AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why spend your money? You know I can’t drive all three of them at once.”
“Marshall, we’ve talked about this. I can’t take handouts like that from you. I love you for who you are, not what you can give me.”
“Don’t you think I know that? I wouldn’t be offering if I didn’t know you loved me for me, Wren. Come on, baby. Just think about it.”
“Fine. I’ll think about it,” I say it to appease him. He’s already given me so much and brought so much into my life. I can’t keep taking from him. These past few weeks of us being together has been incredible. I love every minute that Madeline and I get to share with him. That’s more than enough for me. I know that I’m being stubborn, but it’s important to me that he knows that I love him for his heart, not his wallet.
“I have a few things to wrap up here. I’ll be out front at five to pick you up.”
“See you then.”
“Love you, Wren,” he says, and the line goes dead before I get the chance to tell him I love him too. Every time he says those three little words, I get butterflies in my stomach.
“Welcome home,” Marshall says, spreading his arms wide as we walk into his new house.
“You mean to your home,” I correct him. My heart skips a beat, and my mind races with thoughts of what it would be like to live here with him. To truly call this place my home. Our home.
“About that… Maddie and I have been talking,” he says, setting the car seat on the kitchen island and unbuckling her.
“Oh, you have, have you? And what exactly have you and my almost eight-month-old daughter been talking about?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips.
“What do you think, Maddie? Should we tell Mommy what we talked about?” Madeline coos and places her hands on his cheeks, giving him a toothless grin. “I agree,” he tells her, kissing the tip of her nose.
“I’m getting old over here,” I tease.
“Mommy is impatient, Maddie.” He grins at me. “Fine, I’ll tell you. But I need to make sure you know that Maddie and I have discussed this at great length, and we feel as though this is the best idea we’ve ever had.”
I’m smiling from ear to ear. This man, the way he loves my daughter and me, it’s definitely magical. “Best idea ever. Got it.” I nod.
“Here we go, baby girl.” He walks over to where I’m standing and hands Madeline to me. He laces his fingers through mine and guides us to the kitchen, where he lifts us both to sit on the island, then proceeds to take Madeline back into his arms. “I need to make sure I have your full attention,” he says, stepping between my legs. Madeline laughs, putting a hand on each of us.
“You have my full attention,” I tell him. My heart once again flips over in my chest. That seems to happen a lot when Marshall is around.
“Okay.” He clears his throat. “Maddie and I thought it would be the best decision ever if you and she would move in with me.”
I watch his features, and all playfulness has left his face. Only serious Marshall remains. “I want you here, Wren. Both of you. I want you and Maddie to fill these empty halls with love and laughter. I want you to be my wife, and someday if you feel comfortable enough, I would like for Maddie to take my name too. I want to give her brothers and sisters, and I’d be incredibly honored to be her dad.” He pauses and cups my face with his hand that’s not protectively holding my daughter.
I have to bite down on my lip to keep the tears at bay. My palms are suddenly sweaty and I know for certain if I was standing, my knees would be weak. All because of this man and the way he loves me, and my daughter.
“I love you, Wren. All of you. I love Maddie, and I want us to be a family. I want to start that sooner rather than later.” He places a kiss on Madeline’s temple.
“Okay, baby girl, I need you to go to Mommy for a minute.” He hands Madeline to me and lifts me from the island. My knees are shaking, and my heart is racing, and my breath hitches when he falls to his knees and reaches into his pocket.
“I know I’m supposed to pull out all the stops and give you all the romance for something like this, but I’m a firm believer in following my gut and doing what feels right. This, Wren, this feels right to me. Wren Wheeler, would you do me the incredible honor of being my wife? Wren, will you marry me?”
