Chapter 24 #2
We all head inside to the dining room where Eleanor is waiting with a dinner of all his and my favorites.
“Everyone sit down because we’ve got a meal for you.
Marius, we’ve got steak, chicken kabobs, and that pasta salad you’ve loved since you were a little boy.
For you, Eden, we made shrimp scampi and coq au vin, and we got cheesecake from that place in Brooklyn whose name I can never remember. ”
I look at Marius and smile. “That’s a pretty diverse meal they made for us.”
“We’re two very different people, Duck.”
Everyone takes their seat, and Eleanor begins to walk out, but Marius quickly stands up to stop her. “You’re a part of this family as much as I am, so pull up a chair, Eleanor. It wouldn’t be a celebration without you here.”
The older woman tears up at his kindness and nods. “Thank you, Marius. I’m so happy you’re safe and sound.” She hugs him and looks over at me. “You too, Eden. I’m just thrilled everything turned out okay.”
The entire family settles in to eat, but at the head of the table, Matthias taps his fork on his plate to get our attention.
Standing up, he raises his glass and says, “Before we all start, I want to make a toast. To my brothers, who never fail to keep life exciting for the rest of us, and to the women we love, who must wonder sometimes if they should have chosen differently, thank you for being here to celebrate Marius and Eden tonight. And to Eleanor, whose motherly love has seen us through all the ups and downs since we lost our mother, we don’t know what we’d do without you.
Thank you for always being here for us.”
We all raise our glasses to toast the people we love and begin to eat a delicious meal. It’s the family I know Ava has always dreamed of having. Now that I’m officially a part of it too, I can understand why.
By the time we finish, I swear I’ve eaten an ocean of shrimp and all the cheesecake to come out of Brooklyn. Stuffed, we all head to the living room. I notice Ava doesn’t stray far from me, so I pull her aside to talk to her.
“Hey, I’m okay, you know?”
She nods and seems to be fighting back tears. “I know. I was just really scared. The thought of someone pointing a gun at you freaks me out.”
I chuckle at that since I can’t agree more. “Me too. It’s something I never want to do again.”
“No more trying to make adult friends. As your mother always told us, it’s a nightmare,” Ava says with a smile.
I shrug, not really caring about new friends tonight. “I’ve got all the friends I need right here.”
All those years ago when I told Ava I was interested in Marius, I could have never guessed this would be my life. Married to the man himself, sister-in-law to my best friend, and surrounded by people who’ve welcomed me with open arms into their family.
From across the room, I see Marius walking toward me. He looks off, like he doesn’t feel well.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask him when he gently guides me over near the fireplace. “Do you want to leave?”
He shakes his head and points at the chair he’s led me to. “No. Sit.”
Marius has me worried, but he appears intent on something, so I don’t fight him. “Okay, I’m sitting. Would you like to tell me why you look like you’re going to throw up?”
Instead of answering me, he turns around and says to Matthias, “Ready?”
I don’t understand what’s happening, but a moment later, I hear music. As I listen, I realize it’s a song I know and love.
With a smile, Marius slowly eases himself down on one knee and pulls out a little robin’s egg blue box. I stare at him and then at it in shock as he begins to speak.
“Duck, I thought Willie could say it better than I ever could, but I need you to know you were always on my mind, even if I didn’t show it.”
I couldn’t stop the tears if I wanted to now. “Oh, Marius. This is so sweet.”
“You deserve this and so much more. I’m sorry I never realized I was hurting you. I thought because I bought you anything you wanted that I was showing you how much I love you, but now I know I wasn’t. I love you, Eden. I’m so sorry.”
Barely able to get the words out, I sniffle and say, “I love you, Marius. And I know you weren’t trying to be hurtful.”
“Well, I know this is probably a little backwards, but that’s okay. We don’t follow rules anyway, do we?”
I smile and shake my head. “Never have.”
“Well, in the spirit of not following the rules, will you marry me even though we’re already married?”
He tilts back the top of the box to reveal a gorgeous round cut diamond nestled in a bed of black velvet. I’m not sure, but by the size of it, I’m thinking it has to be at least three or four carats.
And it’s perfect.
