“Jill, I thought I was living before you. I thought I was content. Then I met you. You were like a spark for me, baby. You ignited dreams long dead. With you I can have it all. You make me whole. You’re my forever. Will you be my wife?” he asked, opening a ring box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring. He looked over at the kids leaning adorably against him. “Will you be ours?” he asked with a radiant smile.
“Say yes, Jilly!” Max cried, more exuberant than I’d ever seen him.
I laughed, nodding fiercely. “Yes!”
Cal slipped the ring on my shaking hand as a cheer rose around us. He stood up and kissed me hard, wrapping his arms around me. I felt tiny arms wrap around my legs and kneeled down to scoop Mason up as Cal grabbed Emmie and Max. The five of us stood in the most beautiful embrace of my life.
****
Evening had fallen and the party was in full swing. The outdoor lights illuminated the tent and the yard beyond. Music blared and beer flowed.
Sophie and I sat in lounge chairs as I reveled in being on cloud nine.
“It’s gorgeous!” Sophie exclaimed, not for the first time, as she looked at the beautiful diamonds sparkling on my finger. The unique design boasted a large center stone flanked by two diamonds on either side. Each stone, Cal had explained, represented a member of our family, with me at its center.
I nodded my agreement, admiring my ring. “You are so sneaky,” I accused with a grin. “I can’t believe we spent all afternoon together and you didn’t slip!”
Sophie wasn’t known for being able to keep a secret.
She groaned as Axel and Cal approached. “That was so hard!”
I laughed. “Well, it was a fantastic surprise. I’m still in shock.”
“Baby, let’s get you fed,” Axel coaxed, taking Sophie’s hand and guiding her toward the impressive spread that had been set up.
Cal took her vacated seat, pulling mine closer. I turned to him with what I was sure was a dopey smile. “How did you pull this off?” I marveled.
“I had help,” he replied with a shrug before his eyes turned to my ring. “Is the gold okay? I just thought it looked more like you….” He trailed off. It was one of the few times I’d ever seen him appear uncertain.
“It’s perfect,” I assured him firmly. And it was. I just couldn’t help but think about how long it would be before there was a second band to accompany it, about how long until he’d wear my gold as well. “I wish we could go to the courthouse tomorrow,” I admitted, sharing my thoughts out loud.
He reached for my hand, pulling it into his lap. “You don’t want a big wedding?”
I shook my head. “Not unless it’s important to you. I did all that and well, for me this is about being tied to you and those kids.” My head cocked in the direction of Max, Emmie, and Mason, who were running around like hellions. They really needed to go to bed soon. “It’s not about the show for anyone else. This, tonight….” I sighed happily. “This is more than enough.”
He pulled me close. “I won’t argue with whatever method gets you my name the fastest, and baby, that day’s coming,” he assured me firmly.
God, I hoped so.
“Jill Jackson,” I mused. “Has a nice ring to it.”
He squeezed my hand. “Damn right it does.”
I turned toward the party, taking in the flow of conversation, Connie and Wes dancing with his hands on her belly, the kids running with squeals of delight.
“I think I might want to stay home with them for a while,” I told Cal on a murmur, my eyes trained on Max as he helped Mason stand up after he’d fallen on his behind. “Not permanently,” I amended. “But I wasn’t sure, financially….” I trailed off.
“Financially we have no worries,” he was quick to assure me. “You work because you want to, not because we need it.”
I nodded, taking that in. “I feel like they need me right now,” I explained, my eyes finding his. “I’ll want to go back at some point, but for now I want to make this time as stable as I can for them.”
“I think it’s a great idea.” He nodded. “I would have said something myself, but I know how hard you worked to become a nurse. Knew it had to be on your terms.”
How I loved this man.
“Yeah,” I agreed quietly, my decision made. After all the inner turmoil, in the end it was easy.
“You’re too far away,” he protested, pulling me into his chair to lie over him. He scented me, his nose skimming my neck and the shell of my ear. “Can’t fucking wait till everyone clears out and we can start our real celebration.”
