Smiling, I snuggled into him harder. “If it seals the deal for you, I’ll go anywhere.”
“That’s what I love about you. We’re a team. We’re a team in life, and we’ll be a team with Bean. I’m going to be the best uncle-dad a kid’s ever had.”
I pulled back. “It really doesn’t bother you?”
His gaze was solemn. “It’s an honor. Truly.” He released me and stepped back. “I was late because of this.” He dug a little black box out of his pocket and started to drop to a knee.
There was a knock on the door, and it opened. He paused in a half lunge.
“Oh, hey.” Emery’s eyes went wide. “I wouldn’t do that. Not that.” She gestured to the ring. “Definitely do that. But the kneeling part. Don’t do it. We clean and disinfect, but you know, it’s a general rule. Never touch the floor in a clinic if at all possible.” She backed out of the room. “Why don’t you two come out when you’re ready. I’ll let the tech know it might be a few minutes.”
“It won’t be that long,” I said. “I’m going to say yes.” He opened the box to a simple but gorgeous band of browns with a subtle blue. “Oh my God. Is that made from petrified wood?”
He took the ring from the box. “I drove as fast as legally possible so I could get to the gift shop, grab this baby, and get back before your appointment.”
I practically shoved my left hand at him.
He gently gripped my hand and slid the ring on. A perfect fit. “Once my company takes off, I can get you one with a gemstone.” He smiled. “But not a diamond for my geologist.”
Van kissed the back of my hand and pulled me into his side. “Ready to go see our baby, sweet Clover?”
“I’m ready for anything as long as you’re with me.”
Epilogue
Clover
* * *
I rocked on the chair Van bought for the front porch. The grass had been neatly mowed earlier this weekend. I leaned back and enjoyed the sunshine on my face.
The front door opened. The sexiest uncle-dad in the world exited with a small wrapped bundle in his arms.
I smiled. I could get pregnant again just looking at that, and actually, we weren’t doing anything to stop the possibility. “I thought you were going to lay him down.”
“I can’t bring myself to actually do it.” He lightly dropped into the matching rocking chair next to me. “I’m going to spoil him.”
“My mom is a fan of saying that you can’t spoil babies.”
“Your mom’s a smart woman.” He steadily rocked, and little Nolan scrunched his face and passed out again. Adoration crossed my husband’s face. He was smitten—with Nolan and with me.
Looking back, that month living alone seemed like years. The months back with Van? A blink.
“I want to take you out next week for our anniversary,” Van said.
“I didn’t know we decided which one to celebrate.” We remarried on Valentine’s Day in a small courthouse ceremony. Aunt Linda let us move back into the house. She had canceled a prospective renter right before the lease was signed when she’d heard Van and me were getting married for real because we couldn’t stay apart.
“Easy—we’re celebrating both, and to be fair, Valentine’s Day is already a holiday. Can’t be cheated out of a real anniversary.”
“I approve of that plan. What are we doing?”
“I heard it through the grapevine that you wanted a wedding by the lake.”
Poppy must’ve started that rumor, and it was a true one. I told her when she was planning her wedding what I envisioned. “You want to celebrate our anniversary with a wedding?”
“What better way than to gather on a beach? You in that dress with the clovers on it. I’ll get a fresh trim so my hair doesn’t blow in my face. It’ll be our turn to host the Duke crew.”
“Mmm, sounds divine.” So much happened in the last year. We’d be the same people, but doing it our way. “What about our anniversary night?”
