I squeeze her tight. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I hope you know that.”
She beams up at me. There’s nothing quite like being adored by a child. After all, children seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to the innate goodness of the people they encounter.
“Can I be a bridesmaid?” she asks.
Noah chuckles. “Why don’t you let Sabrina think about it before asking her to choose?”
Maddie’s face falls, and my heart cracks a little.
I grasp her hand and give it a squeeze. “Of course you can be a bridesmaid.”
Her smile instantly returns.
“Congratulations.” Fisher hugs me, then Noah.
“I’m so happy for you.” Lucy, with Grace in her arms, hugs me next. My sweet goddaughter buries her hand in my hair and tugs. “Happiness looks good on you.”
Alyssa shakes her head as she approaches. “I never could have imagined this would happen when I suggested you apply for a job as a nanny.”
“It’s pretty wild,” I agree, opening my arms to hug her.
Elias swoops in next and engulfs me in a bone-crushing hug. You’d never know that only a year ago, he was recovering from knee surgery. He’s back and better than ever.
“I totally knew this was happening. That’s why I let Baker win.”
“No, he didn’t,” Noah grouses.
With a wide grin, Elias gives me another squeeze. “Happy for you two.”
Ebba settles in front of me wearing a sheepish smile. “Before you ask, yes, I totally knew what was up. But I didn’t want to ruin the surprise for you. Congratulations.”
“Come here.” I throw my arms around her and sway from side to side. “You’re the best.”
I hope Ebba gets her happily ever after one of these days too, but the look of longing and regret she sends in Fisher’s direction has me thinking it might be a while.
I’ve barely let her go when Noah’s fingers find mine and he tugs me into his side. As his warmth soaks into me, he lowers his mouth to mine, and when our friends break out into a round of hoots and hollers, he smiles against my lips.
This man is going to be my husband.
I place my hand over his heart and meet his eye. I can’t stop smiling and neither can he. I see it there, in his brown eyes, a future I never dared to imagine.
Before I met Noah, I thought I had lost it all. No job, no apartment, a life going nowhere.
But really, it was only the beginning.
