Page 116 of Home Is Where You Are

I hadn’t taken the time to take him in when he got here. I was just excited that he was. He wore a white button-up shirt with a sunflower in his front shirt pocket, dark blue jeans that fit him like a glove, and dark brown boots that were his favorite pair. The cowboy hat matched the color of his boots. He couldn’t have been any more handsome if he tried.

My breath caught in my throat as he got down on one knee and opened the box that he’d retrieved from his pocket. Nestled inside was my grandmother’s engagement ring.

How?

How did he know I always imagined wearing that ring one day?

“Ainsleigh Courtright, will you do me the honor of allowing me to love you for the rest of our lives? Will you spend the rest of your life loving me the way only you could? Will you be my wife?”

And now the waterworks freely flowed down my cheeks as I nodded. I couldn’t speak if I tried.

He’d allowed my whole family to be a part of this amazing moment, and my heart filled with even more love than I thought I could have for this man.

He slipped the vintage style diamond ring onto my finger. Somehow, it fit perfectly. My fingers were dainty, whereas my grandmothers were wider.

He stood and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. I wanted a deeper connection, but he refrained.

“I have another confession now that you’ve said yes,” he replied as he pulled back and took both of my hands in his.

I couldn’t imagine what else he’d have to say to make this day more perfect than it already was.

“What’s that?”

“There’s one more person patiently waiting behind that tree. If you’ll have me, I’d be over the moon if you’d marry me today.”

“Today?” I squeaked out my answer.

We needed rings. I didn’t have one for him, and that wouldn’t do.

Someone walked up behind me and tapped me on my shoulder. I slowly turned my head to see my mother standing there grinning wider than I’d ever seen. She handed me something before she stepped back.

Looking down, I noticed it was a weathered ring box. I swallowed hard as I pushed the box open. Inside was my grandfather’s wedding band. He’d really thought of everything.

“You did all of this for me? We can really do this today without a license? There’s so many things that we’re going to need,” I rambled on and on before he placed his finger on my mouth to stop me.

“I’ve got it all covered. The judge is standing behind the tree with the license waiting for you to sign, and he can officiate the ceremony as well. We can do this today if you’re okay with that,” he replied.

We’re getting married.

Today.

“Yes, a thousand times, yes.”

I couldn’t wait to be his wife.

epilogue

TEN MONTHS LATER

“My wife is outside in our Jeep. She’s in labor,” I told the woman at the front desk who rushed to take action. In no time at all, two nurses and a doctor appeared with a wheelchair in tow. I raced out the automatic doors and opened the door of the vehicle to see Ainsleigh with her hands on her stomach battling another contraction.

“Help is here, baby,” I told her as I let them help her into the wheelchair.

“We’re taking her straight up to the maternity ward. Once you’ve parked come up to the seventh floor, and they’ll buzz you inside,” the doctor told me as a nurse pushed my life into the hospital.

I parked the Jeep in a nearby parking spot and grabbed her bag before I raced inside. I almost ran into the automatic doors when they didn’t open fast enough.

Thankfully the elevator door opened just as I reached it. I ran inside and pushed the seven button several times willing the doors to close. I sent a quick text in the group chat to let everyone know the baby was coming as I waited for the elevator to arrive at its destination. It felt like the seconds were hours before the elevator stopped on the floor where Ainsleigh awaited my return.