A Love Rekindled (The Game of Love #1) (15 page)

“
You
kept it?” she asked. “It's beautiful.”

She
wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight.

“
Does
this mean daddy can stay after my arm is better?” Lucas asked,
with a nervous look.

“
Yes,
daddy is going to stay,” Jessica answered.

“
Does
this mean I don't have to get up and go to another room each night?”
he whispered into her ear.

“
I
am not going one more night without you in our bed,” she
whispered, as she kissed his cheek.

“
I
love you,” he said.

“
I
love you too,” she replied.

Luke
picked Lucas up and Jessica hugged them both.

“
We
love you,” they said, as they each kissed his cheek.

Jessica

Jessica
and Luke decided on a small wedding, with close friends and immediate
family . They just wanted to be married to each other. Neither of
them wanted to wait long. They planned their special day for
Valentine's Day. It was a day for love, and she was so happy to be
marrying the love of her life.

Luke's
mom was there. Lucas loved having his grandma. They spent a lot of
time together, and she spoiled him every chance she could. Jessica's
friends from work were there, which included Luke's friend Linda. A
few of their high school friends came, as well. Renee told Jessica at
the last minute that she was bringing a friend. He planned to meet
her there. She refused to tell her who it was.

The
chapel was small and intimate, with very simple white decorations.
Jessica picked out a very pretty white dress that was knee length.
She had red roses in a small bouquet. Her sister Renee stood up with
her. She wore a cute little red dress. Luke and Lucas wore matching
black suits with red ties. Lucas stood up with Luke. The ceremony was
short, but very nice. Jessica wanted to kiss her husband so badly. As
soon as the minister announced they were man and wife, Jessica pulled
him to her and kissed him with so much love.

Since
the day she let him go, she had dreamt of what it would have been
like if they had stayed together. It was better than she had ever
imagined. She was going to make it up to him every day, for the rest
of their lives.

After
the ceremony, Renee hurried off. She walked back over with her date.
She introduced him as her friend Dillon. He congratulated the happy
couple on their wedding. Jessica thanked him and told him how nice it
was to meet him. Luke stood looking at him for a moment, before
thanking him as well. Jessica could feel a slight bit of tension from
Luke. She noticed that Dillon was a little older than Renee. Luke
looked at Dillon for another moment.

“
Where
do I know you from?” Luke asked.

Lucas
ran up to Renee and hugged her. He looked over at Dillon.

“
Officer
Jenkins, is that you?” Lucas asked. “You look different.”

Dillon
bent down next to Lucas.

“
Yes,
it's me. I look different in dress clothes, right?” he asked.
“I'm so glad you don't have to wear a cast anymore. Renee has
told me so much about you.”

“
Really,
she has?” Luke asked. “How long have you and Renee been
dating?”

“
We
have been friends for two months, dad,” Renee cut in, as she
stared sternly at Luke.

Jessica
pulled Luke away to say thank you to the rest of the guests for
coming.

“
What
is that about?” Luke asked. “Why has she not mentioned
that she is dating him?”

“
She's
a big girl. Leave her alone,” Jessica said. “I'll find
out more later.”

“
He
is much older than her,” he said.

“
I
will talk to her later,” she said. “I can't believe she
hasn't told me. We talk about everything.”

They
thanked all of their guests for coming. Everyone met at a nice
restaurant for dinner. They had a small wedding cake for dessert.
Jessica smiled as she looked around at her friends and family. The
day had turned out perfectly. She looked over at her sister. Renee
was laughing as she rubbed Dillon's arm. She seemed to be very happy.
Why hadn't she mentioned him before? He laughed back at Renee, as he
tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. Friends my ass, Jessica
thought. They were cute together.

The
next morning Jessica, Luke, Lucas, Renee, and Luke's mom left for
vacation. Lucas wanted to go to Florida and visit Disney World. When
Jessica had suggested a trip for her and Luke, he told her no. Their
first trip needed to be for all three of them, he insisted. He had
never been on a trip with his son. They could take a separate trip
once they got home.

Lucas
had never flown before and was excited. He sat by the window and
watched the ground disappear and the clouds pass by. Jessica liked
seeing him and his dad together as they looked out into the world.
She had not been able to take him on any extravagant trips. It was
just as exciting to her, that they were going to Disney. She had
always wanted to go there. When Lucas picked it for their first
family trip, she was thrilled.

They
spent seven days at the hotel. Jessica wasn't sure who had more fun.
The five of them had a great time. They visited all of the parks and
the downtown area. The video game place seemed to be Lucas and Luke's
favorite. They ran and played together, while Jessica, Renee, and his
mom had cake and coffee. Two of the nights, Luke's mom stayed at the
room with Lucas so the two adults could have some time alone. Renee
had her own room and did her own thing in the evenings. Jessica
thanked Luke for going to Disney. It ended up being the best vacation
she had ever taken.

