A Reason For Everything

by Nita Johnson

  Jesse nodded. “Yeah, sweetheart, I did and once I knew I took the deal. Their kid was sick, Willow. I didn't need to know any more details other than that. I took the deal.”

  The man who stood before me took my breath away. He really was one of a kind. A gentle loving man who would give you the shirt off his back if he’d thought it would help you out.

  “Once I’d gotten the keys I worked here as much as possible. I wanted to get everything perfect before I showed it to you and the kids. I was rushed off my feet but I kept telling myself it would be worth it in the end. Travis kept busting my balls, saying I’d had to tell you. He didn't think it was right I kept you in the dark and looking back now I realize he was right. All this heartache would never have happened if I’d just told you but I had it all planned out. The big reveal. It was meant to have been epic. Something to tell the grandkids, you know?” He broke off seeming so sad I ached to touch him, to hold him and tell him I forgave him but one thing held me back.

  “Where does Melanie fit in?” I had to know why he’d go out with another woman if he felt as strongly for me as he's making out. The reasons for him not being in the office all fell into place but that one question needed an answer if I was to even consider what he wanted from the kids and me.

  “I was here one evening, just finishing off the last few things when a car pulled up outside. It turned out to be the previous owners and they wanted to express their thanks for my generous help. They wanted to say thank you properly and suggested Neros. Of course I refused but they were having none of it so I reluctantly agreed. The day of the lunch they ran late and then to my surprise the one owner came alone explaining that her partner was on his way and be would there shortly.

  “Melanie was the parent of the sick child?” I whispered, mortified I’d reacted to her and the situation in a bad way. Shame and embarrassment washed over me as it came home to roost just how stupid I’d been.

  “Got it in one, sweetheart.” He took one step then another closing the distance between us.

  “You have to know I love you, Willow. That kind love that you only find once in your life and you grab onto it with both hands never ever letting it go. That's my love for you, sweetheart. I’d don't want to ever let you go. Let any of you go. You have all lodged your way firmly in my heart and I wouldn't want it any other way. Now give me a kiss. I’ve missed those lips.”

  “Wait!” I held up my hand blocking his lips from landing on mine wanting to say this before we lost the moment entirely. “I love you too, you kind, handsome, thoughtful and downright sexy man. I am so sorry I never gave you a chance to explain. I am sorry I hurt you. I love you, more than I have ever loved anyone else. Besides my children that is,” I told him, my heart filling with happiness for finally getting my feelings about him out into the open.

  “Enough about what happened. We both did some things that we wished we could take back but it's done now. Let’s concentrate on our future.” Lowering his head to mine he gives me the sweetest kiss I've ever had. This kisses you only ever read about in books or watched in movies; it was that perfect.

  “One last thing to show you,” he said as he ended our kiss.

  “Another surprise? I don't think my heart can take anymore, Jess.” I laughed good naturedly.

  “You’ll love this one, Willow,” he bragged as he lifted up his shirt showing me his last surprise of the evening.

  I was blown away when I caught site of the tattoo that had been etched onto his perfect skin. An intricate pattern of vines swirled and looped over his left pec and over the top of his shoulder but what took my breath away was our names that were clearly visible amongst the design. I spotted not just my name, but Nate and Kaylee’s also, with the words family forever. I was speechless. This man continued to amaze me with his love for the kids and me.

  “I’m the swirls of the design, the vines holding onto my family. Keeping them wrapped up and safe from any harm that might come our way,” he told me when he spotted my reaction.

  “I’d finally found something I wanted to etch onto my skin to be there until I died. You, Willow. You, Nate, and Kaylee. You’re everything to me and now whoever sees my tattoo will see that too.”

  My eyes filled with tears but this time they were tears of happiness, not sadness. I took the small step that distanced us and wrapped my arms around his waist breathing him in.

  “I love you, Jesse,” I whispered, my heart feeling so full I felt it would burst wide open.

  “And I love you too, Willow. Fully, completely for the rest of my life and beyond,” he returned just as passionately.

  “Wow our rooms are amazing! There’s even a whole area for Nana to live in too!” Kaylee called excitedly from the first floor and just like that our perfect moment was blown but we didn't mind. We were going to be having lots of those in the years to come and I for one couldn't wait for each and every one.

  The girl was mine and I was over the moon. I would spend the rest of my life loving her and those little people. And hopefully adding to the family making it bigger than ever. Our story was just getting started, a whole blank book ahead of us to fill with our love story.

  Ours.

  “How do I look?” I asked nervously smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle in my dress as I looked at my reflection in the full length mirror.

  “You look stunning, Willow,” Nan said, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief, coming to stand beside me. Her eyes were full of love and pride as she took us both in. My nan, my rock and I loved her much more than I could ever express. Than she would ever realize.

  I reflected back on how much my life had changed since I walked in on Rob. Finding him with Heather did me a favor. It woke me up, made me realize that I’d been coasting through life. The best decision I ever made was leaving him behind and not looking back.

