“So, youdon’twant to marry me?”
“That’s not atall what I’m saying,” he argued. “I just want us to understand each other morebefore we make that kind of commitment, because unlike those other assholes,when we get married, I’ll never let you go.”
“You said,when.”
“I did,” heconfirmed. “But I’m not asking you until I have a proper ring and have signedwhatever the fuck your sister and your six other attorneys want me to sign.”
“Oh,” I breathedout, blinking back tears. “But you want to marry me?”
“Oh, not justwant to marry you, Wart. I’m gonna marry you,” he said, rolling me gently ontomy back. “And I’m gonna put babies in that belly, and I’m gonna fuckin’ loveyou until you’re a legend just like Dolly Parton.”
I cupped hisface and laughed. “I could never reach Dolly status.”
“You’re alreadythere in my book, beautiful.” He smiled, leaning down to kiss me sweetly,careful of my cut. “I love you, Melody. More than all the stars in the sky.”
“I love you,too, Courtland Nash. More than all the planets in the universe.”
Before anythinginteresting could happen, however, my sisters pounded on my door.
“We want thebaby,” they yelled through the door.
I snorted. “Theyhave always been the worst cockblocks.”
Train chuckled,knifing off the bed and pulling open the door. My sisters rushed in and jumpedonto the mattress with a squeal, wrapping their arms around me.
“Oh my god, wewere so scared,” Harmony said.
“Seriously,”Lyric agreed.
“Where are yourhusbands?” I asked.
“Doom’s helpingbutton everything up with Dalton,” Lyric said. “He should be home in a coupleof hours. Sky’s watching the kids.”
“Jaxon’s flightshould be landing in an hour,” Harmony said.
Train leaned onthe bed and kissed me. “I’m gonna grab a beer. Spend some time with yoursisters. I’ll be back.”
“Okay, honey.”
He walked outthe door and my sisters arranged the pillows against the headboard so we couldlean against it. I was in the middle, Lyric on my left, Harmony on my right, asI filled them in on the events of the kidnap and everything that had happenedfrom the second I’d left the stage.
As my family surroundedme, I was humbled by the fact that I had been given so much despite the fact Ididn’t deserve it and I vowed I’d never take any of it for granted.
Train walkedback into the room an hour into my reunion with my sisters, as my eyes weredrooping and he very sweetly kicked them out, locking the door behind them.
Shutting off thelights, he climbed into bed beside me and pulled me close. “I love you, baby.”
“I love you too,honey.”
I fell asleep,knowing that as long as I was with him, I was safe. I’d found my refuge and itwas beautiful.
Melody
One yearlater…
“Thank you allfor coming,” I said to the crowd. “Puddin’ would have both loved this and toldme to stop making a fuss.”
The crowdlaughed, followed by loud hooting and applause. It was the Second Annual EdgarPuddin’ Daily Foundation Benefit, held every year in Savannah, and it was apacked house. My sisters and their families were here, and we’d already sungtogether. I swear, I looked forward to that part most of all. They were nowbackstage watching the final part of the show.
