Page 83 of Lessons in Lemonade

“I’m glad, because you are mine, and so much more. I should warn you . . . I do plan on taking every title.”

“Every title?” Her brows have risen.

I don’t even need to answer her; I just give her a look that has her face smoothing out and her cheeks flushing pink. I do plan on it, every title: best friend, lover, boyfriend, fiancé, husband—you name it, it’s going to be mine. The only question now is how fast I can make it happen.

“All right, handsome. I hear you. Let’s go get you fed.”

Of course I follow as she walks out of the room, and not just because my stomach is rejoicing at what’s to come; I would follow her anywhere. She is the piece of me I didn’t know I was missing, and now that I’ve found her, there’s no going back. We’re going to be teammates for life.

Sausage Gravy for Biscuits

One year later

EVERY TIME WE visit Wolff Winery, I find myself overlooking the vineyard and the rolling hills at the base of the Smoky Mountains. They are calming and serene in a way that can’t be found in the city, and I feel rejuvenated and inspired each time.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Jack asks, coming up behind me and caging me against the railing with his arms.

“Just enjoying the view.” I turn my head to the side, and he leans in to steal a kiss. His lips are soft, warm, and yummy with the lingering taste of lemons from the frozen lemonade cake.

“Yeah, me too,” he says, his eyes holding mine so I can understand his meaning before he wraps his arms around me and pulls me back against his chest.

“Anything in there upsetting you at all?” he asks quietly, with concern. He’s been worried about today for a while, even though I assured him that wasn’t necessary.

“No, I promise you, it’s not. I am so happy for them.” And I truly am. My heart is full.

I’ve now been cancer-free for eight years. It might seem silly to some that I still count the months and years, but it’s not to me. I am grateful for this time, even if sometimes I feel like it’s all just borrowed.

One month after Jack returned to Charleston, we moved into the Cooke house, and it officially became the Willett house. Jack swept me up in his arms on the sidewalk outside the gate and carried me down the little path to the front door, but instead of crossing the threshold, he put me down and got down on one knee. To say I was surprised would be an understatement, but as he talked about how the rest of his life had already begun with me and he didn’t see the need to wait to make it official, I fell in love with him even more. He was mine and I was his, and he wanted the world to know.

We didn’t have a big wedding, instead deciding to elope. Of course, if we had wanted it, all of our friends and family would have been there, but these days everyone is so busy, our schedules are all so different, and well, it made sense to us. So, with our marriage license all set to go, we headed off to the city hall with Eddie, his wife, and Taylor as our witnesses.

Of course I found the most gorgeous little white dress and completed the look with a stunning pair of white Alexandre Birman heels. I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t in heels, and I know Jack appreciated them too as he discreetly told me he expected me in the shoes and just the shoes later that evening.

It was a beautiful June night, the sky clear and the humidity low. We decided to take a carriage ride around the city and drink champagne, and although they weren’t for our wedding but for the many others that were happening that Saturday evening, the bells from the churches of the Holy City rang so loud and joyously, they may as well have been for us.

It couldn’t have been more perfect.

Jack settled into his new role at The Citadel with ease. The staff and the team love him—I mean how could they not—and he immediately switched up the playbook, changed how the practices are organized, and made it fun by bringing Bryan up from Tampa to do a mini clinic with his quarterbacks. He’s loving his job, and this past season they finished with a record of 7-3, earning them a spot in a bowl game. They didn’t win it, but they were so happy to be there they may as well have.

“Okay. Do you want me to stay outside with you?” he asks as he ducks his head down and drops his lips to my shoulder.

“No. You go back in and visit with your friends. You don’t get to see them enough as it is.”

He turns me to face him, his brown eyes warm and affectionate. He wraps his hands around my face, bends down to place his lips on mine, and gives me the most delicious kiss. I swear there is nothing I wouldn’t do for this man.

Pulling back, he smiles at me, dimples on full display, and then he slides his hands down to my backside and squeezes.

“I’ll never get tired of doing that.” He grins.

“I hope not,” I tell him. I do love those large hands on me, anywhere he wants to put them.

“Let me know if you need anything,” he says lovingly.

“I will. I promise.”

He studies my face for a brief second longer, gives me a wink, and then wanders back inside.

We’re here at Zach and Shelby’s this weekend to shower Bryan and Lexi as they are having not one baby, but two. Twins.