Chapter 42
Forty-Two
T wo long and painful weeks had passed, and as hard as it was to believe because the season had felt less than festive, it was finally Christmas Eve. Abby, John, and Katy were moved into the apartment above Sprinkles. It was a tight squeeze with just the one bedroom, but it was also just what they needed as a family.
John still couldn’t believe how lucky they’d been to all get out of the fire. He woke up every night with a jolt; Abby’s screams, begging him to get Katy out safely haunted his dreams.
His girls were also struggling. The three of them often ended up in the kitchen for late night snacks and snuggled down in bed together after their nightmares forced them awake.
Abby had agreed to finally speak with a therapist, which he was feeling so fucking grateful for. They’d had their first family session the week before, and instantly saw an improvement in Katy. He was so proud of how resilient his daughter was.
They’d been spending a lot of time with their families, and John spoke to Sam and Sylvie daily. Abby didn’t know it, but he had figured out a solution to their living situation. There had been a big surprise he was working on for his girls before the fire happened, and something in his heart told him it was all divine timing. They were planning on heading to his parents house to celebrate Christmas Eve with his family, but after, he’d take Abby and Katy to see what he’d been working on.
The other big surprise for that day was currently burning a hole in his pocket, waiting for him to get down on one knee. That surprise his sweet daughter already knew about, and he was thankful she’d been able to keep the secret so far.
“I want to see Honey, Daddy.” Katy asked to see her every day over the last week. He hadn’t been ready for her to go back to school, and Abby was out with the wounds on her wrists and leg still healing, so they’d been treading carefully around the topic of Honey and what happened to her mother.
“I know.” John pulled a red sweater over Katy’s head. “But remember what Abby and I told you? Honey had to go to her grandma’s house for a little while.”
“Forever?”
“Probably, ladybug.”
One thing they would never share with Katy was how Honey’s father was found deceased in his home. The man had been stabbed over seventy times.
“I miss my fwend.”
Oh god, the way her little lip quivered absolutely shattered John’s heart.
“I know you do. Maybe we can ask Honey’s grandma if we can send her letters, or do a video call one day. Would you like that?”
“Yes, Daddy! I ask Santa, too.”
“That’s a good idea. What else are you going to ask Santa for?”
“To put a baby brother in Abby’s tummy!!”
John felt his whole body grow hot.
“I think we need to ask her something else before that, what do you think?”
“Yep! I prememba Dad!”
“What do you remember, Katy? We need to leave for your parent’s house soon, right?”
Abby walked into the living room, a red velvet dress clinging to all her beautiful curves as she put her earrings in. His heart jumped into his throat. Fuck, his tie was too tight.
“You look stunning,” he said as he loosened the fabric around his neck. Why the fuck was he so nervous? He loved her, and he knew she loved him. It was just a formality.
They’d spent the afternoon at the church Christmas pageant. Abby and Grace had both cried when Katy came dancing down to the stage, Jack rolling behind her in a little cart pulled by one of the older kids. He hadn’t wanted to take his eyes off his daughter, but the look on his wife’s face during the whole presentation was too precious. Shit. Future wife. If she said yes.
“Didn’t want to mess up your family’s Christmas picture this year.”
“You could never. Don’t tell my mom, or Grace, but you’ll be the most beautiful woman there.”
“Don’t think you’re getting out of this, John. What did Katy need to remember?”
John turned towards his daughter, her eyes wide with hope.
“Ready kiddo?”
“Ready!”
John grabbed Abby’s hand and pulled her next to the Christmas tree. The lights sparkled in her eyes and added to the magic of the moment.
“Abby.” He reached into the pocket of his trousers and touched the box he’d put in there just a few minutes earlier, then dropped down to one knee. “God, I love you, Abigail Cooper. I want to show you each and every day just how much you mean to me. To Katy. You are the missing piece to our family puzzle. When I think about what I want my life to look like in a year, or five, or twenty, there is always one constant. And that’s you by my side. I know we’re in the thick of finding the light on the other side of everything that happened. But, I want to walk through it with you. And I want to walk through every day for the rest of my life with you. I’d really like to be your husband, baby.”
“Are you sure?” she whispered, her wide eyes filled with tears.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Of course I will, John. There is nothing more I want in this world than to be a part of this family.” John slid the ring onto her finger. “It’s so beautiful.”
“Katy helped me pick it out.”
“And I didn’t even know.”
“Nope. We sneaky!” Katy laughed, reminding John of the next part of the night.
