Piper’s POV
“J-Jay,” I stammered.
What was the ring for?
“Piper, will you be my girlfriend? Let’s start a relationship and form a happy little family with our two kids,” he asked as he touched my hand and prepared to slip the diamond-encrusted ring onto my finger.
“Jay, I-I,” I replied a little hesitantly.
“Don’t hesitate, Piper. Please think of your and our kids’ happiness. We don’t need to get married soon. We can get to know each other better first. Please accept my love,” he pleaded as he looked at me. It was a look I couldn’t resist. He looked like a child asking for something. So handsome!
I took a deep breath and reassured myself that everything would be fine. I had to fight for the people I cared about.
“Yes,” I replied.
Jay was surprised. His eyes widened, and he asked once more to confirm what he had just heard.
“Please say it one more time. Will you be my girlfriend?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, smiling at him.
He smiled back and put the ring on my finger. Jessie and Jensen clapped their hands and shouted, “Yeay!”
Then Jay stood up and hugged me so tightly that I had trouble breathing.
“J-jay, please loosen your hug. Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. It’s all so beautiful,” I said.
He released his embrace, looking into my eyes. “Thank you for giving me a chance, Piper. I promise I won’t let you and our kids get hurt. Let me give you the best.”
I nodded with a smile, but tears were in my eyes. “Thank you.”
He brought his finger to my lips, “Don’t thank me, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you for giving birth to my two kids, even though you had a choice. You could have aborted them, but instead of doing that, you stayed and brought them into the world safely. Thank you, Piper. I love you.”
Spontaneously and on impulse, I returned her hug and said, “I love you too.”
We hugged for quite a while as I wiped away the tears that had soaked my face and Jay’s clothes because I was crying in Jay’s arms.
“Stop crying, please. Remember, you still have me. Let’s face all this together. I’ll organize everything for us. Do you want to?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied softly.
“Mom, Dad, can we eat now? We’re hungry,” Jessie said. Jensen just stared at Jessie in silence.
“Oh, sorry. Let’s go back to our seats,” I invited the kids. To be honest, my face was red and embarrassed.
“I’ll get the server over here,” Jay said as he walked to the door and called for a server.
Not long after, a server arrived with a menu book. As we were looking through the menu, two servers came in with red wine, cheesecake, and assorted fruits. Jay must have planned all this. He must have known that I loved cheesecake and red wine, while Jensen loved assorted fruits.
“Wow,” Jensen said, looking at the assorted fruits in front of him.
“Please take some, Jensen. I prepared all this for you,” Jay said.
I saw the warm look in his eyes towards Jensen. I hoped Jensen could accept Jay’s presence well, as well as Jay’s.
“Thank you, uncle,” Jensen replied as he picked up his fork and prepared to take a bite of the strawberry that was tantalizing his taste buds.
“I guess I should straighten a few things out now. Jensen, please call me ‘dad’ and Jessie calls Piper’s mom. Do you understand?” Jay asked.
The same questions kept popping up in my mind. Was I dreaming? I had always dreamed of enjoying this moment of togetherness. Moments where we gathered and joked together. It’s just that I never dared to keep dreaming because I knew reality was not as beautiful as dreams.
Maybe this time we could gather, laugh and enjoy our time together as if the world and happiness belonged only to the four of us. However, I was afraid to face tomorrow, the day when we will return to reality. I was afraid that the smiles on our faces will disappear. And what I was more afraid of was losing them.
No! No! I wouldn’t let anything destroy the smiles on our faces and take the happiness from our hearts. I am strong and I can do it.
“Yes,” Jensen and Jessie answered together. Seeing them sitting side by side made me smile. Their similar faces with opposite natures made them complement each other.
“Try calling us mom and dad,” Jay asked.
“Mom,” Jessie said.
“Umm dad,” Jensen said. He seemed hesitant to call Jay’s dad. I guess he needs time.
Jensen is indeed a special boy. He’s very careful and doesn’t trust anyone easily. And he’s very protective of me. Maybe it’s because there are only three of us, and he’s the only male in the family, so he tries his best to protect us. His mature nature is commendable.
“Ok, thank you. I wanted to ask you a question, could I?” Jay said.
Jensen just nodded without answering.
“Do you still have doubts about me? You can express your doubts to me and I will try my best to convince you. How about that?” Jay asked.
“I just need time, Dad. I will be fine,” Jensen replied.
“Ok, I’ll give you time. Ah, it’s time to eat. Let’s eat and forget about everything else. I’m starving,” Jay said.
Long story short, after dinner was over, we walked together down the long hallway of the ship. The sea breeze was blowing quite hard, blowing our hair in all directions. Jay and I walked behind Jensen and Jessie. Suddenly, Jay took my hand as he looked at me and smiled, making me blush.
It was still too awkward to even hold hands when we already had children.
A few minutes later, Jay’s cell phone rang. He released his hand from me and picked up his cell phone. The look on his face instantly changed. I wondered who was calling him this late.
“Yes,” he said.
“Jay, you’re with her, right? Tell me! And you brought Jessie with you, too. I just went to her mom and took out all my frustrations on that old lady. You’re too much! It turns out you are cheating on me all along. I’m going to sue you both and take Jessie away with me,” Megan screamed.
Apparently, Megan was the one on the phone, and I heard even her screams. Oh no! She came to my apartment and yelled at Mom. That’s outrageous. Wasn’t it enough what she’s done to me and Mom over the years?
“Jay, she,” I said. Jay signaled me to be quiet and left Megan’s business to him.
“We can talk later when I get back to Valdirra, and I’ll warn you not to do anything to Piper’s mom. Do you understand?” Jay asked.