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“Nathan?” He swallowed and slipped his hand into the pocket of his shorts.
“Riley.” His voice was hoarse, and he cleared his throat as I froze. “You came into my life to take care of my daughter and you were the best person I could have asked for. You took her in and loved her like I did, and I had never seen her take to someone so fast. I was just a single dad and her mom was gone. I was a little lost. No, I was a lot lost, and I didn’t know where I was headed.” His eyes filled with tears and I felt my own streaking down my cheeks. “The moment I saw you, my world was tilted in a different direction. You were beautiful but there was more than that. You looked like an angel in my doorway and I knew that you were going to be a fit for the job even though I fought the urge to make you fit into my world. I didn’t want to hurt you and there’s still times I worry that I will. I couldn’t stay away and every day with you has gotten better. I love you so much.”
“I love you,” I whispered as I brushed at my cheeks to wipe the tears away.
“I want us forever. I want you to be the mother to Ella and our own kids and a part of my family. I can’t imagine living my life without you, now that you are in it.” He took a deep breath. “Will you marry me?”
I started to cry as I dropped to the sand. I hugged him and closed my eyes, memorizing this moment.
“I can’t wait to be your wife.” He moved to kiss me, our lips melting together as we both cried. He managed to pull the ring out of his pocket and slip the shimmering band on my finger as I watched the remains of the sun shimmering in it. It was a delicate band of diamonds with a small but gorgeous stone centered on it. It was perfect, and I grabbed his face for another kiss. We fell together, still kissing and laughing as I heard voices. “Oh my God. They saw it.” I looked behind me to see our family cheering and clapping before I smiled at him.
“They were in on it.” He kissed me again, his tongue slipping against me. I wanted to make out with him all day but there was tonight to show him how in love I was. I returned the kiss for a moment before I heard Emery’s unmistakable cries and pulled away.
“I love you.” I turned, and she pulled me up into her arms, crying freely.
“I am so happy for you. He’s perfect. You’re perfect. Ella is amazing, and you guys are going to have more beautiful babies.” I hugged her tight before moving to Linda and then Carli. I was sobbing when I looked down at Ella, moving down to my knees to be at her level. She was the light of my life alongside her father and I hugged her.
“I get to be your mom, baby girl.” She hugged me, and I closed my eyes.
“You’ve been my mommy for a long time, Riley. I love you.” Her voice was clear, and I smiled through my tears. When we pulled apart, I saw her holding a blue box.
“What is that?” I asked as she smiled and shoved it at me.
“I want you as my mommy forever.” I took the box and opened it, seeing another ring that was delicate with three stones on the band. It was gorgeous, and I tried to make sense of the stones. “Daddy’s mine, and yours. We’re a family now.”
“Oh, God.” I felt someone beside me and looked up to see Nathan. He nodded at Ella and she pulled the ring from the box and slipped it on my right ring finger. “Who gets engaged with two rings?”
I stood on wobbly legs and looked at my fiancé.
“Can we get a picture together?”
He pulled me against him and handed his phone to Carli. She shot the picture with the backdrop of the sky first and then facing it. Ella joined us for the next set of pictures and we all hugged again.
We made our way to the cottages where a large candlelit table was set up. I gripped his hand and looked at Nathan with surprise.
“A late dinner to celebrate the occasion.” He kissed me, and I pressed into him as my light pink dress blew in the wind.
I blinked and came back to reality. It was my wedding. We found a beautiful place on the beach for the wedding and a gorgeous outdoor area for the reception. I only had my sister and her family and a few close friends from Tennessee to invite while Nathan knew far more people. He kept it small and there were just fifty people out there waiting for my entrance. I looked at both of my rings that never left my fingers and smiled as I wiped a tear away.
Emery checked the time and held out her hand. We toasted with one more glass of champagne before walking arm in arm to the makeshift aisle., standing just out of sight of the guests. We were walking down together once Ella scattered white rose petals on top of the dark red ones that were already set up to form the aisle.
“Mommy!!” Ella came running over to me in a flowing light purple dress and hugged my legs. “You look like a princess.” She was bigger now and just as pretty. She amazed us every day with her intelligence and kindness and Nathan told me daily that I was good for them.
“Thank you, baby girl. You are gorgeous. Ready to drop some roses for me?”
“Yes!” She beamed at me. She was a part of the ceremony. I was going to give her a flower once we were married, and we were walking back down the aisle together. I never thought that I would have a husband and a daughter at the same time, but this was perfect.
I asked Emery how I looked, and she touched my hair gently. My makeup was light, but it enhanced my eyes and full lips perfectly. Nathan could kiss me all night and the stain was not going to go anywhere.
Linda walked around the corner, pausing when she saw me.
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sp; “Beautiful.” She hugged me, kissing my cheek as Carli joined us. She was walking with her mom down the aisle for Nathan and she looked stunning on a dress that was another shade of purple.
“Hi,” I hugged her again. We’d all spent time together in the room getting ready, but this was it.
“Are you ready?” Linda asked Ella, and she nodded with a huge smile. The music started, and she took Carli’s hand to lead the way. Ella followed, and I stepped up with Emery, meeting Nathan’s shimmering eyes.
