Max makes his way through the back roads till he hits Interstate 10. I hold on tighter enjoying the feel of the open air as he picks up speed. I lean my chin against his shoulder and watch as the scenery flies by. I love Texas, the rolling hills, seas of blue that magically transform into fields of blue bonnets as you get closer, Longhorns cattle standing looking majestic in their pastures. Then there are those fields that hold nothing more than a single, old live oak tree whose branches seem alive, with their brilliant twists and turns, they are enchanting. God lives here.
Max turns off on an exit marked, Comfort. It’s a quaint little town with shops along its main street. I think we’re going to stop for lunch but he keeps going right through the middle of town. A couple more miles down he turns off onto a farm road. I can see beautiful old homes sitting at the back of large lawns. As he rounds another turn, I gasp when I see an old metal train bridge that’s painted red with the Guadalupe River flowing beneath it. It’s breathtaking. A few more miles down, the bike begins to slow. Max pulls us to the side of the road in front of a beautiful field of blue bonnets mixed with a sprinkling of Indian Paintbrushes and comes to a stop. He turns off the engine and I sit taking it all in.
Neither of us move from the bike for a few moments. We sit quietly looking around at the beauty. I startle when I see something run across the street, causing Max to laugh.
“Roadrunner. Crazy looking little bastards.” He shakes his head.
I can’t help but laugh at his description, because he’s right. He taps my leg so I hop off the bike and he follows. I pull off my helmet and set it on the seat and stretch a little while running my fingers through my windblown hair thinking next time I need to braid it.
“This is amazing, Max but what are we doing here?” I ask as he tugs off his helmet off and sets it next to mine.
While waiting for him to answer, I turn back and stare at the field. The beauty of bluebonnets across an open field never gets old. I sense Max moving behind me and then he stills.
“Jaycee.” Max calls me softly.
I look over at my shoulder and I gasp when I see he’s down on one knee holding a small black box. I slowly turn around to face him with my mouth hanging open. He coughs and clears his throat and then rubs his hand not holding the box against his jeans before he takes a deep breath and then looks right in my eyes.
“Jaycee Lillian McGinty, will you marry me?” He opens the box and lifts it to me.
My nose starts to burn and my eyes water as I look down at the most beautiful antique ring. It’s a silver band holding a princess cut sapphire surrounded by tiny diamonds.
I can’t speak so I just nod. He jumps up and hugs me, lifting me until my feet leave the ground. I can do nothing more that wrap my arms around his neck and hold on tight.
“Really?” he whispers as he drops me back to the ground.
“Yes, of course I’ll marry you, Max.” I whisper back, lifting up on my tiptoes to kiss him.
He releases me and then pulls the ring from the box as I hold my left hand out for him. “This one?” He asks as he starts pushing the ring up my ring finger.
“Doesn’t matter which, but officially, yes,” I tell him with a laugh. After he pushes it on, he lifts my hand and looks at it for a few moments before he kisses it.
“It’s perfect, Max. I love it,” I tell him.
“When I saw it I knew I knew it was the one. I had to get it sized and the jeweler closed before I could get there yesterday so this almost didn’t happen today” he says
“Did this have something to do with my brothers showing up today?” I ask.
“Yeah I told Jake and Jesse about it last night, Jake offered to pick it up for me and drop it off.” He shakes his head. “Jesse sent out a damn group text this morning, to everyone, in your family, reminding them today was the day. Everyone knows, we've been keeping it a secret from you.” He presses his lips to mine in a slow, leisurely kiss. “I have about a hundred texts on my phone ranging from threats to well wishes. I may have received a few pictures warning me of what would come if I messed this up or hurt you.”
“Oh, my God, Max.” A hysterical laugh escapes my mouth. “I’m so sorry. I think you may find I’m more trouble than I worth.” I say, grinning.
His face turns serious. “Never, love.”
After he breaks our kiss, he turns me back to the field of bluebonnets. I can’t help but think how beautiful his heart is to find the perfect spot to propose. Giving me this beautiful memory. That is until he points to a hill in the field of bonnets and then proceeds to blow my mind and fill my heart even more than I ever thought.
