“Good luck, Son. I am happy for the two of you. So why am I here if it’s not to get my opinion on this topic?”
“Well, we need you to be okay with me announcing that I’d like some time alone with my girl. That way, Danika and Maysen don’t suspect anything.”
“You don’t give those girls enough credit.” Mom shakes her head like she’s disappointed in me. “She’ll know something’s up the minute we announce we’re leaving without the two of you joining us.”
“She may know something’s up, but she won’t know what it is until I take her to the loft. Even then she won’t know until I get down on my knee in front of her.”
“You’re asking her in the loft? The first place y’all…”
I absolutely do not let her finish that before jumping in and saying, “Yeah.”
“That’s so romantic,” she has a dreamy look on her face now. I like that mask of hers better than the other ones she wears.
“So, will you help?” I ask, ready to wrap this up. I love my folks, I really do, but sometimes they’re too much.
“I think I have a better plan…” We huddle in while Mom gives us her plan, and she’s right, it’s fabulous.
* * *
Maysen
* * *
Danika and I are sitting on the couch watching Christmas movies and drinking hot chocolate when her phone rings. We’re taking a ‘break’ from wrapping since we’ve been at it for a few hours now. “Huh, it’s Grandma Hazel. Wonder what she wants?” She answers the phone and I tune it out while continuing to watch the movie.
I hop up and go to the bathroom and when I return, she’s off the phone. “So what’d your grandma want?” I ask.
“She asked me to come spend the night with her tomorrow night. She needs me to help her with her wrapping and she’s bribing me with her famous Peppermint Drop cookies.”
“Sounds like fun. Hopefully she doesn’t have as much to wrap as we did,” I state, looking at the burgeoning tree.
“Knowing her, it’ll be as much if not more,” Danika replies.
“Your poor fingers are going to have blisters if that’s the case.”
“I’ll just milk it if that happens.” God, I love this girl. She makes me laugh as much as Rae does.
“I would,” we both end up in hysterical laughter.
“What are you two cackling about?” Pete walks into the room with Grace on his arm.
“Grandma just called and asked me to spend the night with her tomorrow night so I could help her wrap presents,” Danika replies.
“That’s perfect!” Grace exclaims. “I just told your dad that I needed to go to Coopersville to buy something I forgot and he wants to make a full night of it. Now I don’t have to worry about you.”
Danika rolls her eyes and says, “Mom, I’m old enough to be by myself overnight.”
“Not on my watch,” Pete states. Damn, he has the ability to go all caveman too!
“Fine, at least it worked out for you guys,” she says, giving in. This is apparently one of those ongoing disagreements they have or something, so I wisely decide to keep my mouth shut.
When the parents leave the room we go back to watching television, only this time I get to hear the rumblings of a displeased teenager. I try to help her through some of her emotions, because if anyone can understand an overbearing father and protective mother it’s me.
I didn’t even notice that I hadn’t seen Maddox in hours until I feel someone lifting me up off the couch and carrying me to bed. “Sleep, baby, I’ve got you,” he tells me as I snuggle in deeper to his warmth.
“Love you, Maddox.”
“Love you too, Maisy-Daisy.” The last thing I remember is him kissing the top of my head as my body floats through the air.
Maysen
Pete and Grace left early this morning so it was left up to Maddox and myself to drive Danika over to her grandmother Hazel’s house. I watch out the side of my eyes and see how much he’s fidgeting and keeps wiping his hands down the legs of his jeans. What in the hell has gotten into him today?
Deciding to lighten to mood I say to Danika, “I’m sorry your car is in the shop and we have to drive you.” Just something else she’s been upset about, but what she doesn’t know is that her car isn’t really in the shop, it’s been traded in because she’s getting a new one for Christmas.
“Eh, it’s alright, I guess,” she replies. “At least you can grab a bite to eat while you’re out and about.” Maddox remains suspiciously quiet and I wonder again what’s going on in that head of his.
