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“Meredith, that's enough!” I stormed, grabbing the knob. “Either you come out or I’m coming in!”
I threw the door open and stepped into the bathroom, and then froze. Meredith was the most gorgeous woman I'd ever seen. Her red hair was swept back in a twist the left her curls cascading down the bare skin of her back, outlined by the low-cut edging of her black, crystal-encrusted gown. Her clear blue eyes were red-rimmed from crying, but were still mesmerizing outlined in their smoky eye shadow and long dark lashes.
Everything about her was perfect, but even her radiance couldn't keep my eyes off the countertop behind her. The empty package was turned on its side, the paper instructions and plastic wrap tossed aside. Resting on the edge of the sink, the white plastic stick sat waiting like a ticking time bomb.
“What the fuck is that that?” I said more accusingly then I had meant, still staring at the sink.
Meredith seemed to shrink a little, and didn't answer, just covered her mouth with her hand. I looked at it for an eternity, and then turned to look at her. Fresh tears formed in her eyes.
“Are you pregnant?” I asked softy.
“I... I think so,” she answered quietly, so softly I almost didn't hear her. I walked over and looked down at it for a long time, then turned to look back at her.
“You only think so? It’s got the damn words written on it. That means you’re pregnant, right?” I yelled, my thoughts jumbled with confusion and shock.
She uncovered her mouth to respond, but I didn’t wait. I pulled her into my arms and spun her around. I dropped her to the ground and planted a big fat kiss on her shocked face.
Meredith looked at me, a little confused. She gasped slightly to cover a hiccupping sob. “You're not upset?”
“Why in the world would I be mad?”
“Because of this,” she said, waving at the sink. “It’s too soon. I didn’t mean it…I wasn’t trying…” she continued to stumble.
“Mer,” I said tipping her chin to meet my eyes, “I told you, this is forever for me. I promise I’m happy.”
“Yeah?” She said with a sniff.
“Yeah. I’m almost the happiest man alive.”
“Almost?” she added, tearing up again.
I only smiled, but took her small hand in mine.
“Yup. Almost. There’s one more thing I need to do to make me absolutely ecstatic.”
I led her from the bathroom, looking back once to make sure she didn’t grab the doorframe on the way past and cling to it like a drowning man. Instead, she followed me to the bed, and then waited while I looked down at the comforter.
“What’s that?” Meredith asked hesitantly, eyeing the brown paper package.
“See for yourself, honey. It came today.” I beamed as she reached for the thin item, and then held it in her hands.
“Is this… is this the magazine?” she asked, looking up at me. She looked almost hopeful, and it was all I could do not to ruin the surprise. I nodded, gesturing for her to tear that wrapping off.
I waited while she gently slid a fingernail underneath the paper sleeve, pulling it back slowly and trying not to mar the pages underneath. I thought I might burst with pride when she gasped, staring down at the cover of her magazine, a photo she’d taken filling the front cover.
“You made it, darlin’! You’re a big time journalist with that old stuffy magazine now!” I said, leaning down to her sitting on the bed. “I knew you’d do it.”
Meredith didn’t answer, but just stared at the magazine and scanned its cover, taking in every detail. She watched it for so long that I wondered if she’d forgotten that I was even in the room, or that she’d just gotten the biggest shock of her life.
Finally, her left hand pinched the binding of the magazine and she frowned, noticing for the first time that something was off. She felt the front and back covers, trying to figure out the lump in the pages. It took her a few seconds of searching, but she finally found the knot in the middle of the pages, and flipped them open to reveal a three-carat diamond ring nestled in the center.
“What is this?” she asked, shock written all over her face. Before I answered her, I took her empty hand in mine.
“Meredith Forbes, I have loved you almost my entire life. The good Lord saw fit to bring you back after all these years, and I’d be honored if you’d agree to never leave me again. Will you marry me?”
She sat in stunned silence. Finally she shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks again. I vowed right then that I would do whatever it took to prevent any more tears from falling out of those brilliant blue eyes.
“Yes! I’ll marry you, Colt! But… you’re not just doing this because… because I’m pregnant?”
