Love, forever and a day, Jaycee.
I run my arm down my face to wipe away the tears. God, I love this woman.
“You okay?” Dad asks, his voice a soft grumble.
“Never better,” I reply.
Johnny leans over and slaps me on the back. “You need to get ready, bro.”
I nod, stand up and head to where my suit is hanging, and undress. It’s almost time.
Epilogue
Three months later...
Max and I have had the most amazing honeymoon. Anything that could be done here in Hawaii, we did. Most of it we did together, with the exception of one thing. Cliff diving. I swear, Max has to be part Polynesian, at least that what the islanders say. While Max was attempting to teach me to surf, because he picked it up right way, some of the instructors and him begin talking about going up on some of the cliffs on South Point, and asked if Max wanted to go. The thought made me ill, because I didn’t him to get hurt, but he was too excited for me to say anything. I sat with the other spectators, and watched nervously as they all jumped off, some backwards. When Max made his way to me with a huge smile, I knew he’d be going again. I made myself comfortable and begin to relax, while watching my hot as sin husband dive into the beautiful waters, forty feet below. We also went scuba diving, hiking, took a helicopter ride around the islands, attended a luau and I even learned Hula dance.
We watched sunrises and sunsets, and enjoyed five-star treatments from the hotel. The food was amazing, and I’m sure I gained several pounds. We leave the morning after next, so we decided to rent a car for the afternoon and drive around. I remember Grandpa mentioning he had been stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, so I called Grandma and asked her if she remembered their address. Of course, she did, so I wrote it down and Max and I drove over to see the house. We stopped out front, but didn’t get out of the car. I could envision my grandpa leaving for work in his uniform, and that brought a smile to my face. Knowing my grandparents lived there, decades before, was surreal. I took a couple of pictures, then Max and I set out to see the sights on our own. We went to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, and spent the day walking along the beach, before heading back to the hotel for dinner.
It’s the next morning and when I wake up, Max is still sound asleep. A faint beeping on my phone has me grabbing it, before it wakes him. The screen is flashing the alarm I set to remind me to go in and get my depo shot. I had set them for a year since, I only took them every three months. As I turn it off, I realize this will be the second shot I haven’t taken. As a matter of fact, I haven’t had but one period, and that was right after the wedding. There’s no way I could be pregnant though. I don’t feel any different. Wouldn’t I be sick or something, like Allie?
“Love, are you sick?” Max mumbles, and rolls over in bed. but his eyes are still closed. Oh, I didn’t realize I said that out loud.
“Sorry, sugar, no, I’m not sick.”
“What’s wrong?” he says through his sleep, as he slips an arm around me.
“Nothing really. I mean, I don’t think,” I reply, and that gets his attention.
“Jayc, talk to me,” he growls, and sits up and aims his sight on me.
“Um, well….”
“Love…” he warns.
“I haven’t had my period in over two months,” I blurt out. He doesn’t react right away. He blinks at me in a daze, before smiling huge. “Max, we don’t know. Don’t get your hopes up just yet,” I gently ask him to heed.
“Oh, I know,” he says, and slides from the bed while pulling me with him.
“What are we doing?” I ask, and follow him into the bathroom.
“Shower. Then the store. We’re going to get a test.”
“What? Here? Now?” I stammer, and pull back.
“Sure. Why not?” he asks like I’m crazy.
“Because Max, I don’t want to disappoint you,” I admit.
“Jaycee, I could never be disappointed. We can wait. But, whether we find out here or back home, if you’re carrying our baby or not carrying our baby, it won’t make a difference. I won’t be upset. Love, you have to know you could never ever disappointment me.”
“But…” I begin.
“Jayc, love, relax. It’s totally up to you,” he assures me with a smile, and pulls me into his warm embrace.
I lean into him, and wrap my arms around him tight. God, why am I worried? If I’m not pregnant yet, that’s okay. We’ve only been married a few weeks. Max and I make love almost every night, and we don’t use protection, so the odds are in our favor, and what a tale to tell if we found out we were pregnant on our honeymoon. I lean back and smile up at him. “Let’s get a test,” I concede, and he smiles.
Max and I shower, and dress, then head down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. After we eat, Max goes to the computer station, to pull up and print out our travel itinerary for the next morning. While he does that I make a quick stop into the gift shop, so I can pick up some motion sickness medicine for the flight home tomorrow. While I search for the medication, I notice they carry pregnancy tests. I grin and grab one, along with the medication, and walk to the counter. After I pay, I walk back out and find Max. He’s folding up the papers and sticking them in his back pocket.
“We don’t have to go out after all,” I tell him, and hand him the bag. He opens it and smiles, then grabs my hand and we head back to our room.
“Let’s go.”
“Okay,” I reply and giggle.
When we reach the room, he pulls the papers from his pocket and tosses them on the table. We then sit on the bed, and I read the instructions. When I’m done, I stand up holding the test.