Luke
bought Lucas everything he asked for. When Jessica mentioned it to
him, he told her once they went home, he would slow down. She
understood that he was excited and making up for time they had lost
together. It just seemed like Lucas went from struggling with her to
having everything with him. She didn't want him to think every day
would be that way. They were a family and would be forever. She knew
they needed to teach him well, and buying him everything his heart
desired, was not the way to do it. She needed to get used to deciding
things with Luke when it came to Lucas. For six years, she had made
all of the decisions. They would be raising him together, and she
knew they needed to work on it together.

Jessica
wanted Luke to start the club for kids when they got home. She knew
he was passionate about it. He had even talked about coaching
football at the high school. Jessica was excited about Luke being
back on the field. She knew it was a huge part of his life. Lucas had
shown an interest in football, and Luke promised him that he would
coach his team, if he wanted to play. He wanted to be sure his son
really wanted to play and wasn't interested in it, just because of
him. Luke said he would support anything Lucas wanted to do, no
matter what it was. He promised to attend every function he had.

They
were all getting used to living together and finding a comfortable
routine. Jessica really liked her job, so no matter how much Luke
wanted her to stay home, she continued to work. Luke helped her so
much around the house and with Lucas. She had so much more time to
spend with them. Renee had not been coming over as much. Jessica
wanted her sister to be happy. Luke had begun his plan for the club
he wanted to start for the kids. Jessica, Renee, and Lucas all wanted
to be a part of it. She was so proud of what he was doing. Their life
as a family was falling into place. Jessica was so happy. She had the
love of her life, and she would never let him go.

Lucas'
birthday was at the end of March. He had given them a birthday list.
Luke and Jessica laughed when they read it. He wanted a sister, a
remote control car, a baseball and mitt, and a video game. They had
planned a birthday party for him at their house. He wanted to spend
the day with his family and a couple of friends. They were just going
to have pizza, snacks, and cake. He was going to have two friends
stay overnight. They rented movies and had some games planned.
Jessica and Luke bought him some presents, but not too many. Luke's
mom was excited to shop for her grandson's birthday. He was going to
be seven. Renee brought Dillon to his party. Jessica and Luke had
seen them together a couple of times, and they were getting used to
him being around. It was hard for Jessica to not be protective over
her sister. It had been just the two of them and Lucas for over six
years. She wanted her sister to be happy and didn't want her to get
hurt.

They
all had dinner and cake. The kids watched a movie, while the adults
sat and talked. Dillon and Luke talked about football and what Luke
had planned for the club he was starting. Dillon told him that
everyone was talking about what a great thing he was doing for the
kids in the community and offered to help. The women talked about
Lucas and how big he was getting.

Lucas
ran up and asked if he could open his presents. Jessica had
butterflies in her stomach. She had a present for Lucas that Luke
didn't know about. Somehow she had been able to keep it a surprise.
She had not even confided in Rachel or Luke's mom about it. Lucas sat
with his friends and opened everything. He was happy with what they
all bought him. Jessica smiled and winked at Luke. He had wanted to
get him so much stuff, and she told him, he would be happy with what
they got him. Dillon and Renee gave him a set of police toys. Dillon
had been able to find some that looked pretty close to real. Lucas
was excited, because Dillon had only let him play with his cuffs
twice, and he wanted some of his own. Lucas thanked everyone for
their gifts and began ripping open the packaging on them.

“
Lucas,
you have another gift,” Jessica said. “Don't you see that
box over in the corner? Why don't you bring it over here?”

Lucas
was excited to see a huge, wrapped box, sitting in the corner. She
wasn't sure how he missed it. He picked it up and brought it to the
table.

“
It's
a big box,” he said, with a huge smile. “I wonder what's
in it.”

Jessica
hoped he would be excited. She tried to hide the smile on her face,
but she knew she couldn't. It made her nervous to watch him. What was
he going to say? What was Luke going to say? He had no idea what was
in the box.

Lucas
opened the huge box and pulled out some paper. He laughed when he saw
a slightly smaller box inside. He opened that one to find another
slightly smaller box. She looked and Luke as he shook his head and
laughed. Jessica knew she was better at it than they were. After a
few more, Lucas threw his hands in the air and looked at her.

“
Is
there really something in here?” he asked.

“
You
thought it was funny when you did it to me. I'm just better at it
than you guys were,” she laughed. “Yes, there is
something in there.”

Luke
helped him open the next couple. There were twelve boxes before they
got to the last one. It was the same box they had given her. It had a
ribbon on it. Luke's eyes connected with hers as she felt sweat on
her forehead. She could feel her hands shake, as she stood next to
them. He must have sensed her concern; because he pulled her to his
side and reached up to kiss her cheek.

“
You
and dad need to open the tiny one together,” she said, as she
looked into Luke's eyes.

Lucas
pulled the ribbon off and grabbed Luke's hand to open the tiny ring
box. They opened the top and Lucas pulled out a pin. Luke's eyes
widened as he looked at the pin. It said “I'm the big brother”
on it. Luke turned to her, jumped up, and put his arms around her. He
looked into her eyes as he hugged her. Lucas flew at them and wrapped
his arms around them both. Renee was out of her chair as she took the
pin from Lucas and gasped as she read it. She showed it to Luke's mom
who jumped from her chair to hug them. Every one of them had tears in
their eyes.

“
I'm
going to be the best big brother ever,” he shouted.