The relief that washes over her face is so profound it makes my throat tight.
“I love you,” she tells me, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I love you so much. I was so wrong about everything—about stepping back, about Victoria, about needing space. Sophie told me I was being insane and she was right. I can’t believe I almost?—“
“You were being thoughtful,” I say gently, wiping away her tears. “And I love that about you. Besides, you’re here now. We’re here. And we’re having a baby.”
She laughs, watery and bright, and the sound of it fills me up. This woman. This incredible, beautiful woman who walked into my life with an armful of lingerie and candy and changed everything.
“Chloe’s going to be a big sister,” she whispers, a smile breaking through her tears.
My own smile gets even wider. I can already see Chloe’s face when we tell her, the way she’s going to scream and jump around and immediately start making plans. She’s always wanted a sibling, and I’ve always felt guilty that she didn’t have one. She’s going to be such a good sister.
“She’s going to lose her mind,” I say, and we both laugh, giddy with the enormity of it all.
I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring the taste of her, the feel of her in my arms, the knowledge that she’s mine and I’m hers and we’re going to build a life together. She melts intome the way she always does, her arms winding around my neck, her body pressing against mine, and I feel the rightness of it settle into my bones.
Then I pull back, and my hand goes to my jacket pocket, to the small velvet box that’s been burning a hole there since I left the jewelry store. Suddenly there’s nothing I want more than for her to know how serious I am about our future, how much I wanted this before I even knew about the baby. I pull it out.
Emma’s breath catches when she sees it.
“I bought this today,” I tell her, and my voice is unsteady now. “Before I knew about the baby. I was going to wait, plan it out properly, pick the perfect moment after I won you back today.” I look down at the box in my hand, then back up at Emma’s face. “But I got this ring because I’m sure about us. And now seems like the right time.”
I drop to one knee right there and open the box. The antique gold catches the light and Emma’s hand flies to her mouth, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks, and she’s so beautiful in this moment that it takes my breath away. Pregnant with my baby and the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
“Emma Hayes,” I say, looking up at her with everything I feel written across my face. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you—you and Chloe and this baby and whatever else comes our way. Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says immediately, the word coming out on a sob. “Yes to everything. Yes to all of it.”
I stand and take the ring from the box, my hands steadier than I expected as I slide it onto her finger. It fits perfectly, like it was made for her, like it was waiting all these years for exactly this moment. She stares at it for a second, turning her hand to watch the diamond catch the light, and then she looks up at me with so much love in her eyes that I can barely breathe.
She throws her arms around my neck and pulls me down into a kiss that tastes like tears and joy and forever. I wrap my arms around her and hold on tight, this woman who’s going tobe my wife, who’s carrying my child, who turned my whole world upside down in the best possible way.
When we finally break apart, both of us breathing hard, I press my forehead against hers and just hold her for a moment.
“I love you,” I tell her, because I can’t say it enough, because I want her to hear it every day for the rest of our lives. “You’re it for me, Emma. The only one. Forever. I’ll love you until the stars fall.”
“Forever’s a long time,” she murmurs, smiling up at me through her tears.
“Good.” I kiss her forehead. “And I’m going to love every second of it.”
EPILOGUE
Emma
Six months later
The black walnut bar is warm under my palm, the grain smooth and beautiful in a way that still impresses me every time I run my fingers along it. Theo spent months finishing this piece after it sat in his garage for years, and now it’s the centerpiece of Harbor & Ash, exactly like he always imagined it would be.
Customers comment on it constantly, the craftsmanship, the way the light catches the natural patterns in the wood, how it makes the whole space feel warmer somehow.Life’s too short to let beautiful things collect dust, I told him once, and he listened.
I’m seven months pregnant now, my belly round and obvious under the soft green dress I’m wearing, and I can’t see my feet anymore when I stand. Getting out of bed in the morning requires a kind of rolling maneuver that Theo finds hilarious, and I’ve given up on tying my own shoes entirely. He does it for me every morning without being asked, kneeling at my feet like it’s a privilege instead of a chore.
He can’t stop touching my stomach, talking to the baby,pressing his ear against my belly like he’s going to hear something beyond general gurgling sounds. It’s ridiculous and adorable and I love him for it.
The restaurant is quiet now, the last few customers finishing their meals at tables near the window, the warm glow of the pendant lights casting everything in amber. I feel full of contentment in a way I didn’t know was possible a year ago, like my life has finally settled into the shape it was always meant to be.
Last night we had a family dinner at our place with Theo’s brothers and their partners. Calvin and Maren brought appetizers I devoured and wine I watched others enjoy. Dominic—who Theo describes affectionately as “completely undatable” and “forever single”—came solo and brooded in the way he does. And Jack and Lark flew in for the week, and I had to physically restrain myself from fangirling too hard when I met her. Lark Reyes. One of my favorite musicians in my living room eating lasagna I helped make. Well, I watched Theo make it.
The evening was wonderful, Chloe running between all the adults collecting attention and compliments on her new sparkly dress, Theo relaxed and happy in a way I’ve come to treasure.
