"So, we’re having pizza," Claire says, grabbing her phone from her pocket. She dials and orders two large pizzas with extra everything. My appetite has returned in the last couple of days and my mouth waters.
"And I want beer," I say. If they're gonna baby me, I'm gonna let them.
"Unh-unh," Jack shakes his head, his arm still around me. "No alcohol with your meds."
I groan and pretend to pout. "Well, hell."
"So when do you think you'll be cleared to go back to work?" Mark asks.
Jack shakes his head again. "She's not going back," he says.
I stare at him. "This is news to me," I say.
He looks at me and sighs with frustration. "I don't think you should. You don't have to. You only have two weeks left of school before you finish up. Then it'll be Christmas. You can take the winter off from everything, just relax and recuperate." I know he means mentally when he says recuperate because physically, my injuries are already becoming less of an issue for me.
"The man has a point," Mark chimes in.
Claire ends the call with the pizza place. "I think Jack's right," she says.
"Whose side are you on?" I huff.
"I'm on whatever side keeps you happy and healthy," she answers. "And right now, that's Jack's."
I'm happy to see that they get along so well, but it looks like I'm gonna be tag-teamed by the worrisome duo all night.
"Mark, help a girl out. Don't you think I could go back to work after the holidays?"
Mark puts his hands up and then points at Claire. "You think I'd argue with her? She's as stubborn as you are."
Claire smiles triumphantly and I decide to drop it, at least for now.
§
The pizza is gooey and cheesy and delicious. I eat four slices and drink three bottles of water. I lost almost fifteen pounds over the last two weeks. Hospital food might've played a part in it, as well as my lips being so sore, but mostly it was lack of appetite.
After dinner, Claire and Mark bundle up to head home. She promises to call me or come by tomorrow and I'm sure she will.
Jack sticks all the plates and glasses in the dishwasher and turns it on. Boxes sit all over the place. Most of my furniture is in storage, but what I did bring with me will help fill Jack's slightly empty house.
"I dread going through all these boxes," I sigh. The wound on my head itches a little and I gently rub my finger over it even though I'm dying to scratch it.
"I'll help you do it," Jack says. He leans across the counter at me. "I'll do anything you need me to."
I trace my finger over his outstretched hands.
"Anything?" I ask, smiling at him.
He looks up to me, his hair falling into the corner of his eye. I reach out and push it back.
"You're talking about sex, right?" Jack asks.
"Well, way to spoil it," I make a face.
"Carly," he starts. "We can't."
"Why not?"
"Why not?" he asks, his eyes peer up at me like I asked to go skydiving. "Because of everything you've been through, that's why not."
I breathe deeply and then exhale. "Nick didn't destroy me, Jack. He just hurt my body. I can't let him take anything more from me. Not who I am and not you."
Jack walks around the counter and wraps his arms around me loosely. I roll my eyes and grab his hands, pulling them tighter around my waist. Jack shakes his head, but doesn't loosen his arms.
"Nobody could ever take me from you, nobody." His lips touch mine, not as forcefully as they usually do, but harder than before. "I'm in love with you and that's never gonna change."
"When Nick was in my room," I swallow and Jack eyes me closely, "when he had the knife to my throat, all I could think about was you coming to save me. When he put his hands on me, I knew you wouldn't be able to look at me again if he actually did what he was trying to do."
Jack shakes his head and looks away from me for a second. "Carly, there's no way that I wouldn't want you. You're a part of me, a part of who I am as much as the heart that beats in my chest. I couldn’t live without you. You've changed me, changed who I am and without you, nothing would matter to me. Ever again."
His eyes burn into me with their darkness. I've cried so much in the last two weeks, but this time, my tears are for the right reasons. I hold up his hand, the bruises are faded to pale brown now, and kiss his fingertips.
"You saved me, Jack. Not only that night, but before that. You freed me from my own loneliness and you saved me."
Jack buries his face in my hair and puts his hand on my neck. His body shakes against mine and I hold him.
"You aren't the only one who feels that way," he whispers.
I kiss his face, my lips feeling more like my own with each touch of his skin. In this moment, the nightmare of Nick and all that he did to me seems far away, like it happened in another lifetime, to someone else. I'm now a stronger version of myself. Not a victim, tainted by Nick and his selfishness, but a fighter. A woman set free by knowing that I won't ever be the girl I was before. Something in me died a little that night, but something else was born. I know I can take care of myself, but I know I don't want to do it alone. I'm Jack's savior and he's mine. No matter who or what we go through, we'll always find a way to save each other.
EPILOGUE
“Merry Christmas!” Claire shouts as Carly opens the door. Stray snowflakes hurry in around Claire and Mark as they stomp the snow from their boots. Carly steps to the side and they carry arms full of gifts into the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas Eve," Carly corrects her with a dry smile.
“Cut it out, you Scrooge,” Jack shouts at Carly as he walks to Claire and takes the gifts from her hands. He's wearing a furry Santa hat that jingles when he moves.
