Epilogue
Jamison
Claire is being gentle as I try to embrace her to deepen her kiss. Normally, her hugs are all in and she molds to my body. She’s highly aware of the bandages that wrap my upper body under the t-shirt I wear and refuses to get so close that she fears she’ll hurt me. The pain medicine helps, and I try to pull her deeper into my embrace again.
“Asher Jamison Thomas, I swear if you don’t stop, I’m going to quit kissing you.”
I immediately loosen my hold, our laughter filling my tiny kitchen. She also knows the last secret I have; she must have learned it from my mother’s words. My real first name.
I free my hands to sign. So now you know.
I do. Should I go by my middle name now? Danielle Davidson?
There’s a twinkle in her eyes, and I can’t help but lay the last of my heart on the line with her, the heart that’s pounding at a rapid rate in my chest.
No. Claire Thomas sounds better to me, though. If you are looking for a new name to go by…
It wasn’t the way I thought I’d propose to her, but I hadn’t given it much thought. I knew what I wanted, so I asked for it. I make quick decisions with little thought. Claire usually wants ample time to prepare, but that only makes her anxiety worse. Maybe she can live in the moment like I do.
She raises her hands and seems to be holding herself back. Then her hands hold my face as she rises up to kiss me again. She does this so I don’t have to lower down to reach her. I take this kiss as a fuck yes to my name idea, so my smile spreads across my face. When I try to draw her closer and slip my hands under her shirt, she smacks my hands away, breaking our kiss.
I want to show my fiancée exactly how much fun being Mrs. Claire Thomas could be, but damn, I need to get the ring to propose properly, because the thought of Claire being my wife sounds perfect.
You’d better stop trying to hurt yourself, she signs, but her look tells me she’s just as interested in what I have planned for us.
So, is that a yes? If I ask you, would you marry me? I raise my brows, and the corner of my mouth lifts in a smirk. God, she looks so gorgeous as the pink hue stains her cheeks.
You really want to marry me? There’s a bit of uncertainty that touches her eyes.
I’ve never been more certain of anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. So, yes.
Okay.
With that settled, I grab her hand in mine and walk to my bedroom. She’s not going to stop worrying about hurting me unless I really distract her, and I plan to do just that.
The first thing I do is remove the shirt she’s wearing. I slide my hand along the soft skin of her chest and push so she knows I want her to lie down. When I see the protest, I free my hands to sign, Trust me, babe. I’m fine, but I have to feel you.
Her resolve gives in, and her body relaxes beneath my fingertips. She loves when I apply the right amount of pressure when I explore her body. My hand slides lower so I can undo the snap of her jeans. I busy my mouth by tasting the skin I expose.
“You aren’t supposed to do any heavy lifting or exercise.”
She’s right. I bend over and twist, causing pain to shoot up my side. When I know she’s watching and I was caught, I sign, Fine. But I want you to be comfortable while sleeping next to me.
Lie down, and I”ll keep my clothes off. But you have to heal. After, you can have me as much as you want. Deal?
That’s a deal I can’t argue with.
I climb into bed, and Claire snuggles in next to me. I’m ready for the next few weeks to go by because I’m going to make sure she keeps her end of the deal.
◆◆◆
Claire is sitting at the table when I walk into the kitchen the next morning. She hadn’t even roused me when she woke up. She also wakes up so damn early, I’m not surprised. Her hair is wet, and her cheeks are a rosy red. She must have already gone on her morning run and had time to shower. The strong scent of coffee floods the room. I walk in and lean over to kiss her but cringe when the pain hits. I have to remember how to be better about what my body needs to heal.
Claire waves, then signs, You’re going to be a pain in my ass.
I could get used to waking up like this. I’m pretty sure I warned you before.
She waves me on with a flick of her left hand and a smile. After grabbing my coffee, I step over to Claire and take a spot at the kitchen table. I pull the box from my pocket. I found it hidden away in my mother’s possessions, but until Claire got me to read her journals, I hadn’t realized what it was.
I open the box, revealing the diamond ring. It was my mother’s engagement ring. Not the one she wore when she was married to Thorne. No, this one was simple, a gold band, older and vintage. It was the ring my father had given my mother.
I recognize it! Claire signs, and her hand flies up and covers her lips. She read the same journal entry I did.
I haven’t had time to make sure it fits, but I’d like to try now.
She holds her left hand in my direction. I slip the band on her ring finger. It fits, perhaps just a little loose. We will have to have it fitted if she wants to wear it.
