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Warmth spread across her cheeks. “Um, about that.”
He cocked his head with a frown. “What’s wrong?”
“Look, I want to say I’m sorry for how I reacted when you went into the hospital this last time.” She closed her eyes as she recalled how terrified she was when she got the call that he was being admitted again. “I was hurt and scared. You weren’t taking care of yourself, and I couldn’t bear to watch you dig your own grave.”
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry, Rose.”
She took a shaky breath. “I just… You’re so stubborn.” She rolled her eyes. “Your whole family is, and I feared you’d never see reason. But when Lanie informed me of everything you’d been doing…” Her eyes met his, and everything clicked into place. “The fact that you didn’t use it to try to win me back when I came to see you showed me how much you’d changed.”
“I swear to you, I have.” He tightened his grip on her hand. “And I promise I will do anything if you would consider giving me another chance.”
“That’s the thing. I realized recently how much I miss you.”
The smile on his face took her breath away. “I’ve missed you too. So very much.”
“And I’ve not been fair to you,” she continued, dropping her gaze.
His eyebrows pulled together. “You have that backward.”
If the situation had been less serious, she might have laughed. “No, I mean it.” She cupped his cheek. “You were so hopeful when Lanie called my bluff about canceling the wedding, and I should have decided right then and there if I was going to actually go through with it or not.”
“You needed time,” Steven said. “And if you still need time, I understand. There’s no rush. We can cancel or postpone it until we’re ready. We don’t have to—”
She held up a hand. “You see? You’re bending over backward to make sure I’m okay, but what about your needs?”
He swallowed, and his eyes went a bit misty. “What I need is you. And I don’t want to risk losing you by making you go through something you aren’t ready for.”
Her heart melted. “What I’m trying to say is, I want us to try again, and I’m not going to run away at the first sign of trouble.” She bowed her head. “But I understand if you don’t trust me because of what I did.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Of course I trust you, but I also put you through a lot. So I understand if you’re not sure of me.”
“But I am sure of you,” she said. After a moment’s hesitation, she took his hand and pressed it to her heart. “I only broke up with you because I thought I could protect my heart from the pain of losing you if I did it on my own terms. But I was wrong. I know now what a mistake that was because you’re the one for me.” Her eyes filled with tears. “You’re my swan.”
“What?” he asked, a quizzical expression on his face.
“Never mind,” she said with a watery laugh. “Just know I love you.”
“Wait.” His eyes widened. “Does this mean—”
She nodded. “Let’s make this official.”
The joy on his face left her speechless. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.
“Rose,” he murmured into her hair as they parted. “My Rose.”
And they were the sweetest words she had ever heard.
Epilogue
“I can’t believe I’m getting married today,” Rose said as she sat beside Lanie at the salon.
“And to think, it almost didn’t happen.” Lanie reached over and grabbed Rose’s hand. “But I’m glad you and Steven worked things out. I’m excited to have a sister.”
Rose smiled. Her heart was so full that her eyes kept filling up with tears. That was proving to be a problem for the woman working on her hair and makeup. Ellie, Bea’s granddaughter, groaned in frustration.
“If you keep crying, you’re going to ruin my masterpiece,” she complained.
“I’m sorry.” Rose blinked rapidly, which only made the situation worse. “This is just such a happy day.”
