Jake slung his arm around her shoulders."Please don't.You don't know what she's like.I'll bet Dad hasn't said a word against her—he's too decent to expose her for what she really is, but..."He paused."I mean, she's my mom, so I love her.But that's best done from a distance.I'll call her and tell her.We'll maybe go see her at some point.But today's for Savvie and me, and for you guys.If she were here, she'd make it about her somehow, and you can bet that she'd make things difficult for you and Dad in any way she could.She..."He sighed."I hate to say it, but she's not a very nice person.Today's a big day for me and I want to share it with the people who mean the most to me, and that includes you."He smiled at her."Does that put your mind at ease?"
She nodded but looked sad."It does, and I love that you feel that way.I just can't help wondering if my children feel that way about me."
Jake tightened his arm around her shoulders."If they do, they're idiots.They can't think that you're a bad person because you're not one.But maybe...maybe they're different.Maybe you're just not their kind of person."He made a face."I hope that doesn't sound bad, but sometimes it's true.There's nothing wrong with you and there's nothing wrong with them—there's just not a good match.That's true for my mom and me, and it's okay.In fact, it's great because I don't need to feel torn – it's natural for me to feel more loyal to you."
"Aw, Jake."
He gave her shoulders a squeeze."I hope I didn't mess that up."
She was beaming as she said, "No, you didn't.But don't you think it's time?"
He grinned."Yeah, it is.I'm going to go steal her away from Dad.I'll see you there."
She reached up to peck his cheek."You certainly will."
~ ~ ~
Savannah grabbed one side of the roll-up door while Jake grabbed the other, and between them they pushed it up until momentum took over and it went the rest of the way itself.
Jake grinned at her.“I reckon there’ll be more than enough money coming in soon to get an automatic door.”
She smiled back.“You’re right, but you don’t need to shell out for a door yet.It’s easy enough to do between the two of us.”
He came to her and rested his hands on her shoulders as he looked down into her eyes.“I know, and I love that we’re such a great team, but we can save the pulling together for the important stuff.”
“Aww.”She pushed up onto her tiptoes to press her lips to his.
“I love you, Savvie.”
“I love you, too, Jake.”She looked around.“What exactly do you need to do?We can’t stay too long; we can’t just abandon everyone.And you know me, if you don’t watch me, I’ll get started on something and the time will fly by before I even notice.”
His eyes seemed to twinkle as he said, “Don’t worry.We won’t take too long.But this is important.”He grabbed the rope and started to pull the door back down behind them.
“Don’t you want to leave it open?It’s such a beautiful day.”
He looked out at the parking lot before shaking his head.“No, we should close it – it’s cold out there.”
“Okay.”She took a step toward her workbench, but Jake appeared beside her.“Want to put the radio on?”
She gave him a puzzled smile.“I can, if we’re going to be here long enough to need it.”
When he chuckled, he seemed almost nervous.“I know you like to listen to it.In fact, tell you what, forget the radio.”He took his phone out and fiddled with it.“Would you turn the speakers on and I’ll hook this up?”
She turned the speaker system on and left him to fiddle with his phone while she went into the back to put her coveralls on.She still didn’t know what they were here to do, but she didn’t want to go back to his dad and Jo’s place covered in grease and oil.
When she came back out into the shop, she stopped when she spotted him.He was standing there, grinning at her.
“What is going on with you?”she asked as she went to him.
“I got you something.”
When she reached him, he pointed to her workbench – there was a brand-new shiny toolbox standing beside it, and not just any old toolbox.It was a professional-grade toolbox – tall, on wheels, with multiple drawers in glossy red – the kind she’d always dreamed of owning but never thought she could afford.With a big blue bow on top.
“Oh my gosh, Jake!”Her eyes filled with tears.
The way he smiled as he took her hand made her heart melt in her chest; she didn’t think she’d ever seen him look so happy.
“Come take a look.”He pointed to the middle drawer and said, “Open it.”
