“Nope.”
“Dammit!” He pretended to pout before setting me back on my feet and taking hold of my hand, keeping me anchored to him.
“Jake,” I started, trying to keep my voice calm. “You can’t build us a house.”
“Why not? This is where you always said our home should be, so I’m building us one. The plans are in my truck if you want a look. You can change anything.”
“It’s not that. I’m not asking you to build us a house. I can’t ask that of you.”
“You’re not asking.”
“Jake.”
“Kellie.”
“Stop and think for a moment. I know you’re all caught up in the emotions of being a father and wanting Cassie around all the time, and I would never keep her from you…”
“You already did,” he muttered.
Unlacing my fingers from his, I took a step back. “That was a low blow, Jake, and you know it.”
He ran his hand through his hair as a pained look crept across his face.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized quickly.
“I know you’re hurt by what happened, but you have to move past it. We have to move past it. For God’s sake, Jake, I’m standing here in front of a house you’re building, telling me we’re going to be filling it with kids. I know I hurt you, and I’m sorry, I really am, but I can’t keep apologizing for it forever.”
“I know. And I don’t expect you to.”
“Then what do you expect?” I pushed, feeling like now was the moment we were laying our cards on the table, hoping for the best.
“You want the truth?” Jake dared.
“Always,” I confirmed, choking down the lump in my throat.
“I want us to be a family. I want Cassie to call me Dad. I want you both to have my last name. I want us to give Cassie a baby brother or sister… I don't care which. As long as they’re healthy, I’m all good. I want us to live the life we always imagined. Together. Happy. Forever.”
“You want all that?” Silent tears were streaming down my cheeks now.
“I do, Kellie. And I want it with you.”
“But the letter from the lawyer…”
“Was a huge mistake,” Jake cut me off. “Mom thought she needed to get them involved. She’s not a bad person, Kel…”
“I know that,” I replied snappily.
“She doesn’t understand why Cassie calls me Jake instead of Dad.”
“But we agreed…” I got defensive.
Jake and I had this conversation. I thought we were on the same page. We wanted to wait until Cassie had a chance to get to know him first. Give them time to build a relationship before we dropped that bombshell.
“And I stand by that. Kellie, I don’t want to push you here.”
“Building a family home doesn’t scream slow and steady.”
“As I was saying, I don't want to push you, but I know what I want. Despite Mom going about it the wrong way, deep down you know as well as I do she had the best intentions.”
