If he ever got up the courage.
“This is getting ridiculous.” Tamsyn took his glass from his hand and handed it back to Carter. “Your son is a chickenshit.”
“I’m well aware.” Carter laughed. “If you really want to call him out, haul his ass into the family room. All his siblings, their spouses, nieces and nephews, and his mother are there.”
“Sounds like a plan.” She yanked him by the elbow.
“What the heck? What is going on?” He tripped over his own two feet as Tamsyn marched him through the hallway and into the family room where everyone sat in front of the fireplace. It was a cold January day. The snow was piling up outside and shortly, once all the babies went down, everyone planned on going outside, building snowmen, and having a snowball fight.
Good River family fun.
“He still hasn’t done it?” His mother lifted her gaze from her cross-stitch.
“Nope.” Tamsyn dug her hand into his pocket.
“Hey. Stop that.” He tried batting her hand away, but she was too fast.
She pulled out the diamond.
Everyone busted out laughing.
“Do you have something you want to ask me? Or shall I just put this on my finger and start planning our wedding with your mother? Personally, I don’t want to wait too long. So, if it’s okay with all of you, I’d like to do it in a couple of weeks. I know weddings have been done at the winery, but considering my family history here, I’m thinking maybe we do a small ceremony in the park. Justice of the peace? Sound good to you?”
Noir blinked. He swallowed. He opened his mouth but no words escaped his lips. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Oh hell. Tamsyn, I love you. Do you want to get married?”
“I think my answer was clear.” She wiggled her finger with the diamond on it. She wrapped her arms around Noir. “I love you, but you suck at hiding things. I’ve known about that ring since you bought it.”
“I can’t keep anything from a cop.”
“Not any cop. The chief of police.” She smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” he said, heat rising to his cheeks as his entire family made a collectiveaww.
With the exception of Ashling and TJ. They both said in unisongross, get a room.
“Now that I have all of you in one room,” Tamsyn said. “I do have a different kind of announcement.” She took Noir’s hand and placed it on her stomach.
“Oh my God.” His mother jumped from her chair, tossing her cross-stitch to the ground.
“Are you okay, Mom?” Noir asked.
“You should be asking your fiancée that.” His mom took Tamsyn into her arms and hugged her tight.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” his dad said. “I’m going to start losing count of all these grandkids.”
“Grandkids?” Noir took a step back and raked a hand across the top of his head. He stared at Tamsyn, who swiped at her cheeks. “Are you pregnant?”
“That’s right. You’re going to be a daddy. That’s why I couldn’t stand around and wait for you to figure out when the perfect time would be to propose. I needed you to just get it over with so we could get on with it.”
“I need to sit down.” But instead, Noir took Tamsyn into his arms and twirled her around. He’d finally found his perfect match.
EPILOGUE
CARTER
One Year Later…
Carter held Elizabeth Weezer River in his arms. She held his thumb with a death grip as she smiled and cooed while he made a funny face. She was a feisty, fiery little girl. Born a few weeks early, but healthy and with a set of lungs that rocked the world. She was a good mix of both families. She had her mother’s eyes and her father’s soul. She was the new heartbeat of the family home and Carter couldn’t be happier about his decision to give the house to his son and his family.
