Page 98 of Choosing My Happiness

He chuckled.

We sat admiring our daughter for a few minutes, until I felt him take a deep breath.

“What are you stressed about?” I muttered.

“Just wondering,” he replied. “How would you feel if I gave you jewelry?”

I glanced at him. “What jewelry?” I asked suspiciously. He pulled a ring box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside was a gorgeous diamond engagement ring in the shape of a flower.

“I want you to marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and only you. I want to share our fun together, and never miss another moment apart.” He paused. “Please?”

I choked back a sob.

“Daisy?!” He panicked. I lifted my hand and put it on his mouth.

“Shhh, Jim. You have been with me since we met. Even when you weren’t there, I felt your support. I love you, and I trust you…and this ring will never leave my body. I want to marry you too.”

“Is that a yes?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He grinned and rolled me and Rose into his body to kiss me.

Our wedding was held 6 months later. Bull was standing up for Jim, while Janie was on my side. That meant that all the kids were involved, including Dylan, who had stayed behind to live with Shaquilla when his father handed in his club patch and took off.

Dylan walked down the aisle with D2 on one arm, Stels on the other, looking so proud. Ring bearer Manny ran down the carpet to his dad, despite being allocated to the flower boys, Horse and Bear. They had hidden petals in every pocket they could find. Horse seriously enjoyed the role. Bear still played the straight face, but his grin broke through his gruff exterior as he watched his friend fool around on the carpet.

I followed Janie down the red carpet with Eric carrying Rosie beside me. It was only right that Eric walked with me. If he hadn’t jumped in to a fight to save his Granny, I never would have reconnected with Jim. The sun hit BJs plaque and it glinted perfectly as Jim took my hands as soon as I stepped up beside him, and the celebrant began the ceremony.

“Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here to witness the marriage of two wonderful souls. Through hardships, trials, and tribulations, these two have proven their love and devotion. Today, they will promise to stay true to each other, to share their desires, and live forever more in each other’s hearts.”

71

Epilogue: Blaze

I sat on the bed in my small apartment. It was in the clubhouse of my new club that I’d eventually moved to, in the university city where Amber was studying to become a teacher like her mom. I was looking at the photos rolling in from Mom of the wedding. Daisy looked amazing. She’d grown her hair out to below her shoulders and it was floating like it used to. Her smile lit up her face, practically glowing.

I traced my finger over her face. She looked so happy. I knew Midwife would keep that smile on her face, and it wasn’t the fact that he gave her a little girl that made her happy. It was the fact that he would never look at another woman, like I did. He would never leave her alone until the early hours of the morning, like I did. He would never have a reason to buy her something to apologize for being an ass, like I did. Matchstick was wrong. Youcan’t have all the pussy you want, and keep the dream going. Someday, you need to grow up.

Someone knocked on the door. “Stumpy, Blaze wants to talk.”

I sighed, that was another thing I lost. The president of this club’s road name was Blaze, so I had to change mine. I decided to keep the one that had been pinned on me when I was deployed. I had changed in that burn over. Parts of me were burnt away, the idiotic parts. I grew up too late, but now I would be responsible.

I stood up and walked past the whores playing on the tables, and up into President Blaze’s office. He had a girl on her knees between his legs. I looked at him and waited.

He grinned dopily at me. “Want a try? She’s pretty good.”

“No thanks,” I replied. “On shift soon. Need my energy.”

He chuckled and pushed the girl away. She fake pouted as he tucked himself away.

“Fuck off, we’ve got some business to discuss,” President Blaze told her. I watched her scurry out and closed the door behind her.

Somehow, I’d ended up an officer in this dump, and now I was trying to get it cleaned up. Hopefully one day, I’d be able to bring Dylan here. But not yet. Not for a long time yet.

Another way Matchstick was wrong. This club had all the debauchery he was chasing. He would have loved it here, but it only made me feel sick. There were only so many positions, and so much risk of disease that I could handle. It was dull, repetitive, and my stomach curdled each time I sat at the bar. I didn’t know what had caused the stickiness around me, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. I told myself that the only reason I stayed here was to keep Amber away from the club, but in reality, I really had nowhere else to go.

For now, I’d left Dylan and my house in the capable hands of Shaquilla and talked to him via video chat every night. Atleast the only Daisy he chatted about was D2. Although lately he’d talked about raiding the orchard at the old farm. I hoped he wouldn’t get into trouble. Shaquilla assured me he wouldn’t. The new owners liked kids and actually sent them home with extra.

One day, I’ll go home too. But I’d be different. I promised myself and my kid that I’d be someone he could be proud of.