Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Thanksgiving: Part One

I let out a sigh, having expected this since they hadn't been able to fly out here after the attack. "I know. I know. I didn't mean to worry you. Either of you."

My eyes roam over to Ashley as she joins us, but unlike her sister she only gives me a small smile as she hugs me. "We know. Just don't do it again, okay? We still have to make you an honorary Olsen."

My cheeks instantly heat up at the mention of that, and I make a mental note to pull the both of them aside later to tell them about my plans to ask Lizzie to marry me. I also need to speak to Jarnie as well. Or ask her for her blessing, that is. "I don't really plan on doing that ever again. But I need to talk to you two later, out of earshot of your sister, so please make sure we do that before you leave."

The twins give me a confused look, but I ignore it, instead pulling Olivia up to stand next to me. "I'll tell you later. This is Olivia, she goes to the school where I'm giving lessons. Liv, these are Lizzie's sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashely."

Olivia, the poor girl, has been suddenly shoved in the middle of all these big names and has been taking it all in stride until now as she stares at the two women, and I don't have time to stop her before she blurts out, "Wow! I knew you both would be here, but this is so cool! You guys are like the most famous out of everyone here!"

Me and the twins just laugh at the girl's words, and they graciously greet Liv with smiles and the warmth that I expected of them, but my attention moves when Olivia glances over and smiles widely. "Hi, Lizzie."

I swear to god that my heart almost bursts as I watch my girlfriend pull the teenager in for a hug. "Hi, sweetheart."

Knowing that the teen will be most likely pulled into helping to cook dinner, I leave the foursome to find my next target, and find her laughing with my mother in the hallway just outside the kitchen, remembering that Lizzie said our moms had gotten along very well when they met at the hospital. Jarnie gives me a wide smile and pulls me in for a one-armed hug, her other hand balancing a glass full of wine. "I thought I heard Lizzie say you were back. How are you feeling, honey?"

I smile at the woman, shoving my hands into my pocket when she pulls away from me. "I'm good. I feel really good. Not as sore since the stitches have come out. Am I interrupting the two of you?"

My mother and Jarnie look at each other before shaking their heads, and I instantly look over at my own mother with a smile. "Then you won't mind if I steal Jarnie from you for a few moments? I need to ask her something."

Mom, with a knowing smile on her face, just nods and gives me a kiss on the cheek before disappearing into the kitchen, leaving me with my (hopefully) future mother-in-law. I lead the older woman into the library that holds most of the stuff we haven't been able to unpack yet, closing the double doors behind us.

"Is everything okay, Y/N?"

Nodding, I take a few deep breaths before I glance up at the woman, suddenly feeling a little nervous. "Yes. I was just, uh, hoping to talk to you about something. I would have just asked in the hallway, but I didn't want Lizzie overhearing."

Jarnie raises an eyebrow, but nods for me to continue, and I decide that I shouldn't beat around the bush like my sudden nervousness wants me to. "Uh, in light of everything that's happened recently, it's become very clear to me how much your daughter means to me. I love Lizzie, more than I ever thought I was capable of loving another person. I feel like she was the missing piece of my soul that I didn't know I was looking for until I met her. I know we haven't been together for that long, but she's it for me. I think I knew from the very beginning, but I'm getting away from myself. I just...Lizzie is my person, and I wanted to see if it would be alright with you if I ask her to marry me?"

The blonde woman's eyes widened. "Are you asking me for my blessing?"

I nod, feeling more terrified in this moment than I ever have in my entire life, even when I married Sawyer. If you could even call it that. We hadn't told anyone we were planning on getting married and just did it, and I realized that I made a lot of mistakes that I don't want to make with Lizzie. And that starts with doing all of this right, including putting myself out there on the line right now.

It startles me a little when Jarnie pulls me into a tight hug, but her words cause me to relax instantly. "I would love nothing more than to call you my daughter, Y/N. You make Lizzie happy. That much is abundantly clear to anyone who watches the two of you together, and that is all I could ever ask for as her mother."

The both of us have tears rolling down our cheeks by the time we pull away, and we take a few minutes to compose ourselves before rejoining the others in the kitchen. Lizzie glances over at me as soon as we enter and I automatically join her at her side, wrapping an arm around her waist while also placing a kiss on her temple.

Across the room, my eyes catch as Jarnie whispers something to my mother and the two of them share a small smile before their gazes fall on us, which only makes me smile myself.

I definitely know what I'm thankful for this year.

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We're waiting for my wife's car to finish up at the dealership (oil change) and I'm bored, so here's chapter two!

The next one will be part 2 of Thanksgiving, and then possibly a part 3? I haven't decided yet. But we get Y/N telling the twins about proposing!! And then we'll really be kicking off into the plot!

Enjoy! Be safe!

-Commander ♥️