“There.” he continues to point at the hill.
“There, what?” I turn and look.
“There’s where I’m going to build our house.” he says and I slowly turn back to him. My eyes flicker between him and the field as he goes on. “Your dad came out and took a look at the property. He said it would be a good site to build on so when he gave me the okay, I bought it. It’s yours. It’s ours.” he says like it’s no big deal.
“Maxwell ‘Blue’ Bradshaw, how did I get so blessed? I love you.” I whisper, my voice tight with tears.
I lean up to kiss him and when it becomes heavy, he breaks away, his eyes scanning the area. Before I realize what he’s up to, he pulls me into the cover of some trees.
After making quick work of my boots, jeans and panties, he tugs his jeans and boxers down enough to set himself free.
“Put your hands on the tree trunk.” he commands, as he runs his fingers up and down me to get me ready; when he sees I’m already there, he grabs my hips and lifts me till I’m straining on my tiptoes. We share a moan as he slowly enters me and once he's fully seated in me, he wraps one arm around my waist and puts his other against the tree. He takes me like this, deep and hard, for several strokes but then turns and sits pulling me down on top of him. Now, I take him until we both explode. I lay my head on his shoulder and try to slow my breathing down.
“Well, it's officially ours now that we christened it.” Max says and I start giggle as he chuckles.
We walk around the property for a while but then make our way back into town. We see a local restaurant proclaiming to have the worst barbecue in Texas. So, naturally we stop there for dinner before heading back into town, excited for what our bright future has in store for us.
Being lost in my own thoughts I don’t notice we’re not heading back home. Max keeps going back through San Antonio and exits on the outskirts of downtown. He takes the West Avenue exit and I know where he’s going, Jacala’s. Yay! When we pull into the small parking lot I breathe in the smells wafting out through their patio. My stomach felt full until that moment. Now all I have on my mind is enchiladas and puffy tacos. We make our way in the side entrance and Max pulls me into the back patio dining area and the entire family is gathered there. When we walk in, I smile and hold my hand up showing off my ring. With that, everyone starts clapping, followed by whoops and cheers being shouted out.
Chairs scrape the concrete as everyone comes forward offering congratulations, hugs and kisses. My sister hands me a bag and then hands one to Max.
“Let’s get you changed.” she says and starts pulling me to the ladies' room while pointing Max towards the men’s room.
I feel a tug on my pants and a little voice call out to me. “An’sie Jayc, look!” Callie all but squeals.
I look down at Callie and she has a big black and white polka dot bow in her hair. She’s jumping up and down, her little legs turn into skipping, to get my attention. She’s wearing a blue jean skirt with tiny black cowboy boots. She’s pointing to her shirt so I look. It’s black, and on the front, spelled out in silver glitter is ‘Blue and Jaycee’ surrounded by a heart with an arrow pointing out the sides.
I reach down and pick her up, smiling. “Where did you get this, Princess Callie?” I ask and then give her a kiss on the cheek.
“An’sie Ab,” she stops and her little eyebrows
draw together in concentration, “b’gail.” She takes a deep breath, frustrated with trying to pronounce my sister’s name and decides pointing is easier as she lift her finger at Abigail.
“Remember what I told you?” my sister asks Callie, “You can call me Auntie Abby.” She pulls Callie from me and sets her on her hip.
Callie smiles and then gives Abigail a kiss on the cheek, but then surprises me into a laugh when she blows a raspberry on my sister’s cheek. Abigail wipes her cheek off as she turns to Callie laughing. About then, Nick walks up.
“Nice one, Callie.” and Nick reaches for Callie. She goes willingly to him and he lifts her till she’s sitting on his shoulders. “Hurry up. I’m hungry plus I can’t wait to see Max’s reaction to what’s in the bag.” With that, he leaves with Callie on his shoulders. After ducking a few ceiling fans, he leans forward and Chase steps up and takes her.
