I laugh, even though I’m on the verge of tears. I can’t believe this moment is happening. That I get to spend my life with this man.
My best friend.
My everything.
He loved me at my best. At my worst, and even when I didn’t love myself. A love like this only comes along once in a lifetime. It might not be perfect but it’s ours.
“You don’t look half bad yourself.”
He’s devastatingly handsome in his khakis, white collared shirt, navy tie and suspenders. That smile he only reserves for me eats up his scruffy face. One hand behind his back, he walks closer until he’s standing in front of me. “I wanted to give you something before we start this forever thing.”
I laugh and he reveals a small, baby blue box with a white bow, he lifts my hand to place it in my palm then kisses my lips.
Tender.
Soft.
Like a cool summer breeze.
It leaves me breathless by the time he pulls away, long enough for me to open the box. Black and white diamonds sparkle, curling around one another to make the shape of a treble clef.
“From this day forward, you will never walk alone. There may be dark roads but my heart will be your shelter and my arms will be your home.”
Tears stream down my face as I wrap my arms around him. “I love you.” Those three words don’t seem nearly enough but it’s all I can say, my heart is lodged in my throat and my emotions are overwhelming. There is no greater gift than love and he gives it to me so selflessly.
Pulling back, he takes the dainty chain from my hands and spins me around to put it on my neck. When he has it clasped in place, he presses a kiss to the nape, causing a shiver to ripple through me. Then he wraps his arms around my waist, resting both hands on my growing belly. “You’ll always be my life, Sylvie. My reason. My song.”
Closing my eyes I lose myself in his embrace, knowing that, for the first time in my life, I’m exactly where I belong.
Spinning in place, I wrap my arms around his neck, reaching up on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. “I have something for you, too.”
His hands cradle my face as he deepens the kiss.
Linc releases me and I walk over to retrieve the gift from my chifforobe, hand wrapped in brown paper with twine tying it off. He reads the small tag on the front out loud.
I saved the best of my heart
for the heart that understands the worst of me.
As soon as he tears the paper he realizes what it is, his wide eyes lift to mine. “Your journal.”
I nod.
“Are you sure?”
“There are things in there I could never say out loud. Everything that ever broke me and healed me is written within those pages. The words of my heart.”
“I promise to take good care of it, baby.”
“I promise to take good care of yours, too.”
Curling his hand around my neck, he pulls me in for a long, sensual kiss. “You ready to start forever with me?”
“Forever never sounded so good.”
Linc
The moon hangs low,