“That sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it, Maddox?” I ask.
“Huh? What? Yeah, that sounds fine to me,” he mutters.
Deciding I’ve had enough and it’s time to call him out, I say, “Fantastic, I wanted to hit that new sex shop that went into the strip mall and with you agreeing we could go, I can see if there’s anything I wanna buy.”
“Huh? Yeah, sounds good.” Now I know he’s really distracted.
“Okay one, yuck! Two, what the hell is wrong with you today, Maddox? Your girl just said she wanted to go to a porn shop,” Danika leans up and pushes her head between the seats. “Are you not satisfying your woman, big brother?”
The car jerks as Maddox slams on the brakes, “What?” He all but breaks our eardrums. “What the fuck did I agree to? And little sister, I take care of my woman's needs just fine. Do you want me to tell you all the ways I do?”
Danika and I both scream out, “No!”
“So the sex shop is out of the question then?” I ask.
“Fuck yeah it is,” he grumbles. He’s now pouting like I questioned his manhood or something. I internally roll my eyes at him.
“That’ll teach you to be distracted,” Danika states, giggling.
“I’m sorry, there’s something plaguing my mind, baby. I’m all yours,” he swears, batting his long eyelashes my way.
“Do you wanna talk about it?” I ask.
“Nah, it’s all good, sorry I got distracted on you. Won’t happen again.” I shrug my shoulders deciding to let it go. If he really needs to get it out, I know he’ll speak to me about it.
When we drop Danika off, we sing Christmas carols all the way back to the farm. We didn’t stop and grab anything to eat, choosing instead to eat some of Grace’s famous fried chicken right out of the fridge. It may sound gross to some to eat it cold, but it really is good the next day just like that.
After a quick lunch, we snuggle in front of the fire and watch a couple of older movies from our parents’ childhood. The cartoons are my favorite, especially the Grinch. I take a small snooze in his arms with the fire blazing in front of us.
I wake to him shaking my shoulders, “Babe, gotta get up, I’ve got a surprise for you.”
“Now?” I ask, wiping the sleep from my eyes. When I take my fist down from my face, I see him standing above me with love shining in his eyes.
“Yes now, sleepyhead.” I place my hand in his outstretched one and allow him to pull me up from the couch. When he takes my coat and helps me put it on, I start to wonder if his surprise is why he was so distracted earlier.
“Maddox? I was just kidding about the sex shop,” I tell him as he takes my hand and we walk outside.
“Baby, I know you were. But if you ever wanna go, you’re not going alone,” he replies.
“I think I’m good unless you wanna,” I state. When we get to the barn, I give him a questioning glance.
“All will be revealed to she who waits,” he says, a grin on his face.
“So I’m just supposed to blindly follow you, huh?” I say with a huge grin plastered across my face.
He opens the doors and I’m stunned speechless. What looks like hundreds of twinkling lights grace each of the stalls leading up to the loft. I give him a questioning look before saying, “I take that back, I’ll follow you anywhere.”
“That’s one of the best things I’ve heard all night.” I watch as his dimples pop out
on his face. “You’re the best thing I’ve ever had in my life, Maisy-Daisy.”
“You took the words right out of my mouth, Maddox.”
“C’mon, baby, let’s go on up,” he says, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs to the loft. When we reach the top, I gasp. He has even more twinkling lights strung everywhere and in the corner, he has a small heater that looks like a fireplace plugged in, giving the room a soft, romantic glow. Turning around, I see a miniature tree near the air mattress that he has set up, complete with fuzzy blankets. God, I love this man!
“Is that a present under the tree? Maddox, I didn’t bring one of yours with me.” I feel bad that I’m getting a gift and not giving him one.
“This night is all about you, about us, that present right there,” he says pointing at the small gift, “is a symbol of us.”
I squint my nose trying to figure out what sort of gift could be reminiscent of us and our future. Not knowing what to say, I lean up and kiss him. “I’ve got you, I don’t need anything to remind me of us,” I tell him.