“I’m going to kick his butt for teaching her that. All day she’s been giving me raspberries.” She giggles and pulls us down the hall to the restrooms. “Hurry up, Max!” She calls back to him.
“Fuck me.” he mutters after glancing in the bag before he disappears into the men's room.
When we finally get in the restroom, Abigail pulls me into a hug. “I'm so happy for you, sissy.” When we separate, she pulls a t-shirt from the bag and hands it to me. “Hurry and change. I’m hungry too and I need some food in my body to absorb the margarita I had before you got here.”
“Just one?” I ask while I unfold the shirt. I start laughing when I read it. No way is Max going to change if his is anything like mine.
“Okay, maybe two. You guys took forever to get here.” She starts tugging at the hem of my shirt, trying to pull it off.
“Two?” I ask while slapping away her hands. I pull off my shirt and then slide the other one on.
“Yes, two. I haven’t licked the salt from the rim of the second one yet and barely had a sip of three.” she adds while busting into a fit of giggles when I turn to her. “You look adorable. Blue, probably not so much.” She grabs my old shirt and stuffs it back in the bag. She takes my hand and pulls me out of the bathroom and back down the hall towards our table.
I already hear it. Hysterical laughter.
When I turn the corner, I can’t help but start laughing too. My poor Max.
There stands Max, wearing a black t-shirt with two cats embracing and it reads, ‘together purr-ever’ and on the back ‘she said yes’.
He starts walking to me but stops when Jake walks up and hands him a beer. He lifts the bottle to his lips and downs half the bottle in one pull. He narrows his eyes on Abigail who's now close to passing out from laughter and then walks over to me.
“I used to like her.” he says while wrapping his arm around my shoulder. “Not so much now.”
“Max, sugar, I’m sorry but you do look adorable.” I wrap my arms around his waist and smile up at him.
Nick hands Max another beer and me a margarita. “Did what I could. Count your blessings. She wanted it in pink.” he informs us before continuing on his way.
Max steps back and looks down at my shirt and starts laughing. Mine has two owls with huge hearts as eyes and it reads, ‘'hoo said yes?' and on the back, ‘I said yes’.
We’re both laughing when Callie walks up and raises her arms to Max. He sets his beer down on the table and scoops her into his arms. While the three of us are looking at each others' shirts, my sister and Violet aim their camera phones at us. We turn towards them and smile. While waiting for them to take the picture, I glance behind them and see a man with a full beard and long hair, wearing a pair of aviators. He’s standing at the bar, watching us. I absently note something familiar about his stance; but get distracted when Callie squeals “cheese” for the camera.
But then it clicks. My world stops and my glass falls from my hand and shatters on the floor.
“Jaycee?” Max calls to me as he pulls Callie and I from the broken glass.
I whip my head back towards the bar but I see no one. My eyes dart around while I try to process everything in my head. No one else is reacting. They’re just standing around talking and laughing. They would have noticed, right? I take a calming breath as I take one more look around. Nothing. I’m just seeing things.
“Jaycee, love?” Max hands Callie to my Uncle Brock and pulls me to sit down at a chair by our table, squatting down in front of me.
I laugh nervously. “Sorry, sugar bear.” He narrows his eyes on me before deciding to let this one slide.
“You okay?” he asks while looking over his shoulder at two bus boys that come in and start cleaning up the broken glass.
“I’m fine.” I smile. “Sorry about that.” I call out to the boys cleaning up the broken glass. They just smile and give a polite wave and go back to sweeping up my mess.
“I want some puffy tacos is all, Max.
“Well you didn’t have to start breaking things to get them.” He laughs while pulling me close for a hug. “Let’s get you some tacos before you start tearing this place apart.”
“Good idea.” I say while he takes his seat next to me and picks up the menu.
During dinner, Callie laughs and cuts up with everyone. I remember being worried about her adjusting, everyone was. If anything, she’s come completely out of her shell and blossomed into a beautiful, happy little girl enjoying life. She’s an absolute joy and a little bit of a firecracker. Whoever she was with before us loved her too. I don’t know her entire story, none of us do, but this little princess did not come from abuse.
