Page 121 of Escape

He’d been right.

Partially, anyway.

I’d met Josie years earlier, but it was undoubtedly that visit to the diner that put her back in my life in a permanent way.

As I stood in the house we shared now, waiting for her to come home from work, I thought back on how much things had changed in my life since that afternoon at Betty’s Diner.

Following what happened to her the night she’d gone out with her coworkers from the diner, I’d boldly made the claim that I was going to marry her. Josie had been arguably a bit more daring by quickly declaring she was ready for it whenever I was.

When I’d joked about the courthouse having already closed for the day, I had assumed her immediate response to them being open on Monday was simply her teasing me back.

But she proved me wrong when we woke up that following Monday.

“So, what time are we going to do it?” she asked.

“Do what?”

Her lips parted, and she sent a wounded look my way. “I thought you intended to make me your wife today.”

I’d stared at her in utter disbelief for several long moments. “Are you… are you sure you want this?”

She held up her left hand, showed me the engagement ring I’d slid on her finger following our weekend shopping trip to the jeweler and said, “Wasn’t accepting this enough of a confirmation of that?”

“Of course. I mean, I know you want to get married to me, but I didn’t realize you would be okay with a simple courthouse marriage. I thought you’d want a formal ceremony and reception.”

Josie shook her head. “I want you, Huck. All I care about is being with you, starting a life with you. Maybe that’s crazy. Maybe I should be taking time to get my life sorted, but I don’t see it that way. Being with you, starting a life with you, is getting my life sorted. It’s the only thing I don’t have any questions about. And honestly, we could always have a party later if we decide we want to do that. Right now, I’d be happy to call your mom and ask her if she’d meet us there, because I’d want her to be there for it. Beyond that, as long as you’re with me, I’m ready.”

Just like that, Josie was ready to be my wife.

My wife.

It had been three years—tomorrow was our anniversary—and I still hadn’t gotten used to how good it felt to call her that.

We’d gotten up that morning, called my mom, and asked her to meet us at the courthouse in thirty minutes. She didn’t hesitate.

Afterward, we went out for breakfast to celebrate.

And every morning since then, I’d been honored to have the privilege of calling her mine, giving her everything I promised would be hers when she became mine.

There was a lot that came along with that, but it mostly meant I was by her side.

I was by her side as she enrolled herself into an associate’s program to get the requirements met that she needed to become an obstetric sonographer.

And I was still there night after night as she studied and learned all she needed to know about the career she wanted.

And when she completed the program and sought out jobs in her field.

And when she received the call with her first official job offer.

And when we celebrated her first day at that job.

And when there were tough days at work.

And when we had our first anniversary.

And birthdays.

And holidays.