“It’s really coming down out there,” Mark says, shaking snow from his striped scarf.
“Seven more inches before sunset, according to the weatherman,” Carly informs them darkly.
“Like we need more of this shit,” Claire mutters, undoing the laces on her boots.
“Listen to you two, hatin’ on Christmas. I'd almost swear you two were sisters,” Mark says, poking her in the ribs.
“Don’t do that,” she growls.
“Jack,” Carly says, picking up Mark’s stack of gifts, “will you help me put these underneath the tree?”
He holds his already full arms out to her. “Pile ‘em on, doll.”
“I can carry them,” she huffs. “Just help me put them under.”
Jack leans forward and kisses Carly sweetly on the mouth and follows her into the living room. The huge live Christmas tree, the first real one Carly's ever had, is covered in lights and ornaments, presents spilling out and into the floor. A rolling fire warms the living room.
Claire and Mark hang their coats and join them.
“There’s hot chocolate on the stove,” Carly says, pointing back into the kitchen. Jack haphazardly balances a small stack of gifts as he tries to make room for them under the tree.
“Grandma’s recipe?” Claire asks happily.
“Of course,” Carly replies with a grin. Her face is completely healed, but the scar on her temple is still a bright red. Her eye keeps a little of the puffiness, but no lasting damage was done and her smile still brightens up Jack’s world.
Claire and Mark disappear into the kitchen to grab a mug.
“Hang on,” Jack says, jumping up and running to the record player in the corner. He takes a record and gently puts the needle on. Bing Crosby’s voice starts singing of a White Christmas.
Jack puts his hand out for Carly and she grins and takes it. He pulls her to him and sings to her. He nuzzles her neck like he always does and Carly goes limp in his arms.
“Geez, you horndogs! Get a room!” Claire jokes.
Jack twirls Carly just a little and she squeals. He kisses her and then lets her go. “Don’t need a room; we’ve got a whole house,” Jack smirks.
Carly joins Claire on the couch as Mark an
d Jack head down into the basement to talk about whatever men talk about.
“Soooo, what’d you get Jack for Christmas?” Claire asks.
“I didn't have a whole lotta time. Had to get most of his stuff online,” Carly says. “I did get him new heavy bag gloves,” she holds up her fingers and counts things off, “a couple of shirts, some old records he didn’t have in his collection from the record store on Stratford Avenue, and some stuff you don’t wanna know about,” she winks.
Claire laughs, “You’re probably right. So, you’re okay to, you know, after…” she trails off.
Carly looks thoughtful for a second. “Yeah, it was a little weird at first, to put it outta my mind, but things are good. Great, actually. Oh,” she says, “And I got him an iPod. That way he doesn’t have to fool with switching CDs all the time. Drag his old fashioned ass into the 21st century. What’d you get Mark?”
“I got him a book,” Claire answers.
“A book? What book?”
“The New Dad’s Survival Guide,” Claire says, grinning from ear to ear.
Carly gasps and puts her hands over her mouth, “You mean?”
Claire nods. “I’m four weeks," she gushes. "My doctor told me we should try again right after the miscarriage and he was right. It's not a high risk pregnancy, but I’m being closely monitored. Everything looks perfect.”
Carly grabs her sister and hugs her tighter than she ever has. “I’m so happy for you guys!”
“Shh,” Carly says with a laugh. “He doesn't know yet!”
Carly holds her a second longer and then finally lets go. “Oh, I’m gonna be an aunt!” she whispers. “A hot aunt, but an auntie all the same!”
Carly and Claire attempt to stop smiling as Jack and Mark come back into the living room. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen plays on the record player and Jack hands Carly a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows that threaten to spill over the sides.
“Thank you,” she says. He grins at her and takes a seat on the floor next to the tree. She sips at the cocoa and gets a mouthful of soft marshmallows.
“Wanna open some gifts now?” he asks.
“You have to overlook Jack,” Carly says. “He’s apparently the opposite of a grown man on Christmas.”
“Don’t you bahumbug at my Christmas spirit,” he says, making a face at her.
“Open mine first,” Carly says as she walks to the tree. She pulls out a tiny gift bag and hands it to Claire. Jack digs a long, skinny gift out and hands it to Mark.
Claire and Mark tear into their gifts as Jack’s boyish enthusiasm has caught on.
“Wow,” Mark whistles as he inspects a fly fishing kit.
“Thought it’d come in handy this summer. We’ll go to the lake in Tennessee, do a little fishing.”
“Thanks, man,” Mark says. He reaches into their pile and pulls out a gift for Jack.
Claire pulls the Tiffany’s box out of the bag as Carly holds her breath. She pulls the minty green velvet pouch free and then undoes the cinch at the top. She turns the pouch upside down and a silver bracelet falls into her open palm. Carly watches as she lifts it up.
Claire holds the dangling heart shaped lock charm between her fingers. It reads simply Sister.
Now it’s Claire’s turn to grab Carly and hug her. Tears fill up her eyes as she holds her baby sister. “I love it,” she whispers.
