Page 21 of Saved By the Lieutenant
As we step out onto the porch, I notice that it's snowing heavily. The snowflakes cover us within seconds, but Jake doesn’t care, he carries me out to Peter’s car and places me into the backseat.
“My colleagues are on their way,” Peter says, concern etched on his face. “While we wait, I’m going to need statements.”
Jake clasps my hand in his and nods. “Then we’re getting Amy to the hospital to be checked over.”
“I don’t need to, he didn’t hurt me” I say honestly. “But Jake does,” I say roughly, hating that Callum hurt him.
Peter shares a look with Jake, both of them turn to me, their expressions soft and filled with compassion. “It’s over, Amanda,” Peter says.
I sink against Jake It is over, and now all those innocent women will be able to rest in peace knowing that monster won’t hurt anyone else.
I glance up at the man that I love and see him watching me carefully. I have him back and I have a feeling that this time things are going to be beautiful.
EPILOGUE
JAKE
I feelAmy slide out of bed, waking me up. A grin forms on my face as I hear light footsteps make their way across our bedroom floor. It's Christmas day and I know that Amanda's excited to get the day started. I would’ve preferred to have it start with being inside of her, but that will come later. I have a surprise for the woman I love, one that I think will come as a shock to her. I know that she'll not be expecting it.
It's been three weeks since the showdown in the cabin, it's been a hard three weeks. I'm back to work as is Amanda, but we're both left with scars from our encounters with Callum. Both of us have nightmares, Amy's because she has dreams about me being dead and I have dreams about her, about the fear I felt when I woke up and realized that he'd gotten to her. I was supposed to protect her, and I failed. I breathe a little easier knowing that I got to her in time, before he was able to hurt her.
It took us hours to give our statements and get checked out at the hospital. Amanda and I had to stay for observation as the doctors were worried about me having a concussion as I had passed out from the blow to my head, and they were concernedabout the shock that Amanda was in. Thankfully, we were both free to leave the next day.
We slept for hours, something we both needed, and by the time we woke, it was nighttime. I listened to her recant everything that had happened in the cabin while I was unconscious. My gut clenches at the mere thought of that asshole hurting her, but my woman is amazing and she didn’t go down without a fight. She came out swinging and did what she could to stay alive. I have no doubt that she’d have escaped him had I not turned up when I did.
I’m beyond proud of the woman she is and I wouldn’t change a thing about her. I love her exactly the way that she is.
Arriving home was hard for Amanda, there was crime scene tape still around Mrs. Dorrit’s home, Amy took one look and burst into tears. I took her home with me and we’ve been staying here ever since. I’m not sure if she’ll return to her own house, but if she does, I’ll be with her.
Amy is my future and there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with her.
When Amanda was finally back to full strength, she immediately got started on organizing Mrs. Dorrit's funeral. Although not many people attended, it was a lovely service and I know that Amy was happy with how it turned out. She was able to say goodbye to her friend and I’m hoping this brought Amy some peace because she’s been feeling so guilty about Mrs. Dorrit’s death.
I hear the coffee machine and know that it’s my time to wake up. I slide out of bed, nabbing my pajama pants and sliding them onto my body. I open the drawer in my nightstand and pull out the blue velvet box. Once Amanda and I had returned home, I went ring shopping and found the perfect ring. I’m not waiting around any longer. I wasted two years by leaving, nowI’m going to do what I’ve always wanted and that’s to make Amy my wife.
I make my way to the kitchen, the small velvet box burning a hole in my pocket. As Amy bustles around making coffee, her back to me, I take a deep breath and step forward.
“Amy,” I say, my voice cracking with nerves. I drop down on one knee as I open the box to reveal the sparkling ring nestled inside.
She turns around, a bright smile lighting up her face at the sight of me holding the box.
“Jake?” she breathes, her eyes bright and filled with tears. I see so much love and happiness shining in them. Just as I had hoped.
“Amy, these past few years have been tough, and walking away from you was the stupidest decision I made. The past few weeks have solidified what I already knew —you're the love of my life— always have been and always will be. Will you do me the honor of marrying me?”
The tears that had welled in her eyes start to fall as she covers her mouth in shock. Without a word, she nods vigorously, unable to contain her joy. I slide the ring onto her finger, feeling like the luckiest man alive as she throws her arms around. I press my lips against hers, tasting the sweet salt of her tears as I deepen the kiss.
In that moment, surrounded by the soft glow of Christmas lights and the promise of a future together, I know that I’ll never walk away again. This is where I’m supposed to be and who I’m supposed to be with.
I gently pull back, the two of us still clinging to one another, I feel content and at peace. She smiles through her tears, a smile that’s so bright and so pure that it makes my heart clench.
“Yes,” she finally whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “Yes, Jake, a thousand times yes.”
I hold her close, savoring this moment that we'll remember for the rest of our lives. I can’t wait for the day that she finally becomes Mrs. Mathers.
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