My Only - Alex & Jamie (33 page)

Jamie thanked her one more time before she left.

“Do you want to sit?” Alex asked motioning to the bench, possibly sensing she wasn’t steady on her feet.

“No, I just want to go home,” she said.

“Then let’s go home.” He wrapped his arm around her waist and she leaned against him as they made their way to the parking lot.

“Did everything go okay?” He asked as soon as they got into the truck.

She nodded and then he was quiet. She appreciated his silence. She just needed a few moments to process.

After they had been driving for about fifteen minutes she turned to him, “I think I was really just scared that they would try and take him from me.”

Hearing herself say it out loud, she knew that her fear was ridiculous, but that didn’t make it any less true.

“Because of that I completely froze. I was terrified. I was so scared I was going to say the wrong thing and end up losing Joey. The mediator was asking me questions and I was answering them, but just barely. The Remingtons weren’t saying much either and it was pretty much at a standstill. They wouldn’t even look at me. They weren’t budging on the time that they wanted Joey. I wouldn’t agree to the visitation that they wanted and I really thought that nothing was going to get resolved.

“Then Katie came through like a rock star. She succinctly stated everything that we had gone over in our meeting. I didn’t want to bring up some of the things I had told her, mostly because I was embarrassed. But after she had finished and outlined the visitation that I felt comfortable with, which does not include overnight stays until he is ten, and then only if Joey wants to stay.

“The Remingtons took a few moments to discuss it with their lawyer and they agreed to it. Just like that, they agreed. They didn’t even fight it. Also, they aren’t even asking for another paternity test.

“Before we left, I gave Mrs. Remington some pictures I had brought for them of Joey, and after she looked at them she hugged me. She
hugged
me. She told me they never thought I would let them see Joey after how they behaved. Then she thanked me. Can you believe that?”

“Sooo, you’re saying we don’t need those?” He asked nodding his head towards the back of the cab.

Jamie looked behind the bench seat and saw Alex’s throw pillows. She cracked up and scooted over beside him.

“Thank you for coming,” she said as she snuggled up to him and rested her head on his broad shoulder.

He bent down and kissed the top of her head. For the first time in her life she felt like she had someone. Someone she could count on. Someone she could trust. Someone she could love.

Alex walked into his kitchen and found Jamie rummaging through his kitchen drawers. He watched her for a moment. Her honey brown hair was down, hanging loose around her shoulders. She was wearing jeans and a red long sleeved t-shirt, both fit her like a second skin. He could look at her forever and never get tired of the view.

“Do you have matches or a lighter? I forgot to bring anything to light the candles,” she asked when she noticed he was standing there.

He stepped behind her and reached over her head above the stove, opening a small cabinet door and pulling down a box of matches.

She turned so that she was facing him, “Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”

“I know, it’s my job,” he teased.

“Seriously, Alex,” she said as she laid her hands on his chest, “thank you so much for letting us have Joey’s party here. Joey is having so much fun. This is the most people he's ever had at a birthday party.”

Alex was happy that Jamie had invited his family. Not only were his brothers and their wives there, she had also invited his cousins, his dad, and his aunt and uncle. She had met all of them when he was in the hospital. His family weren’t the only guests though. Katie’s mom and Aunt were there, along with Mike, Grace, and Grandpa J. There were also several nurses from the hospital, a couple of waitresses from The Grill, and of course Aunt Hazel. It was a full house. Alex was glad that last year he had expanded and remodeled his garage turning it into a game room, which was where they were holding the party.

Jamie moved away from him and shook her head as she retrieved the cake from the refrigerator, “There is no way everyone would have fit in my
place.”

Alex thought this was the perfect opening. He reached inside his pocket.

“Mom!” Joey ran in from the garage face flushed with excitement.

“Yes, birthday boy?”

“Can I sleep over at Aunt Hazel’s for my birthday?” He pleaded, prayer hands in full effect. “Please, we’re going to make inside tents again.”

“Do you promise to remember to brush your teeth this time?” Jamie asked and Joey’s eyes lit up.

He nodded his head furiously.

“Okay, I guess so, for your birthday,” Jamie agreed, and Joey threw his arms around her waist and hugged her tightly before running back out.

As soon as he opened the garage door he yelled at the top of his lungs, “She said yes!”

The door slammed shut and Jamie turned back to the counter, placing candles on Joey’s Batman cake. Alex stepped behind her, slipping his hands around her small waist, and pulled her butt back up against his growing erection.

She let out a soft moan as he whispered in her ear, “Does that mean we get to have a sleepover?”

“Hmm,” she said wiggling her backside against him, “I don’t know. Do you promise to remember to brush your teeth?”

“I promise to do anything you want,” He vowed as he nipped the bottom of her earlobe.

“Mmmmm, well in that case, yes, we can definitely have a sleepover.”

He turned her around and cupped her beautiful face, “I don’t think I’m ever gonna hear the word 'sleepover' again and not get hard.”

“That could be a problem,” She smiled her eyes shining up at him with love.

He dropped his hands to her hips and pulled her firmly against his ever-hardening groin area, “I think I have the solution.”

She smiled shaking her head, “What am I gonna do with you.”

This was it, he was going for it. He looked her right in the eyes, “Marry me.”

“Alex.” She started to turn back around, acting as if he wasn’t serious.

He gripped her hips tighter, holding her place. “Jamie, I’m serious. I love you and Joey more than anything else in this world. I want to be your husband and Joey’s dad. I want every night to be a sleepover.”

Jamie’s eyes searched his as she bit her lip nervously, “But that’s the thing Alex, every night
wouldn't
be a sleepover. You don’t know what it’s like,
really
like. I don’t want you to rush into this and then realize it’s too much.”

