Independence

  The next day in the evening we finally arrived at Caleb's dream state. I smiled as we crossed the Arizona state line and enjoyed Caleb's grin. Not too long later, he pulled into an apartment complex. It was gorgeous with bright colors painting every surface of the place. Our building was red. I looked up at it through the window as Caleb opened my door. He helped me out of it and then turned, nodding for me to jump on his back. I laughed as he hoisted me up. I pressed my face to his cheek. He took us up the stairs to the front door, Bella following behind us. "What about our stuff?"

  "I'll get it later," he said and turned to look at me over his shoulder. "Ready?"

  I nodded. "More than I've ever been."

  He opened the door to reveal a beautifully furnished place that was nothing like the one in Tennessee. Bella went right to her dog bed by the back glass door. The furniture was brown leather and the walls were yellows and tans. The floor was hard wood throughout the whole place. And the kitchen. I gasped at it. It was any cooks dream with its huge island counter and every appliance and contraption I could think of. A skylight was open above the dining room table, giving the area a glow that matched my mood. The cherry on top? There was a wicker basket full of honey buns on the counter.

  I turned to him and ran, jumping up into his arms, kissing his mouth because I could think of no better way to show him how much I loved it. He held me to him easily and chuckled under his breath as he gripped my thighs to hold me up.

  "I'm glad you like it," he could finally say.

  "I love it."

  "We'll be here during all of our breaks at school and the summer while we get the centers set up here. When we're finished, we'll find another state and go there."

  I bit my lip. "I can't wait. One day I'll be able to say that I've lived in every state."

  He laughed. "Well…hopefully. That's the plan."

  "I have complete faith in you."

  "I know," he said in a breath. "It's pretty awesome." He carried me to the living room and put my feet to the floor. "And there's this."

  There was a picture of us in a brushed nickel frame. It was a wedding photo. I hadn't even realized that someone was taking photos. My back was to the camera and I was turned just a little bit, my head on his chest. His head was leaned to mine as he held my fingers in his hand. His other hand was on my back, big and tan and strong. There was a haze over us from the lights in the trees. It was beautiful.

  "How did you do all this?" I asked.

  "I have my ways," he said slyly and grinned.

  He went to get our things from the car and I rubbed the object in my pocket. I was actually nervous about it. When he came back, he set our bags in our bedroom. I followed him in and was surprised again at just how perfect everything was. But I was on a mission.

  I sat on the bed and patted the spot next to me. He sat, looking curious. He tried to find out in my mind what was wrong, I blocked him out. "I've got something for you."

  "OK," he said slowly.

  "And I know things have been really crazy so it's all right if you haven't gotten mine yet." I slipped to the floor between his knees and pulled the ring from my pocket. I looked at the inscription inside I'd gotten yesterday morning when Jen and I had gone out, With all that I am. The outer rim was a plain sterling silver band with a trim of filigree swirl. I looked up at him to find him looking at me. "I…"

  He leaned forward while simultaneously pulling my elbows to bring me to him and captured my lips. "I didn’t know that you remembered with everything that's been going on."

  "I remembered." He took the ring and held it between his fingers. He read the inscription and looked up strangely. "What?"

  He pulled me up and made me sit on the bed. "Stay here."

  He went to the suitcase and unzipped the front producing a box. I felt my heart leap with excitement. He knelt down in front of me, between my knees, just as I had done him. He opened the box, took the ring out and held it out to me. It was beautiful on a whole new level. It had little diamonds that circled the silver band.

  "When did you have time to get this?" I asked.

  "Maggie, I…" He smiled and sucked on his lip a little. "I bought this ring weeks ago." I felt my lips part. I took it from his fingers. On the inside, it said…With all that I am. I pressed my lips together to stop the happy sob. "Now you see why you're so perfect for me?" he said with a smile.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and he pulled me down into his lap. I leaned back a little and slipped the ring on my finger. He already had his on and he linked our fingers together. "So I did good?" he joked.

  "I'm never taking it off."

