“I’ll take Tabi to bed and head off,” Sasha says. “Niki needs a moment to regroup.”
Within minutes, it’s just Niki and me in the room.
“Did Tabi really call me Daddy?” he whispers as he holds me close. “I didn’t dream it?”
“She did, Sleeping Beauty.”
“And today of all days,” he adds, dragging me onto the sofa with him.
I straddle his lap and cock my head.
“You’ve forgotten? How dare you forget the best night of my life?” he says, although his twinkling eyes suggest amusement rather than anguish. He grabs his phone to show me the date. “October 16th.”
“The night we met,” I say with a shy smile.
“The night my life changed for the better.” He reaches his hands behind my neck and unhooks my chain. “I wasn’t intending to do this tonight. I’d planned a massive event with dancers and fireworks, but actions and small gestures always mean more.”
I can’t keep up with him.
“A year ago today, my life restarted with the words, ‘Get your hands off my wife.’ It’s time to make it official.” He slides the ring off the chain and helps me stand. He kneels on the ground. His big blue eyes meet mine, and I sober up quickly. “Will you do the honour of becoming my wife?”
He holds out his ring. My hand shakes as I push it forward.
“Is that a yes?”
I nod as tears brim my eyes.
“Use your words, angel.”
“It’s a yes. I want to marry you and make our family bigger one day. I want to be Mrs. Coulter.”
“Your name was written on my heart the day you dared me to swim and face my fears. I can do anything with you by my side. I love you, Rosie.”
“I love you, too, Niki. And I always will.”
He slides the ring on my finger and jumps up, lifting me in the air.
