Tennessee Whiskey

Chapter 10-Evan

Chapter 10

Evan

After texting with Mary, I move to the living room and am just sitting and thinking. I pull out my laptop and start looking at furniture for a little girl’s room. “What are you looking at?” Jane asks. “Sit with me. I need to talk to you about something.” I tell her and she sits on the couch next to me. “You know I’m planning to marry Mary.” I say and she nods. “Well, Logan and Lori brought a little girl to her and asked her to be the guardian.” I tell her. “Wow. How do you feel about that?” she asks. “I’m good with it. I want a big family with her, and I told her that we would get married and that we would both adopt Mia.” I tell her and she smiles. “Well, tell me what happened.” She says. “Well, apparently Logan and Lori called her in the middle of the night to see if she could take Mia. She’s three. Her mother was murdered by her father, but Logan got him to sign over his rights and we are planning to adopt her, but Mary is her legal guardian right now.” I tell her. “And you’re looking at what you need for Mia’s room?” she asks, and I nod. “She has a princess bed that she wants to bring with her, but I want to get her some toys and things.” I tell her. “How about you and I go in the next couple of days, and I help you pick out some things?” she asks. “That would be amazing. Thank you, Jane. Will you be her grandma?” he asks. “If Mary is okay with it, I would love to be.” She tells me and we hug.

The next day, I’m in my office and Logan walks in. “Hey. You wanted to see me?” he asks. “Yeah. Tell me about Mia’s father.” I say. “His name is Malcom Joseph. Murdered his wife in front of Mia. Apparently, the neighbors had been calling the cops out there for a while but when they heard his wife screaming, they called and when the cops showed up, he was sitting on the couch, covered in blood and Mia was in the closet. He’d been abusing her for a long time. Told me that he wanted his wife to abort Mia and didn’t want her anyway.” He tells me. That pisses me off. “I’m going to recuse myself from his case.” I tell him. “You are?” he asks. “Conflict of interest. I’m going to be raising Mia with Mary. Adopting her.” I tell him. “Well, s**t. Congrats brother.” He tells me with a smile. “Thanks man. s**t. I’m a dad.” I tell him and we both start laughing.

I walk into the courtroom, and we get the day started. When Malcom comes in front of me, the clerk starts reading his charges and I stop her. “I am recusing myself from seeing Mr. Joseph’s case based on the grounds of conflict of interest.” I say and she looks at me confused but doesn’t question it. She makes a note to send it to another judge. The bailiff takes him back to his cell and we go on with the cases to be seen. After court is completed for the day, I go to the cell where he’s being held. “You’re that judge that refused my case.” He says. “I am. I had to recuse myself, but I wanted to have a word with you.” I tell him. “Why?” he asks. “Because I wanted to you to face the man that will be raising your daughter.” I tell him. “You?” he asks. “Yeah. My fiancé and I will be raising Mia. We are the ones that she will call mommy and daddy. But I have one question.” I say and he just looks at me. “How could you not want your daughter?” I ask. “I never wanted to be a dad. Didn’t want to get married but the b***h trapped me. I told her I would pay child support, and she could raise her on her own, but she wouldn’t have it. Had to get married. Some s**t about her late parents wouldn’t have wanted her to have a child out of wedlock or some shit.” He tells me. “Well, from here out, she won’t remember that you exist. She belongs to me and my fiancé now and she’s going to be treated like the princess that she is.” I tell him before walking away.

That afternoon, I head to the mission to pick up my girls. I have a special surprise for Mary. I walk into the mission and head to Mary’s dorm. I stand outside the door and listen. “When will daddy be here?” Mia asks. “Soon baby but we need to get your shoes on so we’re ready when he gets here.” She tells Mia and I can’t help but smile. “I wanna give him my picture, Mommy. Do you think he will like it?” she asks. “I’m sure he’ll love it baby.” Mary tells her and I step into the room. “Hey ladies.” I say. “Daddy!” Mia says before jumping up and running to me with only one shoe on. “Hey baby girl. You being good for mommy?” I ask and she nods her head yes. “Hey baby.” I say as she walks over, and I kiss her softly. “Let’s get your other shoe on and your jacket and we can go.” Mary tells her. “I’ll get her car seat and get it in the car.” I tell her and grab the car seat. I head outside and get the car seat buckled in and see Mary bringing Mia out, holding her hand. “Ready to go?” I ask. “We go eat?” Mia asks. “Yes baby. Let’s get in.” Mary says and I pick her up and put her in her seat and buckle her in while Mary gets into the passenger seat.

