| Finally. Our captain announced that we would be landing soon, I was so happy I was almost jumping out of my skin. I had a stern conversation with myself. Calm down and breathe, Jess. You won't see him for a while yet. He's still working. Hang in there, not much longer, now. "You alright, Jess?" Jake asked as we stood to disemabark the plane. I nodded. "Just glad to be here.." He smiled, squeezed my shoulder and stepped aside to let me out in front of him. I reached to take my bag, but he insisted on carrying it for me. I was suddenly tired as I walked out the door of the plane and down the ramp that would take me inside the airport, Jacob close behind me. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going or what I was doing, because I knew Jake would take control and guide me where needed to be. He always did. I walked along, looking at my feet and thinking to myself. Suddenly Jacob stopped and I looked up at him. He smiled at me and looked over he top of my head. I turned to see what he was looking at and caught my breath. Taylor was standing a few feet away, wearing white linen drawstring pants, a tight grey tank top and a pair of sandals. He had the jacket that matched his pants folded over one arm and a boquet of multi-colored flowers in the other hand. He also had that beautiful blinding smile on his face and his blue eyes drew me to him like a magnet. "Tay?" I breathed. Jake gave me a gentle shove in his direction. Suddenly I couldn't get into his arms fast enough. I started in his direction and my feet moved faster. He set his jacket down on the chair nearest him and started toward me. He held out his arms to me and I jumped into them wrapping my arms around his neck and covering his face with kisses. He held me to him and his mouth found mine. His lips met mine in a passionate kiss, tongues entwined and searching. My head felt light and I could hear the blood rushing noisily in my veins. I felt his strong warm arms around me and felt complete. My hands automatically buried themselves in is hair as I kissed him deeply enough to show him how much I had really missed him. Our mouths finally, reluctantly, separated as he laid a hand on my cheek. "Hi baby." he said softly, smiling down at me. "Hi...what are you doing here? I thought you would be busy until later." |
| "I changed my plans..I missed you, Jess. And I wanted to surprise you." He handed me the boquet of flowers. "Thank you baby. They're beautiful." I took them and laid them across my arm. "Hey, Tay. How's it going?" Jake suddenly appeared. "Hey man." Taylor reached out and shook hands with my brother. Jake gave him a hearty slap on the back. "I think you suceeded in surprising her more than once today." Taylor grinned and took my hand. We went together to get our luggage then loaded it into Taylor's truck. Taylor took us to our hotel and Jake checked us in as Taylor had the hotel attendants take the luggage up. We settled our things and then Taylor cleared his throat. "I am under strict orders from a certain woman to make sure you DO NOT under ANY circumstances eat dinner in another restaurant." he grinned at me. "Call your mother and tell her we'll be there." I giggled. "You will love her, Jakey. She can cook. You'll get along great if you can hear what she's saying above the noise." "I can't remember what a home cooked meal tastes like." Jake grinned. "Sounds good to me." "I don't need to call her, Jess. She's expecting us. I was told not to take no for an answer." Taylor said. I giggled again. "Just let me change my shirt.." I went in and did that quickly. Jake and Tay were talking, relaxed, and joking around. I smiled to myself and announced. "Okay guys. I'm ready." |
| Dinner at the Hanson's turned into an event. Diana turned and hugged me tightly to her as soon as she saw me. "Welcome to the family.." she whispered in my ear. Out loud she said, "Congratultions! I am so happy for you both." The she turned to Jake and I introduced them. They hit it off immediately and so did Jake and Walker. I figured that they would. Jake was really good with the little kids and of course Jessica tackled me as soon as she saw me. I hugged her back and thanked her for her warm welcome and congatulations. She made a point to tell me how hard she'd been practicing, wanting to show me immediately. "Hey, hey, hey...I believe you kiddo! But your Mom has dinner just about ready and I just got here..we'll work for a while tomorrow, ok?" I hugged her so I wouldn't disappoint her. "We'll get big Jake here to come take a look at what you're learning too..bet he can make some suggestions.." "Really?" she looked with big round puppy eyes at Jake. "Now how can I refuse that face?" he grinned and ruffled her hair the way he always did mine. I smiled at Jake over her head and he winked at me. Dinner was fabulous and Jake and I both helped Diana clean up after, as did Taylor. Once that was done we went to sit on the deck, it being a beautiful and warm evening. The kids played until it was almost dark, Zac teasing them and me rushing to their defense, to the amusement of all the little ones. "Zac stop! Or well tell Jess..." they'd giggle. |
| "Oooh..I'm so SCARED.." he 'd tease back and chase them around the yard. If Watts could see this she'd burst a lung laughing, I thought. Tay sat next to me, holding my hand, most of the evening. I yawned and excused myself. "I must be more tired than I realized." I explained. "Of course you are, Jess. You had a busy weekend." Diana said. "I'll drive you guys back.." Tay offered quickly. Jake and I stood and thanked Diana for dinner and I gave my round of hugs to the little kids and Lacey. lacey had been more quiet than usual and I took her aside. "Lace, what's up girlfriend? You aren't yourself.." I asked. "Just wedding stuff..." she said. "That's not all, Lacey...you call me first thing and we'll get it figured out, okay?" I hugged her. "Okay, Jess. I really need your help." "You bet, soon as Ike is at work...Tay will be too..we'll get it taken care of. I promise." She sighed as if relieved. We got into Taylor's truck and headed back to the hotel. I laid my head on Tay's shoulder and was asleep before we got there. |
| TAYLOR: I had to hurry and get myself showered and dressed, I was meeting Jess at the airport, but she didn't know it. I wanted to surprise her. I called Jake first thing to tell him and make sure he knew that I would be there to pick them up. Otherwise he'd have it all taken care of and I'd miss them, but for a change she was up already by he time I called Jake. I was going to call her on her own phone and wake her but she came in as I was on the phone with Jake. I think I covered well enough, though, considering she was still too tired to argue. I knew how she felt. It had only been two days, but I missed her terribly. I groaned at the thought of being away when we had to go on the road. I would take her with me as much as I could. The rest of the tim jake would keep her busy and remind her to eat. I hated the thought of her being alone. I was finished with my shower and getting dressed when there was a tap on my door. "Hang on a sec.." I tied the string on my pants and opened my bedroom door. "Hi Mom." I stepped aside to let her in. "Hi honey. You about ready to go get Jessie?" she asked. I grinned. "Yeah mom, she'll be getting in soon...why?" I asked. "Because they are probably exhausted and tired as you are of eating in restaurants or room service. I want you to bring them here for dinner Tay. There's plently and I won't take no for an answer." she stated. |