Chapter 73
CHAPTER 73
DIXIE
D inner was a whirlwind of clinking silverware, conversation, and lots of laughter. The table was long, stretching across the dining room, with dishes passed from one end to the other. The food was incredible—roasted meats, rich sauces, buttery rolls, and what I could only describe as the most perfect mashed potatoes I’d ever tasted.
“I don’t know if it’s just some weird pregnancy thing, but these are the best potatoes I’ve ever had.” I looked over at my mom. “Sorry. Yours are good, but these are amazing.”
“I agree,” Mom said.
“Chef’s special,” Hayes said with a wink.
“It’s going to be too easy to gain a hundred pounds around you guys,” I joked.
My parents seemed to be doing just fine, talking with the people around them. I hoped my mom was getting to see just how badly she misjudged this family. They weren’t ogres. They weren’t snobs. They were easily some of the friendliest people I had ever met.
“So, Dixie,” Maisie said from across the table, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Have you thought about names yet?”
“Names?” I repeated, blinking a few times before realizing she meant baby names. “Oh! Uh, not really. It’s still so early. We haven’t even had our first ultrasound yet.”
“Well,” Colt chimed in from down the table, a mischievous look in his eye. “If it’s a boy, you could always name him Colt Junior. Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
I laughed, shaking my head. “I don’t think Hayes would go for that, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
Hayes leaned back in his chair, his arm draped casually over the back of my seat. “Never going to happen.”
I couldn’t help but smile. It felt good to be surrounded by so much warmth and lightheartedness. Even my parents seemed to be relaxing, my mom laughing softly at something Kathy said.
As the meal progressed, the conversation shifted to stories about all the Bancroft kids growing up. Listening to the stories about the kind of chaos that only a big family could create almost made me want that for us.
Almost.
By the end of the evening, I felt a million percent better about things. Dinner couldn’t have gone more smoothly. I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn’t experienced anywhere before. Not even at my own family’s dinner table. My parents and Hayes’s family had gotten along surprisingly well, and by the time we said our goodbyes under the starry night sky at the Bancroft estate, I felt a deep sense of relief and joy.
Hayes and I climbed into the car. He looked over at me with a smile. “See, nothing to worry about.”
I laughed. “That’s easy for you to say now.”
“Eh, I knew my family would charm your mom. We’re a force when we’re all together.”
“The charmed ones,” I teased.
“Trust me, we all know how to make a lady smile,” he said with a wink.
“Yeah, yeah, Casanova. Let’s go. We’ve got a long drive back to the city.”
He followed some of the other cars down the long driveway. I leaned my head against the window, my body heavy with exhaustion. My back ached, and all I wanted was to get home, unwind, and maybe indulge in a slice of cheesecake. I had to be all prim and proper and not go for that second slice of cheesecake at dinner. But Kathy had insisted on sending us home with leftovers.
I was so going to dig in as soon as I got my heels off.
“I need to make a quick pit stop,” Hayes said when we were about halfway back to the city.
I groaned, turning to him with a pout. “Hayes, I’m tired. My back hurts. Can’t it wait? I just want to go home. I want to put on my fat pants, eat cheesecake in bed, and watch some home flipping show.”
He chuckled, his hand reaching over to squeeze mine. “It’ll be quick, I promise.”
I sighed, giving in, and leaned back in my seat. He turned onto a residential street in a nice neighborhood. I supposed I could survive an extra five minutes looking at gorgeous homes. The man bent over backward to make me happy and comfortable, I could sit my ass in the plush seat of his car for a few extra minutes.
I looked out the window. The street was lined with stunning three-story townhomes, their red brick exteriors and black-trimmed windows giving off that classic New York aesthetic. Wrought iron staircases led up to dramatic front doors. I couldn’t help but admire the charm of the homes. The neighborhood was clean and cute, an excellent place to raise a family.
One house in particular caught my eye. It was beautifully lit, with a garden at street level bursting with colorful buds just starting to bloom. The lights were on inside. I could see shadows moving behind a sheer curtain in the living room. It looked cozy and inviting, and for a moment, I let myself imagine what it would be like to live in a place like that. What family lived in there? Was there a little boy sitting at the table doing homework or maybe a little girl practicing her ballet moves while her mom made dinner?
Hayes pulled over and stopped the car. I watched as he got out, assuming he was going to talk to someone at the house. Instead, he came around to open my door.
“Oh, I’m not up for meeting anyone,” I said. “I’ll wait here.”
He offered me his hand. “Come on. Please.”
“What are you doing?” I asked, taking his hand and letting him help me out of the car.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned me around to face an even grander house on the other side of the street. It had the same classic look and feel as the others, but it was significantly bigger and more extravagant. I assumed it was where one of his brothers or cousins lived. It was that nice of a place. Bancroft nice. My eyes widened as I took in the sight of the stunning home. Then I happened to see the Sold sign planted in front of it.