We ride to the diner and once we’re inside, Mary says “Can you take her to the booth? I need to use the restroom.” I nod and kiss her softly before carrying Mia to the booth. “Wanna help me surprise mommy?” I ask. She nods her head yes and I pull out the ring. I show it to Mia and say “I’m going to ask mommy to marry me. You want to help me asks?” I ask and she nods her head yes, smiling. I hand her the note I wrote and say “When mommy sits down, hand her this note. I’ll do the rest.” I say and Mia bounces up and down before taking the note from me.

Mary comes back to the table and Mia taps her on the arm. “What is it baby?” Mary asks. Mia hands her the note and she opens it to read it. You are the most amazing woman I have ever met. Will you marry me? She looks up at me, shocked, and I’m holding the ring out to her. “Be my wife.” I say and she nods her head yes. I slip the ring onto her finger before standing up and pulling her up to kiss her and hold her close. “I wanna hug.” Mia says and we break the kiss, laughing. I pick her up and pull her over to my side of the booth while we sit back down. The waitress comes over, seeing what happened and says “Congrats guys. Desert tonight is on us.” She tells us before taking our orders and when she walks away, we start talking about getting married.

Once we eat, we head back to the mission. We walk into the dorm and Mia is sleeping on my shoulder. I move to put her into her bed and Mary starts removing her shoes. I cover her up and move to sit on the bed beside Mary. We move against the headboard and watch Mia sleep. Mary puts her head on my shoulder, and we talk softly. “Jane and I were talking about going here in a couple of days to get some things for Mia’s room at the house.” I tell her. “Maybe we can make a day of it. Get her some things and then…maybe…we could move in?” she asks. “Yeah baby. We can do that.” I tell her before kissing the top of her head. “Maybe we can get a justice to come out and marry us?” she asks. “We can do that. I have a friend that can come to the house to do it. Maybe have our family there. They can all meet Mia. Do you want to get a wedding dress?” I ask. “No. I do want to get something nice for me and Mia to wear.” She tells me. I reach for my wallet on the nightstand and take out the card I had set up to my account. “Evan…” she starts. “You’re going to be my wife. It’s your money too. Get what you and our little girl needs.” I tell her. She nods and says, “I love you.” I smile and say, “I love you too.”

We talk a little longer before I head home. When I get home, I make a couple of calls. The first is to Logan. “Hey brother. What’s up?” Logan asks. “Hey man. I need a favor.” I tell him. “What’s that?” he asks. “I proposed to Mary tonight.” I tell him. “f**k. Congrats man. I take it that means you met Mia?” he asks. “I did. She’s an amazing kid. I can get the marriage license and a justice, but can you draw up the adoption papers for us?” I ask. “Oh yeah. I got you. I’ll have Lori and Izzy to head over tomorrow to help her plan. You set a date yet?” he asks. “Not yet. We’re going to talk about that more tomorrow.” I tell him. “Good. I’ll get the papers together and bring them to you tomorrow evening.” He tells me before we end the call. I send a text to Mary.

One week.

Until what?

Until I marry you. You have one week

to get dresses for you and Mia. Izzy

and Lori will be coming by tomorrow to

help plan. Get whatever you want.

Saturday at 3pm you become my wife.

One week. That works for

me. I love you.

I love you.

I call an old colleague of mine, Randall Hart. “Evan. Long time no talk man. How have you been?” he asks as he answers the call. “I’ve been good man. Really good. Look, I know it’s late, but I need a favor.” I tell him. “Okay. What can I do for you?” he asks. “I need you to be at my house Saturday at 3pm.” I tell him. “And what’s happening then?” he asks. “I’m getting married, and I want you to officiate it but there’s also something I need you to sign off on for me. Adoption papers.” I tell him. “Wow. Okay. Congratulations man.” He says. “Thanks man. So would you be able to help me out?” I ask. “Of course. So, tell me about your bride and why you need me to sign off on adoption papers.” He says. “Man, Mary is amazing. She’s only eighteen but she’s so much more mature than most girls her age. I met her through the mission. She’s there getting help getting on her feet and we hit it off. Randall, I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.” I tell him. “That’s great Evan. I’m really happy for you. Now, tell me about the adoption papers.” He tells me. “Logan is getting the papers drawn up for us. Logan and his wife were called to the hospital to pick up a three-year-old little girl named Mia. Her father has been charged with murdering her mother. Logan got him to sign over his rights to her and there’s no other family to take her, so Mary did, and we want to adopt her once we’re married. Mary is already her guardian.” I tell him. “Wait, I think I’m seeing that case. Malcolm Joseph?” he asks. “Yeah. I had to recuse myself from that case because of Mary having custody of his daughter Mia. The one we’re adopting.” I tell him. “Okay. I can do that.” He tells me. “I owe you man.” I tell him. “No, you don’t. Consider this your wedding gift from me.” He tells me and I laugh at his cheap ass.

