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Hailey felt a lump in her throat at the poetry of his words. His sincerity and love shone down at her. ‘Well, in that case,’ she whispered, her voice husky with barely contained tears, ‘I’d like very much to marry you.’
Callum smiled and leaned his forehead against hers, taking a moment to let her acceptance sink in. He pulled away slightly as a thought crossed his mind. ‘So being with another man who has a son doesn’t freak you out any more? Because you know if you take me on, that means you take us both on.’
‘Of course,’ Hailey said, hurt that he felt he even had to mention it. ‘I love Tom, Callum.’
‘Even knowing he’s not out of the woods yet? Knowing that he could relapse at any time? Knowing that if he does, his diagnosis is not good?’
Hailey swallowed, terrified at the very thought that something could happen to Tom. ‘Yes. Even knowing all that. I can’t live my life shut away from maybes. Cut myself off from something wonderful because of something that could maybe one day happen. ‘
‘My sentiments exactly.’
‘I’m always going to be a little on edge about it, though, Callum. That’s just me. But I know he’s a little boy who just wants to live his life. I’ll try and not be obsessive about it but you’re going to have to help me.’
He nuzzled her hair. ‘Well, that’ll be two of us on edge, then,’ he murmured. ‘But it’ll be my pleasure, helping you to keep everything in perspective.’ He found the thought that she would lean on him infinitely comforting. ‘Maybe we can be each other’s brakes?’
She lifted her face to him and smiled. ‘Sounds like a deal.’
‘But you have to know,’ he said, his fingers stroking her cheeks, ‘if it happens it’s not anything you’ve done. It’s just life, it’s unfair and no one is to blame and we’ll deal with it. Together.’
Together. She liked the sound of that. ‘Oh, Callum, where have you been all my life? I love you so much.’
He dropped a kiss on her mouth, groaning as her lips opened on his, asking for more. ‘Can we stop talking now?’ he asked against her mouth.
‘I thought you’d never ask,’ she whispered, pressing herself against him and letting his kisses sweep her away to a happily ever after.
EPILOGUE
TOM, DRESSED IN HIS little black tuxedo with matching bow-tie, squirmed between Callum and Hailey. ‘Can I hold him, please?’
Hailey looked at her sister and Rilla nodded indulgently. She was tired from a lengthy labour but with Luca’s arm around her and her son sleeping soundly, she felt strangely invigorated. She’d been so disappointed to miss Hailey’s big day but little Carlos had decided he couldn’t wait any longer, insisting on arriving on the day of his aunt’s wedding.
Hailey, still dressed in her simple white satin slip of a wedding gown, a daisy chain in her hair, moved over and fussed around, getting Tom securely seated between them before handing over her brand-new nephew. They’d come straight from the ceremony when Luca had rung through with the good news.
‘What do you reckon, mate?’ Callum asked, keeping an arm firmly beneath Tom’s for added support.
‘Well, he’s not as good as a baby brother but I’ve never had a cousin before so I guess he’s all right.’
Rilla laughed. ‘Why, thank you young man.’
Callum grinned at Hailey over Tom’s head and leaned across to kiss his wife of two hours. ‘Wait till we tell him our news,’ he whispered.
Hailey smiled back at her very handsome husband, resplendent in a black tuxedo, looking just as good as the night they’d met. It had been an unorthodox wedding day that had turned into a wonderful double celebration.
Her hand cradled her belly, content in the knowledge that Callum’s baby was growing safe and snug. Another Winters baby was going to be making its way in the world in less than eight months. Hopefully, a little brother for Tom.
Life was utterly perfect.
