Almost an hour later, I heard Jake say, “I’m going to assume you love me like my parents love Emily and are giving us your blessing to get married. I know it broke your heart to leave her so early, but I promise to make up for your absence. I will take good care of her. Thank you for Emily, and I love you both.”
Are you smiling right now? Only you could send me someone who would try to completely fill your void. From now on, I’ll come here happy and leave happy. I’ll miss you, but I won’t feel alone anymore. Thank you, Momma. Thank you, Daddy. We’ll be back often and one day soon, I hope to be back with a baby. Can you believe you’ll be grandparents? I love you both.
As soon as I was done, Jake looked at me, and all I could say was, “I’m hungry. Let’s go have steak.”
He shook his head and laughed.
Chapter 20 Wedding Preparations
It was Sunday afternoon when we arrived at Jake’s parents’ house. We got a warm welcome home. Jake had me use his room while he took up residence in Nick’s room. I unpacked, started laundry, and gave Sandy and Bobby their gifts. My fiancé was fast asleep on Nick’s bed when I went to check up on him. Kissing his forehead and placing the blanket on him, I closed the door, wondering what I should do next.
Sleep did not seem to be a part of my plan tonight so I went downstairs to the kitchen and started making croissants for breakfast. Knowing that the dough needed to rise, I started early in order to have it ready for Jake when he left for his 6:00 a.m. surgery. After mixing the dough I let it sit as Sandy came over to the barstool and chatted with me about life in the Reid household during my five-month absence.
“Emily, Bobby, and I are both so relieved you and Jake are back together. I wish I could have videotaped Jake’s mood swings while you were gone. It felt like we were living with a depressed teenager.” She laughed as she went into specifics about Jake’s behavior.
Bobby came over and joined our conversation as Sandy started her lively stories. “Right after you left, Jake was so distraught we didn’t know what to do with him. Here was a grown adult suffering like a little child. He disappeared for about a week, and only through Laney did we find out that he was searching for you in Japan. When he returned unsuccessful, he barely spoke to us or anyone else for that matter.”
“I’m sorry you had to suffer along with us.” I gave them my most apologetic look.
“Well, it got better once he got your letter. He smiled and spoke again like a normal human being. Then came the angst-filled days of waiting for more letters that never came.”
“Yeah, it got ugly again when you didn’t write to him anymore.” Bobby laughed. “Poor Jane and Nick. Jake hounded them daily, asking them if they had received one of your letters. Jane would scan your letter and e-mail it to Jake even before she got a chance to read it.”
Sandy chuckled along with Bobby. “What about Nick? Jake forced him to drive your letter over whenever he got one. Oh, and then there was the birthday card and present you sent to our house.”
“What happened?” I asked.
“Because he had been so full of melancholy, I threw him a birthday party on the day of his birthday to cheer him up. He protested but seemed to be having a decent time with all his friends and relatives. In the middle of the party, the mailman came with your card and gift. Jake was thrilled!” Sandy started the story, and Bobby chimed in to finish.
“We saw him open the card, but he instantly disappeared. Sandy and I went up to see what he was doing and we found him at his desk crying.” This revelation immediately brought tears to my eyes.
Sandy continued, “I hadn’t seen him cry since grade school. Jake explained to us about your birthdays, and how it grieved him to think about you being alone on your birthday. He deeply loves you, Emily. I’ve never seen him so affected by anyone as he has been with you.” Sandy had suffered seeing her son so badly hurt.
I hugged Sandy. “I love him with all my heart, too. I promise I’ll take good care him.”
“Anyhow, the party was pretty much over, and Jake was in a foul mood the rest of the time till he found you again.” Bobby finished the story. “Not till you left him, did I realize how much of a sulker my son could be.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen firsthand Jake’s childish tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. Although, to be honest with you, I find it adorable.” A grin marked my face.
“Only you find it cute. The rest of us find him to be a pain.” Sandy shook her head. “He was a mess. You need to take him off our hands. We cannot live with Jake, without you now.” The three of us shared a hearty laugh.