Chapter Forty-Two
KATIE
As I sit on a bale of hay with my feet propped up, I wonder what’s taking Noah so long.
I’ve always looked forward to this little festival. Well, ever since Noah brought me here when I was fifteen. I knew I had feelings for him then, but I was also too young to understand. I guess it’s true, though—when the heart knows, it truly knows.
It might’ve taken us some time to get to where we are now, but I don’t have any complaints, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’ve thought about whether I could go back in time, or whether I’d erase some of the heartache, but I realized maybe things wouldn’t be the same between us. My heart flutters thinking about it.
“What’re you grinning about?” Gemma asks.
My mouth falls open when I see her, and I stand to give her a hug. She’s pushing Scarlett in a stroller, and I bend down to catch a peek of her sweet cheeks.
“Come on,” she tells me with a wink. “Let’s look at the pumpkins.”
“I’m waiting for Noah,” I explain, not wanting him to get worried or have to search for me.
“We’re just going into the patch. Text him and let him know,” Gemma says.
I snicker. “Oh yeah. Text. Forgot about that one. Baby brain.”
I send a quick message to Noah, telling him that I ran into Gemma and we’re gonna walk around.
He sends me a kissy face emoji back.
Katie
Hope you didn’t fall in!
Noah
Haha! I’m almost done. See you soon.
I tuck my phone back into my crossbody and follow Gemma. She pulls Scarlett out of the stroller and asks me to take a picture. I snap at least ten, and when we’re done, she hands me a letter.
“What’s this?” I ask, confused as fuck as to why she’s acting so weird.
She snorts. “Open it and read it.”
I’m lost, but I do what she says. When I see the handwriting, I know it’s Noah’s. I can recognize his scribbles from a mile away.
The words nearly fly off the page as I read them.
Katie Bug,
I wanted to take you on a stroll down memory lane and confess some things in the process.
The last time we were here a little over fifteen years ago, I nearly told you how much you meant to me.
I almost asked you to be my girlfriend but was too chickenshit to do it.
I told myself I’d never make that mistake again, and here we are.
I love you more than the number of pumpkins in this patch.
And you and I both know that’s a fuckton.
Tears sit on the brim of my eyes as I look at Gemma. “What’s this about?”
She shrugs, and that’s when I see a grinning Tyler, holding another envelope.
“You guys! I swear!” I say as he hands it to me. While I open this one, we continue our slow stroll.
Katie Angel,
We’ve experienced a lot together. Some bad, but way more good.
Knowing that you never gave up on me after everything that happened has kept me moving forward in life.
I’ll never be able to repay you for saving me, for giving me a chance, and for loving me.
I’ll forever be indebted to you, my love, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Now, I’m crying. Tyler chuckles as Gemma places her hand on the small of my back, and then I see Everleigh. She’s wearing a wide smile and looks at me with raised brows.
“This one’s a doozy,” she says, handing me the envelope.
Katie Baby,
I’ve tried to think back to the moment I fell in love with you, and it’s nearly impossible.
Loving you has always just been a part of who I am.
It’s like I was created for the sole purpose of loving you, caring for you, helping you, protecting you, and I swear I’ll spend the rest of my life doing those things.
I’m not perfect, but you don’t seem to see my imperfections.
I don’t know what I did in a past life to deserve you, but I’m thankful for that and you.
I stop and wipe my face, then suck in a deep breath.
People passing by look at me like I’ve lost my mind, but they have no idea how large my heart has swelled in the past ten minutes.
The emotions I feel are almost too much.
Loretta and Elliot meet us, and Elliot hands me another letter, then they fall in line with everyone else.
Katie Sweetheart,
I hate that I’ve caused you heartache and tragedy.
I hate that things happened the way they did, and I’ve asked myself over and over if I could go back in time, would I change them?
At first, my answer was yes, but then I realized that changing the past may not bring me back to you, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
You, sweetheart. You’re my everything. Your sunshine on dark days, warmth when it’s cold, and calm in a storm.
I will always be there for you no matter what and be an anchor when you need it the most because you’re my North when I’ve lost my way.
Next are Belinda and Jerry, along with another silver envelope.
Katie Love,
I remember what I wished for on my eighteenth birthday.
Do you remember being there? You sat right across from me at the table as the candles were burning, and you told me to make a wish.
