Chapter 34 Dreams Do Come True (Jamie's POV)

The guys waiting at the end of the driveway whisked us all into SUVs and drove us back into town quicker than it took us to here on the boat. When we walked into the diner hand in hand with the kids Mrs. Jean gave a holler and clap of joy. She rushed over and wrapped Marie in a motherly hug almost bouncing around in joy.
"I knew you'd find them. I've been praying for days. He couldn't make you go through Christmas without your babies." Mrs. Jean wiped the tears from her face and gave us all a big smile.
"Thank you Mrs. Jean that means a lot to us." She has no idea how much I meant those words. She was a stranger and took us in and treated us like family. She did what she could to help us find the kids, and helped me take care of Marie while she was in the motel by herself.
She kept Marie sane while we couldn't be there because we were searching. Marie would sit here for hours. Mrs. Jean gave me a nod of approval and pulled herself together. "Don't just stand there y'all go sit down and how bout I bring you two little bugs a chocolate milkshake. How's that sound?"
The kids gave her a quick "Yes Please" then followed her to watch the ice cream show. While Marie Elizabeth and I grabbed a table in the middle of the diner. Elizabeth gave us a quick rundown of what was going on back at the shack while the kids were away from the table.
The team Brandon had waiting was carrying Dewayne to Shreveport were he was to be held before he would be sent back to Tennessee to face charges of kidnapping, identity theft, and a whole slew of others. Dewayne would be behind bars for a very long time. It would never be long enough in my opinion.
The kids came back not long after that followed behind by Mrs. Jean that had two plates with cheeseburgers and tots already for them. They gave them both their thanks then dug into their food. Brandon made it into the diner when the kids were almost finished with their meal.
Brandon gave us a nod letting us know it was finished before he joined us at the table. When he sat down he looked at the kids empty plates and groaned. "Y'all didn't save me any? That's so mean! Ain't that right Jamie?" I just gave him a smile.
It was funny watching my big brother trying so hard to get Bree and Alex to like him. Alex, ever the outspoken one, let him know he was wrong. "Nope Mrs. Jean said these was our special cheeseburgers, but I'll ask her to make you one. She can only make them for special people and she likes me."
We all laughed at Alex's burn. Brandon gasped. "But I'm special. I brought your Momma to you. It's what I do. I work for a company that helps find people. My teams been looking for you two for months till we found you. Done that make me special? Dee's don't that make me special?"
Alex gave Brandon a serious look. "I guess so. Can I ask you a question?"
Brandon quickly replied, "Anything."
"What took y'all so long?" Alex asked him still all business.
Elizabeth lost it laughing so hard tears were coming down her face. She leaned over and gave Alex a hug. "Oh my God, I love this kid."
Brandon's face was flaming red. Bree gave Marie and I a quizzical look not getting what was so funny. I gave her a shrug as if I had no idea either, but I side I was cracking up. My brother's ego was taking a hit from a six year old.
Brandon told them he was sorry it took so long. He asked them about the places they'd stayed while with their dad. They told him all they could remember about the fifteen different places they'd stayed since they left his house the day they were supposed to come back.
They told us of the song they made up out of the names of the towns they'd stayed in. We listened to the constant moving they'd been doing for the last four months and how much they begged their father to take them home.
After an hour of listening to their story I wanted to get in my truck and drive back to Dewayne. Marie and Elizabeth had to excuse themselves to the bathroom were the kids wouldn't see how upset they were. They both were having a hard time keeping the tears from falling down their face.
When Marie disappeared behind the closed door Bree moved to the seat beside me. "Mr. Jamie can I tell you something and you not tell Momma?" I couldn't lie to her and I wouldn't. "It depends on what you tell me sweetheart, but I promise you can tell me anything and if I don't think your Momma needs to know then I won't tell her. How's that?"
Bree smiled. "Ok, well you know how Christmas is just in a few days right?"
Instant relief that this conversation wasn't going on the thousands of different dark places it could have gone. "Four days to be exact. What about it?"
