*This is a true story. Names and places have been changed for privacy.
Late February 2010…
A few days after filing for divorce, Jacob went to visit with his sister, Renee. His relationship with his family had been strained, even nonexistent at times, during his marriage to Tasha. It was time to fix that.
Renee’s husband, Teddy, was in the garage prepping a street bike to sell. Jacob was used to his Harley and had never tried riding a street bike. Teddy handed him a helmet and told him to take it for a spin. A quick freedom ride suddenly sounded pretty good to Jacob.
Heated wheels and icy patches on the road just don’t go well together, Jacob quickly learned. The bike flipped and Jacob landed hard on the pavement. Luckily, his head was protected from a severe injury and he escaped with only a broken hand.
Renee rushed to Jacob’s aid and took him to the hospital. She called Ellen, who immediately drove to meet them along with Jacob’s stepdad, Robert. It was the hard turning point Jacob needed to recognize the people who had always truly loved him. He promised to never lose sight of that again.
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Only a few weeks later, Ellen called Heather and asked for her help with a project. She had decided to switch around the furniture in a few rooms and asked if Heather could come over. Of course, Heather agreed since Ellen’s home had become like Heather’s second home.
Upon opening the door, Ellen was unusually giddy. Heather thought she must be really excited about their project, until she opened the door wide to reveal Jacob standing in the hallway beyond. He was certainly no longer the teenager from all those years before. There was a hypnotic depth in his green eyes that, as he looked at her, made Heather feel as though she had just fallen through a portal and was floating among the stars.
And, there was Ellen, beaming as though she had recovered a long lost treasure and couldn’t wait to share it. It was easy to see that Ellen, Jacob and Renee were so happy to be reunited. The project was a success mostly because it didn’t require four people at all even though Jacob’s hand was still in a cast. Lighthearted chatter and stories easily filled the day.
The attraction between Jacob and Heather was obvious, though Heather pretended to ignore Jacob’s occasional flirty banter. Nevertheless, Heather was fairly glowing by the time she made her way home.
The next week, Ellen extended an invitation to Heather from Jacob. He was planning a birthday party for his six-year-old twins and he would love for her to bring her kids. Heather’s lips said “yes” before any sensible thought had a chance to form in her head. She looked forward to seeing Jacob again, as her big mouth had so eagerly betrayed. It was just that he was her best friend’s son. Those were uncharted waters and they needed to stay that way.
There were more people than Heather can remember ever seeing at a kid’s birthday party. Ellen had many sisters that Heather had never met and they were all there along with Jacob’s cousins and their kids. It may as well have been a family reunion, welcoming Jacob and his kids back into the fold. Jacob was managing the grill alone, still in a cast, while playing the jovial host. Heather immediately stepped up to help out, not because he looked like he needed it, but because she was a bit shy in crowds and this would give her something to do instead of standing aside awkwardly. One might say it was a mutual rescue. It was certainly a day never to be forgotten.
Jacob then began spending more time at Ellen’s house, even driving there after he finished work most days. He would get there shortly after Ellen had picked Heather’s kids up from school. Heather’s youngest daughter, Marissa, was the first to fall in love with Jacob, without hesitation. Only seven years old, Marissa would lay out a blanket and pillow on the couch for Jacob to take a nap after work. Then she would wait patiently for him to wake up (five minutes later) so he could help her with homework. When the time came for the Spring ice cream social at school, Marissa told Ellen and Heather that she didn’t care if they went as long as Jacob was there.
Heather still had reservations about the relationship that was naturally blooming with Jacob. He was seven years younger, and Ellen’s son. The only thing she could do at that point was have an honest conversation with Ellen.
As it happened, Ellen graciously reminded Heather that she was also seven years older than her husband, Robert, and she couldn’t think of anything that would make her happier than to see two people she loved so dearly find happiness with each other. And that’s exactly what happened.
Heather and Jacob were married two years later. They raised her two kids and his two kids together as a family of six. Then, they started their own small business and tasted real freedom. Their next goal is to buy a home for big family holidays and future grand-kid visits.
It was, and is, an epic love story. But, it’s more than a love story of just two people. It’s a love story of friends; a love story of a blended and extended family; a love story of community; a love story of welcoming hearts and open arms.
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There are more details, of course, which will eventually be shared as this story is converted into a full-length book. In the meantime, I truly hope you have enjoyed this abbreviated blog version and the February Truesday series.
Curse Hunter 