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Then she read it a third time.
To my amazing wife:
First of all, I need you to know that I love you more than anything in this world. Being in Boston without you has been pure torture. I used to love working in the ER, and now it's just a way to fill the day because I can't be with you. When I sleep, you haunt my dreams. I find myself craving more and more sleep just so I can have you in my arms again.
Secondly, I want to apologize for sounding like I don't trust you. It was actually Simon I didn't trust. I know you would never cheat on me. I know that isn't even a possibility. You saved yourself for me all those years, and I don't think I remembered to tell you how much that meant to me. I am so grateful to be your first lover... and the last. I hope.
You are probably wondering why there are signed divorce papers on the desk. I don't want you to stay married to me because you think you have to in order to keep your home and the horses you love. I am giving you the ranch. Don't argue with me. It's a done deal. You can divorce me, be free, and have whatever sort of life you want. All you have to do is sign the papers.
But I hope you won't. I am hoping and praying that you love me as much as I love you. Before you make a final decision, I have one more thing to tell you.
I quit my job in Boston, and I talked to the hospital we took Delta to after her episode. They want me to work in their ER. Don't worry. I made it clear that I won't work the same hours as in Boston. People in our area need a doctor, and now that we have a helicopter I can be that doctor. If a local rancher or someone in town gets injured or sick, I can fly in to help. Of course, you'll need to teach me to fly, and I think we need to buy another helicopter. That way I can use one, and we can have the other on the ranch in case of an emergency.
I think I can be happy on the ranch.
I think WE can be happy on the ranch.
If you want to stay married to me, come outside. I'm waiting for you.
If you want the divorce, leave the signed papers on the desk. I'll pick them up on my way out of your life.
Her heart bubbled over with joy. She ran through the house and out the front door with the letter clutched in her hand. He was waiting at the bottom of the steps. She flew off the deck and into his arms. He swung her in a circle, both of them laughing.
They kissed, long and passionate kisses, until she decided she needed some extra oxygen.
She got him to set her down on her feet. “You wrote me a letter,” she said in awe. “This is the most beautiful letter I have ever read. Thank you.”
“You don't have to thank me. I wanted to write it because my mother told me to always write letters to the people I love. Remember?”
She tried to blink back the tears. He loved her. Jared Wilder finally loved her, and nothing else mattered. “Every time Simon got another letter from you, jealousy would eat me alive. I couldn't stand the anticipation. I'd have to wait for him to throw it away before I could get my hands on it. As soon as I could, I would fish it out of the trash and read it again and again.”
With a big grin on his face, he nodded. “You showed me how you keep them wrapped in a red ribbon. That's so cute, by the way. Will you be saving this one as well?”
She crushed the letter against her chest just above her heart. “I won't keep this one with Simon's letters. This is mine. It's special.”
“You should get a new ribbon for this one.”
She raised an eyebrow. “A ribbon for a solitary letter?”
He gazed into her eyes as if searching for her soul. “This is just the first letter, sweetheart. I am going to write you a new one for every special occasion we share. By the time our kids go to college, you will have a mile-high stack. Promise.”
Kids? His plural use of the word filled her heart with so much joy she didn't think she could handle it. Could someone die from pure happiness? A huge smile stretched her mouth wide until it ached. The grin felt permanent, like she would never stop smiling. “I love you, Jared Wilder.”
“I love you, Beth Rawlings.” He lifted her left hand to look at the wedding ring. “I hate it now that I had Alice pick out your ring for you. How would you feel if I replaced it with one I buy myself?”
While waiting for an answer, his lips burned a hot trail down her throat. Her head rolled back, and she moaned. It was hard to concentrate when he was touching her. Using every ounce of willpower she had, she pushed him away. Then she put some distance between them so he couldn't touch her until she had her say. “I've been thinking—”
“Uh-oh,” he said with a slightly troubled grin on his face. “I don't like the sound of that.”
She gave him a look to let him know she didn't find him amusing. There was a lot in her heart that she wanted to get out. Pressure mounted with each second that passed. His inquiring gaze stayed on her face the entire time, and she almost wished she could say what she had to say without him looking directly at her.
“Are you sure you can be happy here?” she asked.
“Of course.”
“It's just that you hated this place for so long. Now, all of a sudden, you think you can live here. What if you're wrong?”
His grin faltered. “Why are you questioning it?”