"Well Daddy let us write our wish to Santa after Thanksgiving dinner and Alex and I agreed to share our wish that way it would come true. Every night since we made the same promise before bed. We promised Santa that if he could get together with all his magical friends and bring us back to our mom we would be good forever. We'd make sure she was taken care of first and try to be the person she taught us to be. Well he did his part. He brought y'all to us, so now it's my turn to keep up our promise and that's to make sure my mom's taken care of. That's where you come in. Do you love my momma?"
Bree gave me her Mommas hard stare. This little girl was so much like her Momma it made me love her more. "I love your Momma very much. Just as much as I love you and Alex too." Bree almost cracked a smile at my answer. The corner of her mouth wiggled trying to give in.
"I know. So when you gonna ask her to marry you?" It was my turn to be speechless at the bluntness from the kids. Before I could answer her Marie and Elizabeth came out of the bathroom. We all gathered our things getting ready to leave and head back to the motel. Mrs. Jean pulled out her old Polaroid from behind the counter and asked us for a picture before we left.
She was gonna tell everyone the good news and needed this as proof. We all huddled together and gave her our cheesiest smile. Marie asked to see it as soon as Mrs. Jean pulled it from the slot. She grabbed a pen and wrote a note of gratitude and love from all of us. She handed it back then asked the older woman for her address. She wanted to send her a special something when we got back for Christmas. The kids loved the idea and started giving their ideas of hints to send.
As soon as we made it back to the motel we all snuggled in the king size bed. I couldn't stop thinking about Bree's question. Marie was the other part of me and I couldn't be away from that part ever again. I wouldn't be able to survive without the three of them and I wasn't going to wait that long to make it official.
The next day we all woke early and headed back home. We broke the news about them coming to my house on the journey. When the kids found out they had their own rooms and they were already decorated they were pumped. Marie showed them pictures on her phone of the decorations we'd put up already.
Bree loved her teal walls and purple furry rug floor. Alex went crazy over the Cars stickers covering his walls. Bree asked what the rest of the house looked like and Marie showed her the other pictures she'd taken over the months.
Bree stopped at a picture of the living room and pointed toward the fireplace. "That's where we're going to put the Christmas tree! It's gonna be so pretty! We are gonna be able to put up a tree right Momma?"
I saw the panic start in Marie's eyes. We hadn't been home to decorate the house, and hadn't really had the time to think about presents. Before she could got too far gone in her panic I spoke up. "We sure can we'll go tomorrow and get a tree and decorate it. We didn't want to just put it anywhere. We were waiting on y'all to give us your expert opinion on the matter."
The rest of the ride was uneventful. All three fell asleep for a few hours not waking till we reached Tennessee. When the kids saw the front of the house the sleep quickly cleared from their minds. Their wonder was short lived before they were both tucked into their new beds for the night.
Marie was checking in on Bree when I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind and kissed her on the neck. I made sure to hit the spot I knew would drive her crazy. "C'mon baby. I'm taking you to bed." Marie spun around and ran for our bedroom with me hot on her heels.
The next day we went to a tree farm down the road from the house. Two days before Christmas the selection was almost gone. There were only six trees left. Two of them barely had anything on them anymore, one maybe only two foot tall, and the other one looked like it was missing the top.
The last two weren't very fluffy but Alex seemed to be fascinated with the one on the left. He turned to both of us. "This is our tree." We all agreed with him then I loaded the tree into the bed of my truck and took our tree home.
We sat it in the corner of the living room between the windows and fireplace. I grabbed the few boxes of lights and decorations from the attic and we spent the afternoon decorating the tree and house. The house was full of laughter and noise, something I always dreamed would happen one day.
My Ma came to the house yesterday and restocked the fridge and cabinets for me. It would be an absolute nightmare if we had to go shopping today being two days before Christmas. Thankfully Ma wasn't afraid of no stupid shopper as she said. It gave me reassurance she'd be ok to pick up a few secret items as well.
That night with the Christmas lights twinkling in the background we all passed out on the couch watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas. A perfect end to our first day home together.
Christmas Eve morning I woke up before everyone else. Alex was sprawled across my chest. Marie and Bree cuddled up along the other side of the couch. I picked Alex up and sat him back down before he woke up. I made as little noise as I tip-toed to the front door and headed out toward my truck.