  He sighed and grinned. "Good answer."

  He held my face between his hands and pulled me to him. He spoke against my mouth, in the most achingly sexy and sweet way. "Gah, I love you, baby."

  I licked my lips, touching his lip in the process. "I love you. Now kiss me, Jacobson."

  He grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

  And so he did. For hours. For days. For weeks. Months. Years. The road ahead was paved with things that we'd have to work on. The world, even the Ace world, wasn't perfect. No matter that our lives seemed to be wrapped with a pretty bow, we understood the rough times ahead as what they were.

  Life.

  And we'd make it through the bad times so that the good times were that much more special and appreciated. I could only imagine what our lives would look like in five years, or ten, or fifty, but one thing was for certain…

  We'd be together and I had found my significance.

  The End…For Infinity.

  Epilogue

  Maggie

  Two and a Half Years Later

  "Hey, Maggie!" I turned to find Misty. "Hey, girl. Do you have Mr. Dean's notes from last week? I failed my final." She rolled her eyes. "He said I could do a make-up this summer and the man is a freaking Nazi about things being worded correctly, and my laptop crashed."

  I smiled. "Sure. What's your email and I shoot them to you?"

  "Ah! You're a lifesaver!" She gave me the information and I waved and said my goodbyes.

  I squinted at the bright light that hit me from the sun that I hadn't seen in hours. When a large, warm arm slung around my shoulder, I knew exactly who it was. "Hey, Vic."

  "My girl, Maggie! What's up this weekend?"

  "We're going to a birthday party. Sorry. We won't be around."

  "Who's birthday?"

  "My…Haddock," I answered awkwardly. Even after all this time, and though we were really close these days, it was hard to explain to people.

  "OK," he dragged out for effect. "Tell Caleb to hit me up when you get back. I want to go see the new Bond movie and everyone else has already seen it."

  "OK. I will."

  He kissed my cheek. "You're the best, you know that?"

  "Yeah." I laughed.

  "Catch ya later!"

  I watched him go and walked across the quad. It was so stinking hot.

  I dialed Haddock. He answered the first ring. "Hey, Maggie."

  "Are we still on tomorrow for your birthday?"

  "Are you still coming to stay with me this weekend?" I could tell he was smiling.

  "We are," I agreed.

  "Then yes, we are still on for my birthday. If you must."

  "I must," I said with a laugh. "And how's Heather?"

  "Ah, man, she's doing great. She's waddling around everywhere and eating up all the ice cream in the house." He laughed. "I feel way too old to be a father of a newborn."

  I smiled. "You'll be great." Haddock had imprinted at the last reunification almost a year ago and they were already pregnant. Granted, she was a bit younger than him, but we'd never seen him happier. And we saw him a lot. True to his word, he moved back to Tennessee and we even hung out with Dad and Haddock together at family functions. Haddock still didn’t know that Dad knew about him. And we planned to keep it that way. He was filled with guilt about a lot of things, but he'd more than made up for it. He saved our lives
.

  "I can't wait to see you." His voice was quite and thoughtful.

  "Me either. It's been almost a month now. Sorry, we've been so busy."

  "No, it's fine. You're getting on with your life. I'm just happy that you're happy."

  "I am," I said with certainty.

  "Don't let the council get to you," he said, is voice turner harder. "This reunification will be rough with everything, but they'll get over it. You're the Visionary. It doesn't hurt for them to be reminded of that every once in a while."

  "I'll try. It's hard keeping the balance."

  "It is, but you do a fantastic job. Caleb, too. He's a great balance for the council. Well, I'll let you go. See you tomorrow and be careful on the drive, OK?"

  "We will."

  "Love you, Maggie."

  "I love you, too."

  I hung up and saw a text sitting there from this morning. I opened it. It was Kyle.

  Make sure y'all stop by the house 2night. Lynne has some stuff for u.

  I texted back. Will do.

