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“Don’t cry, big sister.”
She laughed. “You know I’m just so happy for you. You are going to start the rest of your life today. And now, you’ve got your own wheels and are in college classes. Soon you’ll bring a girl home to meet me. I’m just so proud of you and everything you’ve accomplished, TJ. I love you so much.” She hiccupped.
“Love you too, mama.” He held her as she fell apart again from the endearment. Warm happiness and elation brimmed from her every pore like she was soaking in a river of golden sunshine. This was the kind of joy she’d only read about in books, the kind she’d believed only existed in fairy tales.
Bently wrapped his hand around her waist. “Hey now, give the boy some air. I’m starting to get jealous.”
TJ and Belle laughed. She looked up into the face of the man she loved, the man who had faced his past and taken the hard road to be vulnerable with her. The man who had breathed life into her for the first time.
“Now it’s your turn for a gift.” Bently’s smile wavered as if he was nervous.
Her brows knit together. “My turn?”
“You didn’t think I’d leave you out, did you?” Bently pulled a leather box from his pocket.
The breath shuddered in her lungs. No way. Is he? Oh my god!
Bently got down on his knee, not seeming to mind the cold snow on the frozen ground. “Belle, I know it’s really soon. But I decided that when it comes to you, I’m done waiting. I’m never holding back again.”
She glanced to TJ. A wide smile lit his face.
“I have already given you my heart, but I’m hoping that you’ll do me the greatest honor of letting me share my life with you. We don’t have to do it now. I’ll wait until you’re ready, whenever that is. I want you to be mine in every sense of the word. My lover, my best friend, and my wife.”
Fresh tears spilled over her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away this time. There was so much she wanted to say to him, but everything jumbled up and stuck in her throat.
“Show her the ring,” TJ said.
Belle’s eyes darted to her brother who now held his phone up, capturing their moment.
“Oh, right.” Bently opened the box.
A dark red ruby glinted in the morning sunlight, the square-cut stone set in a delicate silver band. It was simple and elegant. It was perfect.
“I got you a ruby because it’s the queen of all stones. Uh—” Bently cleared his throat nervously. “The ancients believed its value surpassed that of all other stones in virtue, even the diamond. There are a lot of other meanings, like protection, and it symbolizes the sun. I chose it because to me, you are the sun. You’re everything good in this world. You’re valuable and precious, and powerful. And I want to have the privilege of standing by your side forever.”
Belle’s heart pounded in her chest. Disbelief and butterflies swirled in her belly.
Fear and uncertainty flashed in those cerulean-blue eyes.
Say something!
She nodded vigorously and pulled him to standing. “Yes, Bently. I-I want that too. Yes!”
Bently let out an audible sigh as he pulled her tight against him, kissing her. “You scared me for a minute there.”
“Did you think I could walk away from you? From the only pure love I’ve ever known?” she asked, kissing his jaw.
“I fucking hoped not.” Bently chuckled.
TJ finally spoke up. “I’ve always wanted a brother.”
Bently released Belle enough to pull TJ into the group hug. “Well, you’ve got a lot more than just me now.”
Of course. His family was now their family. Belle’s heart swelled. That was the thing about love—just when you thought it wasn’t possible to have room for more, your heart expanded and grew to accommodate the new demand. And maybe all those times she’d had her heart broken, left in shattered pieces, it was for this moment. To be able to re-piece it all together to form something much bigger and better than she could have ever had on her own.
“Alright, you two. I’m gonna go stop in and see Cam.” TJ smiled and slipped the phone into his pocket.
“Drive safe,” Bently said as TJ shut the tailgate.
