Chapter23
“I want to take this brace off.”
They’d let her out of hospital a week later, and Branna was not what you would call an easy patient. Luckily, Jake had experience with the difficult ones, so he was up for the task.
“Funny girl.”
They were on the front porch of her house. He was sitting with his feet braced on the railing, and she was in his lap, her feet between his.
“Macy’s doing well, don’t you think, Jake?”
“She is, but it will be a slow process, Rosebud. Brian has abused her both physically and mentally for years. It will take time to reverse those effects.”
“Did you know that her parents blame her for the humiliation they’re now suffering since this has come out?”
“You’re kidding me?”
“No.” Branna looked up at him. “I told her they were just as worthless as Brian, which was probably not respectful, considering they’re her parents, but seriously, who does that to their only child when she’s already hurting?”
“They’ll have their share of guilt under all that B.S., baby, and you can bet that, and the fact that they’ve always believed themselves to be above everyone else, will be driving their reactions.”
“They better not come near me.”
“I’m scared.”
“You should be.”
He kissed her because he could, and her lips would tempt a saint… plus the fact that he wouldn’t have her alone for too much longer, not that she knew that yet.
“Jake, would you be okay if I let Dad live here and I moved in with you?”
He’d known this discussion was coming. They couldn’t keep going back and forth; sooner or later, they had to call one of their houses home, and things were getting better between father and daughter every day. The bonds were strengthening, but they didn’t need to be living on top of each other for that to happen.
“It’ll be a bitch, but I’ll manage, I guess,” he drawled. “Plus, with you comes Geraldine, so it’s a win-win all around.”
“Ha.”
“I can’t reach my pocket, Branna, can you get that envelope out that’s in there?”
“Who gave it to you?” She sat upright and, using her good arm, stuck her fingers into his pocket and pulled it out.
“Ethan.”
That wasn’t strictly a lie. Ethan had picked it up for him, but Jake had chosen it.
“Here,” she tried to hand it to him.
“You open it.”
She did, slowly, as she was one handed. Opening it wide, she looked inside. Her eyes then went to his before putting her hand in and taking out the ring.
“Marry me, Rosebud. Be my wife and let me love you the rest of our days.”
“Oh.” Jake watched as she bit her lip. “I-I…” She sniffed. Branna didn’t like to cry, especially not in front of people.
“I’m dying here, baby.”
“Yes, oh yes. I love you so much.” She threw herself at him, then yelped as she hurt her arm.
