The rays of light shine on my beautiful wife as she sleeps in our bed. Her engagement ring, nestled next to her wedding band catches the light, creating a prism of colours on the wall.
The spectrum of light reminds me of Lilly’s illuminated face the day I proposed. I didn’t wait long at all. Long enough for Ash to get out of hospital and move into her place, and long enough to arrange a party at the Black Crow.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I stepped up on stage in front of all our friends and her family. I’m sure Fern was there just to make sure I did the proposal right, and I’m sure Ash was there just for the free party food and beer, but it meant a lot to Lilly that they were there, giving their blessing.
I took the mic with a trembling hand and searched for my woman in a sea of people. She knew then what was going onand her face lit up before I even spoke. Her cheeks blushed a beautiful deep red without her heavy makeup, and her eyes glistened with happiness.
“I think you all know why you’re here, and thank you for keeping this on the down-low. It’s not easy keeping secrets from Lilly. I should know.” We share a knowing look after I tried to keep my identity a secret, but she knew it was me all along. Just as I’m sure she’s known this was coming for a while.
She rests her hands on her round stomach—only just showing.
“Lillian, you’re the centre of my universe. You make everything better with just your smile.” I’m grinning like a fucking idiot and I can see the lads in the corner of my eye and know I’m gonna get a ribbing when all this is over, but I don’t care.
“You stole my heart when you were a little girl, but as a woman you stole my sanity, crept into my mind and drove me insane until I couldn’t resist you any longer. Now you have my soul. I know you’ll take good care of it. It’s what you do and when you’re fully registered, you’ll be the best damn nurse this town’s ever seen with the way you take care of everybody. But I want to spend the rest of my life taking care of you.”
Her hands cover the rosy cheeks that I love. “Get your beautiful ass up here.”
The crowd cheers as she makes her way to the stage, her smile reaching her eyes. Once she’s in front of me, I take her trembling hand in mine and drop onto one knee. Staring up at my woman as if worshipping at her feet, reminds me of the time I was in her bedroom fixing her bed. It seems like a lifetime ago when the seeds of our relationship took root right on her bedroom floor.
“I love you, Lillian.” I can’t contain my smile, my heart bursting with all the love in my chest. Reaching into my pocket,I pull out the small leather box. “Marry me.” I already know she’s going to say yes, but my body vibrates, hoping I’ve given her a proposal to remember.
Lilly nods her head and says, “You know I will.”
The pub erupts with cheers and claps.
I take the ring from the box and slide it onto her finger. Lilly gasps as her mother’s engagement ring sparkles under the lights of the stage. Our eyes lock, and I rise to my feet.
She glances between me and the ring. “How did you?—”
“Hyacinth asked your sister to save it for you.”
We both look back at the crowd to find Fern smiling with pride and I relax, knowing I’ve done a good job.
Scout pushes the bedroom door open, sniffing the air as she bounds to my side.
I drop my free hand and ruffle her pointy ears. The retired German Shepherd is soft as a brush and is more likely to lick an intruder to death than attack, but I fell in love with her gentle nature, reminding me of my nightingale.
“Want to go out, girl?” Rising from the chair, with my son cradled in my arm, Scout waits patiently like a good girl, her big eyes looking up at me and her tongue lolling to the side.
I stand and open the patio door. A chilled breeze blows the curtain, and I close the door once Scout is outside. Sunrises are a lot different now to what they were before our family came along, but I wouldn’t have them any other way.
Lilly stirs in the bed with a hum, her arm stretching out as she rolls over onto my side, her eyes slowly opening. “Is it morning?”
I take the few steps to the bed, still cradling our son, and lean down to kiss her rosy cheek. “It’s early. You go back to sleep.”
Samuel, our son, hiccups in my arms.
“Is he hungry?” Lilly asks, the duvet falling to her waist, her heavy breasts leaking milk onto her silk nightdress.
“He was sucking his knuckles, but he’s gone back to sleep now.” My hand holds Samuel’s small head, my other holding his back as I lay him on the pillow next to his mama.
Standing back, I admire the view of my newborn son and my beautiful wife, rubbing the swell in my chest.
She leans over and kisses his forehead. Her raven locks splayed out on the pillow mingle with his full head of jet black hair.
Samuel waves a hand as if he’s stretching awake.
Gently lowering myself onto the mattress, I slide onto the bed next to them with Samuel in the middle. My fingers swipe Lilly’s mussed hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
