Chapter 11

Bryson

I knowJory was intimidated having Manny, Loki, and Kaya look over her scars and discuss the various options, but she calmed down rather quickly after her initial meltdown. They’re going to email her the drawings so she can approve them, then set up a date to start. Right now, I’m glad I work two days on, three days off, so I can be there for her.

“This is exciting but also nerve wracking, you know?” she asks. “For so long, I’ve had to look at this and I know, I know what it means that I’ve got the scars. It means I survived, and I get that, Bryson, I really do. But to know that those three are going to be able to make something beautiful out of something so ugly? It’s beyond anything I could’ve anticipated or expected.”

Squeezing her hand, I briefly glance at her and see she’s positively glowing right now at what’s to come. Someday, I hope I’m the reason she has that bright look on her face. “It’s definitely exciting, sweetheart. So, since you were so brave, what do you say about going to see if any dogs have come in who need a home that has chickens?”

“Sounds like a great idea to me. Then you can meet Mr. Whiskers and Cheeto,” she replies, giggling.

“I foresee a trip to the pet supply store sooner rather than later,” I muse, making her laugh even harder.

“At least I started a list,” she teases. “Oh, and we had some donations come in, so every person who adopts gets a bag of food, a new bed, a leash, and a collar if it’s a dog, and a carrier if it’s a cat.”

I grin, then say, “May or may not have told my fellow firefighters that the shelter could use some donations.”

“Well, they’re definitely appreciated,” she says as we pull into the parking lot of the shelter. “I wish the town would approve the budget for a new facility. This one is so rundown. The cats are always stressed out because of the barking dogs, and if they’d approve it, we could have separated areas, plus have a mini clinic that would allow us to start doing low-cost spays and neuters. We could also do basic vaccine shots, and even have an area on both sides where we allow prospective adopters to spend time with the animal they’ve chosen to make sure they mesh before heading to their forever home.”

After shutting off the truck, I get out and round the front to help her out, then take her hand in mine. “It sounds like you’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”

“Yeah, it helps me sometimes when I can’t sleep. I think of how I’d change things to make them better for the animals. We need more volunteers, too, but hopefully, they’ll come with time.”

“Got no issue volunteering my time, Jory. Hell, with me having a barn, I can definitely take some of the cats who are feral too. They can chase away the unwanted critters.”

“They’re mostly that way because they haven’t been socialized all that much. But I suspect hanging around your farm, that’ll change pretty quickly. As long as we can give them shots every year, and they’ve got a warm place when it gets cold, they’d be much better off than living in a cage like they are now,” she says.

“Sounds like we’ll be leaving with something today at least,” I tease.

“Let’s look at the dogs first,” she replies. “They’re over here. Then we can see what barn kitties are available, and I’ll introduce you to Mr. Whiskers and Cheeto.”

“Lead the way, sweetheart.”

* * *

An hour later, we’re leaving with a Great Pyrenees puppy who, according to the shelter worker, is great with chickens and other livestock, as well as two barn cats. Once I have us all in the truck with the cat carriers secured in the backseat with the seatbelts, and the dog hanging her head out of the window, I look at Jory and burst out laughing.

“What’s so funny?” she asks, looking over the seat at the animals I adopted.

“It’s a good thing my grandfather used to have barn cats because there’s still a shelter in the hayloft for them. Once we drop all of them off, we’re heading to the pet supply store so I can get a crate for the puppy, food for all of them, and bowls of course.”

“Even though they’re barn cats, I think you should still get them a cat tree. It’ll help socialize them more. And you know I’ll come over on the days you’re on shift and take care of Peaches for you.”

“Not worried about that at all, sweetheart. I just think it’s funny that since we started dating, I’ve gained three more animals, and I suspect there are more in my future.”

Her laughter joins mine and it’s a bit before we’ve calmed enough to leave. “Should I stay with Peaches while you go get the crate? Or maybe we should stop on the way to your house, and I can stay in the truck? Because she’s still a puppy, so she can’t be allowed to roam free. Not until she’s out of the chewing stage and has been potty trained. That’s pretty easy by the way, although you might need to consider one of those collars that will activate a dog door.”

I consider that for a moment before agreeing. “Yeah, I think stopping on the way back is the way to go, as long as you don’t mind waiting for me while I gather the things they’ll need.”

“If you go to their website, they can likely pull your order and have it ready and waiting when we arrive,” she suggests.

“Good plan.” I grab my phone and pull up the store’s website, find out they do have curbside pickup, so between the two of us, we quickly fill up my cart. After I put in my credit card and submit my order, I look at her and say, “Let’s run through a drive-thru and grab a shake.”