“Okay, ladybug. Are you ready to ask your question?”
“Yes,” she whispered, suddenly looking down at the ground.
John turned and pulled his daughter into his arms. “If you’re not ready Katy, you don’t have to.”
“I wanna! I wanna ask too!”
“Okay. Go ask then.”
“Abby?”
He watched his fiancee drop to her knees and hold her hands out to his daughter… to their daughter.
“Yes, Katy?”
“I wanna…” she brought her shoulders up towards her ears and her face turned bright red. “Can I call you ‘Mommy’ now?”
Abby’s eyes jumped to John’s, filling with tears as his own throat felt tight with emotion. She quickly looked back at Katy.
“You…you want to call me ‘Mommy’ now?”
“Yes! You do my princess hair, and bake cookies with me. You kissed my boo-boo and help me with night-nights. You kept me safe. Mommies do that.”
“You’re right, Katy. Mommies do that. And do you want to know a secret?”
“Otay,” she whispered in reply.
“I’ve always loved you just how mommies love their babies. And now that your dad and I are getting married, it means you’re officially my baby, too. It would mean everything to me if you called me ‘Mommy’.”
His daughter turned back towards him, her face beaming with the brightest smile.
“She said yes, Daddy!!”
“I knew she would.”
“Why are all the lights?—”
“Congratulations!!” The lights came on in Nellie and Tom’s living room, and Abby’s whole face flushed.
“Welcome to the family!” Grace ran to give her a hug. “This is the best news.”
“I’ve always wanted a little sister,” Jackson was the next to offer her a hug.
“Hey! I’m happy to share her, but she’ll always be my little sister.”
“Sam? Mom? Oh my gosh, everyone really is here!”
“We wouldn’t miss this baby,” her mother laughed. “Should I tell you now or later what I saw in my cards when John came to ask if he could propose?”
“You asked my mom?” She turned, searching his face.
“Of course. I needed her approval for the ring.”
“He asked me, too,” Sam added. “I’m happy to report my heart took it a lot better than when I found out about you dating. Even if the reveals were only a few weeks apart.”
“Well I sure am glad to be home for Christmas, and I have a new sister to initiate into the family.”
“Jordan…”
“No way, man. Grace already knew all of Jackson’s embarrassing stories from when we were growing up. I’m not losing my only chance to razz you.”
“You know, he does still need to tell me that boat story.”
“So, there we all wer?—”
“Santa is amazing!!” Katy yelled, running in from the kitchen with a cookie in her hand. Abby laughed, knowing a sugar crash of epic proportions was in store for their little girl.
“He really is, isn’t he, ladybug?” John tickled her sides. “Thanks for the save, kiddo.”
Abby laughed, but Katy just carried on, not thinking anything about what her dad had just said.
“Yes! He gave me my wishes before Christmas!!”
“Did you ask for your favorite uncle to come home from school?” Jordan asked.
“No,” Katy rolled her eyes and let out a squeal as Jordan took over tickling her sides. “I wealy wanted a mommy. And Abby say yes when I ask!” The room filled with happy murmurs. “Now I know he gives me a baby brudder!”
Every face, including John’s, turned towards Abby.
“Not yet!!” Abby felt her body heat under the scrutiny of her friends and family. “Santa hasn’t given us that present yet, Katy. Maybe next Christmas. After your dad and I get married.”
“But Aunt Gracie has a baby in her belly!” she whined. “A baby brudder for Jack Jack. I want one too!”
Abby’s head whipped towards Grace, who was staring at Katy in awe.
“Are you?”
“No,” Grace shook her head. “Not that I know. I was waiting to take the test because I didn’t want to ruin Christmas.”
“You know,” Nellie smiled, “John told me when I was pregnant with Jackson. Came right up to me and said ‘Mama baby in belly’. Maybe she’s onto something.”
“Well if she’s right, I’ll be writing to Santa myself to say thank you.” Jackson slid his hand across Grace’s belly and kissed her cheek.
“Our own Christmas miracle would be nice.”
“Do you…”
She nodded. “In my bag.”
Jackson grabbed Grace’s hand and they laughed as they left the room.
“Why am I nervous for them? I feel like you’re taking the test.” John wrapped Abby in his arms.
“I can’t wait for that day for us, but it one-thousand percent needs to be after our wedding.”
“Don’t worry. I agree.” He kissed the pulse point just below her ear. “Plus, I’ve always loved the idea of making a honeymoon baby.”
