I see Hale at the stove cooking us breakfast for the second time this week. It’s smells amazing and my stomach gurgles with that thought.

“You know a girl might get used to this Mr. Jarreau. Two days in one week?” Walking up behind him I wrap my arms around his waist and drop a kiss between his shoulder blades before taking a seat at the table.

“Well I aim to please Sweet Girl.” He walks up, plate in hand, and gives me the sweetest kiss at the corner of my lips, causing my cheeks to heat. It seems so domesticated and married life like. Not at all how I expected things to go between us.

“Do you always wake up before the sun rises?” I say between bites of scrambled eggs.

“Most days. I only sleep a few hour a night... The nightmares... It’s just hard to get any sleep.”

“We have to meet the lawyer today in town. sSo, I’m going to go home and shower. I have some projects I was working on.” He picks his plate up and brings it to the sink, rinsing and putting it in the dishwasher.

“Sounds good. I’m going to head to my apartment and do some cleaning and I need to catch up on school work. I only have a few more days of fall break.”

He walks over and grabs my face with both hands and steals the breath right from my lungs with a kiss meant to make my knees weak. Pulling back he rests his forehead against mine, his eyes never leaving mine, “We’re in this together Ember. Every day I’ll show you that I’m here to stay. I’ll fight everybody who stands in our way. We’ve been given a second chance and I won’t lose it.”

The tears burn behind my eyes and all I can do is nod. I bury my face in his chest and let the tears flow, silently thanking God for bringing this beautiful man back to my life. I’ll take him in whatever way I can get him. We stay like this for a while before my tears dry and I detach myself from him. I press my lips against his and whisper, “I love you.” Grabbing my hand we ascend the stairs to gather the stuff we have strewn everywhere. “I’ll pick you up at your apartment around four. We should be early just in case.” He tells me as I shove the dress back into my bag and pull out the only pair of jeans I packed. Slipping them on I see Hale’s heated gaze on me. The look on his face shows he’s trying to keep himself composed. I button them up and slide on the sandals I had packed, and we make our way back down the stairs. Hearing Deacon barking, I grab my keys and bag and open the door. Hale goes out before me, pausing to give me one last kiss before I shut the door and lock it behind me. I press the key fob to unlock my car, throw the bag in the trunk and get inside. I’m not looking forward to this meeting, but I know it’s necessary. I’m just hoping I can make it through the entire thing without the tears.

At exactly four I hear Hale knock on the door. I’m running behind because I got caught up in my psychology paper and I didn’t step into the shower until a minute ago. Poking my head out from the curtain I yell, “Come in!” I pop my head back in and I grab the shampoo, lathering my hair. I’m trying to hurry, but I’m also enjoying the quiet time all to myself. I quickly rinse the soap from my hair and grab the pink loofah Nan gave me for Christmas. My heart pains with the thought of her and my eyes well with tears as I grab the body soap.

Trying to rush, I quickly shower and grab the towel from the rack, wrapping it tightly around my body. I step out and I see him laid on my bed with a picture frame in hand.

“Sorry, I’m trying to hurry!” I head to my closet and grab the first thing I see; jeans and a dark brown sweater I swiped from B’s closet. I walk to the dresser and grab panties and a bra and turn towards the bathroom, but Hale’s voice halts me.

“I remember the day this was taken. I remember how happy you were to start our lives and leave everything behind. What happened Ember? What did I ever do to deserve this fucked up shit?” He says, his voice barely above a whisper. Turning to him, I see the pain etched on his face. I walk towards the bed and sit down on the edge, grabbing the picture from his hand. It’s the picture that was taken the day after graduation and I remember it too. Everything was simple back then. I do wish Hale never had to leave, but I know everything happens for a reason.

“All we can do is move on from it Hale, we can’t let the ugly consume us. Like you told me last night, we’ve been given a second chance and all we can do is embrace it. We have to fight back, Hale. We can’t let this rip us apart any further.”

Reaching for me he runs his thumb over my lip in soft swipes, “I’ll fight forever, Ember Ann.” He sits up and pulls me to him, pressing his lips against mine. Within seconds my body comes to life and I press my thighs together to dull the ache that’s forming.

Pulling away he says, “We’re late Em, go put your clothes on so we can leave.” I grab the towel to keep it together and get off the bed. I feel his hand connect with my ass cheek through the towel and I look back to see a boyish grin on his face.

“Watch it Hale Jarreau. I know where you sleep at night.” I laugh and pick my clothes up, walking towards the bathroom.

Sitting in the old musty office of Sherman Dougherty with Hale’s hand clasped tightly in mine, we wait to hear what the will says. Mr. Sherman is a tall man, with kind eyes and a bright smile who doesn’t look a day over 80. His secretary Andrea sat us in his office and offered refreshments for our wait. Not long after, Mr. Sherman walks in, thick envelope in hand and sits down at his desk. He reaches out, shaking both of our hands, and pulls several papers out of his folder.

“I just want to start by saying how very sorry I am for your loss. My job is never easy and the friendships I make along the way are ones that I keep for a lifetime. Your Nan was a very special woman and I appreciate the time that I got to know her. She has asked me to have her will read aloud to you both and then to divvy her assets between you both. Hale, she couldn’t have been happier to have you back in her life. Says it was a blessing from God above.” Pausing, he clears his throat and begins reading

“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.