Everything within her was screaming ‘yes’…
The flight went so quickly that she was startled as he called in his approach.
“Flyboys, this is Cessna 631 coming in for landing. Do you copy?”
“Cessna 631, welcome home! You are clear to land…”
“Alpo, is that you?”
“Yeah… what’s up? Is everything okay?”
“I need a car… quickly.”
“I repeat, is everything okay?”
Jax looked at her – and she smiled at the open love emblazoned on his expression as he nodded, his voice hoarse and trembling with emotion.
“I’ve got to get to the courthouse,” Jax began, not looking away from her for a moment. “The girl of my dreams is going to marry me…”
She nodded. The words just seemed to pale in comparison to what she wanted to say in that moment. He was so beautiful, so incredible, and… hers.
“Y’all are getting married? Oh, this is rich… Yeah, buddy. I’ll have a car waiting, and prepare to get swarmed, my brother! Welcome to our family, Mary!”
Mary’s eyes widened in disbelief, hearing his voice, and realizing that was what Jax had meant about having people around her if she needed anything. These people, the ones from the bonfire, were going to accept her without question, just because she belonged to Jax…
Was this why Karen had pushed so hard for her to write him? Because she knew or hoped that this would be the case? For her to have someone at her side, to make her happy, like her husband did?
“Oh… and Alpo?” Jax said suddenly, looking at her. “Can you have someone grab a hairbrush out of my bag? I don’t want Mary to regret any of this, and I’m a little short on time.”
“… Did you say hairbrush?”
Mary smiled at him – and the thoughtfulness he displayed.
Jax was asking for a hairbrush for her, because he knew how self-conscious she’d been about her hair being messed up. It wasn’t because he thought she looked bad; it was for her, to make her feel better.
Yes, she was marrying the best person she’d ever met.
* * *
Within minutes,they were landing… and there was a group of people beside the runway – along with a car backed up to it, waiting. They taxied forward and both unbuckled quickly, Jax helping her.
He climbed out of the plane, was saying something to someone nearby, as he rushed over to open her door… treating her like the Queen of Sheba. He took her hand, helped her out, and the moment her foot was on the ground – she was nearly tackled.
“I justKNEWit…” Glory was choking her, hugging her, jumping up and down with excitement.
“Whoa… whoa…” Jax began, prying Glory’s arm away from her neck where she’d been hugging her tightly. “Let’s save the celebrations for about an hour from now. We’ve got to get to the courthouse before they close.”
“We’re coming,” Glory volunteered, beaming at them, and looking back to smile at Alpo, who was there behind her. Mary realized that they were all indeed waiting there, smiling and supportive, ready to go. “Well, most of us, anyhow. Houdini is teaching with Romeo and Harley is staying until they are done, but they will meet us for wedding cake in a bit. Dixie is already on it. Every single woman in the world that gets married should have wedding cake.”
“Are you ready?” Jax said beside her, touching her hand, and waiting.
She looked at him and realized that if she said ‘no’, he would let her choose once again and honor her decision.
This wasn’t just an overwhelming love, but a silent understanding that if she chose him… then he would spend his life enabling her, supporting her, caring for her, and protecting her with everything he was.
Choosing him meant grasping at a future where she would be treasured beyond belief, loved, and valued. How could she not pick him, when everything she could have ever dreamed of was standing before her?
“Let’s go,” she whispered, smiling at him.