Two days later, after spending some time wrapped up in their own engagement bliss, not wanting to be interrupted by anyone or anything. Instead, Juliet told them all about her plans for the wedding, down to her own dress.
Jake had asked his parents to come down to D.C. again today, not telling them why but they were all heading to lunch.
"You okay?" Jake asked, watching Heather as she closed her eyes, standing at the kitchen island, dropping her head slightly.
Heather opened her eyes, looking at him and taking a deep breath. She nodded her head, swallowing thickly. She felt awful lately and hoped whatever it was would go away.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine. What time are we going to lunch again?" Heather replied. She was very much not okay but she wasn't ready to admit that to Jake yet.
Her head was killing her, stomach turning and her body was aching everywhere. She wanted to sleep but his parents came down and she didn't want to be rude.
"Two, we'll leave here about one fifteen," Jake answered, deciding to let the argument of whether she was okay or not go.
Jake didn't want to start anything unnecessary. She could be fine, and he might just be reading into it too much.
"Okay, I'm gonna grab a quick shower, can you make sure Juliet has an outfit that actually matches?" Heather said, a small laugh in her voice as she kissed him and walked away upstairs.
She trudged up the stairs, hoping the hot water would shake her out of this a little bit.
***
The summer sun beating down on the family was exactly what Heather needed to forget her worries, if only for a little while.
"Okay, I ignored it at home, but you don't look okay, baby," Jake mumbled, sitting beside Heather, reaching up to brush her hair behind her ear.
Heather looked away from Juliet playing with her two grandfathers to look at Jake, smiling softly at him.
"It's nothing Jake, I'm just feeling a little rundown lately," Heather explained, reaching up to rest her hand on his cheek, "it's just making me a little sick,"
Jake frowned, his hand coming up to cover the one that was on his cheek. He turned his head slightly to kiss her palm then brought her into his arms.
"You wanna take some time off? I could do your hour for you," Jake suggested, rubbing his hands up and down her back as she moved closer to him.
Heather couldn't lie, she had thought about taking time off but she loved her job too much to actually walk away for a few days for no reason.
Heather grinned and shook her head, then moved forward, lying her head on his shoulder. For a few minutes they were alone, not really, but they felt it. Like it was just two of them in the park.
"I love you," Heather whispered, hugging him a little tighter. A few months ago, she didn't think she'd ever be back with Jake the way she is now, much less be engaged to him.
"Not as much as I love you," Jake mused, turning his head to kiss her cheek softly. Allowing his lips to linger for a while.
"What was your big news for us?" Helen asked, interrupting their moment of serenity. She couldn't help the smile on her face as she looked at the couple.
Jake and Heather separated slightly, sharing a brief look before Heather turned back to face the two mothers. Juliet and her grandfathers had made their way back to the table again.
"Well..." Jake said, looking to his fiancée, he held her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze that they'd continue their conversation later on, "Heather and I are getting married,"
"Oh my god!" Helen and Laura jump up hugging the couple tightly, Heather making a face as her mother almost choked her.
Her dad was a little less ecstatic than her mother was. Mainly because he couldn't help feeling a little lost at leaving his little girl go.
Helen and Laura were busy fussing over the ring, the two men congratulating Jake and letting him know what he was in for with the marriage train.
Once the excitement slightly calmed, Heather was whisked to the table with Helen and Laura, both eagerly discussing details for the wedding.
"Mom, I was thinking, do you still have your wedding dress?" Heather asked, looking up at her mother. She had only been looking at her parents wedding pictures yesterday and decided on her dress.
"I do, why?" Laura asked, face contorting in confusion while she looked between Heather and Helen.
"I was wondering if maybe I could wear it for my wedding," Heather mused, looking to her mother. She rolled her blue eyes the minute she saw her mother welling up with tears.
She should've known asking something like that would set her mother off, for no particular reason.
"Don't you want a new one?" Laura sniffled, wiping her eyes with the tissue Helen handed her.
"No, I've always liked yours. And besides, we want to do it soon and casual. We don't want to get bogged down in the small, minute details," Heather shrugged, once again watching her mother dissolve into a fit of tears.
"That'll be lovely, I'm just so happy for you two," Helen said, filling the silence while Laura sniffled and tried to stop crying.
Heather smiled at her, her eyes shifting to her fiancé, who sat at the other end of the bench, Juliet on his lap while he spoke with their fathers. God, she was a lucky woman.
***
Heather smiled softly, kissing her daughters forehead as she drifted off to sleep after her eventful day with her grandparents.
Quietly walking out of the room, she headed downstairs to Jake who was ready with a movie and popcorn for the two of them.
Sitting down next to him, she accepted him throwing his arm around her, pulling her into his side. Jake pressed a kiss to her head, noticing she wasn't even fully with him.
"You feeling any better?" Jake asked, setting the plastic bowl down on the coffee table in front of him.
Heather looked at him, smiling sheepishly she sat up a bit. Crossing her legs, she took his hand in hers.
"A little bit," Heather mused, Jake had taken care of Juliet when they returned home and Heather managed to get in a short nap. But she woke up more groggy than before.
"Is it the thought of getting married?" Jake asked, kissing her hand, a small smile on his face when she looked almost offended at that notion.
"No! God Jake," Heather laughed, pushing him lightly. She couldn't imagine anything better than marrying Jake.
Jake chuckled, pulling her in for a kiss, his hand on the back of her neck keeping her as close as possible.
Heather smiled at him, leaning in to kiss his lips. He accepted the kiss, pulling her to sit on his lap while he wrapped her in a tight hug.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She asked, breaking from the kiss and running her fingers through his hair.
Jake hummed content with the feeling. He loved this, he loved it even more when she massaged his scalp.
"I think, the better question is, how was I so lucky that you walked into my life?" Jake asked, nudging his nose against hers.
Jake kissed her again, pulling her into his chest and holding her there. He was hopeful with a little rest Heather would bounce back again. He hated to be annoying but he always worried about her.
