It was going to be the true testament; she said that she loved his kids and at the time she seemed relieved that he decided to give up the police department. People could say one thing and mean another; it was the way the human species worked. As he was staring at her, a smile slowly was on her lips. “Thomas, it wouldn’t matter if you had 20 kids; I would love them just the same. Also; whether you work or stay at home doesn’t make a bit of difference. I love you and nothing would change that.” She pressed her lips to his and he knew she was telling him the truth. “Trust in that;” she replied as their lips parted.
He had his answer; she had proven to him that she was real and he was more than happy to get down on one knee. He reached in his shirt and then looked into her eyes. He was trying to search to see how she was feeling in that moment. Her eyes were locked on the small box and he knew that he had her attention. “Two days ago I bought this little piece of jewelry with the hope that today I would ask you to be my bride. When you left and I didn’t get a chance to do that, I was certain that it was over. I felt that any chance of you loving me wasn’t a possibility. After a conversation with two very smart young ladies…” he smiled as he thought about Bethany and Kari and their innocent nature; “I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t give up that easily. You have to sometimes just go after what you want and pray that the consequences will be minimal. So, that’s what I’m doing. I am going after what I want.” He smiled as he got down on one knee. “Rebecca Parker, I know that I may not always say or do the right thing, but right now I feel that this is the best thing for me and my children. I want to take care of you and be the rock in your life. Will you marry me?”
He waited for a moment; her eyes were filling with tears and he held the box in one hand; her hand in his other. “I…I never would have expected this; especially as I sit here in my pajamas.” She laughed and he rubbed the inside of her palm with his fingers. “I…I’m sorry; I can’t.”
He was sure he needed help to get his jaw up off the floor. “What? I don’t think that I heard you correctly; I…”
Slowly a smile came to her lips and she looked down at the ring. “I can’t marry you until I have a talk with your kids. After all, they’re going to be as much a part of my life as you are. I need to know that they’re okay with this.”
He chuckled; “I can tell you without a doubt they are.”
“I need to hear it myself; I hope you understand.” He understood, but it was still disheartening that he would have to wait.
“When you hear that they agree to us getting married, what then?”
“Then that ring will be mine.” She pulled him in to kiss him and he smiled. He couldn’t wait. It was only a matter of time before he would marry Rebecca; he had waited that long; what was a little while longer? It was nothing for two people that were in love.
Epilogue
6 months later
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. Thomas, you may kiss your bride.” Rebecca bit her lower lip as Thomas raised her veil and they kissed. The crowd applauded as they pulled away and she smiled. I love you he mouthed to her and she smiled. She then turned to the kids who were all standing around them and they piled in for a group hug. “I should say, I now pronounce you husband, wife, and family.” Everyone laughed as the preacher chimed in behind them. They all walked down the aisle as a song played and then she threw her arms around Thomas. She had never felt happier. It didn’t take long for them to get the children’s blessing and they had decided to get married once the school year was over.
“I love you.” Thomas spoke again. “You better never get tired of hearing those words.”
She laughed. “I think I can manage.”
“Dad, can we go change into some more comfortable clothes?” Frankie whined next to them.
“Children.” Bethany mumbled, but Rebecca could see she wanted to change too.
“I don’t care; then come back here for the party to start.” They ran towards the Bed and Breakfast and Rebecca watched as they disappeared from the backyard.
“That was a beautiful ceremony.” She turned and saw Cassie behind her. They hugged and Rebecca smiled.
“Thank you Cassie. I know that you had a lot to do with us getting to this point and…” she smiled at Thomas. “Well, neither of us will ever be able to repay you.”
“Nonsense, everyone saw how happy you both made each other.” Rebecca looked over as Seth approached them. They hugged. When she pulled away she just looked between them.
She reached for Thomas’ hand and pulled him closer to her. “We owe both of you. I got my happiness.”
Seth smiled and nodded; she knew that he understood. There were no words that needed to be spoken. “I think that your brother wanted to talk to you.” Thomas whispered in her ear and she nodded. They headed to where Bradley and Courtney were sitting. Rebecca planted a kiss on her 6 month old nephew Jackson. When he was born right after Christmas she was able to get to Avery, but she hadn’t seen them since.
“Hey sis;” Bradley jumped up and they hugged. “It’s been too long.”
“Yes it has; Courtney and Bradley, you both look great. Jackson is just like his father.”
“I tell him that all the time.” Courtney laughed.
“I don’t see it.” Bradley replied, but kissed his son on the head and then turned to Courtney. “He has his mother’s eyes.”