  I put the cell back in my purse. I couldn't help but smile as I tried to follow the path of shade to keep from being scorched by the Tennessee sun. Then I heard Caleb and looked up to find him. And there he was… I walked toward the tree he was leaning against. He was wearing jeans, a blue button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a smirk.

  "Fancy meeting you here."

  "Well," he said in a formal voice, "I was supposed to be picking up my gorgeous wife. But you'll do."

  I giggled and accepted his kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I'm glad."

  "How was your last day of classes?" His hands fit perfectly on my hips. I loved them there.

  "Great. I'm glad it's over though."

  "Are you ready for…" he gave me a goofy smile, "dun dun dun duh! The lovely state of Idaho!"

  I laughed. "Idaho? That's where you're setting up centers next?"

  "Yep. My analyst worked their magic. What do you think?"

  "Wherever you are, there I'll be."

  He smiled. The real smile that told me everything I needed to know. "How was your day? You feeling OK?"

  "Well," I said and put a hand on my lower back, "someone was distracting me all day. It was a miracle I got anything done."

  He gave me a scowl and fell to his knees. He lifted my shirt and touched my round belly with his palm. Speaking to our little girl he said, "Have you been giving Mommy a hard time? We talked about this remember?" I giggled as people walking by laughed at him. I put my hand on his head. "We said no kicking during Mommy's class, right?" He smiled and kissed my belly right by my belly button. "That's a good girl."

  He stood and gave a mock proud look. "She'll behave now. She's a Daddy's girl."

  "She will be," I promised him. "Of that I have no doubt."

  "Haddock's tomorrow, right?" He took my hand and started to tow me toward his truck.

  "Yep. Take me home and give me a warm bath before the drive?" I tilted my head to the side for emphasis.

  He stopped walking and his face changed into one of my favorite faces.

  "You trying to tempt me on the school lawn, Mrs. Jacobson?"

  "Maybe," I said coyly. "Maybe I'm just ready to get home with you."

  He picked up the pace and I couldn't help but laugh. He opened my door, but didn't help me inside. He turned me to him and gave me his proud look. "This time when you graduate, I'll scream and yell for you. No earbuds for me."

  I nodded. "I can't wait to hold that diploma."

  "I can't wait to see you hold that diploma."

  I blinked rapidly. "You're going to make me cry."

  "I don’t want you to cry," he said and chuckled. "I just want to make absolute sure you understand how proud of you I am."

  "Thank you."

  I pulled him down to kiss me. He braced himself on the door with one hand and the other found my hip again. I shivered in the heat of the day. He leaned in further until I was pressed to the truck side. When I let my hand go beneath his shirt he groaned. "You're killing me, baby."

  "Then take me home."

  "Done." He helped me into the truck and practically ran to get in. I laughed. He turned on the ignition and I scooted over. "Ready?"

  "I was born ready."

  He smiled and pulled out of the parking lot. "Yes, you were."

  Even after these years, I still couldn't get enough of him. He was still my tyrant and the Champion, and I was still the Visionary. Things were about as perfect as a life could be. We made it work for the good. Because after all…

  You don't choose your life, your life chooses you.

  Five Years Later

  "Dad!" Maria screamed and jumped up and down holding the purse clutched to her chest. "Ohmygosh, I love it. Thank you, Dad, thank you, thank you!"

  Bish grinned and accepted her into his arms as he laughed. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

  Jen laughed when Maria practically tackled her and they fell back on the couch giggling. Rachel laughed at them as she rocked Maria's little sister in her arms, swaying her hips slowly back and forth with a burp cloth draped over the shoulder of her black silk blouse.

  The Christmas tree at Peter's house that year was unreal. With all the grandkids running around, Rachel said she wanted nothing less than a fairytale Christmas.

  "You're up next, papa bear," I said coyly and handed the package we'd gotten Peter to him. He was wearing a Santa hat and playing Santa for the day as he doled out the gifts.

  "You didn't have to get me…anything…" He sucked in a quick breath as he ripped the packaging off. "Where did you find this?"

