We hug as she responds, “You too, Eli. I’m glad you’re okay.”
I chuckle. “Thank goodness someone here is.”
Jackson glares, but his mom stands to hug me. “Eli, we’re all happy you’re okay. Come here.” She embraces me, and I’m humbled. Knowing I knocked her daughter up, she still shows kindness.
“Thank you, Hazel. That means a lot. Here. These are for you.” I pass the flowers I’ve been holding.
“That was sweet. Thank you. I’ll put these in water and be right back. Would you like anything to drink?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
She goes to the kitchen, and I turn to the last and mostintimidating one in the room. I reach out to shake his hand. “Jack, I appreciate you taking the time to see me. I need to explain a few things regarding your daughter, if that’s all right with you.”
He shakes my hand, giving it a firm squeeze. “I think that would be appropriate given the circumstances. We’re certainly interested in your intentions now that there’s a child involved.”
“That’s why I’m here. When Hazel returns, I’ll start from the beginning and fill you in on where I’m at.”
“Before you start, I’m hoping your memory came back? Because a lot’s happened in the last eight months,” Jackson says from his seat beside Mia on the sofa.
“It did, and I understand everyone needs to be sure I’m in my right mind, but I didn’t need my memories to know where I stand. It’s no different today than it was back then, just a lot of bullshit in between.”
“You’re telling me,” Jackson sourly replies.
Hazel breezes into the room and sits in one of the wingback chairs while Jack sits in the other. “All right, thanks for waiting. Go ahead, Eli. We’ll give you the floor since this was your request.”
Sitting on the couch across from Jackson and Mia, I dive in. “Thanks, Hazel. First of all, I’m in love with your daughter and have been for the last two years, and there’s a good chance she loves me too.”
I proceeded to tell them about asking her to marry me and taking full responsibility for subsequently getting her pregnant without going into the gory details. The condition of the trust was easy to explain since that wasn’t the secret to begin with; it was the fake marriage that ensued because of it. They stuck with me while I told them my reasons for not telling Cici about the trust, not wanting to pressure her. It could be wishful thinking, but it looked like approval on their faces.
Explaining my engagement with Rebecca was a little more sensitive, and I’ll admit that I may not have divulged how we met or exactly when that was. Nor did I fess up to the fact that we were onlyfuck buddies but instead portrayed our relationship as a means to an end with only a contract and business arrangement between us.
“I ended the engagement and severed ties the day I woke up. And now that my memories have returned, I’m ready to take the next step toward what I’ve always wanted, which is your daughter’s hand in marriage. Let me assure you, this has nothing to do with the trust. If she still refuses to marry me, then I’m willing to live with the consequences of my actions, and although I’ll be heartbroken, I’ll survive. So, Mr. Soloman, may I have permission to marry your daughter?”
Tears gather in Hazel’s eyes as she glances at her husband, who stares at me speculatively. Mia smiles next to Jackson, who has finally loosened up and looks at me like the guy he remembers, the one he respects. Fuck, having him doubt me was brutal, but there was no other choice in the matter.
“Well, that’s quite the story, Eli. Had I not seen for myself the way you felt about my daughter at Christmas, I might find it all hard to believe, but I did. I’ve also seen the difference in Cici’s happiness since then, which means she might feel something along those lines as well. If all you’ve said is true, then you have my blessing, but the rest is up to you.”
The second he says the words, the feeling is indescribable. I’m beaming, for lack of a better word, and jump from my seat to shake his hand, but he stands to embrace me. Okay, there might be a slight glistening in my eye, but I’m not acknowledging it. Hazel is next, followed by Mia, saving Jackson for last.
“Hey, buddy, it’s good to have you back.” He throws his arms around me, and the feeling of… family humbles me.
“Phew.” I exaggeratingly wipe my forehead, and everyone laughs. “With that settled, there is one more thing I need to ask. Jackson, you remember that favor you owe me?”
He furrows his brows suspiciously. “Yeah?” he drawls.
“Well, if it’s okay with all of you, assuming she says yes, I’d likeus to marry before the baby is born.” I look at Jackson and Mia. “And since you happen to have a wedding already planned, I was hoping you might be okay with another bride and groom joining you.”
Mia’s face lights up, and she grins at Jackson, who’s smirking at me. “Well, aren’t you smooth thinking you can just poach our big day.”
“Jackson!” Mia swats his chest. “It’s your sister.”
“I’ll pay for the whole thing.”
“Hell yeah, I guess we’re having a double wedding!” Jackson says and high-fives me. Then he starts laughing. “I’m kidding. I was gonna say yes before you offered to pay, dude.”
Happiness permeates the room.
“Even if you had, I was still offering. In fact, I insist.”
