Love of Autism Ch. 18

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The drive back to Katie's house was quiet but that wasn't a bad thing. Katie had her hand in Scott's and she couldn't help but look at him with lots of love. In the end he was right. It had been a long time since they had gotten out on any type of romantic date and she felt very happy about how the date went. Yet...at the same time she was still bothered by the fact Scott had suggested that she get ready at her mom's house instead of their apartment.

"Did your parents set up a surprise get together with my mom to reveal another secret that I should know about?" Katie asked.

Scott couldn't help but bust out in laughter as Katie referenced their parents getting together to talk about how it was Scott's parents who discovered that Katie's dad was cheating on her mother and then events that led up to them sharing that information with Katie's mom. "I seriously doubt that is the case, but I wouldn't doubt that there are secrets my parents know that I still don't know."

Katie thought back to that time and how much she hated her father. Now though she and her father had managed to start the healing process and as time went on the scar from that wound was going away. "I'm just glad you aren't keeping anymore secrets from me," she said as Scott pulled into the drive. However something seemed very off when she looked at the house. It was almost pitch black inside which made no sense. Jillian would have told Katie if she was going out and there was no way Jillian would have been in bed already. "Why are the lights out?"

"I don't know," Scott responded. "Do you want me to walk you inside and make sure everything is ok?"

"Yes," Katie answered. "Something just seems off."

They both got out of the car and went to the front door where Katie discovered it was locked. She got the spare key out of the hiding place near the door and used it to unlock the door and let herself in. Once she stepped foot inside she was completely shocked to see the room covered with small LED candles. 'No wonder it looked so dark from the outside' she thought to herself. She saw that the curtains had been let down to block the light from being seen from the outside.

"Looks like someone was planning on doing something quite romantic here tonight," Scott said as he followed her a few steps before getting down on one knee with a diamond ring in-between his fingers.

"Mom hasn't told me that she started..." Katie began to say before she turned around and saw Scott on one knee holding a diamond ring in-between his fingers. Immediately her hands covered her face as she couldn't believe this was it. Scott was really going to propose to her!

"Katie, you have been my best friend these past two years," Scott began, now nervous more than ever in any other time of his life. "While no one would have never thought I would be right here in this spot in your house, I am because I love you more than anything in this entire world. You make me a better man; you push me to try new things and I want to try new things because of you. We've been to hell and back together and you've saved me from myself." Scott couldn't help but start to tear up as he said that. Without Katie's intervention, his suicide attempt would have been successful. The tears he tried to hold back forced their way through, but he chose to continue through his speech. "My life without you is meaningless and I want us to be together until death do us part. Katie Marie Paulson, will you marry me?"

Katie started crying as soon as Scott started his speech. The man she loved, the man that was there for her during one of her darkest times, the man that helped her heal from her miscarriage, the man that helped her feel sexy even though she didn't feel sexy anymore, the man that made her better in life was asking for her hand in marriage and there was only one answer she could give. "Yes!" she said through the tears coming down her face. "Yes, I will marry you!"

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Eight years later

Scott and Katie walked into the funeral home with their three-year-old daughter, Emily, and made their way to the room where the viewing was happening. As soon as they walked into the room Emily ran up to Keith and Jackie. Keith was the first to notice her and bent down to pick her up. "Hey Emily," he greeted his granddaughter.

"Hi Grandpa!" Emily said with happiness that only a three-year-old would have at a funeral home.

Scott and Katie saw that Keith was going to take care of their daughter and walked over to another part of the room before sitting down in two chairs. "I know this isn't as hard for me as it is you Scottie," Katie began but Scott put his hand into hers and squeezed while looking into her eyes. Katie understood that signal, smiled and kissed him on the cheek to show that she understood.

Scott was grateful that Katie had learned to pick up on his cues for her, especially on a day like this one. In truth, it was much harder for Scott than it was for Katie, but he didn't want her to compare who was saddened more. They were there to support each other.

A few minutes later Steve and Liz joined them. "How long have you been here?" Liz asked.

Katie turned to look at Liz, but still held Scott's hand firmly to let him know that she could handle the talking if he needed her to. "We just got here."

"I saw Emily with Keith," Liz commented. "She sure does seem to find a way to bring a smile to everyone's face in our saddest moments."

"She sure does," Scott said with a sad smile. "After I told her what had happened, she asked if she could cuddle me until I felt better." Tears came down his face but he still kept that smile. "She stayed with me until it was her bedtime and even then, I wish I could have let her just keeping cuddling me."

"Like father like daughter," Steve said as he nodded his head at Katie who nodded her head back.

"Yep," Katie agreed, "heart of gold and autistic mind that makes that heart of gold even more pure."

