Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
I ran my hand over my neck, then looked up to see Mr. Scott walking through the doors with Chris. They were carrying more decorations. Chris tapped me on the back as he passed. My stomach fell as I looked to my best friend.
When June and I had told him our palliative status, he was devastated. I hated seeing him this way, so defeated, so I broke the tension by saying, “Hell, you chose the wrong team, Chris. Out of the four of us, you’re the only one who’s making it out alive. Chemo Club for one!” Chris couldn’t help but laugh and it had been the lightness we’d needed to break through the heavy sadness.
Mr. Scott stood in front of me. “You ready, son?”
“Yes, sir,” I said, with 100 percent conviction. Mr. Scott put his hand on my shoulder, and I remembered when I’d crossed the yard from the ranch to the parent’s quarters a few days ago.
“Jesse?” Mr. Scott said as he found me at his door. “Is June okay?” His face had gone ashen.
“Yes, sir,” I said, fighting back my nerves. “I’ve come to ask you something.”
I knew I caught him off guard, as he blinked at me in surprise. I’d gotten to know Mr. Scott well through watching football together. He was a good man and a good dad to June. He’d turned into someone I could lean on too and, not having a father around, that meant everything to me. I was pretty sure this visit would go okay, but now that I was standing here, it didn’t matter that I only had weeks to live—I was the same as any man asking for their daughter’s hand.
I walked into their suite and sat down. My legs ached just from the walk over from the ranch house. I was breathless and had broken out into a pretty good sweat. Mr. Scott placed a glass of water before me.
“Take your time, son,” he said, and sat beside me.
I took several sips of water, then, looking Mr. Scott straight in the eye, said, “Can I please have your permission to marry June?”
Mr. Scott’s eyebrows rose in shock, then he glanced away. My heart slammed against my ribs. I couldn’t get a read on what he was going to say. Then he faced me again, his eyes glassy. “I never thought I’d get a chance to walk my daughter down the aisle.”
His answer made my heart ache.
He leaned toward me. “Jesse, you have my permission. Of course you do, son. You have made my daughter happier than I ever thought she could be.”
I fought to swallow the lump in my throat.
“I wish this were happening differently for y’all. I wish you were asking me and you’d go on to have your forever.”
“We will,” I said, recalling my talk with Pastor Noel. “Our forever is there; it just looks a little different to most people’s.”
Mr. Scott turned away as he choked on a sob, then took a few deep breaths. Facing me again, he said, “It would be my honor to have you as a son-in-law, Jesse. And thank you for the gift you’re given me of walking my baby down the aisle. I’ve dreamed of that moment since the day she was born.”
I gave a nervous laugh. “She has to say yes first, sir.”
“It’s gonna be a yes, son. My baby loves you more than I’ve ever seen her love anyone before.”
“You look smart,” Mr. Scott said just as my mom and Mrs. Scott turned on the twinkle lights. It was sunset, and the orange glow of the Texas sun was shining its beams through the rec room’s windows. With the strings lights everywhere inside, it looked incredible.
“June is on her way back,” Neenee said, coming into the room.
I took a deep breath. Mr. Scott gave me a hug. Mrs. Scott followed suit. Then, my mom was last. “I’m so happy for you, baby. You both deserve this and more.” Mom had been given time off work to come here for my final weeks. And in the typical fashion of coming from a small town, the close-knit community had raised enough money for her to be here, so she wouldn’t struggle financially being here and so she could take time away from work…afterwards.
I’d never loved my hometown more. People often couldn’t wait to leave their rural hometowns for the bright lights of a big city. But June and I agreed that, if we’d gotten to live our happily ever after, we would have eventually settled in a town full of people who knew our names, who greeted us each day with happy faces.
I moved into the center of the room. I wore a linen button-down and cargo shorts. I’d lost so much weight now that they hung off my frame, but June wouldn’t mind. She just loved me, not how I looked. And of course, I had to wear my baseball cap. It was my lucky charm.