“This is different, you’ll see, but after we have a dance.” He pulls his phone out and connects it to the speakers. I do cherish you by Mark Wills begins to play and we slow dance staring into each other's eyes. I feel a tear try to leak from my eye with the intensity of emotions that’s staring back at me from him. I don’t need the words ‘I love you’ from him, all I have to do is look at him and I can see it written all over his face when he looks back at me.
As he sings softly in my ear, I feel like I’m in a fairytale of some sort, the lights all twinkling, the fireplace glowing, and I wrap my arms around his neck and lean up to kiss him. One song leads to another as we dance and my emotions are welling up once again. “You made this mix special, didn’t you?” I whisper.
“Yeah, baby, I did. I want you to know that down to the marrow of my bones and the tips of my toes, I’m utterly devoted to you. There’s not a day since we met that I haven’t wanted to be with you, even when we were kids. I never thought I would have the kind of love that my mom and Pete have, yet here we are. I’ll love you to my last breath.”
By now, I’m quietly crying because his words are so heartfelt and he has shown me time and again by his actions how he feels about me. I am cherished and adored and around him, I feel like the most beautiful person in the world. “Maddox, I don’t know what to say. You’ve been my best friend since long before we became a couple, and my feelings have only grown the closer we’ve gotten. I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
He maneuvers me near the tree and says, “Hold that thought,” before he bends down and hands me the gift. “Open it,” he huskily says. I take my sweet time unwrapping the box and when I finally reveal a small burgundy velvet ring box, I glance at him, only to see him down on one knee. “Maysen Elise Hatchet, I love you, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
A myriad of emotions flow through me but the one resounding one is he wants me forever. “Yes!” I exclaim, dropping to my knees and wrapping my arms around him. The kiss he gives me is full of so much promise and I’m breathless as he pulls back slightly to slide the ring up and onto my left ring finger.
“Love looks good on you, baby,” he says, kissing my hand.
“Is this why you were in a mood earlier today?”
“Not a mood, just nervous.”
“But, why?”
“Because I wanted it to be perfect for you.”
“So, you knew I’d say yes?” I have to tease him a little bit, otherwise it wouldn’t be me, be us. This is the way we’ve always been with each other.
“I was hoping, but not one-hundred percent positive. I have faith in us, and I know your love runs as deep for me as mine does for you.”
“Listen to you getting all sappy, do you have any kleenex on you?”
“No, baby. But I could run down and get you a sheet or two of toilet paper.”
I start to giggle because he totally would do that for me if I wanted him to. “Naw, I’m good. So, what else do you have planned for tonight?” I’m seriously hoping it’s some quality time and some sexy food. He seems to be recreating our first time, and I’m hoping it’s an omen to what’s to come. We’ve been able to be quiet ever since Grace gave her okay, but that’s not us as a rule. Having to bite my pillow to keep from screaming too loud has my jaw aching.
“I might have something special in that basket over there,” he points behind the tree where Grace’s picnic basket is. I didn’t even notice it until he pointed it out.
“How did you manage all of this?”
“I have my ways,” he gives me a sly look. “Now, let me help you out of that,” he says, pointing to my jacket. He doesn’t stop there, though. No, not my man. Before I know it, we’re both undressed and he’s leading me to the air mattress. This should be interesting...I’ve slept on them a few times and they can get wobbly. I pray we don’t fall off.
* * *
Maddox
* * *
Laying sated next to my woman, my fiancée, I say, “Maysen, I promised your dad that we’d wait to get married until after we both graduate, but I wanna let you know that I’m one hundred percent in when it comes to us. I swear that I will love you forever, no matter what comes our way, I vow to take care of you and our children to the best of my ability, and always kiss you goodnight, and good morning, even if we’re upset with one another.”
“I’m okay with waiting but you realize that’ll give our moms years to plan, right?”
