Our Story, Part 6: Jake
Denise had written two missionaries leading up to the summer that she send in her own papers, Mark and Jake. Towards, the end, she was only serious about Jake. Jake is a really nice guy, very soft-spoken and approachable. He was the first member of his family to graduate from high school and attend college. He grew up installing heating and A/C units with his (very successful) father. Oh, yes, Jake is 6'5'' and around 220 lbs.
On Denise's drive home (the day after graduation), she checked in with her mom, who told her that Jake wanted to take her out that night. Jake was just home from his mission. Denise was tired. I had run her through the ringer for the previous week, and she was on the last leg of a 9 hour drive. She told her mom that she didn't really want to go out, and that they could go out some other day. She was tired.
Of course, Jake was waiting for her when she drove up. She quickly showered as Jake patiently waited. Denise muttered something to her mother about not wanting Jake to get the wrong idea. Terri insisted that Jake just wanted to be friends, which Denise didn't believe for a second. Jake had planned on taking Denise out to a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes minor league baseball game (their stadium is named the Epicenter). As they got to Jake's truck, Jake opened the door, and there was a box of long-stemmed red roses. Denise took them back to her mom, and questioned "Just friends, huh, Mom?"
Fortunately for me, Denise was tired, and after the game was over she just wanted to go home. That weekend, Jake's brother had a wedding reception at Jake's house. Rumors were starting to leak out that there was some guy waiting for Denise back in Provo with a marriage proposal. While Denise wasn't interested in a relationship with Jake, she didn't want to hurt his feelings, and threatened people to keep quiet, so that she could be the one to break the news to Jake.
I don't remember other stories from the few days that Denise was home. On her way back to Provo, she spent a night at her Uncle Gill and Aunt Jill's in St. George, desperately trying to get away from everyone pestering her about what she was going to do.
Later, after we were engaged, I visited Rancho. We were all hanging out in Denise's living room, and there was a knock at the door. Denise asked who it was, and Jayme and Kim announced that Jake was coming over. Sure enough, Jake walked around the corner. I was sitting on the couch. Jake introduced himself, and I sat there as he came over to shake my hand. I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself, and the last thing I wanted to happen was for the obvious comparison to be made should I stand toe to toe with him. Jake is a great guy, and I have only good things to say about him.
Nonetheless, he does play his part in our story.
Next Post, Part 7: Finale
On Denise's drive home (the day after graduation), she checked in with her mom, who told her that Jake wanted to take her out that night. Jake was just home from his mission. Denise was tired. I had run her through the ringer for the previous week, and she was on the last leg of a 9 hour drive. She told her mom that she didn't really want to go out, and that they could go out some other day. She was tired.
Of course, Jake was waiting for her when she drove up. She quickly showered as Jake patiently waited. Denise muttered something to her mother about not wanting Jake to get the wrong idea. Terri insisted that Jake just wanted to be friends, which Denise didn't believe for a second. Jake had planned on taking Denise out to a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes minor league baseball game (their stadium is named the Epicenter). As they got to Jake's truck, Jake opened the door, and there was a box of long-stemmed red roses. Denise took them back to her mom, and questioned "Just friends, huh, Mom?"
Fortunately for me, Denise was tired, and after the game was over she just wanted to go home. That weekend, Jake's brother had a wedding reception at Jake's house. Rumors were starting to leak out that there was some guy waiting for Denise back in Provo with a marriage proposal. While Denise wasn't interested in a relationship with Jake, she didn't want to hurt his feelings, and threatened people to keep quiet, so that she could be the one to break the news to Jake.
I don't remember other stories from the few days that Denise was home. On her way back to Provo, she spent a night at her Uncle Gill and Aunt Jill's in St. George, desperately trying to get away from everyone pestering her about what she was going to do.
Later, after we were engaged, I visited Rancho. We were all hanging out in Denise's living room, and there was a knock at the door. Denise asked who it was, and Jayme and Kim announced that Jake was coming over. Sure enough, Jake walked around the corner. I was sitting on the couch. Jake introduced himself, and I sat there as he came over to shake my hand. I didn't want to make a spectacle of myself, and the last thing I wanted to happen was for the obvious comparison to be made should I stand toe to toe with him. Jake is a great guy, and I have only good things to say about him.
Nonetheless, he does play his part in our story.
Next Post, Part 7: Finale
posted by ronny at 22:25
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