Hayes wrapped an arm around me. “I know Ryan and Pam are living in your dream house. I thought about offering to buy it off them, but I decided their place was too small for how big I know our dreams can be together. This place, though? This has everything we could possibly need.”
I turned to him, my heart pounding. “Hayes, what are you saying?”
He smiled, his eyes filled with love. “It’s ours.”
“What?”
He took my hand and led me across the street, then dropped a key into my palm. I stared at it for a moment before remembering what keys were used for. I slid it into the lock and the door clicked open. Hayes flicked on the lights, revealing the stunning entryway of the glamorous New York City heritage home that looked like it had been plucked right out of a magazine.
I stepped inside, my eyes wide as I took in the high ceilings, the intricate moldings, and the elegant staircase that curved up to the second floor. I spun around, a squeal of excitement bubbling up in my throat as I prepared to throw my arms around Hayes’s shoulders.
But he wasn’t there.
I turned to find him down on one knee, a velvet box held up in his hand. My breath caught in my throat when I realized what was happening. I covered my mouth with my hands, tears in my eyes.
“Dixie,” he began, his voice steady but filled with emotion. “I always thought I knew what I wanted in life. But you don’t know what you don’t know, and I didn’t know you. Now that I do, I see everything so clearly. I want to spend the rest of my days loving you and our child—and if we’re lucky, children. I promise to be by your side through the light and the dark days, for as long as time will give us.”
He opened the ring box, revealing a stunning diamond ring that sparkled in the light. “Dixie, will you marry me?”
Tears streamed down my face. I nodded, my voice trembling. “Yes! Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
Hayes stood and slipped the ring onto my finger before pulling me into his arms. He kissed me deeply, his hands cradling my face as if I were the most precious thing in the world. When we finally pulled apart, I couldn’t stop smiling, my heart so full it felt like it might burst.
I looked down at the ring on my finger, the diamond catching the light and shimmering like a promise. “I can’t believe this,” I whispered, still in awe. “The house… the ring… Hayes, this is too much.”
He shook his head, his expression serious. “Nothing is too much for you, Dixie. You deserve all of this and more.” He took my hand and led me further into the house, our footsteps echoing in the huge, empty space. “Come on, let me show you around.”
We wandered through the rooms together—a spacious living room with a fireplace, a modern kitchen with marble countertops, a cozy dining room with a bay window that let in the soft glow of streetlights. Upstairs, he showed me the master bedroom, its windows overlooking a private garden below. I could already picture us there—waking up together, laughing over coffee, building a life.
“There’s one more thing,” Hayes said as we stood in the hallway outside what would become our bedroom. He opened a door to reveal a smaller room, painted a soft, neutral color with large windows that would let in the afternoon light. A rocking chair with a huge bow sat in one corner. I could imagine myself sitting there late at night, cradling a tiny bundle in my arms. My throat tightened as it hit me—this was the nursery.
“Hayes,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “You really thought of everything.”
He pulled me close, his hands resting on my shoulders. “I told you, Dixie. This is for us. For our future. For our family.”
For the first time in a long time, I felt completely at peace. This house wasn’t just a building. It was the foundation for the life we were going to build together.
“I can’t wait,” I whispered, looking up at him. “To fill this place with love and laughter. To raise our child here. To grow old together.”
Hayes smiled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Neither can I.”
We walked up to the third floor and he identified what would be a playroom and a home office. I was in shock. I couldn’t believe this was where I would live.
“This is really ours?” I said aloud, more to myself than him.
Hayes nodded. “It’s really ours. Our home. Our future. We can move in tomorrow. I was thinking we should go furniture shopping. We can keep my apartment in the city for times we need to be there or you’re too tired to make the drive out here. Or just for a change of pace every so often.”
I nodded. I didn’t know what to say. It was so much. “I’ll give notice at my place. I only have a few things I would want to bring here. The rest can be donated.”
“Perfect.” He grinned. “Easy moving.”
I threw my arms around him, holding him tight. “I love you, Hayes. So much.”
“I love you, too,” he said. “More than anything.”
We stood there for a moment, wrapped in each other’s arms. The air smelled faintly of wood polish and possibility.
“There’s one more thing I want to show you,” Hayes said.
“Hayes! No! I don’t think I can handle anything more!”
He led me down the grand staircase and through the spacious living room. We walked to a set of French doors that opened to a good-sized backyard, which was rare for the area. The garden was overgrown but beautiful, with tangled vines climbing a wrought iron fence and a stone path winding through the greenery. There was a small gazebo under a canopy of trees, its paint peeling slightly but its structure solid.
“This is going to be my project. I want to turn it into something magical. A place where we can sit in the mornings with our coffee, where our kids can play, where we can host barbecues with friends. What do you think?”
“I think I’m in heaven.”