“No…Scott, he’s right.” Jessie stood up straighter and squared off her shoulders. “Dad, you’re right, and I’m not going to argue with you. What I did was wrong, and I regret it more than you’ll ever know.”
She quickly looked at me and gave me a weak smile. I smiled back and winked at her. I didn’t want her stressing over what had happened between her and Trey. It was over, and we were together.
“But…it happened, and there is nothing I can do about it now. I made a mistake, Daddy, and you’ve always said that some of life’s best lessons are made through our mistakes.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Yes, I used my savings to pay for the trip to Belize.”
Drake shook his head and whispered, “Damn it.”
“But, Daddy, I don’t think I want to be a vet…at least not right now. There’s something else I’d much rather be, and I would like to do it full-time.”
She looked at me, and I smiled and nodded.
Drake folded his arms and glared at Jessie. “Oh yeah? Well, what is it, Jessica? I’m waiting with anticipation to hear about this new job.”
I saw the tears building in her eyes, so I walked up to her. I grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it.
“I’d like to be a full-time mother,” Jessie practically whispered.
I saw the smile spread across Aaron’s face. I glanced over at Dewey, and he was smiling and shaking his head. When I looked at Drake, he seemed confused for a second before it hit him.
Drake dropped his arms to his side. “What? Jessica…are you…”
She nodded.
Both Aaron and Dewey let out a yell.
“Oh, hell yeah!” Dewey yelled as he walked up and grabbed Jessie. He started spinning her around.
As soon as he put her down, Aaron repeated the whole show. “Holy shit! Tiny is gonna have a baby! Our kids are going to grow up together, Jess.” Aaron kissed her on the cheeks.
Aaron set her down, and then he reached over and shook my hand. “Jesus, dude, congratulations. I couldn’t be more happy for y’all.”
Dewey walked up and shook my hand. Then, he pulled me close to him and said in my ear, “You hurt her or this baby…and I will kill you and bury your body in your own backyard.”
I pulled back and looked at him with a shocked look. “My own backyard? What the hell is wrong with you, Dewey?” I asked.
Aaron let out a laugh. I looked up to see Drake just staring at Jessie. I couldn’t really read his expression, and I was sure Jessie couldn’t either.
“Daddy…please say something,” Jessie said.
Drake turned and started to walk away, and Jessie’s body just slumped.
“Daddy…” Jessie whispered.
She glanced back at me, and the look in her eyes about killed me. She slowly walked into my arms, and I looked up at Drake. He was standing at the end of the porch, looking out.
In that moment, I vowed that this girl in my arms would never have that look in her eyes again.
Ever.
The moment my father turned and walked away from me, it all hit me—the hurt I caused him, my brothers, and especially Scott.
I let everyone down. I hurt the only people I truly love.
Scott pulled back and looked into my eyes. The love that was pouring out of him took my breath away.
“I love you,” he whispered.
My heart dropped to my stomach. After everything that I had told him about Trey, he was still standing here, making me feel so loved and so cherished.