I look down into his eyes and sigh at how wonderful he is for this.
Even though we’re already married, this week has felt like a new start with a fresh slate.
I never mentioned to him that I wish we had a traditional wedding, but I have longed for that.
I just figured I’d have to wait until we renewed our vows years from now.
“Of course, I’ll marry you, Marius. I love you.”
He leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips that makes my stomach flip. “Thank you for giving me another chance. I promise you won’t regret it.”
As he moves to stand up, I stop him. “Wait. I’ve got some conditions.”
Marius smiles and shakes his head. “That’s my Duck. Okay. Hit me with them. I’m ready.”
I wipe the tears away and say, “First, I want us to move.”
He looks confused for a second but nods. “Okay. You don’t like the penthouse?”
Cradling his face, I lean over and kiss him softly on the lips. “I love it, but if we’re going to be a family, I’d like a house out here. I loved growing up in this area, and I want our kids to have that too.”
My mention of children makes his eyes get big. “Is there something you want to tell me, Duck?”
I chuckle at how worried he looks. “No. It’s just that I want to have children, and I want to be in a house before they come.”
“Okay. I’ll contact the realtor tomorrow. We can start house hunting this weekend. Sound good?”
“Yes. Onto condition number two. You have to promise me you’re going to talk to someone about everything that happened this year. You’ve had a lot to deal with, not the least of which is having me held hostage by a crazy woman and you getting shot.”
He nods and says, “I can do that.”
I don’t know if he’s struggling as much as I think he may be. If he is, I want him to get the help he needs.
“Are there any more?” he asks, probably hoping I’m done with my conditions.
Smiling, I answer, “One more. I want a big, traditional wedding. I’m my parents’ only daughter, and it will break their hearts if they don’t get to see me get married. They couldn’t be there the first time, so I want them to see our wedding this time.”
“Traditional? Like me in a tux traditional?”
I nod. “Yes. Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll look great. And I’m going to have a white wedding dress with a long train and a veil.”
Marius leans forward and kisses me before whispering against my lips, “Whatever you want, Duck. I love you.”
“I love you too, Marius. I guess we better not keep everyone in suspense any longer.”
He stands up and turns around to everyone waiting to hear my answer. “She said yes. We’re having another wedding in the King family!”
Ava rushes over and throws her arms around me. “I was so worried I’d miss this because Lynn told me Matty woke up and was warm. He was just dressed a little too snugly for his new room, so I made it back down just in time to see Marius break out the ring! Let me see!”
I wiggle the fingers on my left hand to show off the stunning rock that amazing and wonderful man got me. Ava’s mouth drops open at how beautiful it looks.
“Oh, he told me I was going to be impressed, but I have to say I think he undersold it. It’s gorgeous! I love it!”
Marius comes up behind Ava and rests his chin on her shoulder. Smiling, he asks, “Did my biggest fan who was my biggest hater for a while there see the ring?”
She turns around and throws her arms around him. “I did, and it’s perfect! Congratulations, Marius!”
“So when is the wedding?” Ronan asks when he and Kate stop in front of me to check out my ring.
Everybody’s attention turns to me, so I shrug and shake my head. “No idea. I’ll have to talk to Marius about that. To be honest, I’m a little surprised by all of this, so we’re going to need a few days to get things planned.”
“I know I say this to everyone, but if you want to have the wedding here, we’d love it,” Ava says with so much hopefulness in her voice that I can’t say no.
Not that I want to say no. I love this house and the estate. It’s the home of my best friend and her husband, and even more than that, it’s my husband’s childhood home that I know he still loves.
Marius looks at me and then says to everyone, “We’ll have to see if our plans conflict with Ronan and Kate’s. If not, then if my wife is okay with it, I’m fine with our wedding being here.”
One by one, each person comes over to see my ring, and as we all sit around laughing and celebrating, I know this is the part of being married that I missed the most. I never doubted Marius and I loved each other, and I never needed to be with him every day and every night. That’s not who we are.
But being with the people you love and having the chance to be who you really are without lies and pretending is the part I missed out on for the past two years. Now that all changes, and I couldn’t be happier.
Eden King is marrying Marius King again, and they’re going to live happily ever after.