I wanted to sneak over to Ma's before everyone woke up to pick up the supplies. The rage in my Ma's eyes when she opened the door almost made me turn away. When she noticed it was me she blew out a breath and closed her eyes.
"Thank God it's you. I was about to kill someone for waking me up at this ungodly hour. C'mon there in here."
"Were you able to get everything on the list?"
"Of course, who do you think you're talking to son?" My five foot nothing Ma thinks she's a badass but it's far from the truth, but a funny thing to imagine early in the morning. I followed her to the kitchen where the five boxes all wrapped and sitting on the table waiting for me.
I know it's eating Marie up that we won't have anything to give the kids tomorrow and hopefully this will cover that. I gave my Ma a kiss on the cheek and told her thanks. I put the smallest box in the inside pocket of my jacket and grabbed the rest. I put them in the floor of my truck then covered them with a blanket. Just in case someone came out to my truck.
I shit the door quietly as possible then looked back at my Ma. "Thanks again I owe you one. See you tomorrow?"
"You betcha! I wouldn't miss it for the world, and anytime baby. You don't even have to ask. That's what mothers are here for." I gave her a wave bye and got in the truck and headed home.
The lights were still out and the sun was starting to show its first rays of the day when I made it back. I quietly took the boxes to the safe in my closet and locked them in. I put the small box on the top shelf and stared at it. Such a small box to hold such big dreams.
I closed the safe then went into the kitchen to make breakfast for everyone. Marie and Bree were the first to come into the kitchen, but Alex wasn't that far behind them. We ate pancakes and bacon and made plans to go to our favorite lake this afternoon. Marie wanted to show the kids how pretty it is, and since we're in the south it's not that cold outside even though it's winter. We were gonna go try and catch the kids first fish.
Sadly the kids didn't even get a bite, but they didn't care. They had more fun playing with the worms in the bucket I brought with us. That night after we had what was fast becoming my new favorite time of the day, family dinner. We all curled up on the couch again to watch Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.
Alex lasted twenty minutes with Bree following shortly behind. I grabbed Bree while Marie told Alex and took them to their beds. I tucked Bree under her covers and made sure Eeyore was beside her. I backed out of the room and met Marie coming out of Alex's room.
I grabbed her hand and lead her thru the house to our room. As soon as I shit the door behind us Marie couldn't hold back. "What are we gonna do Jamie? I'm gonna break their hearts in the morning when they wake up and there aren't any presents under the tree. I have even given it any thought. How bad of a mother does that make me?"
I went up to her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. I walked her to the bed and motioned for her to take a seat. "Sit here baby I'll be right back." I went to the safe and pulled out the five boxes at the bottom. I closed the door back then went back to Marie.
As soon as she saw he boxes her eyes went round in question. "When we were driving back with the kids I text mom with a small list. I figured wouldn't be hard for her to get for the kids. Neither of us had the time or energy to put into anything other than finding he kids, and mom was the only person I could think that was close to help."
I sat the boxes by her on the bed then got on my knees in front of her to make sure she got my next point clear. "You are not a bad mother. You are the best mother. You'd do anything for your kids we both know that. So don't feel bad if you forget a little gift. I took care of it for you."
"I love you." Marie said before she grabbed the gifts. She left the room and came back quickly. I loved knowing I was the one that put that smile on her face. She was glowing like an Angel. "Oh Mr. Shaw your Christmas present just came early." My Angel with her wicked ways.
Thankfully Marie had the idea to get dressed when we finished the night before otherwise the kids would have needed therapy the next morning when they rushed into our bedroom.
"Santa came! Santa Came! Get up Momma, Mr. Jamie. Santa came!" Both kids screamed in unison. Marie sat up in the bed with a bright smile on her face. "Really Santa came?" Alex jumped into her lap and grabbed her by the face very seriously. "He came Momma come see." Marie's laugh brought a smile to my face on the already special day.
"Ok I'm coming. You coming Mr. Jamie?" Marie asked me as she got up from the bed.
