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Reaching into his pocket, Trent took out two plane tickets and a folded set of papers. He handed her the tickets first. “I’ve booked us a trip.”
“A trip?” She glanced at the destination. “Cambodia?” She couldn’t go away with him. They’d broken up. They hadn’t spoken or spent time together in weeks. Not that she hadn’t been desperate to…
She glanced toward her mom’s window and saw her holding a sign.Say yes, it read. “What’s in Cambodia?” she asked carefully.
“This,” he said, handing her the papers next.
Whitney read the pamphlet for an orphanage in Cambodia, her eyes widening. “This is an adoption application form.”
Trent nodded, a look of hopeful apprehension on his gorgeous face. “I’ve already started the process. With or without you, I’m adopting a child…but I hope like crazy, it will bewithyou.”
Her mouth gaped and her eyes teared. Trent was adopting a child? From Cambodia? When had he decided this? How had he made this decision? He just discovered he had a teenager…
“I want this more than I’ve ever wanted anything. I’ve researched everything and spent weeks soul searching and making sure this was the right choice—and it is. It makes perfect sense, and I want you with me the way we always planned.”
Could she really do that? Could they really do this together? All of this was so sudden and unexpected, yet her gut was telling her that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Still, she was unsure… “My health is okay now, but there’s no guarantee.”
“That’s why I don’t want to wait any longer. On the plane that leaves tomorrow morning is our future together. If you still want it. Wantme. Otherwise, I’ll leave you here with your family and friends, and in time I’ll have no other choice than to learn to let you go,” Trent said passionately. “But that’s not what I want. I want you, Whitney.” He slowly, tentatively reached out to touch her trembling hand.
She stared at the plane tickets and the picture of the two-year-old little boy who Trent planned on adopting. It was all so much. But staring at the little boy, feeling Trent’s hand on hers, was the first thing to feel truly right in so long.
“Look, I know your world has been shattered and your future feels like a mystery, but what matters is right now and whether you love me enough to trust me and take this leap of faith with me,” Trent said.
“Your life has been upended lately, too.” What about Eddie? And Angel?
He nodded. “Exactly! That’s why I can say with confidence that life changes—whether you want it to or not. Nothing stays the same, and that’s okay. It’s how we navigate those ups and downs that matters.”
A tear slid down her cheek, and he reached out, wiping it away. “I…uh, I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to fly,” she said. Was she really doing this?
All she wanted was to be together with him. Whatever that looked like, sick or healthy, married or not, as parents… She glanced at the picture again and then back at him. It was so hard to believe he was doing this. Thatshewas considering doing this.
But maybe the best things weren’t planned. Maybe there really was no way to plan for life.
“Is that a yes? You’ll come to Cambodia with me? Give us another chance?” Trent asked, looking so hopeful and happy, those damn dimples melting any resolve she tried to have. There was no way she could say no. She didn’t want to say no.
She released a deep breath. “Yes…if Dr. Forester says it’s okay for me to travel.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “He already did.”
“What do you mean?”
“I already cleared it with him before I bought the tickets.” He grinned. “By the way, you still have me listed as next of kin.”
She smiled through her tears, but his grin faded slightly. “The only thing I regret was not being there for you these last few weeks, and I can’t beg your forgiveness enough.”
She shook her head. “I needed the space. I wouldn’t have let you be there. But don’t worry—I’m sure there will be other bad times you get to help me through.”
He cupped her face and stared deep into her eyes. “No, sweetheart, all the bad is behind us. There’s only good in our future together. I promise you.”
She knew life didn’t work that way. They’d have their share of troubles along the way, but they’d navigate those waters and bumpy roads together.
“I love you, Whitney,” he said, holding her close.
She smiled at her mom, still standing in the window as she hugged Trent tight. She’d missed him so much. Being in his arms made her feel more alive than she had in months. This was where she belonged, and she wasn’t ever letting this love go again. “I love you, too,” she whispered.
The sound of a horn honking made them turn around.
“What are Sarah and Jess doing here?” she asked, laughing through tears of happiness.