They smiled and Rebecca felt awkward. “Okay; well, we’re going to go and mingle some more.” She grabbed Thomas’ hand and they left the table. “What would you say if I ended up pregnant?”
Thomas laughed and just stared at her. “Do you want to be pregnant?”
Rebecca shrugged. “I mean, I love your children as much as I would love any child of my own; it’s just that sometimes I think about it. Would it be too much?”
Thomas’ eyes got big; clearly he didn’t possess the actions of someone that expected that question. He didn’t run; that was a good sign. He laughed. “I would love to have a child with you Rebecca; I can’t wait to start trying.”
She blushed. They had opted to save their first night together when they were married. Rebecca was nervous, seeing that she was still holding out for that one true love. Thomas’ parents were gracious enough to agree to watch the kids while they were on their honeymoon. They were even planning on staying in the house so that they didn’t’ have to move the kids back to Avery; it was going to work out great.
She had grown close to Megan when Seth and she were planning on getting married; when they got to her table, they had to stop. “Hey Megan;” they hugged and she smiled at her. “Thank you for coming!” She looked around the backyard and then turned back to her. “Where’s Peter?”
She looked like she had been crying, but Rebecca hoped that she wasn’t right. “He kept Jasmine at home; she was sick.”
“Oh; that’s too bad. Nothing serious, I hope.”
“No, it’s just a cold.”
Rebecca looked at Thomas and he shrugged. “Well, you tell them both we missed having them here.” Megan nodded as Rebecca and Thomas left the table. “Do you think everything’s alright?” She asked as he turned to face her.
“I don’t know; it’s hard saying, but I’m not sure I buy into the sick kid.”
Rebecca nodded. “She didn’t either. Speaking of kids…” she laughed as she saw their bunch heading their way. “Actually, I need to speak to them alone; if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all; I’ll be over talking to some co-workers.” She smiled. After he had quit the police department and they came back and offered him a position as a desk sergeant. He did mostly paper work and it kept him off the street. She was pleased with that scenario.
She walked over to where Bethany and her siblings were talking. “Mind if I join you?”
“Go right ahead.” Bethany sat down across from her and the rest of them sat in the other seats. “We actually wanted to talk to you.”
“You did?”
/> Bethany nodded. “We wanted to tell you that we are so happy that you married our dad. He’s much happier now and it’s all because of you.”
“That’s sweet; thank you. I wanted to tell you that I want you to feel like you can come to me about anything; even if it’s to talk about your mom. I’m not planning on taking her place; I know that I never could. I just want to be there to help all of you through anything that I can. Do you understand that?”
Kari nodded. “Do you think that you would mind if we called you mom?”
Rebecca looked at each of the faces and she felt mixed emotions. She would have been ecstatic if they would call her their mom, but she didn’t want to step on any toes. Maybe you should ask your father. As far as I’m concerned; I would love that, but…”
Bethany nodded. “Rebecca’s right; it might not be something we should do right away.”
“Whenever you are comfortable with it; that would be best. I don’t want to rush any of you into doing something that you are not ready for. I do love you guys; never forget that.”
“We love you too.” Kari spoke for the group as they each wrapped their arms around her.
“Thank you for that!” Rebecca smiled as she fought to hold back the tears. “Go ahead and go play.” They rushed off; leaving her to ponder the conversation. She felt his hands on her shoulder. “They are 5 of the many reasons that I love you so much.” She turned to face him.
“They’re playing our song.”
Rebecca laughed as she stood up and he led her out onto the dance floor. “I have to ask you something.”
“Anything;” she swayed in his arms and she relaxed as his hand was caressing her back.
“Kari wanted to know if Scarlett would mind if they called me mom. I told her to ask you, but maybe I shouldn’t have said that.” Thomas gazed into her eyes and she saw a flash of light. “They need to be ready if they ever want to make that step.”
“I’ll leave it up to them; I think that Scarlett would be pleased knowing that someone wants to take care of them. There is no one in this world that would be a better mother to them than you. I am certain of that. I want them to connect with you in so many ways and I feel that calling you mom would be a good idea.”
“I just don’t want them to feel like they have to.”
He nodded. “We’ll show them together that it is completely of their choice.”
“Together?” She liked the sound of that. As she heard the clanging of glasses, urging them to kiss, their lips connected. Dancing with Thomas, talking to the children, and being in their lives were a blessing. She was glad that Thomas realized that he could fall in love twice in a lifetime, and in a weird way she knew she owed thanks to Scarlett. It was from the grave that he was finally able to get the release, and she could finally get her fairytale ending.
Love From the Ashes Page 20