  Today was my wedding day, the day I finally became Willow Baker, the day I wed my best friend, my love, my soul mate.

  In the days, weeks, months, and years we had been together we had just grown stronger. We faced everything together, an unstoppable force to be reckoned with.

  I couldn't wait to walk down that aisle to the man of my dreams, to the man that had made all my dreams come true and would continue to do so for as long as we both lived.

  “You look so pretty, Mama. Doesn’t she look pretty, Nate?” Kaylee asked her brother as he trailed into the room behind her, his attention taken up with his cell phone.

  “Look at your mom, child, before I text your girlfriend,” Nan scolded Nate making his head shoot up, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. His eyes met mine in the mirror.

  “You look stunning, Mom. Jesse is gonna flip.”

  I couldn't help but marvel as how handsome he looked himself. He was going to break some hearts when he was older. I could see it coming.

  The children's relationship with Rob remained pretty much the same. Nate spoke to him when the need called for it. Kaylee visited him but she wasn't keen on his girlfriend so that pushed them apart. Rob had chosen his girlfriend over his children so let him live with that mistake. Nate and Kaylee had nan, Jesse and me. They didn't need Rob. Smiling at them all, I turned away from the mirror.

  “Thank you my babies. Now come on, let's go get married.”

  As we all walked out of the room I turned to Nan. “Thank you for everything, I love you with all my heart but I am begging you, just for today can you please be on your best behavior.”

  She had come to live with us a year ago after finally deciding she’d had enough of living on her own and I swear she made each day more difficult than the last. She had gotten herself arrested last week for hitting a bartender at the local bar.

  When I asked her why she’d hit him, she’d shrugged and said he’d deserved it. Turned out he had told her she should be home with a hot cocoa while knitting. Nan hadn't taken to kindly to his thoughts and showed him what she thought in return.

  Jess had found the situation hilarious, I must admit I did a
lso once I’d cooled down.

  “Am I going to be sitting by Bitchface Baker?’

  “No, Nan. Not even close.”

  “Then don't fret, child. Everything will be just fine and dandy!”

  I paced up and down waiting for Willow’s entrance music to start. I couldn't wait for this part to be over. I had even asked if we could just skip to the “I do” part and was slightly pissed off when I got shot down by everyone in the room.

  “Calm down, J. She will be here soon.” Travis tried to get me to stop pacing but it was falling on deaf ears. I wanted her down the aisle and in my arms now and I wouldn't settle until those things happened.

  Travis seemed a little happier lately. He'd admitted to me that he had serious feelings for my sister but Brooke had been scared away when he'd admitted those feelings to her. She said it was too much too soon and had bolted, leaving him heartbroken seemingly beyond repair.

  Today was the first time they were going to be in the same room together for over a year and half so Willow and I were expecting some kind of fireworks to happen. If it wasn't between those two then you could bet your bottom dollar Betty wouldn't get into some shit with someone. Mainly my aunt.

  Weddings for you. Either made you cry or made you wanna punch someone out.

  Everything in my life had turned out better than I'd hoped for. Dreamed about.

  My family was everything to me and as I caught site of Willow walking down the aisle with Nate and Kaylee behind her I recalled something she had told me just the day before. My family was going to get bigger. My girl’s pregnant and I'm over the fucking moon. I wanted to shout it from the rooftops but again I got shot down, this time by Willow saying we had to wait until after the first trimester just to be safe. Things would work out fine, they always did so I wasn't worried at all.

  As I met the eyes of my future wife and mother of my children I gave her a loving and tender smile. I couldn't be happier.

  She's all mine and I would love her until the day I took my last breath on this earth. Only then to continue loving her in the afterlife. That's how strong our love was.

  People say there's a reason for everything. She was my reason for living. She was my reason for everything.

  The End

  Who’d have thought I would be sat here writing this part of my third book! Crazy!

  I find this bit the hardest because I can never seem to put into words just how much love and gratitude I have for the people who have helped me along the way.

  Laura - You have been amazing! I don’t think there’s been a day where we haven’t spoken about all things to do with this crazy author world. We will achieve our dreams, just have bloody patience haha! xx.

  Tracey, Tracy and Helen - Thank you for being there for when I needed a special booksh eye, catching plot holes and spelling mistakes. You three are brilliant and I’d be lost without you all. xx.

  The Book Whatsapp Group - You really are good friends who make me laugh daily, especially with the time and language differences. I also can't forget about our gif wars, they can be epic! Haha. xx.

  Virginia - Thank you for taking time out to work with a newbie author, I really am grateful. xx.

  My Family - Thank you for the post sharing and ego boosting you have provided along this journey. I just hope I do you all proud. Especially my fellow book whore mother, Diane. Love You. xx.

  Craig - My soulmate and bestest friend a girl could ask for. I love you and my heart will always belong to you. xx.

  Thank you to all the readers and bloggers out there who have supported me. xx.

  Stick with me guys. The journey is only just beginning and I can't wait to see where it will take us all! xx