She nodded.
He leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “And?”
Beth swallowed, then reached for the notebook beside her. Without a word, she handed it to him.
Bryce’s brows pulled together as he glanced down and read the words she had written.
Donald & SueLynn Stoner
Would like to announce the marriage
of their daughter
Elizabeth Jean
To
Bryce ????
Son of
Byron & Barbara Jensen
On
May 10, 2024
Bethwatched him carefully as he absorbed the words.
After a long beat, he looked up, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
“I didn’t know if you’d want your dad’s name on it, but… oh and I don’t know your middle name, but… what do you think?” she asked softly.
He exhaled, staring at the page as if trying to memorize it. Then, finally. “My middle name is William.”
Beth’s lips parted. “I like it.”
Bryce closed the notebook, running his fingers over the cover. “Are you sure about this?” He motioned toward the book, his voice quiet.
“Positive.”
He didn’t trust himself to touch her in this moment. If he did, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to let her go. Instead, he simply handed the notebook back.
There were so many things he could say—wanted to say—but for now, the weight of what she just told him settled deep in his chest.
Beth, in her own shy, thoughtful way, had just told him she wanted to stay married.
He wasn’t going to mess this up.
Not with words. Not by rushing things.
“Tell me about your time in Belize,” he said instead.
The sudden change of subject made her laugh—a quiet, relieved sound. She wasn’t sure if they were supposed to kiss, or if he was supposed to pull her into his arms, or what exactlyshould have happened after telling him she wanted to stay married. But one thing she was sure of was that she wasn’t ready for him to touch her like that yet.
Not after the way her body had reacted to his teasing earlier.
So, she launched into her stories—the people she’d met, the children she’d cared for, the moments that had shaped her.
