“What the fuck, Harvey. Are you trying to make me cry? Is this part of your upbringing?
He laughs but coughs sharply, clearing the emotion in his throat.
-Yeah. I guess so. But I wanted to give you this.
He takes a white envelope out of his jacket pocket and hands it to me. When I take it, he waves at me and wipes his nose.
-Open it.
A lump forms in my throat as I open the paper and take out the page. I read it, but the words are…
“It’s a scripture,” he says.
-I can see.
For your own section room. On the east side. Beautiful sunrises. I know they like to sit on the roof and talk until the sun comes up. I thought you’d build there eventually. Stay close. Don’t know. Give your tailed babies plenty of room to roam. He wipes his eyes, clearly trying to cover his emotion with the most hackneyed joke he has. All my children have a room. And I feel like a real idiot for not giving you one until now.
“Harvey, this is too much.
He waves one hand again before resting both on his hips and scanning the horizon.
-No. I have more land than I know what to do with. Besides, you’re my boy, Jasper. He reaches out and grabs my shoulder. I love you here always.
I stare at the piece of paper, feeling like the broken little boy who showed up on this ranch that day all those years ago. I had no idea how much love I would one day have. He had no idea that the people who truly loved him would never abandon him.
They’re all here.
And when I look up to see Sloane coming down the steps of the big house, my heart shakes in my chest and the tears in my eyes instantly clear. Everything I see is so clear with her in sight.
“See you out there.” “I love you, Jasper,” Harvey finishes, wrapping me in an aggressive hug.
“I love you too, Harvey,” I choke, and the man just looks at me with teary eyes and a brusque nod of approval before walking away and doing the same with Sloane.
She hugs him back, but doesn’t take her eyes off me as she crosses the driveway. The Wishing Well ranch is to her left, the house behind it, and my ring on her finger. She is wearing a loose dress that reaches to her ankles. She wears her hair down, soft, framing her face. She wears ballet slippers on her feet and has a relaxed expression. Happy.
This is the day you deserve. The day we deserve.
Back to where it all began.
“You’re perfect,” I murmur as he approaches.
“You look edible.” Talking about teenage dreams. -His eyes travel over me and a smile appears on his lips.
I lift the envelope.
“Did you know about this?”
He lifts one shoulder reluctantly.
A little bird could have told me.
Her hands reach for me as soon as she’s close enough, and I pocket the envelope before pulling her toward me.
In our embrace . The usual. Except now his hand reaches for his tattoo on my ribs every time.
-Are you ready? -My jacket muffles his voice.
“Not at all,” I tell her, turning her toward the ranch and pressing her back against my front.
I raise my left hand in front of it and move my fingers. The fresh lines of ink on my ring finger catch his attention, and he instantly reaches for it.
I gave you another tattoo this morning.
“Jasper…” his voice breaks as his fingers brush against the dark ink.
“It’s…” His hands tremble as he takes mine with both of them with such reverence. Permanent.
-We also. I will never take this ring off.
He snuggles closer to me and I notice his smile as he presses his entire body against mine. I put my arm over his shoulder and intertwine my fingers with his.
Then he points to the window of the room that has always been his. Right next to mine.
Eighteen years ago, a blonde girl looked out of that same window at me. That day he looked at me intently, and I looked back at him. I didn’t realize what it meant because we were kids.
He hums softly, intertwining his fingers with my free hand. He wraps himself around me like I’m his favorite blanket. And I indulge her because wrapped around Sloane is my favorite place to be.
-You saw me?
I turn my head inward, my lips brushing his forehead.
-Yeah. I saw you, Sloane. I noticed you too. I didn’t know what made me look up there that day. I had no idea what it meant.
-What did it mean?
That when it comes to you, I have no power.
End