“As long as they remember that it’s our day, I’m good with their machinations,” I tell her.
“Maddox, whether you go bald or keep the head of hair I love to run my fingers through, I’ll love you with everything in me. I’ll do my best to be the wife, mother and lover you could ever ask for. And for you, I’ll even get ink.” I laugh at this, because she’s the one who’s been begging for a tattoo lately.
Thank fuck body art doesn’t turn her off because I’m covered in tattoos, although there’s one spot I’ve kept reserved for her, right over my heart. I’ll get that when we get married. It’s going to have her name, our wedding date and ‘til my last breath’ within an infinity circle.
As the night wears on, I show her again and again how much she means to me until we finally fall asleep in each other’s arms.
Maddox
We wake up in each other’s arms. This is the one thing I will never grow tired of doing. “Good morning, beautiful.”
“Morning.” I watch as she stretches her arms above her head. “I need the bathroom.” She’s so freaking cute first thing in the morning.
“Alright, let’s get this stuff packed up then we can head to the house and do our morning duties then grab some breakfast.” She rushes to gather things and I start laughing before I say, “Baby, go ahead and head to the house. No need for a wardrobe malfunction.”
She rolls her eyes at me and sticks out her tongue before replying, “Really? Is the romance gone already?”
“Naw, just don’t want you to be embarrassed is all,” I state.
“How very good of you, kind sir,” she says, hopping up and throwing my t-shirt over her head. She rushes over and plants a quick kiss on my lips before sprinting over to the ladder and going down faster than I knew she could move. I stand up and go watch her as she runs, full out, across the field and it hits me that she doesn't have any shoes on. Nor her jacket, holy shit my woman’s got some lady balls, even I wouldn’t do that shit. And I grew up here!
I gather up all of our things and head towards the house shaking my head at her antics. The cold chill rolls through me and I can’t even imagine doing this walk without the warmth of my jacket and shoes. I hold her stuff clutched to my chest and look down at the ground to protect my face from the harshness of the wind. When I walk through the door I drop her clothes and bowl over in laughter. She is standing in the living room wearing one of those one piece pajama sets that have the feet built in. But what�
��s got me lost in laughter is the bunny ears and tail.
“I was cold, don’t laugh at me. My bunny pj’s are cute,” she pouts sticking out her bottom lip and giving me her puppy dog look.
“My own little bunny,” I state, stalking towards her. I don’t know how much time we’ve got left, but she looks mighty snuggly. She giggles and then shrieks when I reach out to grab her, turning and running up the stairs. Guess she forgot who runs on a regular basis, huh?
“Maddox! Your butt is in my face,” she slaps my cheek. I reach up and pinch hers getting a squeal from her. As soon as we make it to the top of the stairs I hear a car pull into the driveway.
I hang my head and mutter, “Fuck.”
“Cockblocked by the parentals,” she jokes.
“Not funny, I can’t face my mom like this.” My dick is so hard I could pound nails for fuck’s sake!
“I’ll go down and buy you some time,” I slide her down my front and grin when she feels my erection against her and shivers.
“Thanks, baby,” I say, kissing her and dashing into my room.
I go into my bathroom and start the shower. Only when I hear a bunch of squealing and crying I stop dead in my tracks and listen in on the conversation. “It’s so big,” I hear my mom saying. I mutter under my breath, “That’s what she said,” and go about jumping into the shower. When I’m squeaky clean I get out and get dressed. When I make it down the stairs I see my mom has made mimosas for her and Maysen to celebrate. “A little early isn’t it, Mom?”
“It has orange juice in it, it’s all good.” she says, lifting her glass in my direction. Dad just shakes his head and goes about putting together breakfast. “We were talking last night,” Mom starts only to stop and glare at my dad when he makes a snorting noise, “and thought when your folks got here, we could drive over to the winter festival to show them some of the sights.”
Reclaiming Maysen Page 14