After getting off the phone, I walk into the kitchen for a drink and Jane is there. “How’d dinner go?” she asks. “It went great. Mia helped me propose to Mary and she said yes so, we’re getting married on Saturday and we’re adopting Mia.” I tell her. “That’s great news. I’ll start planning out the food and get a cake together for the wedding.” She tells me. “It’s just going to be family.” I tell her. “Your bride still needs a wedding cake.” She tells me. “How about Mia and I have a slumber party for the night while you and Mary have your wedding night.” She tells me. “That would be great. Let me talk to Mary about it though. She’s not let Mia out of her sight since she got her.” I tell her. “So, she’s a good mom already.” She says and I smile and say “She is, and Mia has taken to her really well. Me too. Already calling us mommy and daddy.” I tell her. “That’s great and she’s young enough that she won’t remember all the stuff she’s been through. All she will really remember is being your child.” She tells me. “I know. And I’m grateful for that.” I tell her.

The next morning, I get up and see a text on my phone.

Good morning daddy.

And there’s a picture of Mary and Mia, smiling. I immediately save the picture to my phone and make it my background.

Good morning. How are my

girls this morning?

We’re good. Going to do a little

shopping. Are you sure it’s

okay to use your card?

That card has your name on it. Get

whatever you two want and need.

Don’t stress about it baby.

We’re heading out. Mia sent a gift for you

with Logan. He’s on his way to your office.

I get to my office and Logan is waiting there for me. “Hey man. How’s it going?” he asks. “Things could not be better, but I hear you have something for me from my little girl?” I ask and he smirks. “Your little girl? Congrats man.” He tells me. He hands me a small gift bag and I open it and see a frame in there. In the frame is a picture of Mary and Mia blowing me kisses and I can’t help but smile more. “Well, let me see.” He says. I hand him the frame and he smiles. “s**t man. You’ve got a family.” He says. “That I do. And on Saturday we’re getting married. Randall is going to officiate, so we need you all there. Kids and all.” I tell him. We talk for a few more minutes before he heads out to his office, and I call my girls.

Mary answers on the second ring. “Hey honey.” She says and I smile wide. “Hey baby. You girls having fun?” I ask. “We are. We got Mia’s dress and now we’re looking for one for me.” She tells me. “Speaking of our daughter, can I speak to her?” I ask. “Hold on. Mia, daddy wants to talk to you.” She says before handing the phone to Mia. “Hi Daddy.” She says. “Hey Princess. Uncle Logan gave me your gift. Did you and Mommy make it for me?” I ask. “We did. Do you like it?” she asks. “I love it. It’s sitting on my desk where I can look at you guys all day long. Thank you baby.” I tell her. “You’re welcome, Daddy. Love you.” She says and I freeze. “Love you too Princess.” I tell her and she hands the phone back to Mary. “You good Daddy?” she asks. “Hell yeah. s**t. I f*****g love you both so much.” I tell her. She laughs and says “We love you too Daddy. I was thinking, what would you say to us staying at the house tonight?” I sigh and say “I would love that. I need to get her a bed brought to the house.” I say. She laughs and says “We’ve already had it set up to be delivered. I called Jane and she’s going to have it set up for us. Is that okay?” she asks. “That’s perfect baby. It’s your house too. Get whatever you and our Princess needs.” I tell her. “Okay well Izzy is telling me to get off the phone so I can try on more dresses. See you tonight?” She asks. “See you both tonight. Want me to pick you up?” I ask. “No, Izzy is taking us back to the mission to pack some overnight bags and dropping us off at our house.” She tells me and I notice she called it our house. “That’s great baby. I love you.” I tell her. “I love you too.” She says before we end the call. So, this is what it’s like to have a family.

That evening, I finish at the office and head home. Pulling into the driveway, I get out of the car and head for the front door. As soon as I open the door, I hear “Daddy!” before Mia comes running to me. I drop my briefcase and bend down to scoop her up. “Hey Princess. Did you have fun with Mommy and your aunts today?” I ask. “Yes. I got a princess dress Daddy. It’s pink and pretty and I look like a real princess.” She tells me. “Is that right? Well, you are my little princess.” I tell her and she lays her head on my shoulder. Mary walks up to me and kisses me softly and says, “She’s been watching for you to come home so she could tell you about her new dress.” She tells me. “Did you get your dress?” I ask. “I did. Lori has it so that you won’t see it. But I want to talk to you about something when we put her to bed.” She tells me. “Okay. Did her bed get here?” I ask. “It did and Jane made sure it was set up and her room looks amazing.” She tells me. “Good.” I tell her before we head to the kitchen to eat.