She laughed. “Always?”
“Well, it’s been fun to think about since you said yes to marrying me.”
“Abby! Come over here and let me finish telling you the story of the Great Dissolving Swim Trunks…”
“I need something cold to drink, I think.” Abby laughed as she wiped the tears streaming down her face a few minutes later. She wasn’t the only one who had absolutely lost it at the story. Sam had his arms wrapped around his belly, and her mother’s face was bright red.
“Should I grab you another beer?” she asked John.
“Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, wifey.”
Abby’s knees buckled ever so slightly as sticky heat rooted itself in her belly. “Save that talk for later, Deputy Handsome.”
His laughter followed her all the way to the kitchen. Grace had her back pushed against the sink, her hand on top of Jackson’s which was gently laid over her lower belly. The stars in their eyes told her Katy had been right.
“Are congratulations in order for you two?”
“Oh, Abby! I can’t even believe it! How did Katy know before us?” A tear tracked down her face before she could bat it away, and Abby felt herself doing the same. It was emotional, in the best way, to see Grace and Jackson celebrating that moment when they’d been struggling to get there.
“I’m so happy for you guys,” Abby said as she cleared her throat.
“We won’t say anything tonight. I don’t want to take away from celebrating you and John,” Grace said.
“Are you kidding me? This is so wonderful! I mean, don’t say anything if you’d rather keep it to yourselves for a bit, but I’m over the moon thrilled for you guys, and I think you should shout it from the rooftop right now. Christmas Eve is meant for sharing our happiness with the ones we love.”
“Why are we driving out this way?” Abby turned around to look at Katy. “She’s out like a light. Don’t you want to get her back to the apartment and into bed? It’s already getting late.”
“No, baby. I’ve got one more Christmas Eve present I want to give you.” John slowed and she heard the blinker click as they pulled up in front of the ranch.
“Are we spending the night with my family?”
“We’re not going to the ranch.” The truck turned into the driveway across the road.
“What?” Abby’s heart skipped a beat as John pulled up to the old farmhouse she loved. Someone had taken the time to wrap all the posts of the wraparound porch in Christmas lights, as well as along the edge of the roof. It looked absolutely magical.
“Ready?” John parked the truck and reached over to squeeze her leg.
“For what?”
“Don’t move. Let me grab Katy and I’ll show you.”
She turned and watched as John got Katy out of her car seat and then made his way around the truck to her.
“Watch your step, beautiful,” he whispered.
“John, what are we doing here?”
“Come on, I’ll show you.”
He tugged her up onto the front porch and her breath caught in her throat when she saw the sign hanging next to the door.
Johnathan & Abigail Boone
“I don’t understand.”
He dropped her hand for a moment, reaching into his pocket. She searched his face for a clue, but all that she saw was his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Then, he handed her a key.
“Welcome home, Abby.”
“What did you do?”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll show you.”
Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped inside. The house was empty, except for the living room, which she could see from the entryway. There was a big mattress on the floor, covered in cozy blankets and fluffy pillows. Someone had taken the time to set up a Christmas tree right next to the large fireplace that was decorated with two big stockings and one that was just slightly smaller.
“Who did all this?”
“We have some pretty special friends.”
“I guess we do. Are we spending the night? What are we going to do about Katy’s presents?”
“Santa made sure they were in the back of my truck before we left the apartment. I was hoping you’d want to spend the night out here.”
“I do. How… How did this all happen?”
“When we got home from the hospital after Sam’s cardiac arrest, I knew I wanted to see if I could make a move out here possible. You’d just told me how you grew up loving this house, and then everything happened with Sam. I wanted you to be close to him, and we’re still reasonably close to Bell Ridge and my family, too.”
“But, there was a family living here.”
“I know. Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair had been planning on moving to Arizona to be with their daughter and her family since they were getting older and things were becoming more and more difficult to maintain. When I explained how much my fiancee loved this house growing up, they were more than excited to sell it to me.”
“I wasn’t your fiancee then.”
“Okay. So I may have stretched the truth knowing the inevitable.”
“But your house and the insurance…”
John walked to the bed and laid Katy down, pressing a kiss to her forehead before turning back to Abby.
“There was no way we could go back there after everything that happened. I’ll work through what I need to with the insurance, but that’s not our home anymore, baby. We needed a fresh start for our family. One where it’s been the three of us together, from day one.”
“Our home together.” She snuggled into his arms.
“Forever.”