  Caleb and I grinned at each other. I leaned back into his chest as Peter opened the Johnny Cash LP. Ava came and jumped up on my lap. "I picked it out, Gramps," she told him.

  I swept her hair back behind her ear and she smiled up at me, proud of her gift. Ava was four and half and the biggest Daddy's girl ever. And she looked just like Caleb, though he said she looked just like me. He pulled her to sit in his lap instead. "Ava, remember we've got to be careful of Mommy's belly, OK?" He rubbed his hand over the top of my round stomach. She followed his movements and rubbed it, too.

  "OK, I'll be careful," she whispered like it was a secret.

  Ava Winifred Jacobson. Named after Gran, who bawled hard after she born. The uncles and grandparents called her Winnie sometimes.

  "I'm fine," I assured her. "Daddy just likes to worry." He smiled and kept rubbing his hand over my belly.

  "Daddy does like to worry." He grinned at Ava. "But you like it when Daddy worries about you, don't you, baby girl?"

  I bit my lip. I loved it when he called her that.

  The baby kicked and he pressed harder. "Feel that, Ave?" He moved her hand to find it and she squealed with delight. I beckoned Maria and she knelt down and let Ava sit on her lap as she pressed her fingers to my belly. "Wow." Maria smiled wide. "That's amazing, Aunt Mags."

  It was. I leaned into Caleb's side and closed my eyes involuntarily as he kissed my forehead. "I'm ready for my cousin to be here," Maria whispered in awe.

  When I felt his kick again, stronger and harder, I agreed with her. I was huge and it was almost time.

  Baby Rodney was almost here.

  The amount of gratitude

  and love I have for you, my readers, would fill a Volkswagen. This series is my most favorite and this had been the hardest book to write to date. Caleb and Maggie's journey is over. Will there be another book in the future in the Ace world? Maybe. But for now, thank you SO much for allowing me to take you on this journey. I need to go and wipe my eyes for the millionth time. I'm glad it's a closed chapter of my life, but to end this series was like saying goodbye to a dear friend. I'll miss them. I'll miss their world.

  Thank you!

  Please feel free to Contact Shelly at the following avenues.

  www.facebook.com/shellycranefanpage

  www.twitter.com/authshellycrane

  www.shellycrane.blogspot.
com

  Shelly is a bestselling YA author from a small town in Georgia and loves everything about the south. She is wife to a fantastical husband and stay at home mom to two boisterous and mischievous boys who keep her on her toes. They currently reside in everywhere USA as they happily travel all over with her husband's job. She loves to spend time with her family, binge on candy corn, go out to eat at new restaurants, buy paperbacks at little bookstores, site see in the new areas they travel to, listen to music everywhere and also LOVES to read.

  Her own books happen by accident and she revels in the writing and imagination process. She doesn't go anywhere without her notepad for fear of an idea creeping up and not being able to write it down immediately, even in the middle of the night, where her best ideas are born.

  Shelly's website:

  www.shellycrane.blogspot.com

  Playlist

  The best Of

  Intoxicated : The Cab

  Stay Close, Don't go : Secondhand Serenade

  Tyrant : The Bravery

  Every Night : Imagine Dragons

  Run : Matt Nathanson

  Ho Hey : The Lumineers

  Every Gets A Star : Albert Hammond Jr.

  Love is a Verb : John Mayer

  Oh My Stars : Andrew Belle

  Madness : Muse

  Kill Your Heroes : Awolnation

  Kiss Me : Ed Sheeran

  You Are Too Beautiful : Hawksley Workman

  Wild : Royal Teeth

  Keeping Me Alive : The Afters

  Maggie : Rod Stewart

  Heartbeats : Royal Teeth

  If (Acoustic) : House Of Heroes

  Many Of Horror : Biffy Clyro

  Bright Young Thing : Albert Hammon Jr.

  Fader : The Temper Trap

  Beautiful People : Carolina Liar

  Right Before My Eyes : Cage The Elephant

  Lauren's Song : Breathe Carolina

  Everlasting Light : The Black Keys

  Lovesick Fool : The Cab