After dinner, Mary gives Mia a bath and we put her to bed. We read her a story and halfway through the story she’s out cold. We take the baby monitor and head into the library. I make her a cup of tea and get myself a beer. “What’s on your mind?” I ask. “We’re getting married Saturday.” She says. “We are. Are you okay with that? We can wait a little longer if you need to.” I tell her. “No. I want to get married Saturday. But I was wondering if we could move in here now. Maybe go tomorrow to get our things and move in officially.” She says. “I would love that baby. I don’t have to be at court tomorrow so I can do what I need to do here at home so we can do that. And on Monday we can take her to enroll her into preschool at the school that Izzy has her kids in. That way she will be in school with kids she will know.” I tell her.

“That’s a great idea.” She says. “I want to talk to you about something else.” I tell her and she takes a drink of her tea, waiting for me to continue. “Jane suggested her and Mia having a slumber party Saturday night so we can have our wedding night together. I know you’re not going to want to go far from her but if she’s bunking with Jane for the night on the other end of the house, we can have our wedding night and we’re still close enough if you want to check on her.” I tell her. “I think that’s a great idea.” She tells me. “Really?” I ask. “Yeah. She’s going to be her grandmother, right?” she asks. “I was hoping so. She’d be a wonderful grandmother.” I tell her. “Oh, Mia has already started calling her grandma. She told Jane she’s never had a grandma and asked if she would be her grandma.” She tells me. “That little girl is resilient at hell.” I tell her and she nods her agreement.

The next day, I ask Jane to watch Mia and as we go to walk out the door, Mary turns around. She walks over to Mia and kisses her cheek and says “Be good for grandma. We’ll be back soon with our things.” I look at Jane and she’s smiling, and I see her tearing up. She hugs Mary and when they let go, Mary meets me at the door. We walk outside and I say, “You know you just made Jane’s day.” She smiles and says “She’s going to be an amazing grandma. Mia loves her already.” She tells me.

We head out and get some shopping done and then head by the mission to get all of their things packed. “What do you want to do with the bed?” I ask. “I’ll see is Sarah wants it. She has a little girl Mia’s age, and she just has a little cot.” She tells me. “I’ll start taking it apart while you go talk to her.” I tell her. She kisses me softly and heads out the door. A few minutes later, we are moving the bed into Sarah’s dorm. “Mommy, a princess bed!” her little girl says. “It is. Thank Miss Mary for your new bed.” She says and the little girl thanks her. “Thank you, guys, but won’t you need it?” she asks “We’re moving in with my fiancé. We’re actually getting married on Saturday.” She tells Sarah. “Oh wow. Congratulations.” She says. They hug and we head out.

Walking back into the house, we head to put their things away and head to the kitchen. Mia is up on a stool at the island and Jane is helping her with the cookie cutter. “What are you doing?” I ask as we walk up to the island. “We’re making cookies Daddy. For the wedding cepton.” Mia says. “Is that so? Well, I bet they will be the best cookies ever.” I tell her and she smiles wide. “Did you get everything?” she asks. “We did.” Mary says. “My princess bed?” Mia asks. “You know how we got you that bigger princess bed?” I ask. “Yeah.” She says. “Well, you remember Nina? Your friend?” I ask and she nods her head yes. “Well, since we got you a bigger princess bed, we gave her your other one.” I tell her. “So now she’s a princess too?” she asks. “Yes. Now she’s a princess too.” Mary tells her. “Good. She needs to be a princess. Her mommy needs a prince to come save her too.” She says. “What do you mean, save her too?” Mary asks. “Like Daddy saved us? He’s our prince.” She says like it’s common knowledge. Mary looks at me and I’m smirking. I wrap my arms around her and say, “Prince Charming at your service.” And we all start laughing.

That night, we put Mia to bed and head to bed ourselves. Lying in bed together, I hold her close, and Mary snuggles closer. “What is it baby?” I ask. “Will you…um…can we…um…” and I know what she’s asking. I hover over her and say, “You don’t even have to ask.” Before kissing her deeply. We start shedding clothes before I enter her slowly and make love to her slow and easy with my forehead to hers. I whisper over and over how much I love her and want her and how perfect she is. Once we both find our release, together, I lay on my back, and she lays across my chest. She drifts off to sleep with me running my fingers up and down her back and she whispers, “I love you.” Before she dozes off. I lay there for a few minutes, looking at the ceiling. Come Saturday, I’ll be a husband and a father…officially and that makes me the happiest I think I’ve ever been.