She’s staring at our intertwined hands. The sun reflects off the diamond. I think it’s perfect; my dad had great taste. I hope Claire likes it. I swallow hard, releasing her hands. I sign, If you like it, we might need to have it sized down.
It’s perfect. I’ve read about this ring. Your father gave this to your mother.
I nod. I didn’t know until you showed me the entry in her journal. I want it to be yours.
I love you.
I smile. I love this woman so much. She knows how much being able to share a part of my parents means to me. I slide a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear and rub my thumb down her cheek. She raises her left hand to observe her new ring.
My gaze catches on the paper sitting on the table. I point to it and raise my brows, hoping she doesn’t mind sharing with me. She slides the paper over, then signs something. I have no idea, so I shake my head and sign back that I don’t understand. She pushes the letter closer so I can read it.
I’m only a few lines in and it becomes very obvious. I shake my head and push it away. No. You aren’t. This isn’t okay.
I thought you’d be happy.
Never. You can’t give them up. She’s resigning from work. She loves her work and her students. I would never make her give up her life to move to Casper. I’ll come to you.
She’s worth someone giving up their current life to be part of hers. I’ll find work in Anchorage. I refuse to spend any time away from her, so my plan was to rent out my home, quit my job, and go to her.
But what about flying? Your job? Your life here?
I want you. Everything else I’ll still have, but it will be even better because I’ll see you every day.
Claire nods and looks back at her hands, the ring on her finger. I check the time by the clock on the stove. When I turn back, Claire is watching me, her head tilted to the side.
I’m getting hungry, I explain my sudden distraction. Not much can distract me from Claire, but my stomach is growling.
You didn’t have any food, so I didn’t have anything to make you.
Norma’s? I can take it to go so you don’t have to wait.
I could eat waffles, Claire signs, then rises from the table. She slips on her shoes and reaches for my car keys. I’m on too much medication to drive, so I appreciate having her help. I’ll owe her when I’m back to a hundred percent. I’m pretty sure I can think of several ways to thank my fiancée.
I shut the door behind us and follow her outside. I glance at Billy and Gloria’s place. With everything going on, I’ve really kept her from time with her parents. Even I’ve been missing them, so I’m sure she has been. The days with her dad searching for me don’t really count.
I catch Claire’s attention before she can climb into my Jeep. Want to ask your parents to join us?
She smiles. Thank you. I bet they would like that. We make the quick walk up to their cabin. Billy and Gloria grab their stuff, and we all climb into the car. This family has become my family, and I couldn’t ask for better people to have in my life.
We arrive at Norma’s a few minutes later. I keep my fingers intertwined with hers as we search for an empty booth. There is one I see, but Chadwick catches our attention, and Claire walks toward him instead. There is enough room for her parents if we push a few extra chairs over. Norma doesn’t seem to mind. She brings some coffee over as I slide Billy a chair.
“Is that a ring on my daughter’s hand?” Billy asks.
Oh, shit. I forgot to ask him first. Hey, I’ve never proposed to a woman before. “I want to marry your daughter.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” he says. “You make my daughter happy.”
Claire hugs Finn, Chadwick, and Rylee. Gloria squeezes right in next to them.
“She makes me a better man,” I reply to Billy.
“Well, just promise me you”ll treat her right. Not that I had any worries. Why do you think I couldn’t remember to pay my rent on time?” Billy adds with a chuckle.
I start laughing. “Why do you think I quit offering to pick it up?”
Billy’s hand lands on my shoulder as we walk to the table.
Claire’s hand is in Chadwick’s, and his gaze flicks to mine. “Don’t fuck this up, brother.”
“Wasn’t planning on messing it up,” I say but sign as well. I want to make sure my girl knows too.
Norma drops off some menus to Gloria and Billy. “Happy to see you two back with us. What is everyone having today?”
“The strawberry waffles, please,” Claire says. “Thank you.” She intertwines her fingers with mine.
I spend the late morning with those I care about. I share with them my plan to head to Anchorage. We will be coming back to Casper at least once a month. I’ll keep my house to possibly rent out, and I’ll spend the next four weeks recovering before I talk to Mitchell Reyes, the SARs coordinator in Anchorage. He wanted me to join their team once before, so I hope to get the job again.
All I know is this girl beside me is my best adventure, and I’m ready to live it. I kiss her knuckles and smile. I use my other hand to shove a bite of her strawberry waffles into my mouth.