Page 160 of Beneath the Quiet

I release my tight grip on his hand and glide to my side, getting up on shaky legs. Before I’ve taken a step, Aidan’s hands dart out to grab me by my waist, stopping me in my tracks. Without saying another word, he rests his head on my belly, his arms wrapped tightly around my middle, squeezing me to him. My nose prickles, and I blink even harder, while I bury my fingers in his longish hair.

I let the peaceful moment wash over us. His fingers trail over my skin, burning and soothing me at the same time, until he leans back and presses his lips on my belly in the softest kiss. Then he releases me and tilts his head back. He nods once and smiles softly. I take my cue and walk to the bathroom to get my comfy Christmas pyjamas and robe.

Aidan

Wrapping paper and ribbons litter the floor, the traditional sound of Christmas carols in the background, and as I watch my girls sitting on the floor opposite my seat on the sofa, laughing, I’m the happiest I’ve been in ages. I smile slowly, my head resting on my fist on the armrest. All of us are wearing the most ridiculous Christmas pyjamas –forest green with small faces of elves all over them–and knitted, bright red socks that Franny and her knitting club have made. We won them in a Christmas raffle down at Holly’s a couple of weeks ago, and Katie insisted that we all wear them today.

My last gift to Maeve is burning a hole in my pocket, but I don’t want to interrupt their moment just yet.

“Meow.”

I raise my head and glance down at Little Miss. When her feline eyes meet mine, she sits down on her hind legs and stare me down. I raise my eyebrows at her. “Why are you staring at me like that?”

She lifts her right leg and licks her paw, and I shake my head.

“You know what they say about people who talk with their pets?”

I look away from my cat and raise my head, grinning at Maeve. “What do they say?”

“That they’re very smart people.” She returns my grin and then hands me a steaming mug of hot chocolate with a mountain of marshmallows on top. “Here. This is for you.”

“Thank you.” I take it from her outstretched hand, and she sits down next to me. We sit together in silence for a while, sipping our cocoa, and watch Katie admire her new riding gear.

I reach for her hand resting on her thigh and play with her ring finger. I already know that I’m going to ask her to marry me, but now’s not the right time for a proposal. Instead, it’s time I give her a part of me that was always meant to be hers.

“Mae?”

“Mmm?”

I put my put the mug on the small table next to the couch and breathe deeply to settle the nerves that have been lying dormant most of the morning. Still keeping our hands entwined, I slide down on the floor to kneel in front of her.

I lift my head and grin at her audible gasp. “This isn’t what you think it is…unless you want it to be.”

She works her lips with her teeth, her gaze flickering behind me to Katie. I look over my shoulder at my daughter. She’s picked up Little Miss and smiles so wide, I have to choke down the emotion clogging my throat. When she gives me a small nod, I turn back to Maeve.

“You know I love you,” I start and thread my fingers through hers. “The past months with you living with us have made me realise that I can’t spend my life on this farm without making sure you know that I mean it when I tell you this is forever. You’re it, Mae.”

She smiles softly and squeezes my hand. “I already know this, honey. You don’t have to do more.”

My grin widens. “I disagree, and when I told Katie what I had planned, she sided with me, so please hear me out.”

Her eyes flicker to Katie, then back at me. “Okay.”

Still holding her hand, I reach for the bunch of papers in my back pocket and give them to her. “Here. Merry Christmas.”

She frowns but does as I say, unfolding them. “What’s this?”

“Read it.”

I hold my breath while she scans the first page, enraptured by the myriad of emotions that cross her beautiful face.

Confusion. Wonder. Disbelief.

Love.

Her head snaps up. “You’re crazy,” she whispers.

Finally, I fill my lungs. “Maybe, but I still mean it.”