“Sounds like a great idea to me,” she replies, grinning at me.

She’s so damn cute, I can’t help but lean over and kiss her. When I finally pull back, she asks, “What was that for, Bryson?”

“Because I wanted to, sweetheart. I don’t want to sound cheesy but ever since we began dating, you’ve brought a lot of joy into my life. I know it hasn’t been very long, but I honestly can’t remember what life was like before you came into it.”

“It doesn’t sound cheesy at all,” she whispers, her penetrating gaze never leaving mine. “I feel the same way and find myself wondering if all of this is a dream. Because if it is, I don’t want to wake up, you know?”

“It’s not a dream, Jory. It’s us, both of us, rising from the ashes of our former selves.”

* * *

Several hours later, with only one small accident by Peaches, we’re sitting on my back deck, watching her nose around the back yard, familiarizing herself with her surroundings. The barn kitties, Max and Benny, are all set up and the last time we checked on them, they were exploring the cat tree that Jory convinced me to buy and put together for their enjoyment. Even though it’s late, I don’t want the day to end, but I’m unsure how to broach the subject.

It’s not about sex, although I spend far too much time in the shower thinking of that very thing. It’s about building that level of intimacy that surpasses physical attraction. I just want to hold her while she sleeps. I’m sure if my buddies could hear my thoughts, they’d think I got one too many hits of smoke or something, but it’s the truth. Everything I’ve ever wanted is right here, with me, on this porch. The only thing missing are the sounds of kids laughing as they chase fireflies beneath the luminous moon.

“Jory…” I begin to say when she starts to talk at the same time. “You first.”

Bashfully, she peers up at me from beneath her lashes and poses the question. “Um, I was just going to say I’m so relaxed and we’ve had a few drinks. Can I… can I stay here? I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Great minds think alike, baby, because I was just going to suggest the same thing. But you’re not sleeping on the couch. There’s plenty of room in my bed and nothing’s going to happen until you give me the word you’re ready for more than holding each other.”

Even in the dimming light, I can see her cheeks turn pink, so I take her hand in mine. “I mean it, Jory. Yes, I want you, but I’m a grown ass adult and can control myself.”

“I trust you,” she replies. Her voice is soft but no longer as hesitant as it was before.

Winking at her, I propose, “Then let me take you up to my room and get you a clean toothbrush as well as one of my t-shirts to sleep in, then I’ll come down and lock up the house.”

“I’ll help, you don’t need to do double duty, honey.” Her caring words hit me square in the chest and I feel my heart leap.

Yeah, she was meant for me.

Her endearment has me squeezing her hand; before I help her up and walk us into the house. Once I make sure Peaches has followed behind us, I close and lock the door while still holding her hand, then walk to the front door and make sure it’s locked as well. I decided since we’re doing this, we’re doing it as a team. With the light on over the stove that I use as a nightlight, we head upstairs where Peaches begrudgingly goes into her crate, along with a bone. I dig out a new toothbrush, find one of my t-shirts and give it to Jory, before leaving her in the bathroom to get ready for bed.

Thankfully, all my time off means the sheets on my bed have been recently replaced with clean ones, and the overflowing hamper is now under control once again. Once Jory emerges, her blush evident, I take my sleep pants that I seldom wear and head into the bathroom to get myself ready for bed. I grin seeing her clothes neatly folded at the end of the counter before finishing up and heading back into the bedroom.

The moonlight coming through the sheer curtains illuminates her, curled up on her side. When I’m off, I typically use the blackout blinds the first night home, but after that, I don’t. Sliding into the bed until we’re face-to-face, I cup her jaw and lean in to softly kiss her.

“Someday, we’ll be in this bed together for an entirely different reason. We’ll talk about our days, you’ll tell me what’s on the calendar for our kids, and we’ll plan what we’re going to do for our vacation. Right now, it’s too soon, so we’re going to sleep, because I do want you in my arms and not because I’m carrying you out of a fire. Like I said, it’s too soon, but I have to say, I like seeing you right where you are, sweetheart.”

“Bryson, what are you saying? I want to make sure I’m not misunderstanding what you’ve said,” she whispers.

“I’m saying that sometime in the future, I’ll get down on one knee, ask you to marry me, you’ll say yes, then we’ll plan a wedding while preparing for a marriage,” I reply. “But not today, Jory. Today, I want you to get comfortable so we can sleep, because we have a lot of things to look forward to and we’re going to need our rest.”

Her light giggle makes me chuckle as I pull her into my arms and place a kiss on her forehead. “Good night, Bryson,” she murmurs against my throat.

“Good night, baby,” I reply.