A few weeks passed and I was happier than ever before. Joe and I were gonna be married and I was so excited.
Joe's phone started ringing and he answered it. "Hello? Mom? Slow down. What happened? Are you kidding me? Yeah. I'll be there. It's gonna take me a few hours but I'll be there. Don't do anything until I get there." he hung up.
"Everything okay?" I asked.
"No. Joelle's mother is trying to get in contact with her. I guess she's been sitting outside the house for a while and she won't leave until she talks to Joelle." he said.
"Do you want me to come with you?" I asked.
"Sure."
***
We arrived in Pensacola and drove to the house. When we got there Joe asked me to stay in the car. I watched in the rear view mirror as he went to go talk to Joelle's mother. It was more like yelling.
She got out of the car and was face to face with him. He said something to her and then she slapped him. That was it. My breaking point. I got out of the car and walked right up to them. "Do you have a problem?" I asked.
"Katie, I told you to wait in the car." Joe said.
"I know what you said but I'm not gonna sit there and watch while this bitch slaps you. Hell no. If you wanna slap someone, here's your chance." I said.
"And who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Joe's fiancee."
"Fiancee? Really? I didn't think you'd ever get married Joe and if you did I thought you'd at least upgrade. Downgrading really isn't your style." she paused. "I'm here to talk to my daughter and I'm not leaving until I do."
"Do you never take a hint? You're not wanted here Jessica." Joe said.
"I want my daughter. I'd be better off raising her than you and this wallabe tramp here." she said.
"You better watch yourself." I said getting in her face.
"What are you donna do? Eat me? I mean, you do look like you've eaten plenty." she said.
Did she just call me fat? Seriously? That was it. This bitch was mine now. I brought my hand back and slapped her right in the face making her back up and slam against her car. I walked up to her and punched her in the face but I couldn't do anything more because Joe pulled me back and wouldn't let me go.
"You're a crazy bitch." she said.
I looked at her. "Let's get one thing straight. You have blown every chance you've had to be in Joelle's life and I will be damned if you come back and hurt her like you did before. We are her family now. You don't qualify. So unless you want another taste of what this crazy bitch can really do, I suggest you get the hell out of here." I said.
Jessica got in her car and then drove away. Joe turned me around and hugged me. "I'm sorry about that." he said.
"Don't be sorry. I will gladly defend the people I love until the day I die. You and Joelle are my life now and I'm not gonna let that bitch come in here and try to hurt you or her. I love you." I said.
Joe smiled. "I love you too." he said.
The front door opened and Joelle ran out. She jumped in Joe's arms and he held her tight. After she got out of his arms she hugged me. "Thank you." she said.
"No problem sweetheart. I love you and your daddy." I said.
"I love you too mommy." she said. She hugged me.
I looked up at Joe shocked. He looked just as shocked at me. Joelle called me mommy. I felt tears form in my eyes and Joe smiled at me. This gave me the best idea and I knew I had to talk to Joe about it.
***
I laid Joelle down for a nap and then went downstairs. Joe wasn't anywhere down there. I looked in the backyard and he was there sitting at the patio table.
"Hey." I said.
"Hey babe. Joelle sleeping?" he asked.
"Yeah." I said shutting the door. I walked over and sat on his lap.
"What are you thinking about pretty girl?"
"I want to get married." I said.
"We are gonna get married."
"No, I mean, I wanna get married right away. I love you so much and I don't see the point in waiting. No matter what we have in our wedding, it's gonna be really special because I'll be marrying the man of my dreams."
"What made you decide this?" he asked.
"The moment Joelle called me mommy. I looked into your eyes and I just knew. There's no doubt in my mind that you are the one I want for the rest of my life." I said.
"Okay. We'll get married soon." he said.
"Yay!" I said. "Oh my god. When?"
"How does a month from now sound?"
"I have to get a dress and pick my bridesmaids. Oh my goodness. You're the best. I love you." I said.
"I love you too pretty girl." he said. "I have an idea, why don't we go down to the mall and start shopping around for some wedding stuff?"
"I'd like that. Especially with you."
"Let's go."
****
We got to the mall and started shopping around. It was amazing. Not the wedding part but doing it with him. We were on our way back to the house after we were done and I just felt so happy.
"You know, with everything I've been through in my whole life, I can't think of a better way to spend the rest of it. You came into my life and you completely changed it. I couldn't be happier. You've made my life worth living. I love you so much. I'm so in love with you, it's crazy. It feels like a dream. I feel like I never wanna wake up from this. I love you and I love that little girl. Our little girl." I said.
Joe looked at me and smiled. "I love you too babe. Always and forever." he said.
