“I know you’re probably wondering why in the world I brought you all the way down here to have you listen, but that’s exactly what you need to do is listen. I want to apologize to you Ember, for not telling you that Hale was alive. I am so sorry, my baby girl, for the pain that you have endured. You need to be strong for me and I need you to be strong for Hale. That man loves you more than you will ever know and I want you to always remember, even when it feels hard to, that he fought to make it back to you. No matter what demons, heartache, or fights you have to battle, always keep that in your heart. I brought you here together to tell you both that I love you and that I will always be with you. You two have faced more in a lifetime then what even seems imaginable, but you’re here now, together, and that’s all that matters. I want you to never give up on one another and keep my memory alive around this time. Do you hear me? Don’t you let Mr. Barker starve. Bring him some dinner a few times a week. He’s as alone as I was and he was a very dear friend to me. I’m leaving you both my house. You are free to do what you please with it, but I think I know what decision will rest in your heart. All of my assets have been divided accordingly and the only request that I have is to be happy. Live your lives in a way that you’ll never forget the beautiful memories that you’ve had. I love you both very, very much and I’m so sorry that I won’t be here to see my grandchildren.
-Nan.”
He continues, “I just need you to both take these documents with you and return them within seven business days with your decision on what to do with the property.” He hands us a sealed envelope and thanks us for our time. Standing, he shakes our hands and apologizes for having to run out.
After he leaves Hale and I sit there in silence, reflecting upon the words we were just told. Getting up from the chair slowly, I walk towards him and climb into his lap. His arms automatically wrap around me, and as the sobs rack my body, I know in my heart that Hale is here to stay.
Hale
The entire ride home she hasn’t said a word. With her hand clasped tightly in mine, she stares out the window watching the city pass by. The lights cast a shadow on her face and I can see the tears against her cheeks. It kills me to see her hurt.It causes an actual pain inside my chest. Bringing her hand to my lips, I place a kiss against the smooth skin of her palm. Finally, a smile graces her lips, and I let out a sigh of relief.
“Everything is going to be okay Sweet Girl. We have to think about all the good things in life that surround us.” Pulling into the driveway at Nan’s, I park and shut the car off. She climbs over the center console and into my lap. Wrapping her arms tightly around my neck, she lays her head on my chest and sighs.
“Do you know when I realized that I was in love with you?” I whisper to her with my lips against her hair. I feel her shake her head no.
“We were fourteen. You were standing outside my window at two am, throwing rocks at it until I answered. I remember being so fucking mad seeing you out there in your pajamas, soaked to the bone. It was freezing and when I opened the door I was ready to throw you over my knee even then and spank your ass. You were standing there clutching this little ball of fur that looked like a drowned rat. You told me you heard meowing by your window and you couldn’t stand the thought of it being out there in the rain all alone. We stayed next to the fire with that damn cat until you both stopped shivering and fell asleep in my lap. I knew then I would move the ends of the earth for you. Anything in this world you wanted from me, I would’ve done it then to make you happy. You’re the only girl I’ve ever been inside. The only girl I’ve kissed. Some would call me a pussy, but you know what Ember, fuck them and fuck what they think. I’ve been in love with you my entire life. You’re perfection. You’re smart, kind, and God, so fucking beautiful it blinds me. I will spend my entire life loving you and treating you like a queen. I know our lives haven’t gone as planned. I know I broke your heart and I’m so sorry baby, so fucking sorry. I’ll spend every day making up for that, but God gave us a second chance. We have to take these bad days and get through them together. It’s not going to be easy and we know that. Shit, nothing in our lives has ever been easy, but we have each other and that’s all that matters.” Pausing, I place her hand over my heart, “You feel that Ember? It beats for you. I will love you until it stops beating, and even after that. Some days I thought I would never make it out of there alive, but I would feel my heart beating and know I had to fight. I had to make it home to you. I did it for you, Ember. I promised I would come home to you. It took longer than I ever wished it would but I’m here now.” I use my thumb to wipe away the tears that fall from her cheeks.
“What do you feel is right baby? There is no wrong answer. If you want to sell the house and live at the apartment, then that’s what you can do. I don’t expect to move in with you and marry you tomorrow, Ember. Fuck, it feels like we picked up right where we left off, but I want you to be comfortable at the pace that we move. It’s in your hands, baby.” My chest feels lighter and less constricted getting that out. I need her to know that I’m here for as long as she’ll let me be. And I will marry her. I will marry her tomorrow if she fucking let me.
“I just can’t let it go, Hale. I can’t let this house go. It feels like I would be betraying her... How many memories does this house hold for me? For you? Can you imagine anyone else living in it? Making the memories that WE deserve?” Her voice cracks and a sob breaks through. I pull her tight against me as her entire body shakes with sobs. Fuck, she’s killing me.
“Sweet girl, calm down. Take some deep breaths, I don’t want you to be sick. C’mon baby, just take a few deep breaths.” I tell her rubbing my hand against the soft skin of her back, hoping my touch will calm her.
We stay wrapped in each other for so long I lose track of time. The rain started a while back and the wind howls with each thunderclap. Her breathing evens out and I think she’s fallen asleep when she pulls back and looks at me, running her thumb across my lip. I swear those blue eyes can see in my fucking soul.
“You are a good man, Hale Jarreau. Whenever they came to the door, to tell me you were... gone... I blacked out and they caught me as I fell. God it was so horrible. I keep having nightmares that I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone. Like you were never really here at all. I just could never wrap my head around the fact that you were gone. Everyone told me to move on, to live life, to find happiness with someone else, but I couldn’t Hale. I couldn’t let you go. I knew in my heart it wasn’t right. I would have these dreams about you, that you were here and I guess it was because I knew. You’re my soulmate, Hale. The ache I felt in my chest was like a physical pain... Something I lived with until I saw you sitting in that auditorium. I thought I was insane until I saw you standing in the shop. I don’t know what the future will throw at us, but I can’t be without you again. I can’t do it Hale, it almost killed me. Promise me you’ll stay with me. Promise.” She pleads, holding my face between her hands.
“Till forever, baby.”
Chapter 4
Ember
Reaching for the door handle, I open it and run towards the house. I can feel the freezing rain soaking me through and my makeup running down my face. I look down and see the t-shirt clinging to my body and by the look that Hale’s giving me, he sees it too. I unlock the house and step inside, peeling the wet layers from my body as I go.
“I’m going to run upstairs and change, then I’m going to put a pizza in the oven and work on my paper. Do you want to stay?” I stand there shivering and run my hands up my arms. I feel my nipples press against the thin fabric of my bra and I pray he doesn’t see.