Coming to grips with all that had happened would take time. In the meantime, Jack needed to redirect Terra’s focus to something else she could take joy in.
“Hey.” He lifted her chin.
“I want you to see something.” Jack took her hand and led her in to see Aunt Nadine. He shared what the doctor had said.
“Oh, that’s wonderful, Nadine.” Terra moved closer to the bed, leaned in, and hugged his aunt. She released her and stood back. “I couldn’t be happier.” Terra ran a finger under both eyes.
“Tomorrow,” Jack said to his aunt, “when I come to pick you up, I have a big surprise for you.”
The next day, Jack and Terra sat at Aunt Nadine’s kitchen table. Aunt Nadine hummed in the kitchen, insisting on making them sandwiches. She appeared to be feeling better than she had in a long time.
Jack winked at Terra.
Freckles was in the backyard with Dusty and Tux and started barking at the sliding glass door.
“Shush, Freckles,” Aunt Nadine said.
The doorbell rang. Right on time. “I’ll get it,” Jack said.
He opened the door, and Ruby stood on the porch with her grandson, Ferris. Jack couldn’t help the smile that split his face. He opened the door wide and let the two in.
Aunt Nadine glanced up at the visitors, a smile and a confused expression sharing space on her face. Freckles barked and jumped at the sliding glass door in the back.
“What on earth, Freckles?” Aunt Nadine opened the door, and the dog raced through the house and into Ferris’s arms.
Freckles wiggled and barked and licked. Ferris laughed. “I’m here, boy. That’s a good boy. It’s okay, Max. I’m here.”
“What?” Terra’s smile was beautiful. Aunt Nadine and Ruby smiled and laughed at Freckles’s reunion with his boy.
“I’m just trying to tie up all the loose ends. Solve all the mysteries, as it were. I spotted Freckles in a picture at Ruby’s home when Nathan and I questioned her.”
Aunt Nadine and Ruby followed Ferris and Freckles/Max into the backyard.
Terra smiled up at him. “You’re really amazing, you know that? Got any more loose ends to tie up?”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He pulled her close and pressed his nose against hers. “I’ve been trying to solve the mystery of you and me for as long as I’ve known you.”
She sucked in a breath. “You once told me that you loved me enough to let me go, so I think solving that will depend on your answer to my question.”
Jack’s heart beat erratically. “What’s that?”
“Do you love me enough this time to stay, Jack?”
That was easy. “I love you, Terra. I always have, and I’m sorry I walked away before. I can’t lose you again, and I hope you feel the same way.”
Jack kissed her, just in case she was having any doubts about how she felt about him. He kissed her until she was breathless.
Her hands pressed gently against his chest, and she eased away from him. “Jack, your aunt. This isn’t the place.”
“There’s no better place. No better time. I want you with me forever. I need to know how you feel.”
Terra seemed taken aback by his words. A measure of fear spiked through him.
“I love you.” Terra’s voice shook. “And ... even though loving can be risky, I’m willing to risk that with you.”
“And the forever part? How do you feel about that?”
“Is that a proposal?”
He tugged a small box from his pocket and popped it open. “I had a different plan in mind, but I’m done wasting time. I ... I bought this before.”
“And you’ve kept it all this time?” Her bright blue eyes shimmered as she stared at the diamond.
“I could never let go of hope, even though it seemed like a distant dream for so long.”
She let him slip the ring on her finger.
“Mystery solved,” he whispered against her lips.