Page 139 of You & Me: Part One

This I get. But why do I feel like there’s more to it?

“I also don’t want you to feel any pressure from either one of us. I especially don’t want you to want to take that next step because my daughter has you wrapped around her little finger. If we take that next step, I want it to be for the right reasons. I also don’t want to get her hopes up for something that may not be in her future,” I start to protest but Emily lifts her finger to my lips and continues to explain.

“I don’t mean that because I have doubts about you, Jonathan. It’s myself I worry about. I have never even been in a long term relationship let alone talked about the ‘M’ word. What if I mess this up? What if I am just no good at this and it doesn’t work out? I have no idea what I’m doing, Jonathan. I know I love you and I don’t want to be with anybody else. I also know that I am in this for as long as you’ll have me.” She takes a breath and says, “When I look at my future, it’s you I see. I’m just so scared that I am going to mess us up.”

“Well, I guess it’s my job to find a way to prove to you that I’m not going anywhere no matter what happens. Neither one of us are perfect, and we’re both going to make mistakes. As long as we’re both faithful and honest with each other, we aren’t going to be able to mess us up bad enough for me to walk away from you. I would ‘M’ word you tonight if I thought you were ready, but you aren’t and I’m okay with that. Please just remember that you can talk to me about anything. If something’s bothering you or you’re scared, don’t hide it from me. No secrets, no lies. Just truth between us . . . always. Let’s start with that. What do ya say?”

She nods her head and says, “I love you, Georgia. Thanks for being so patient with me.”

“Whatever you need, baby. You and me. We’re in this together.”

My Love

Emily

“Merry Christmas Eve, baby,” Jonathan says as he sits across from me on the floor in front of the Christmas tree; the tree that the three of us decorated together. Jonathan and I are getting some alone time as Mick takes Ireland to afternoon holiday tea at the Heathman. He really is the best brother ever. Tea was his idea, and Ireland couldn’t have been more excited to get dressed up and have a date with her uncle.

“Merry Christmas Eve, handsome,” I reply back playfully. “So what are we going to do with hours alone with just the two of us?” I ask as I lean forward and try to devour him with my lips.

He kisses me back, but I can tell his whole heart isn’t into it. “What’s wrong, Georgia?”

“Uh . . . nothing . . . nothing’s wrong, Em. I just wanted to give you one of your presents now while it’s just you and me.”

“I thought we were doing presents in the morning with Ireland?”

“We are, it’s just for this one . . . for this one I wanted it to be just us,” he says as he reaches up into the tree and pulls a thin foot long box out from its hiding place amongst the branches. “Here you go, baby.”

I swear I see him shaking as he hands it to me. I take it out of his hands as quick as I can just to end his misery. He’s clearly on edge about this gift, and frankly I’m starting to feel edgy myself.

“Open it,” he says impatiently.

Under the ribbon in the center of the box is a card that says, ‘Gracie’ on it. I look up at him and give him a little smile, but his face remains serious. I open the little envelope and as I start to read the card Jonathan speaks the words aloud for me.

“No regrets, Gracie. Live today like it’s your last and along the way kick some ass,” he leans in and whispers in my ear the next line written on the card. “I’ll love you always and forever and wherever I may be. Love, Your Georgia.”

I love him so much, but I’m incredibly confused and he can tell by the look on my face.

“Before you opened this, I wanted you to hear the words that you live by to remind you to live life to the fullest. I also wanted you to hear words that I live by so that you know that no matter what you say after you open this gift, I’m still here and I still love you. I’m not going anywhere, Em.”

Now even more confused I just stare at the flat, thin, foot long box in my hand. It’s clearly not a ring box, and he isn’t down on one knee so I couldn’t be more confused.

“Just open it,” he prompts me. He seems a bit more at ease, and there’s finally a smile on his gorgeous face.

I wish I felt more at ease because I am scared to death.

I untie the ribbon and slide the lid off the box. Thank God there isn’t any wrapping paper on it to draw this whole thing out any longer. Once the lid is off, I open the tissue paper inside and see a key and a pink dog leash. I’m not sure exactly what I am looking at, and I just keep staring at it not believing that he is asking what I think he is. He doesn’t give me too long to think about the items in the box when he hops up and holds a hand out to me. He helps me to my feet, but doesn’t let go of my hand.

“Before you say anything, I have a few things to show you.”

He guides me to the hallway that leads to his bedroom, but he stops in front of the office door next to it. He opens the door and I cannot believe the transformation in this room. It went from a dark, messy catch all to a soft, light, comfortable living space complete with a beautiful white desk, shelves and book cases.

“I thought this would be a nice place for you to study and grade papers.”

I walk into the middle of the room and cannot believe what I’m seeing. The shelves are partially filled with some of my favorite books, as well as framed pictures of Ireland, Jonathan and I. It finally hits me that he hasn’t really let me over here much the last two or three weeks.

“Is this why you’ve kept me away lately? You were making me an office?”

“Shhh . . . there’s more,” he says as he takes my hand and leads me across the hall to the spare bedroom aka his home gym.

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