Henry’s large form causes the bed to move as he falls flat on his back.
“Man,” he breathes out. “Children’s birthday parties are exhausting!”
I laugh. “Well, you didn’t have to get into the bouncy house with all of them. You could have broken it.”
Turning to his side, he begins to stroke my arm with his finger. The sensation brings goosebumps to the surface. “It was worth it. I love my girls.”
I still.
It’s been three months since Henry and I made it official and told everyone we were together. We, of course, waited until I found out that the lump was noncancerous before we made it official. Despite him saying he wanted to be there if it was cancer, I didn’t want to add the stress of a relationship into the mix as I fought it.
He’s been there through everything. Every appointment, my tests, when I got the flu, and when Chelsea broke her arm. Henry has all except moved into my house, but we have yet to say “I love you” even though I’ve wanted to for the last month. He tells the girls all the time, and I can’t imagine my life without him. Sometimes I feel like its too fast, but I think my heart has known it belongs to him much longer than I’ve realized.
“Faaaaith.” He elongates my name sweetly. “Did you hear me?”
My eyebrows raise in question as I turn to him. “I’m sorry, what?”
His hand comes up and gently cups my face. “I said, I love my girls.”
“I know you do.” I smile. “They love you, too.”
Serious eyes peer down at my mouth. “And what about this girl? Does she love me?”
Taking a minute to gather my strength, I nod. “She does.”
He pulls his hand away from my cheek and brings into view a beautiful solitaire diamond on top of a platinum band. “Enough to become my wife?”
My breath hitches in my throat, and tears immediately break the barrier of my lids.
“Shh, shh, shh. Don’t cry, Faith.” He kisses my lips. “I love you so much, and all I want is to make you mine. I could never replace Jeremy. Ever. But I want you to be mine. I want to grow old with you. Raise the girls. Threaten boys that come to the house for them. Help you with the dishes. Make love to you every night. I know it’s so soon, but I also feel like it’s been a long time coming.”
“Yes,” I breathe out. “I’d love to grow old with you and have you raise my girls with me and maybe have more children someday.”
He sits up quickly. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. That would mean more birthday parties a year. I’m not sure I can handle that,” he jokes.
I pull him to me as he slides the ring on. “Okay, then.” I decide to compromise. “We can just practice the art of making more.”
Pushing my legs apart, he settles himself between them, rubbing his growing erection against me. “I like that plan, future wife.”
“Me too, future husband.”
THE END