I glance over at Max and he’s watching me watch her. I smile when our eyes meet.
“I’m not sure what I was so worried about.” I say absently. “It’s almost like there was never a time she wasn’t here.”
“Your family has a way of making people feel apart of them.” He smiles while looking around the table but then his eyes land on Abigail and they narrow. “Except her.” Then he looks at my brothers. “And them.”
I start laughing and he follows. “Max, they wouldn’t bother torturing you if they didn’t love you too.” I try and reason with him.
Abigail must sense Max talking about her because she turns, smiles, points to his shirt and gives a thumbs up and starts cracking up. She gives me a wink and turns back to Nick.
“Yeah. Loved." His smile turns into grimace.
After dinner, we head out to the parking lot and say our goodbyes. Max and I head home with my grandma not far behind us in her car.
Once we're inside back at home, Grandma tells Max and I she’s tired and is going on to bed and read and she’ll see us tomorrow. I give her a kiss and Max and I make our way to our bedroom.
Max walks into our little bathroom but doesn’t close the door. He changes into some basketball shorts hanging from a hook behind the door where I hang my gown and then starts brushing his teeth. While he stands by the sink, I grab my gown from the hook and change behind him. After dumping my clothes in the hamper, I reach around for my toothbrush and toothpaste. As I start brushing my teeth, our eyes meet in the mirror and he smiles before he leans down and starts rinsing his mouth. Once done, he walks out and turns on the lamp on the nightstand and crawls into bed. I spend a few moments studying him; the man who will become my husband. The sweet way he set up the entire proposal and included my whole family is something I'll never forget. I can't believe I'll get the chance to show him everyday how much I love him. I set my toothbrush down and leave the bathroom to join him in bed, frowning when I notice he’s looking at his cell phone and shaking his head.
“What?” I ask as I climb in and scoot in closer to him to look over at the screen on his phone.
He’s swiping the screen while reading texts and lightly chuckling. I briefly catch a picture of what looks like a noose and then jerk my head to him in question.
“Nash.” He chuckles and keeps going.
I see one from Connor. Yay! Tell Jaycee, I’ll call her. We can plan our weddings toget
her. Cake tastings and pick out invitations. Can’t wait.
Awe, that’s nice but short lived as I see one from my dad. If you hurt my daughter, they will never find your body.
“Jesus Christ, Dad,” I whisper.
There’s one from my Aunt Savannah inviting all the girls to lunch for planning and then replies from the women with enthusiastic yes’s. Then I see one from Violet, So happy for y'all.
Chase’s name come up. Good luck. You’re a good guy, Blue. Happy for you both.
“See? That was nice. Chase is a sweetheart.” I tell him, confused when he bursts out laughing.
“Wait for it, Jaycee.” He scrolls down and I see it’s a video. He plays it and I gasp when a video of a bull being castrated pops up with the caption: But break my sister’s heart and you become the bull. My hand flies to my mouth and I look at Max. He grins and turns the phone back to me. “I saved the best for last.”
It's a still shot of the scene from Kill Bill when Kiddo is at the House of Blues and cuts off O-Ren’s head with the caption: Hurt my Sissy and…from Abigail. My dad chimed in with, that’s my girl.
“My family is crazy.” I comment, a bit shocked. “You should probably run now. Don’t wait. I’ll help you pack.” I start to exit the bed, heading for the closet to get his duffle bag, but Max grabs me from behind and buries his face in my neck, laughing.
“Jaycee, stop,” he says as he laughs. “I have nothing to worry about because I won’t hurt you,” he promises as he kisses my neck. “Not ever but if for some reason I do, it won’t be on purpose. I would never hurt my girl,” he repeats in a whisper.
“That’s sweet and all, but are you crazy?!” I screech and I try to pull away. “Get out, Max. While you can.” Before I can finish, he pushes me back on the bed and straddles me.
Love Is Forever Blue Page 13