Even though that hadn't gotten official diagnosis yet, Scott and Katie were very certain that Emily was indeed autistic. What they weren't prepared for was how much of a picky eater that she would be along with her sensory issues when it came to clothes. The fact that she had a small speech delay also hinted at the fact that she was born autistic as many autistic people have a speech delay in their younger years. However, before they could really worry about how much of a delay there would be Emily caught up quick and in fact would not stop talking throughout the day. Even with all the non-stop talking Scott and Katie loved their daughter more than anything else and would not let anyone think less of their daughter. The sad fact of the matter was they had to start the diagnosis process all over again and neither of them were looking forward to it.

A few minutes later Emily walked up to Scott. "Daddy, are you OK?" she asked in that sweet voice that always made Scott's worst days better.

Scott hated lying to his daughter and knew she could handle seeing her daddy being sad. "I'm still very sad about my friend Emily," he said looking into her eyes.

Emily climbed up onto Scott's lap and gave him a hug. "I wish I could make you less sad."

Scott hugged his daughter. "Can I bring you to my friend as I say my goodbyes to him?"

Emily nodded her head against Scott's chest and he picked her up and carried her to the casket. Once there, he looked at the still, lifeless face of his psychologist who he had known most of his life. Bernie had been the one to give him his autism diagnosis and try his best to guide him through life as best he could. Bernie had retired a few years earlier and it had been a year since Scott last saw him. The untimely news of his death shook Scott to his core. In truth, Scott would not be over his death for quite some time, but as Emily hugged him tightly he knew he had the support to get him through this.

"Goodbye my old friend," Scott whispered before looking and heading back to his wife and friends.

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Scott closed the door to Emily's bedroom and walked into the kitchen where Katie had a bottle of beer waiting for him. "How is she?" Katie asked.

Scott sat down, took the bottle and took a sip of it before answering, "She is still the same loving daughter that I don't know how I am so lucky to have."

Katie reached across the table and put her hand into her husband's. "One day we'll have to tell her exactly where she got the loving nature from."

Scott took another sip of this beer before setting it on the table. "She got it from both of us."

"More from you than me," Katie argued.

"Don't make me bring up again the one time you saved my life," Scott said with a smile.

Katie shook her head knowing the point her husband was trying to make. "Yes, she got her loving and caring nature from both of us but can your logic concede that in this case this type of love and caring is more something you are known for doing?"

Scott squeezed his wife's hand. "My logic can concede that," he said as he sat back into the chair. "Still though..." he began, "the universe is sometimes funny with knowing who to bring into our lives at the right time."

Katie looked at her husband and knew exactly what he wasn't saying. "You mean like how Emily was born on the same day as Susan's stillbirth?"

Scott looked into his wife's beautiful eyes, smiled and nodded, "Yep."

Katie shrugged her shoulders. "Sometimes things just happen like that without rhyme or reason."

"Maybe," Scott said, "but her being born on that day sure did help heal that wound."

Silence fell between them for several minutes before Katie spoke up again. "I'm really going to miss Bernie," she said in a somber tone.

"We all are," Scott said. "That man did more to help us and our families than I think we know still."

Katie squeezed her husband's hand. "And we will carry on and do our best to not let his work with us be for nothing."

Scott squeezed his wife's hand back. "Yes we will."

The end

As much as I would love to write another chapter of this story, this is the ending I have chosen. I have put of a lot of myself in this story and have gone into some dark places of my life as inspiration for this story. With that inspiration, I have used real life people to help guide me through my journey in life. Bernie is a real person. He was indeed my psychologist and did indeed diagnose me as autistic. Recently he passed away and I am still dealing with that loss as is most of my family. Even though he knew nothing of this story I feel like he would be proud and honored to be incorporated into this story.

From the bottom of my heart I want to thank Tigersman for being my editor for this story and my previous one. You have helped hide my mistakes and make me a better writer. I am eternally grateful!

To everyone who has read "Is Love All or Nothing?" and this story, thank you for taking the time to read my stories, for the feedback, the criticisms, and the praise. You have been part of my journey since 2016 of telling these two stories and I am grateful that you have chosen my stories as something worth reading

There will not be another story in this universe on my part. I know I could a prequel involving how Keith and Andy first met in college and more involving Scott and Katie...but I have no inspiration on what to write. That being said if anyone want to do the prequel, continue on with Scott and Katie's story, or do a story involving a MUCH older Emily, you have my blessing.

Do I have another story in my head? Yes...but it will not be on Literotica as the story I want to write next will have no erotica in it. That being said if I ever do get to publish my next story I will make sure to put a link in the bio so you all can buy it. Yes, it will involve an autistic character because obviously that is what I write best. I have already pitched the idea to some friends and they love it! If you want me to pitch the idea to you as well you can always ask through feedback.

Again, thank you everyone for reading my story and being part of this journey.

DestinyReader