The past few hours alone made her realize this was not what she wanted.Hawk was who she wanted.A life with him.
After she closed up the shop, she had gone to Adam’s graveside and talked to him.She was always going to love Adam.He’d been her first love, but it was time for her to move on.She loved Hawk more than anything and wanted a future with him.
“No matter what, Katie, you will find someone else.There is someone out there that is going to love you, give you lots of babies, and take care of you, and want you to take care of them.You’re going to find someone, and I don’t want you thinking about me when you do that.”
“Adam, stop it.”
“No, I’m not going to be the guy that wants you mourning me.I’m ...not going to make it.I need you to promise me that when you fall in love, when you find that special person, and he deserves you, you’re not going to hold yourself back.”
She was not going to hold back.
Pulling out her cell phone as she took the short walk home, she had to clear her head, and even though it was cold, she needed time to think.Hawk’s number was right there.All she had to do was press the call button, and she could talk to him.
She had to make this right, not just for the baby, but for the two of them.
Clicking the call button, she put her cell phone to her ear, and it kept ringing but no one picked up.She did this a couple of times, and Hawk was not answering.With every step she took, she hated what she had done.
Arriving at her house, she reached into her bag, looked for her key, and reached out to unlock the door, only to stop as the door opened.Hawk was on the other side, and he shocked her.
“Hello, my lady,” he said.
“Hawk?”
He held the door open for her.“Would you like to come inside?”
She nodded and stepped inside, and she was amazed at all the rose petals, and the glow from the candles.None of them looked like a hazard, and it was so beautiful.
“Hawk, I’m so sorry.”
“Please, just let me do this,” he said.
She wanted to tell him how sorry she was, and to explain that she wanted to be with him completely, only he took her hands and led her into the dining room, which looked equally as romantic.
He took her bag, her coat, and helped her into the chair.There was a glass of soda beside her.
“I did some research and I also know what you like, so this is orange soda, not too strong either.”Hawk looked down at the table, and she had already noticed the suit.
He looked amazing.And nervous.
“I’ll be right back.”
She watched as he went into the kitchen, and minutes later came back carrying two plates.
She loved chicken as well as mac-and-cheese, which is what he had cooked for her.The chicken smelled amazing, and she was pretty sure he’d put a spice blend on it.
Picking up her knife and fork, she cut into the chicken as Hawk sat opposite her.She wanted to appreciate the food he’d brought out, but she wanted to tell him how she felt.
“I love you,” she said.
Hawk looked up.
“I know, I know, this might be moving a little too fast, and I am sorry about that.It’s not what I intended.”She frowned.“To be honest, I don’t exactly know what I intended, but I love you, and I want to have this baby with you.”
He sunk to his knee, and she gasped as he suddenly had a velvet box in his hand, already opening it for her.
“I love you, Katie.I have loved you for a long time, even before I came back to Hope.I’ve loved you when we were kids, and I didn’t know how to say it or what to do.I’ve loved you for a lifetime, and you telling me today that you are pregnant was the best damn news I’ve heard.I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
She opened her mouth.“When we were kids?”