“Okay. I’ll be back,” I tell him, and walk into the bathroom. I take the stick and do what the instructions say to do, then set it on the bathroom counter while I wash my hands. I open the bathroom door, and Max is right there.
“It takes a few minutes, and I admit, Max, I’m terrified it’s going to say negative,” I confess, and he pulls me into a him.
“Don’t be. We have all the time in the world, but I’ll check if you want me to,” he says, and holds me closer.
“Please,” I reply softly. Max lets me go, and gives me a soft kiss, before walking around me and into the bathroom to read the test results.
“Well?” I ask when he doesn’t come back out right away. When he doesn't answer me, I walk in the bathroom and see he’s still staring at the test stick laying on the counter. “Max?”
“Jayc, you’re pregnant.”
“Whaaaa…” I semi ask, because all my breath leaves me.
“I’m going to be a dad and you’re going to be a mom,” he mumbles, but I hear him clearly.
“Oh my God.”
Seven and a half months later, Max and I, welcome Lillian Blue Bradshaw into the world, weighing seven pounds and six ounces, and she’s beautiful just like her dad.
Forever & a Day Playlist
Lady Antebellum – You Look Good
Five Finger Death Punch - Got your Six
Cotton Eyed Joe
Milky Chance - Cocoon
B-52s- Love Shack
Disturbed - Let The Bodies Hit The Floor
Kool And the Gang - Celebration
Lifehouse - Everything
Hunter Hayes - Still Fallin’
Keith Urban - Only You Can Love Me This Way
Shania Twain and Billy Currington - Party For Two
John Michael Montgomery - Hold Onto Me
John Berry - Your Love Amazes Me
Tim McGraw - Humble And Kind
Bruno Mars - 24K Magic
Chubby Checker - The Twist
Karaoke
Jaycee and Blue - When I Said I do by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman
Ana, Lei, Dali, Katrina and McKinley - We Are Family by Sister Sledge
Jesse and Allie - Let’s Make Love by Tim McGraw & Faith Hill
Mason - Whiskey River by Willie Nelson
Garrett and Bella - Endless Love by
Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
Macie - Cowboy Take Me Away by The Dixie Chicks
Why by Maxwell “Blue” Bradshaw
I see her standing there, and I forget how to breathe.
My eyes now belong to her.
She smiles, and I forget my name.
She laughs and my world shifts.
Why?
Why do I feel this way?
My heart is hers.
I want to make her mine.
I want her heart.
Why?
I see her, and she steals my strength.
My body now belongs to her.
She glances my way and I smile.
She blushes and my world falls.
Why?
Why do I feel this way?
My heart is hers.
I need to make her mine.
I need her heart.
Why?
My young love, I leave you.
She doesn’t even know what she does to me.
My heart belongs to her.
She goes on without me and my world crashes.
Why?
Why do I feel this way?
My heart is hers.
She can’t ever be mine.
My soul is hers.
Why?
Sunsets and sunrises, deserts and mountains.
Fate has brought her to back to me.
I won’t let her go again.
She loves me, and my world explodes.
Why?
Why do I feel this way?
My heart is hers.
She’s mine.
My life is her life.
Why?
Because she loves me.
© 2018 Why by Donalyn Maurer
Acknowledgments
Thank you!!
First and foremost, I must thank God for his continued blessings. Each day that I’m able to do what I love, is a beautiful gift.
Thank you to my readers, who have been following Jaycee and Blue’s love story. I hope you enjoyed the book.
Thank you to my family and friends, for their unwavering support. I love you all.
Dennis, I love you, forever and a day, because forever will never be long enough.
And thank you to all the authors who continue to inspire and support others; Nicole James, Tia Louise, B. b, Blaque, Jordan Marie, Marie Skye, K.C. Lynn, K. Langston, Kristen Ashley, Barbara Blue Johnson, Andrea Smith, D.L. Roan, Julianne Marley, Belle Brooks, Alex Shaw, DC Stone, Barbara Craven and so many others.
Thank you to Judi Perkins with Concierge Literary Designs and Photography for the amazing cover and teasers.
Thank you to Alissa Glenn for her editing.
Thank you to Classic Interior Design for their formatting.
About the Author
Donalyn Maurer is the author of The McGinty's of San Antonio Series Novels
Donalyn was born and raised in Texas. She currently lives in a small town outside of San Antonio with her husband of 32 years. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and large Texas family. Encouraged and inspired by her family she began writing and although her books are fiction she shares bit and pieces of her life and memories throughout the pages.
Also by Donalyn Maurer
The McGinty’s of San Antonio Series
Falling Into Blue
Love Is Forever Blue
Honeysuckle’s Fire
His Forgotten Love
Salvation At Sunset
Coming Soon…
Firefly Sleep, Firefly Dream
Moon’s Kisses
Letting Go of Forever
Forever & A Day Page 30