But what I do want to say to you is that if Katie chose you, it’s because she loves and trusts you. Don’t abuse that. Don’t ever take it for granted. She loves freely, but never blindly. She loves truly, but never indiscriminately. She loves with her whole heart. If you’re lucky enough to get that from her, then by God you deserve it. You have won one hell of a prize.
I don’t worry as much about Katie as I do about my children, however. Your place with them will be tentative, even as Katie’s love for you grows. They will always have memories of me and our life together, and you may think that they overshadow yours. But never fear. You will take a different place in their hearts.
At the end of the day, I’m not threatened by you, and I hope my memory doesn’t threaten you either. You will make your own memories with my children, and you will take a place in their lives that’s just as important.
I hope you’ll consider it an honor when you walk Gabby down the aisle. Take a minute to tell her she’s smart and not just beautiful.
When Alex gets in his first fight at school, I hope you teach him to handle himself with both grace and strength. Fight when fighting is necessary. Love when you can.
When Trixie goes on her first date, take a moment to tell her how valuable she is to you and to her mother, because a daughter who feels valued is one who values others.
My final thought for you: Find your own place with them, but don’t try to fill mine. If you try to walk in my shoes, the shoes won’t fit you right and they could cause you to stumble and fall. You must be yourself, and I trust you, because Katie has chosen you and I trust Katie. And I hope you and Katie succeed as a couple, because my children’s happiness will now depend greatly on yours.
Take care of Katie, and take care of my kids.
Jeff Stone
52
Katie
I’m still wiping tears from my face when Pop bursts into cabin 114. “Katie girl!” he cries as he walks right into my bedroom. I’m already dressed, but it’s still odd that he’s visiting. “You’re my favorite bride today!” he says. He opens his arms and I fall against him. He squeezes me tightly, grunting as he rocks me gently from side to side.
Laura puts her hands on her hips. “Why didn’t I ever get the favorite bride comment when I married Jake?” she pretends to grumble.
Mr. Jacobson grins at her. “You were never meant for my boy and you know it. Now get out.” He jerks his thumb toward the door.
Laura playfully grumbles again but I can tell she’s not really angry. She closes the bedroom door behind her with a smile.
“I brought you something,” Mr. Jacobson says. He pats his shirt pocket, then his pants pocket, and then he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a long box. “Here you go,” he says. His joviality suddenly vanishes and he gets very serious. “These belonged to Jake’s mother,” he tells me. “I never gave them to Laura because I didn’t think she would want them. They’re not worth much, but they were worth everything to me and to Jake’s mom. I gave them to his mom the day we got married, and now I’m giving them to you, because I know you’ll cherish them the same way she did.” He thrusts the box at me. “Take it, Katie girl.”
I open the box with shaky fingers. Inside lies a string of beautiful pearls.
“Your neck is too naked,” he says. “And while I happen to like naked women, I think your neck needs something on it.” He pulls my hand until I come to stand in front of the mirror. “Can I put them on you?” His eyes meet mine in the mirror.
I nod, understanding the reverence of this moment.
“The last and only time I put these on someone, I put them on her.” He isn’t jovial or joking. He’s serious. I’ve never seen him so serious. “Please know that I wouldn’t give these to just anyone, Katie.”
“I understand,” I say. “Thank you.”
“When she died, I thought I would die with her.” His voice chokes a little, but he clears his throat. “But I had Jake to live for, to take care of, to teach, to love, and to love me back.” He finally clasps the hook and I feel the cool weight of the pearls fall against my neck. “And now I have five more people to love and love me back.”
He spins me around and hugs me tight.
“Now I have to go and offer my boy some whiskey and a peek at some girly magazines so he can keep up his stamina, seeing as how you had him out all night.” He pats my shoulder with a heavy hand. “Welcome to the family, Katie girl,” he says, and then he leaves as quickly as he arrived.
I feel like someone just took the bottom corner piece off my mental Jenga game.
Gabby walks into the room. “What did Pop want?” she asks. All the kids have started to call him Pop.
I finger the pearls around my neck. “He gave me these. They belonged to Jake’s mom.”
Gabby tips her head to the side to regard the pearls. “That was nice of him.”
“I know, right?” I say lightly. “Can you help me lift my hair off my neck?” I ask Gabby, and I hold out a sheet of bobby pins. “I want to show these off.”
I stare at the pearls right up until it’s time to go. Then I go to meet Jake, wearing the pearls his father gave his mother on their wedding day.
53
Jake