Chapter 27 #2
Max glanced at her. They hadn’t talked much about that as they prepared for the baby and faced the hurdle of breaking the baby news to Caden. “I don’t know why we aren’t getting married yet. We haven’t really gotten there.”
“Well, you should,” Caden said, folding his arms. “Why don’t you ask her, Dad?”
“Like, um, now?”
Caden gave him a challenging look. “Now would be good.”
“It’s okay,” Lexi said with a nervous giggle. “You don’t have to, Max.”
“Yes, he does. You’re having a baby. He loves you. I love you. You should get married.”
Lexi stared at Caden. “You… you love me?”
Caden shrugged. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”
“It’s a very big deal,” Lexi said tearfully as she leaned in to hug and kiss Caden, who tolerated her affection admirably. “And guess what?”
“What?”
“I love you, too.”
Caden grinned at her.
“Hang on just a second,” Max said as he got up and left the room.
“Where’d he go?” Caden asked Lexi. “Things were just getting interesting.”
Lexi laughed as her heart pounded with excitement and anticipation. Was this really happening?
“When will the baby come?” Caden asked her.
“In the fall.”
“That’s a long time from now.”
“We’ve got a lot to do before then. It’ll be here before we know it.”
Max returned to the room, looking as undone as she felt. He moved his chair out of the way and then dropped to his knees before her. “Cade, come here, will you?” Max held out a hand to his son.
When Caden stood next to his dad, Max put an arm around him and then looked up at Lexi with his heart in his eyes.
“My son and I were doing fine for years, but since you came back into my life and into his, we’ve discovered there’s a lot of ways to improve on ‘fine.’ You bring the light and the laughter and the love.
So much love.” Max seemed to falter for a second before he found his composure again.
“In all the years we were apart, I was looking for you, for what I have with you, and it took seeing you again to realize there’s only one you, and no one else will ever do. Will you marry me?”
“And me?” Caden added, making them laugh through tears.
“Yes,” Lexi said, reaching for them. “I’ll marry you both.”
They hugged for the longest time as tears spilled down her cheeks. This was really happening. She was going to marry Max Abbott—and his beautiful son. Dreams did come true. She was living proof of that.
“I forgot the best part,” Max said, pulling back to reach for her left hand.
Lexi held her breath as he slid a diamond solitaire onto her ring finger. “It was my grandmother’s engagement ring. Gramps gave it to me to give to you when the time was right.”
“Oh, Max, it’s beautiful! I’ll treasure it always because it was hers.”
“Why do girls cry when they’re happy?” Caden asked, making them laugh.
Max used a napkin to wipe away her tears and then kissed her.
“We cry when we’re happy because our hearts are so full, they overflow with tears,” Lexi said.
“That’s weird. Can I go watch TV?”
“After you clear the table.”
Caden made fast work of clearing the table, while Max and Lexi lingered, still in happy shock over how this evening had unfolded.
“So,” Max said to her after Caden had left the room, “that happened.”
Lexi held up her hand for another look at the gorgeous ring. “It sure did.”
“Are you happy, love?”
“You really have to ask? I’ve never been so happy. Not only do I get you, but I get your wonderful, adorable son and a new baby to love and your big family and this town I love so much. I spent a decade in and out of the hospital dreaming of the life I have now. Yes, Max, I’m happy. Are you?”
“God, yes. I never knew this kind of happy was possible. It’s even better than it was the first time around.”
“Because we know now how precious it is.”
“Yes, we do. When do you want to get married?”
“Can we wait until after the baby so I’m not pregnant in the pictures?”
He gave her hand a gentle tug, brought her onto his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.”
“I have everything I’ve ever wanted—and then some.”
“Me, too,” Max said, kissing her. “Me, too.”
Later that night, Max tucked Caden into bed. “Thanks for your support earlier. It meant a lot to me and Lexi.”
“You wouldn’t be engaged if it wasn’t for me,” Caden said with a grin.
“That’s true. Thanks for giving me the push.”
Caden shrugged. “It’s what you wanted. I just helped you get it.”
“You know that if you weren’t happy about Lexi and the baby, I couldn’t be either.”
“I know. Grammy told me that you couldn’t be happy unless I was.”
Max tipped his head as he gazed at Caden. “She said that?”
“Uh-huh. She said you really loved Lexi and that it was important to you that I do, too, or you wouldn’t be happy. I want you to be happy.”
“Grammy is very wise.”
“She’s the best grammy.”
“She sure is.” Max bent to kiss his forehead. “Get some sleep, pal. I love you.”
“Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you love the baby more than you love me?”
Max shook his head. “I’ll love the baby differently than I love you. You and me… We’ll always be special friends because of the seven years we were a team. Nothing and no one could ever change the bond we have. You know that, right?”
He nodded.
“I’ll love the baby so, so much, but you and me…” Max held up his hand for a fist bump. “Best friends forever.”
Caden smiled and returned the fist bump. “Best friends forever.”
“Night, buddy. Sleep tight.”
“Night, Dad.”