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Once he’d gotten almost back to 100%, he’d been able to focus more on her and her pregnancy than himself. Making sure she kept her swollen ankles elevated, rubbing the knots in her back, and running to the store to grab whatever she craved that hour—even if it changed twenty minutes later. His joy came from pampering her and watching her glow as the baby grew inside her.
She’d decided to be surprised by the gender, a decision that excited him as much as drove him crazy. He was a planner, and not knowing made him a little nutty. But he’d do anything for her. For their family.
And now the time had come to make their family more official.
He stopped in the doorway and thanked God one more time for forcing his eyes open to Laura. She stood barefoot in the kitchen, her hair tied on the top of her head and a sleeveless dress showing off her belly. Only a few more weeks before the baby would be nestled in her arms.
A now-familiar tingle of excitement burst inside him. He couldn’t wait to meet their baby.
“You’ve got a second?” he asked, hating to disturb the moment. He could stand and watch her for hours, but there was something more important in the works.
She brushed away a strand of hair with the back of her wrist and stirred the sauce in the pot. “Let me turn the heat down then I’m all yours.”
“I’ll never get tired of hearing that.”
She shot a grin over her shoulder then took the pot off the burner before wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Okay. What is it?”
He held out a palm and waited for her to waddle toward him. He laced their fingers then led her down the hall to the guest room where he’d first held her through the night.
Where he’d first realized he’d fallen in love with her.
“I wanted to show you the crib,” he said. “I got it put together and it makes such a big difference in the room. Figured you’d want to see it.”
“It’s getting so real now.”
He chuckled. “Because the basketball in your belly didn’t make it real enough?”
She giggled and swatted his shoulder. “You know what I mean. This little one will be here in a couple of weeks.”
He led her into the nursery and held his breath. He’d wanted the room to be exactly what she envisioned—something she could take ownership of without compromise. Isaac had taken away some of her excitement over putting the room together. She’d fretted about not wanting the space she created to look anything like what he’d put in that hellhole of a house.
She sucked in a breath and pressed a hand to her mouth. “It’s perfect.”
“You sure? I can change anything you don’t like.”
She turned to face him. Tears pooled in her eyes. “Are you kidding me? The yellow walls are so bright and cheerful. The crib is beautiful, and you got the rocking chair from my mom.” She traced a finger along the smooth wood at the top of the crib.
“Jude took all the pictures on the walls, and my mom knit the blanket on the back of the chair. But if you don’t like it, we don’t have to tell her we hid it in the closet.”
She picked up the cream-colored blanket and held it to her face. “I love that she’s so excited. This is so sweet. But wait…what’s that?”
She’d spotted the wildflowers he’d picked and placed on the dresser in the corner.
This was it.
His heart threatened to beat right out of his chest. He sidestepped her and grabbed the flowers before turning to her and dropping to one knee. He folded her hand in his, offering her the bundle of goldenrods and irises with the other. “When we were younger, you’d go into the woods and pick me flowers. I never treasured those gifts—or you—the way you deserved. The last few months you’ve become the most important person in my life.”
Grinning, she took the flowers and held them under her nose. “I was always trying to get your attention.”
“Well, you’ve got it now.” He fished the princess cut diamond ring from his pocket. “I never want to take you for granted again. I want to cherish you and love you every day for the rest of my life if you’ll let me. I want us to be a family. Laura Metcalf, will you be my wife?”
Her eyes grew wide, and the flowers fell to the floor. “Oh, my God. Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life. I love you so much, and I love our baby. I want us all together, under one roof, with one last name, forever.”
“Yes. Absolutely yes! But I don’t think that ring will fit on my sausage fingers.” She laughed through her tears as he struggled to put it on her ring finger. “Maybe put it on a chain for now?”
He scooped the flowers off the floor and stood then gathered her in his arms. “You can have whatever you want. For the rest of your life.”
