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“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Emma had replied as Patrick hefted a stack of three boxes across the living room.
But it had lasted. Patrick had been there to fetch her olives when she’d craved them late at night. He’d spent hours with her choosing a mobile, even though she knew it couldn’t have been very interesting for him. He refused to let her carry a single thing or do a single chore. Whenever he caught her doing anything, whether it was carrying home a sack of groceries or wiping down the kitchen counter, he’d take it out of her hands and remind her that she was carrying precious cargo.
Even throughout their first few months of living together, which were some of the happiest of Emma’s life, they’d also faced one big problem. Neither of them knew what to do about Aleksander.
Patrick suggested going to the police, but Emma didn’t want to do anything that could draw attention to her own past assignments — she was grateful that Aleksander hadn’t reported her in the end anyway, presumably not wanting to implicate himself in any wrongdoing. She would have been happy to forget about the whole thing, but Patrick wanted to do something to the man who had almost ruined both their lives, and had suggested hanging the Aurora in a public gallery to show Aleksander his plan had failed. Emma had been a little sad to lose the painting, but she’d agreed.
Then Emma had come home from teaching one afternoon to find Aurora hanging over the crib they’d picked out for their daughter.
“What’s this?” she’d asked.
Patrick had wrapped his arms around her, bump and all, and kissed her gently on the cheek.
“You were right when you said we should just move on. The best revenge is living a happy life together. And anyway, I’d rather our baby grow up with Aurora than hang it in some gallery where we’d never see it. It’ll be a good story about how her parents met.”
Emma had turned in Patrick’s arms and hugged him tightly.
“Thank you.” Letting go of revenge and fully committing to their new little family was the perfect beginning to their life together.
A few weeks after the Aurora was hung, Emma went into labor. She’d worked until the last minute to finish her semester of teaching, and halfway through her last day of classes, she felt a strange tightening in her abdomen. When she’d called Patrick, he’d insisted on rushing her to the hospital, where they’d found out that her labor was just beginning and that they had hours still to go.
Rose was born early the next morning, and ever since, Patrick and Emma had joked that she’d always be an early riser.
When they’d brought Rose home, everything had changed. Emma had worried that a new baby would put a wedge between her and Patrick, but the midnight feedings and diaper emergencies had only brought them closer together. Emma had taken a long maternity leave, and Patrick had taken time off work. Even now, he made sure to leave the office at four every day so that he could be with his family.
Emma had gone back to work a few months after Rose was born. Thanks to her college’s excellent childcare and flexible hours, they were able to make everything work. Emma had even started in a very part-time advisory role at LWC Capital, where she helped Patrick acquire new art for their personal collection and as investments.
Life was busy and often chaotic, but Emma wouldn’t change it for the world.
“You look deep in thought.” Patrick emerged from inside. He had a tray with two plates in his arms. It was a simple pasta dish that they’d cooked together earlier that evening.
“I am.” Emma took her plate from him and made room on the loveseat beside her. Patrick sat and pulled a blanket over their legs. With a smile, Emma remembered the first time they’d sat like this on the terrace, sharing a blanket. It had been the first night they’d spent together. “I was just thinking about how far we’ve come.”
“You know, that’s been on my mind lately, too.” Patrick handed Emma a glass of sparkling cider. “This last year, raising a baby with you, falling more in love with you every day… well. I never could have dreamed this up.”
“I feel the same way.” Emma took a sip of the cider, then set her glass down and twirled a few strands of pasta onto her fork. “A year ago, I’d never have dreamed that things could be this good.”
“Even after the Colic Incident?” Patrick joked.
“Even then.” Emma smiled at the memory. Neither of them had been able to get Rose to stop crying for hours, to the point they’d started to worry that she was colicky. Then Emma had spotted a scratchy tag in the baby’s onesie. Once they’d taken it out, all was well again.
They ate their dinner companionably, both of them sharing stories from the last year they’d spent together. When Emma took the last bite of her pasta, Patrick gently took the plate from her and took both of her hands in his.
“I think we can both agree that the last year has been the best yet,” Patrick said.
“Definitely.”
“Every moment with you is a moment well spent. I’ve never met anyone like you, Emma. You’re so knowledgeable about art and such a wonderful painter. You’re a fantastic mother. You’re also a wonderful teacher, based on the way your students seem to adore you. And you’re the best partner I could ever ask for.”
Emma flushed and squeezed Patrick’s hands. Then her eyes widened in surprise as he slid off the loveseat and got down on one knee, Emma’s hands still clasped in his.
“With all that in mind, there’s something I need to ask you. I never want to spend another day apart, Emma. I never want to live my life without you. I want to be by your side as Rose grows up. I want to have more children with you, someday. I want to go on adventures and face life’s challenges side by side. I want to grow old together. I love you so much. Emma Marie Armitage, will you make me the happiest man on earth and marry me?”
For a moment, Emma was in so much shock that she couldn’t reply. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise. She knew that she and Patrick were happier together than she’d known was possible and that he loved her as much as she loved him. But somehow, she had been so caught up in the details of their shared life that she hadn’t known he was thinking about marriage.
Then, she caught sight of what was in Patrick’s hands. A ring glinted up at her from a velvet box. And not just any ring: a large sparkling diamond was ringed by four smaller blue stones. It was gorgeous, elegant, and sophisticated, yet also personal.
Emma’s surprise gave way to a deep happiness, and she found the words she so desperately wanted to say.
“Oh, Patrick.” Despite the joy she felt, her eyes were wet with tears. “Of course, I’ll marry you. Of course, I will!”
She held out her hand and Patrick carefully slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit. Then Patrick stood and pulled her into his arms. They stood, hugging each other tight, for a long time until Patrick kissed Emma and she kissed him back.
Her heart felt like it would burst with happiness. Her life, a life with the man she loved, stretched ahead of her. It felt full of possibility and love.
The End