“Jamie,” How could he make her understand? “I never thought…”

The doorbell rang loudly, followed by a knock on the door.

Jamie scrunched her nose, “I thought everyone was here.”

They both moved to the living room and Alex opened the front door.

“Oh. Hi,” Jamie said, her voice shaking, “Mr. and Mrs. Remington. I didn’t think…I mean, I wasn’t sure if you would make it.” She stilled and Alex noticed her taking a fortifying breath, “Please come in, the party is out in the garage.”

The WASPy couple stepped inside and Alex extended his hand, “Hi, I’m Alex Sloan. Nice to meet you both.”

“Oh, yes, sorry,” Jamie apologized, seeming really flustered, “Alex, this is Jim and Elaine Remington. Mr. and Mrs. Remington, this is Alex Sloan. He's hosting Joey’s birthday party, this is his home.”

They both looked around his front room before Elaine said, “Lovely. Where is the boy?”

“Joey’s out in the garage,” Alex moved to the door that headed out to the garage and opened it, “Right this way.”

“Hold on,” Jamie said quickly to the Remingtons, then, looking at Alex, she said, “Can you call Joey?”

“Little man, come here for a second,” Alex said loudly over the music, arcade games, pool table, and people laughing and talking.

Joey ran up and inside the house before Alex shut the door. When he saw his grandparents he stepped behind Alex’s legs. Alex didn’t blame him, they looked scary. He mussed Joey's hair, trying to communicate that it was all good, he didn’t need to be afraid.

Jamie stepped beside Joey, “Joey, this is Mr. and Mrs. Remington. Can you say hi?”

“Hi,” Joey said shyly.

“Hello, Joseph,” Jim said stiffly.

Alex looked up and saw that Elaine looked to be getting a little choked up, she turned to her husband, her hand clutching her chest, “He's the spitting image of Jeremy.”

“My dad’s name is Jeremy,” Joey whispered looking up at Alex.

“I know,” Alex smiled encouragingly down at him.

Jamie bent down beside Joey, “Mr. and Mrs. Remington are your dad’s mom and dad. They came for your birthday.”

Joey looked up warily at them. “Can I go play?”

“Of course,” Jamie said, and Joey was out the door.

Jamie stood and no one said anything. Alex was trying to take his cues from Jamie, not wanting to overstep. But then he decided maybe she just needed him to move this along.

“So, if you wanted to head on out to the party, we just have a few things to check on, and then we'll be out shortly.” Alex opened the door and held it for them.

They briefly hesitated before stepping out into the garage. When he shut the door behind them he turned and saw that Jamie had already moved into the kitchen. He walked in and noticed her hands were shaking as she pulled out three more candles and placed them in the cake.

“They're quite a pair,” Alex said.

Jamie turned eyes wide, face pale, “I never thought they would actually come.”

“You're so amazing.” He still couldn’t get over how forgiving she had been with those people.

“I’m not amazing. It’s not about me. They are Joey’s grandparents. If they want a chance to be in his life, they should have one. The more people that Joey has in his corner the better,” she explained matter-of-factly.

He knew that, growing up, she hadn’t had anyone in her corner and it broke his heart to think about it.

After the mediation, Jamie and Alex had stayed up most the night just talking. She had told him a lot about her childhood, what had happened when she found out she was pregnant. How the Remingtons had taken the news. What her life had been like as a single mom and a full-time student with two jobs. She talked about her struggles and her successes.

He’d opened up and told her things about his childhood, his time in the service, his romantic past. He had told her things he had never told another soul.

He knew she was busy, knew there were a lot of people in the garage waiting for cake, but he just couldn’t wait any longer. She was standing with her back to him just about to light the candles on Joey’s cake.

“That’s exactly why you are so amazing, Jamie. You are the most selfless, caring person I know.” He pulled out the ring he had purchased yesterday and got down on one knee. “Jamie.”

He waited for her to turn around.

It took her a few seconds, but then she distractedly turned, “Yeah?”

When she saw his position and the ring he was holding her hand flew over her mouth.

“Jamie Elizabeth Miller, the first night I met you I asked you to marry me.” He smiled, “And you said yes. I know it wasn’t a real proposal, but I think that somehow we knew, deep down in our souls - we knew we had found our match, found who we were supposed to spend
our lives with. Found our 'person.' You are incredibly beautiful, and hands down the sexiest girl in the world…”

She shook her head a little and scrunched her face, dismissing what he was saying.

He shrugged, “Maybe someday you’ll believe me or maybe not. But that’s not why I want to marry you. I want to marry you because you are the strongest, sweetest, bravest, most loyal, determined, and hard-working person I have ever met. I love you Jamie. I love your laugh. I love your smile. And I
love
your ass.”

“Alex!” she said, her mouth dropped open.

“I love that I know you want to throw a pillow at me right now,” he said as she laughed, “I love watching you with Joey. I know that if we ever have kids, you will be an amazing mom to them.”

Her hands flew up in the air, “See, that’s my point. We haven’t even talked about that. I don’t know if you want kids, or how many…”

“I want
you
, Jamie,” Alex interrupted, “I want you and Joey. Everything else is negotiable.”

He saw tears starting to fill her eyes as a smile began to spread on her face.

“Jamie Elizabeth Miller. I love you. Will you marry me?”

The garage door opened and Chelle walked in, looking down at an empty bowl she was carrying, “We have officially run out of chips…”

As soon as Chelle saw the scene that was in front of her she froze, then slowly started backing up the way she came, “Sorry, forget I was here.” She reached behind her and opened the door, stepping backwards, and then she closed it.