She smiles sweetly and wets her lips before leaning into mine for another kiss. “I appreciate you, but something tells me she’s not going to leave until she talks to me.”
I climb up from the couch and wrap Charlotte in my flannel before getting dressed myself. I’m sure this scene will look weird as hell, but if the goal was to make the relationship look real, this is about as real as it gets.
Charlotte opens the door slowly, trying to avoid the cold spray of snow from the heavy wind that won’t quit tonight. “Mom,” she crosses her arms over her chest, “what are you doing here?”
“Well,” her mother steps into the cabin and glances toward the two of us, shaking her head, “Charlotte, you need… wait… were you two—”
“Mom! Why are you here?”
Her mother grabs her head as though she’s confused. “Everyone in town is talking about you two. It’s too much, Charlotte. He’s an ex-con. Your sister and I don’t think it’s appropriate for you to bring him to the wedding.”
Charlotte laughs. “You came all this way to tell me that? Why not just text?”
Her mother straightens. “I thought you deserved an answer straight to your face. You weren’t home, so I came here.”
“How kind of you, mother.” Charlotte tucks her hand behind my back as I slide in beside her. “If Jake isn’t invited, I won’t be attending either.”
She huffs out a sigh as though she’s irritated by Charlotte’s response. “So that’s it? You’re going to choose a criminal over your family?”
“Every time.” My girl grins wide and tips up onto her toes for a soft kiss before turning back toward her mom. “I’m not letting the world tell me who I am anymore. I’m in love with Jake, and if that means you don’t want me at the wedding, then I guess I won’t be there.”
I squeeze Charlotte closer, holding her tight against my chest as I look at her mother. There are so many things I could say but it seems that Charlotte is handling everything just fine.
“If you change your mind,” Charlotte reaches for the front door opening it wide, “Jake and I would be happy to attend.”
“Oh, I won’t change my mind,” her mother chides as she turns toward the cold. “You two deserve each other.”
A moment later, the door slams shut, her mother is gone, and the warmth in the room slowly returns.
“Okay,” Charlotte twists toward me, her brows narrowed inward, “why do I feel relieved?”
“I’m not sure. I’m worried for you. Your mom and your sister are the only family you have left. Maybe you should go to the wedding. I’d understand.”
“No,” she shakes her head and tips up onto her toes again for another kiss, “my dad was right. If I don’t let the world know who I am, it’ll decide for me, and when I’m with you, I’m who I want to be. It’s a version of me that I’ve been needing for a very long time.”
I grin and pull her in tighter, wrapping my arms around her fragile curves as I kiss the top of her head. “I love you, little lamb.”
“Love you more,” she whispers as I lift her into my arms and carry her into the bedroom.
Our bedroom.
Our cozy little bedroom in the back of the little cabin where forever is about to begin.
Epilogue
Charlotte
Two Years Later
Baby Tyler starts to cry again in his crib. It’s the third night this week he’s been up at a weird hour, and Jake and I are absolutely exhausted.
“I’ll get him, little lamb. You rest up. I’ve got an easy day today.”
“You absolutely do not have an easy day today. I know because I’m the one that made the schedule. It’s on that new calendar I bought for the office.”
He laughs, his voice still raspy with sleep as he says, “You really like that calendar, don’t you?”
“Yes! What’s not to like about an electronic wall calendar? I can update it from my phone and add stickers and color to the blocks.” I explain the calendar with much more enthusiasm than necessary for a two a.m. conversation.