"Yes Love, just let me go to the bathroom first." The kids both made a mad dash when they realized we were getting up finally. I made sure they were all in the living room before I opened the safe and put the box in my pocket of my sweats. I shut the door and hurried to the bathroom flushing the toilet to keep up pretenses.
When I walked into the living room there were a lot more presents than the five boxes Marie put under there the night before. There had to be forty different gifts wrapped under the tree all with Bree and Alex's name on them. The only thing I could think of was Ma and her spare key.
Marie gave me a questioning look over the kids head. I mouthed the word Ma to her and she shook her head believing it as well. For the next hour the kids opened ever gift you could imagine.
Dolls, clothes, cars, games, a hover board for each of them, cd, even an iTunes card for both of them. Ma doesn't know the meaning of the word overboard. The two gifts I got them from the both of us were hiding in the back making them the last to be opened.
"Those two are from Mr. Jamie and I. I hope you guys like them." Marie smiled at the kids.
Alex was easy with his Spider-Man action figure and Spider-Man suit of his own he was over the moon. It was his favorite thing to talk about while we were on the long drive home. Bree opened one and it was a new iPod Touch. She told us her dad had left hers at a trailer in Mississippi and wouldn't go back to get it once they left.
When she pulled the top off the second box there was a note on the top. She pulled it out and read it to herself. As soon as she finished she looked at me then searched the rest of the box. Bree pulled out a gold bracelet with her birthstone and diamonds in a design on the front. On the back I had Ma get it engraved with a message.
'To My Future Daughter I will always fight for you and protect you from this day forward Love Jamie'
Bree slid the bracelet on her wrist then jumped up from the floor and rushed over to give me a hug. "I would love that very much. Thank you. I love you too Jamie." Bree whispered in my ear answering the question I'd asked her in the note I'd put on top of the gift.
"I hope you like your gift sweetheart." I barely finished before she tightened her hold on me almost choking me out. "I love it!" Bree loosened her grip from around my neck then looked me in the eyes to ask me her most important question. "When?"
I know I should be use to their bluntness but I'm not. They always manage to throw me off guard. "Is now ok?" Bree started clapping in excitement then jumped back to her spot on the ground in front of her toys. Marie had been looking at us in curiosity the whole time. Once Bree was back seated Marie asked her what was on the note.
"It's a secret Momma if you wanna know you gotta ask Mr. Jamie." Absolute glee was plastered on her face.
Marie turned to me. "Can I know this secret Mr. Jamie?"
"Not a secret really I already promised you I would do it. I asked Bree if I could marry her Momma and she told me yes." I reached into my pocket and presented her with the small wrapped box. Marie took it from my hand with shaking fingers and opened he lid. She gasped at the first sight of the ring.
"Marie Long, I made you a promise I'd wait till I could ask the most important people in your life for permission before I asked you to marry me. Your beautiful kids both gave me their approval wholeheartedly. Your mini me actually beat me to it believe it or not. She wanted to know when we were getting married the day we got them back. You are the other half of my soul and the person who makes my heart warm. I wanna spend the rest of my life growing old with you by my side. Loving you, and watching our kids grow into adults. I promise to love you more with each new day that comes. Will you do me the greatest honor I could think of and become my wife?"
Marie had tears falling down her face rapidly, but the smile told me everything was ok. "I love you so much Jamie Shaw. Of course I'll marry you." Bree and Alex started jumping around and hollering in joy. I slipped the ring on her finger connecting it to the promise ring I'd already given her. The kissed the ring as it slid home on her finger sealing the deal.
Our first Christmas together and it couldn't have been more perfect. The life I'd always dreamed I'd have for myself finally came true and I couldn't wait for what came next in my new life with a New Year just right around the corner.

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Ahhhhhh that's the last chapter! Epilogue next then it's the end. (for now?) Thank you for reading my first book! Y'all have no idea how proud I am of this story, and can't imagine what I had to go through before I allowed myself to share this with the world. I just hope it you liked it and didn't get bored with the story line, and had a few laughs along the way. Now on to the finally and the end of Marie's journey!
Thanks everyone who took the time to read this story all the way! Y'all are rock stars in my opinion!
Callie

© 2018 Copyright by Callie Sumner. All rights reserved.