I looked you straight in the eyes, and at that moment, I wished that I’d marry you someday.
I blew out the candles and held it deep inside.
Years later, I thought back to that moment and was convinced that it would never happen.
But now, I’m a believer. Wishes do come true, and I know that to be the truth every morning when I wake up with you in my arms.
My parents greet me with hugs and tell me how much they love me, then lead me over to Owen and Anthony. Thankfully, neither of them was carrying a letter, and for once, I’m grateful because I don’t know how much more I can read before I melt into tears.
Owen grabs my free hand and looks into my eyes. “Mama, I gave Dad permission,” he says, and I can see he’s growing emotional too.
“Permission for what, baby?”
Moments later, Noah steps into view, looking as handsome as ever. Although he’s been wearing those clothes all day, I can see the happiness radiating from him. He moves forward, and Owen and Anthony step aside. Behind me are all of my friends and family, watching as Noah gets on one knee.
I suspected a proposal after the first letter, but I never imagined it would be anything like this. The thought he puts into making moments special for me is magical.
He rubs his thumbs across the top of my hand.
“Katie, I’m pretty sure you’ve figured it out by now.”
I nod as tears slide down my face.
“I meant every word in those letters. I love you, sweetheart, more than anything in the world. I’d do anything for our beautiful children.
” He glances at Owen, then back at me. “And for you. As I mentioned, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved with every fiber of my being, and I told myself that if I ever had the opportunity to marry you, I wouldn’t pass it up.
And here we are, beautiful. Katie, will you please spend the rest of your life with me and let me make you breakfast in bed, massage your feet, and treat you like the queen you are? Will you marry me?”
The whole time I was too focused on him to even notice the beautiful ring he’s holding.
“Yes, baby. Yes!” I say, and he stands and slides his lips across mine.
When we pull apart, he takes the ring out of the box, slips his hand in his pocket, and then pulls out a silver chain.
“It’s sized for after the babies.” He chuckles. “Gemma suggested it.”
Gemma shrugs. “Don’t you agree?”
“Totally.”
Noah slips the ring on the necklace, then clasps it behind my neck.
I look down at the diamond sparkling in the sunshine, then pull him closer.
I get lost in this kiss as his tongue slides against mine, and if we didn’t have an audience or weren’t in public, there’s no telling where this would lead.
Congratulations are in order, and we exchange hugs and tears and handshakes galore.
My senses are heightened because of my hormones, and I can’t remember the last time I’ve cried so much, but I welcome tears of happiness any day.
While we’re saying our goodbyes to everyone, Owen gives me a tight squeeze.
“Thank you for saying yes, Mama,” he tells me.
I tilt my head. “You thought I’d say no?”
“Well no, but I didn’t know,” he says with a laugh. “I’m just happy Noah will be in our lives forever.”
“Forever, baby,” I grin.
Loretta approaches and says they’re going to do some more activities, and Anthony asks if Owen can join them. Wanting to have some alone time with Noah, I agree.
“I’ll bring him home after we’re done here,” Loretta says.
“Memaw, can Owen stay the night?” Anthony asks with a twinkle in his eye, and I know I can’t say no to that.
“Only if Katie says it’s okay.”
He comes over to me and smiles. “Ms. Katie, can Owen pretty, pretty please stay over?”
I laugh. “Sure. That’ll be fine.”
The boys give me a handful of thank-yous. Owen gives me a hug goodbye, and I thank Loretta for everything.
As they walk away, Noah pulls me in close. “You ready to get outta here, fiancée?”
I lift my brow. “I like the sound of that, but I think I’ll like being called wife better. Also, does that mean what I think it means?”
He bites the corner of his lip and smirks.
“Hell yes,” I say. We stop and pick up my gigantic wreath that may or may not fit in the trunk of my car, then leave. When we get home, we make love until nightfall, then fall asleep naked.
I can’t believe I’ve been calling Noah my fiancé for two weeks.
It feels like a dream, all of it. Having the house finished, the proposal, and now the baby shower for the twins.
How’s this my life? If someone would’ve told me at the beginning of the year I’d be engaged and pregnant before Christmas, I would’ve asked them if they had fallen and hit their head.
When I roll over in the morning and feel his strong arm wrapped across me, I almost pinch myself. It’s a dream come true, and I don’t dare take a damn day for granted.
“Babe, almost ready?” I hear Noah call from the other room.