jake #2
“I know that right after Thanksgiving, Kailyn told you about our history together.” Kailyn’s hand moves from mine, sliding along my leg, resting on my knee and I relish in the contact.
“I’m sorry that we lied to you back then.
But I need you both to know that I truly care for your daughter, and despite all of the things that happened back then, I’m grateful to have found our way back to each other. ”
Something about this moment has me changing tactics, and I turn my head to Kailyn, my next words meant for just her. “I’m in love with you, Kailyn. Every piece of you, every good and bad moment we’ve shared, it’s always been you.”
Tears fill her eyes, a small gasp heard behind me but my focus is only on her.
“From the day I met you in the eighth grade, it’s always been me and you. Our time apart sucked, but I’m also grateful that we were able to grow apart to come back stronger than before. I can’t imagine this life or any other without you by my side, and I hope you feel it, too.”
Her hand reaches up, wiping at the tears that track down my face before her forehead rests against mine.
“Jake Spencer. I love you with everything I have, everything I am. You are my best friend, my person, my safe space. I hate that one misunderstanding almost ruined everything for us, but I’m also so grateful that we found ourselves so that we could find each other again.
You are my family and my home. There’s no one else that could ever take that from you. ”
I laugh, feeling so giddy and elated because after everything that’s happened, Kailyn and I are able to finally bury the past behind us and create the future that we both deserve, one where it’s us against the world, together.
Her head falls on my chest, and I pull her into me, breathing in her signature lavender scent as we feel this moment together.
After a few moments, I wipe my eyes and turn my gaze back to her parents, who both have proud smiles on their faces, Sam’s eyes filling with tears.
“I meant for this to go a completely different way, to sit here and tell you that I want to be with your daughter and promise that I’ll treat her right and take care of her, because I hope that you trust that I will. Because she deserves the world, and I hope to give her as much of it as I can.”
There’s silence in the room, but as I look around, there’s not a dry eye in sight.
Nathan is the first one to move, getting up from his seat and walking over to me.
I rise to meet him with a handshake, but he surprises me by pulling me into a tight embrace. I wrap my arms around him, this moment reminiscent of one of my dads hugs, and I soak it in for as long as I can.
“Son, I need you to know something.” He doesn’t pull away, just keeps hold of me.
“Before your dad passed, he had one wish for Sam and I. He asked that we take care of you, help you through life, and be there for you when you needed a family. He told us that his only wish was to see you live your life and to be happy.”
There’s the sound of a chair scraping against the floor before Nathan lets me go and Sam steps up beside us. “Your dad told us back then that you both had a history, so we knew about you two already.”
“What? Why didn’t you tell me you knew?” Kailyn steps up from her seat, standing right beside me.
Sam reaches over and cups her cheek. “I promise we didn’t know about the bullying and the circumstances of the breakup until you told us after Thanksgiving.
Your father and I wanted to intervene after we found out.
We wanted to fly out to L.A. and fix things for you, but Sean asked us not to.
He told us that he knew you two were meant to be, and that it was up to you to find your way back to each other. ”
She turns her gaze to me again. “I hated watching you two suffer the way you did, but I also knew that your dad was right, because if we pushed either of you too soon, it might’ve made things worse. You both had so much growing and learning to do, and it wasn’t our place to step in.”
“That also never changed you being a part of this family, Jake,” Nathan says.
“You have always been like another son to us, and we love you so much. You are an incredible young man, and I know that your dad would be so proud of you. I appreciate you wanting to do the right thing and tell us about your relationship, but you never needed to earn our approval because you’ve always had it. ”
My mind is in a bit of a whirlwind learning about everything, but as I process all of this new information, I can’t even be mad that they knew and never said anything.
They’re absolutely right, because had they pushed Kailyn to come back home and face things, I don’t think she would’ve been ready.
She needed that independence to grow to love and find her true self.
And I needed that time to also find myself and trust that the people around me had me, no matter what.
Standing here right now, I’m surrounded by so much family and love, and that’s all I've truly ever wanted.
“I understand if you’re both upset or angry with us, but we did what we thought was best and we also wanted to respect your father’s wishes.” Sam turns back to Kailyn, who is silent still.
Kailyn looks at me, her gaze conveying everything that I’m also thinking, and with a small nod, she turns back to her mom and dad, hugging them both.
They embrace as a trio, and I step back to give them this moment.
“I’m not mad at either of you. I would’ve pulled away if you pushed me back then to face things when I wasn’t ready.
It’s taken me a long time to get to this point, to feel confident and proud in myself, and I needed that time for me, because I wouldn’t be here unless I had it.
” She hugs them tighter, before pulling away and stepping back into me.
My hands instinctively rest on her hips, pulling her flush into my chest. “I’m sorry for making you worry about me all these years and for running away.
I love you both so much, and I’m grateful to have you as my parents. ”
“We’re just glad that you’ve both found your way back to each other and can be truly happy. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for you kids.” Sam looks at her other kids, who are now starting to get up from their seats.
Everyone is hugging and smiling, and truly, this moment couldn’t have gone more off the plan I had in place, but as Kailyn later snuggles into my side while we’re all sitting in the living room of her parent’s house, finally allowing ourselves to be free of the past, I don’t regret it for a single second.