49. Jordan
Chapter Forty-Nine
Jordan
We said goodbye to her parents in the car park.
Her mum hugged her. A little awkwardly, like it was full of unsaid things, but still, my shoulders started to unclench. Her dad shook my hand like I’d passed some test I didn’t know I was taking.
“Look after them both,” he said, firm but quiet.
I nodded, as if it were even a question. I was going to spend the rest of my life making sure Kate and the baby had the world at their feet.
I didn’t take my eyes off Kate for a moment. I could see she was barely holding it together.
Her mother was a tough one to crack. I could see it in the way she studied me across the table, like she was weighing up every word, every look I gave Kate. But when Kate slipped off to the bathroom, I took my chance.
I looked her straight in the eye and told her the truth.
That I loved her daughter, that I was going to marry her.
That I wanted to give Kate, and the grandchild she was carrying, a life where they never had to second-guess if they were safe, or wanted, or cared for.
A life where they never had to worry about a thing.
We waved them off, hand in hand. Then I opened the passenger door for her. She climbed in without a saying a word.
By the time I dropped into the driver’s seat beside her, we both let out the same exhale. Long, shaky, and loaded.
She tipped her head back against the seat.
“Jesus Christ,” I muttered, dragging a hand down my face. “Did we just survive that?”
She gave a soft laugh. “Barely. I thought I was going to pass out before the end of dinner.”
I reached for her hand. It was still trembling slightly.
“Hey,” I said. “You were amazing.”
She looked at me then, eyes glassy, her lip giving a slight wobble. “Well, at least I didn’t cry.”
“You didn’t need to.”
I shifted toward her, dropping her hand just so I could cup her jaw. “You stood your ground. You were strong and clear and…fuck, Katie. You were brilliant.”
Her lip trembled again. Just a little. She blinked quickly, staring ahead like if she didn’t move, she wouldn’t fall apart.
And it hit me how heavy this had all been for her.
The build-up. The fear. The way her parents’ expectations had lived in her bones for years.
I had no idea what that felt like. My parents had always been there for me through everything, every triumph, every stupid decision.
I couldn’t imagine what it must have felt like having to live your life by someone else’s expectations.
She turned to face the windscreen again. Her voice came quiet.
“I didn’t realise how much of me I’d packed away to make them happy.”
My chest ached as I reached for her again. Pulled her across the console and into me, showing her she was safe now as I cradled her head against me.
“You don’t have to do that anymore,” I murmured into her hair. “You’re not theirs to mould, Katie. You’re yours. You always have been.”
I paused, softer now. “And you’re mine, too. If you want to be.”
She didn’t say anything. Just let herself lean in to me and let herself fall apart quietly, safely, right there in my arms. I held her like that for a long time.
Until her breathing slowed. Until her body stopped shaking. Eventually, she pulled back just enough to look at me.
“I’m really glad you were there,” she whispered.
“I wouldn’t have been anywhere else.”
And I meant it. I’d follow this woman through fire if she asked. Tonight wasn’t easy but she’d shown up. And that was everything.
She sniffled as she gave me a damp, little smile. “Let’s go home.”
“Yeah,” I said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “Home.”