Jack pulls a pair of high end golf gloves out of the box Mark handed him and inspects them with a grin. A smaller box holds a dozen golf balls printed with the Webster Sawmill Logo.
“Told you I'll get you out on the green,” Mark says with a matter-of-fact look.
“I’ll make the time,” Jack vows. “Thanks a lot, Mark.”
“Hand me Carly’s nice one,” Claire says, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Mark walks to Claire and hands her the gift.
“Go ahead,” Claire says, holding it out to her.
Carly takes it and rips the snowman printed paper off, revealing a black velvet box. Carly opens it and then gasps. She pulls the diamond necklace free and immediately puts it on. It matches the diamond earrings that Jack bought her, which sparkle next to the necklace. She hugs Claire and sniffles.
“Now that we’ve got the nice stuff outta the way,” Jack says, pulling a couple more gifts from under the tree, “let’s open the silly ones.”
Carly left almost all the gift shopping for Mark to Jack and it seems to have paid off. They open all the gifts they bought for each other, laughing at some and genuinely enjoying the rest. Jack is in his element; full of spunk and Christmas cheer.
They snack on finger foods and drink eggnog, everyone except Carly who hates eggnog, until evening sets in and Mark and Claire get up to go home. Carly and Jack see them to the door and then turn to each other once they’re gone.
“This is the best Christmas I’ve ever had,” Carly says, sliding her arms around Jack’s neck. She kisses him, the taste of cinnamon on his lips tingles on hers.
“It’s not over yet,” Jack teases. “Come on, let’s open our gifts.”
Carly and Jack leave a storm of Christmas paper as they tear into their presents. Jack immediately puts one of the records on the player and insists that Carly dance with him again. Mick Jagger starts singing and Jack pulls her close.
Childhood living is easy to do. The things you wanted, I bought them for you. Graceless lady you know who I am. You know I can't let you, slide through my hands. Wild horses couldn't drag me away. Wild, wild horses couldn't drag me away.
He waltzes her into the kitchen and underneath the mistletoe. She'd teased him about hanging it there this morning, but she’s secretly glad he did now.
“You have to keep your eyes on the mistletoe,” he says, loosening his grip on her. She lets him go for a moment and he drops to his knee. His shaky hand holds up a small black box and opens it. Carly looks down and her eyes go wide.
“Carly,” Jack says, his face so full of hope, “will you marry me?”
She looks at him and can’t speak. Her face shows her mix of emotions, the jumble of feelings his question has stirred in her. Finally, words find their way up her throat and out of her mouth. He holds his breath.
“Yes, Jack! Yes, I’ll marry you!” she squeals. She takes the box in her hand and he jumps up, wraps his arms around her and kisses her deeply. He twirls her, unable to contain his own excitement.
They kiss a million times until Jack finally sets her feet on the floor, but inside, they’re both still spinning.
“Here,” Jack breathes, taking the box from her. He pulls the ring free, a big, princess cut diamond with smoky quartz and smaller diamonds on the sides of a platinum band, and slips it on her finger. Tears stream down her face and into her smile.
“It’s beautiful, Jack,” she whispers, holding her hand out to admire it. He takes her hand and pulls it to his lips. She's instantly reminded of the sparks she felt the first time he did that and every time since.
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive, the happiest man who’s ever lived.” He kisses her again, tasting the joy in her smile.
“I’ve made you happy?” she laughs. “You have no idea how much I love you.” She smothers his face in kisses and looks at the ring which ties them together in a whole new way.
They wrap themselves up in each other underneath the mistletoe, both of them never believing how much the other completes them. Hearts that were once closed are open, ignited and on fire with a burning love for another person; someone brave enough to pick up the shattered pieces of hearts once believed broken forever and assemble them again into two halves of one whole. Two people who needed saving, who were saved in every sense of the word.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I just want to take a moment to thank my family for giving me time and peace and quiet to go get lost in Jack and Carly’s world. Your understanding and patience let me make this story and I love you immensely for it.
Next, a shout out to my Beta Rea
ders.
To Angel, Jenn, Lezlye, Logan, Mary, Melanie, Michelle, Roseann, and Stacey; without your input and encouragement, Jack and Carly might never have made it out of the mountains of West Virginia. Thank you all.
And finally, thank you to you, the reader. Thank you for choosing to spend your reading time with me and for taking an interest in Jack and Carly’s life together, for watching how it all unfolds as they grow and change with each other.
Their story continues in Promise Me.
“Our love for each other is a lot like the fire in front of us; rolling and folding in on itself before reaching higher and burning so hot that I worry that we'll both be turned to cinders in its wake. She’s angry and hurt, miserable and in love with me all at the same time. Will we make it through this? Will she come back to me?”
You can contact me in any of the following ways. I'd love to hear from you!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraLCline
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lauralcline
Blog: http://www.lauralcline.com
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/lauracline
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lauralcline
Save Me (Saved Series, Book One) Page 21