Page 125 of Forever Fickle

Jace flung himself into her arms, crushing her against him, as he kissed her happily.

“Never again, Tink…”

“No sir,” she laughed, smiling against his lips as they kissed affectionately, as he dropped his bag and picked her up. “This was the last time, flyboy… and now we get to start our lives.”

“Guess what?” he said softly, smiling at her as he put her down, taking her hand and pulling his large duffle bag back onto his shoulder.

“What?” she replied easily, as they walked hand-in-hand toward the parking lot, feeling lighter than air, like a burden had been pulled from the both of them.

“We were waiting for a gate, and I checked my phone on the plane while it taxied forward. Look what Alpo texted me…” Jace said, drawing to a stop and holding up his cell phone for her.

On the screen was a business card, turned sideways, to fill the entire screen that now had a crack down the middle of the fascia. The business card had his call sign, his name, the title ‘instructor’, and the phone number for Flyboys.

“Is that what I think it is?” she smiled.

“Yep…” he grinned. “Alpo also said that I am welcome to use one of the planes until I get my own. He said not to rush and that he wanted to discuss possibly commercial charter flights instead of just being an instructor… I guess they are growing by leaps-and-bounds.”

“That’s wonderful, Jace,” she beamed. “I’m so proud of you, honey.”

“I’m just happy to finally be home.”

“I’m happy you are too,” she admitted. “Oh, and I have something for you…”

“What’s that?” he asked curiously.

Karen smiled elusively and opened her driver’s side door, getting out a piece of cardboard. She handed him the beat-up cardboard sign that she’d once held almost two years ago as they got to her car.

Harley had found it at Flyboys and gave it to her, making Karen realize that Jace had kept it with him when she brought him there the first time.

Jace dropped his bag on the pavement, taking the sign, and laughed merrily as he held it up in front of him, almost in the same stance as he pointed to himself… and froze.

She held up her own sign, pointing at it, in almost the same stance – standing opposite of him.

“I’m pregnant,” she whispered, smiling at him. “I’m thirteen weeks pregnant. We are going to have a baby… Hot Cakes.”

Her sign she’d made lovingly two days ago had a copy of her first sonogram picture attached. She felt strange even writing out the words, but there was no hiding it – and it needed to be said.

The simple sentence was telling, and she could see it in his eyes.

Welcome home, Daddy… see you in August!

Karen hadn’t told a soul yet.

She wanted Jace to be the first person who found out once she got past the ‘safe’ point according to the doctor. She was scared at first, a little alarmed, because this changed a lot of things and she hoped for more time to spend with him before having a family.

It took her a few days to realize that maybe this was their time, and everything was falling into place in their lives. That perhaps it was time to allow things to just happen between them and go with the flow, because she had the most supportive person at her side… permanently.

“We’re gonna have a baby?” he whispered tearfully.

“Yes.”

“Oh my gosh, Tink…” he uttered, pulling her into his arms, kissing her and crying as he kissed her tenderly. “I love you so much and you are going to be the best mommy in the world.”

“I’m a little nervous because this changes things,” she admitted, wrapping her arms around him.

“This changesnothing,” he said passionately, kissing the top of her head and hugging her close. “I love you and always will, but now we get to experience the joys of seeing what our love creates.”

“It’s going to be tight at the condo,” she warned tearfully, realizing she needed to hear those exact words from him, as she squeezed him close.

“I don’t care,” he breathed, kissing her forehead. “The condo, the plane, finding a house, we’ll take it all in stride eventually… and so long as we are together? My soul is content and I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”

“I love you,” she whispered, leaning upwards to kiss his chin, right before he leaned down to kiss her lips.

“And I love you…” he said gruffly, smiling proudly. “The both of you.”

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