"Ava." AJ called down the hall.
"Coming!" I yelled in a singsongy voice.
"C'mon we have a plane to catch." he took my suitcase from my hand and I held the door for him. We were going to Georgia, I was going to meet AJ's mom; finally after four years of being together I was getting to meet the woman that brought the love of my life into the world. "Hey," he caught me as we stood in the elevator. "You have nothing to be afraid of. She's gunna love you." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. With the cute little accent and the way his blue eyes shone, I couldn't help but believe him.
"I hope so." I leaned into his shoulder. An hour later we were flying from Florida to Georgia and this flight was not long enough. We pulled into the Atlanta airport and took the drive North to Gainesville. I was shaking the whole time. "AJ, why are we going to Georgia?"
"We're in Georgia and because you've dodged every reason to meet her for the last four years.
"What if-"
"Ava, I swear. She's gunna love you. Almost as much as I do."
"I'm so nervous." I played with my necklace more. We soon pulled up to a large ranch style house, the one AJ had bought her. She greeted us at the door.
"Oh my baby is finally home." She hugged AJ tight like she would never hold him again. The same way I did every time he walked out the door, "your brothers are in the living room." she kissed his cheek and sent him inside.
"You must be Ava." she smiled at me sweetly. "I've heard so much about you, youre so beautiful and so pretty, this hair." she picked up strange and slowly let them fall.
"Its so nice to finally meet you Mrs.Jones." I hugged her lightly.
"Please, call me Anney." she pulled me inside. Anney, Anney would make a cute name for a daughter.
"Your home is wonderful." I looked at pictures of little AJ on the wall and all his brothers. I had to meet them too.
"Yanno what else is beautiful? My necklace you're wearing." she chuckled in her southern accent.
"....it's yours? AJ gave it to me a few years ago, I'm sorry I didn't know." I went to take it off.
"Honey I gave it to him because he said he wasn't quite ready for a ring but you deserved something special. His father gave that to me before he got deployed." I ran my finger over the A carved on the outside. It made the engraving on the inside even more special. "No matter where I go, I'm always with you." I held it close to my heart.
"Thank you." I smiled at her.
"Pleasures all mine, doll." I walked into a living room with four rowdy boys.
"BREAK." AJ yelled. "This is Ava." he wrapped his arm protectively around my waist.
"Hi guys." I smiled and they introduced themselves one by one. David, Spencer and Matt.
"She's cute." Matt, the one older than AJ smirked.
"Very. Spencer Jones. Pleasure is all mine." he winked.
"Get out.'' AJ pushed Spencer playfully. AJ's mom made dinner and we all sat to talk. Everyone told me how ramboxious he was as a kid and I couldn't help but to laugh. Finally AJ grabbed my hand and pulled me out the door as the others excused themself.
"Where are we going?"
"Just on a walk, baby." he ran his thumb over my hand. "I love you, Ava."
"I love you, AJ." I smiled.
We walked down a moonlit path to a little pond, off to the side was a gazebo. It had Christmas lights strung up inside. "C'mon." AJ eagerly pulled me along. When I walked in, there were pictures hanging from the ceiling. Four years worth of pictures. Christmas, our first date, Valentine's day, selfies, us and our dog willow. They hung on little pieces of twine with Christmas lights coming down. I felt tears well up in my eyes.
"I can't believe you did all-" I turned around and there was my red neck southern boy Prince Charming on one knee with a diamond ring in his hand.
"Four hours was enough for me to know you're the woman i want to spend the rest of my life with. Every second of the last four years has just reassured that thought. And now, Ava...I wanna know if you'll make me happy for the rest of my life the same way you have for four years. Because baby, I couldn't do this without you. What'd you say?" he smiled up at me and in the light of that old building his blue eyes shone even more.
"Yes AJ, a million times, yes." he picked me up and spun me around.
"Welcome to the family, darling." his mom and brothers stood in the doorway looking proud. I couldn't be more happy to officially be a member of this family forever.
Yanno guys, I only live an hour from AJ 😂
