Chapter 29 #2
Amelia stands frozen with watery eyes. “He’s gonna be so surprised in the mornin’. I can’t thank y’all enough.”
“We’re happy to do it,” I tell her.
Wilder and I carry the gifts up to her apartment as quietly as we can and stack the gifts around the small tree. Her apartment is nice, but since it’s only a one-bedroom, there’s not a lot of extra room for toys.
“I hope this doesn’t cross the line, but if you’re okay with it, I’d like to move you guys to a duplex on the ranch. They have two bedrooms and a lot of open space. You’ll be close to The Lodge then, too,” Wilder says when we’re done. “And the rent is cheap.”
“I-I don’t think I can accept that. You’ve already done enough with the gifts and the job…”
“It’s just standin’ there empty,” I tell her. “And we’ll come help you move so you don’t have to do it alone.”
“Why’re you doin’ this? I’m very grateful, but I don’t feel worthy of it.”
The sadness in her eyes breaks my heart.
“I know somethin’ about feelin’ that way, but I promise that you are. You’re a good mom doin’ the best she can for her kids and with what’s been thrown at her. There’s no shame in needin’ help, especially when raising a family takes a village.”
I beam at Wilder’s response, knowing he meant it wholeheartedly.
“This is my first Christmas without my dad and if there’s one thing I learned, it’s how important community is.
I know it’s hard to accept help, whether it’s from grief or pride, but my neighbors and friends really showed up after I lost him.
And being able to give back to someone else the same way makes him being gone a little less sad. ”
Wilder’s gaze meets mine and it’s filled with tenderness and sorrow.
“Think about it, okay? You don’t have to agree to anythin’ you’re not comfortable with, but it’s yours if you want it,” Wilder reassures her.
“Thank you. I will.” She smiles, and this time, it reaches her eyes.
“Merry Christmas, Amelia. I hope you have the best day with your kids.” I wrap an arm around her cautiously, not sure if she’s a hugger, but then she fully embraces me.
“Thank you. So, so much.”
After we quietly exit and walk back to the truck, Wilder pushes me up against the passenger door and cages me in with a devious look on his face.
“What’re you doin’?” I step up on the curb so we’re more at eye level.
“Can I give you an early Christmas gift?”
“I thought we weren’t doin’ that?”
We agreed not to exchange since we just had our honeymoon and neither of us needed anything.
“Well…there’s one thing money can’t buy.”
I furrow my brows, confused. He tilts my chin and presses a soft kiss to my lips.
“Dr. Branson says I shouldn’t keep things in or they’ll eat at me.”
“Right.”
“And I don’t think I can wait another day to say this before it eats at me.”
“What is it?” My heart races with the possibilities.
“That I’m madly in love with you. I have been for a long fuckin’ time and planned to wait until we made it to the thirty-day mark so I didn’t freak you out by movin’ too quickly.
But I needed to tell you now because each day I get to wake up with you next to me is another day wasted not tellin’ you. ”
My chest squeezes with joy, and I wrap my arms around him, crashing our mouths together.
“It’s about goddamn time.” I laugh against his lips. “I’m in love with you, too.”
Smiling, he kisses me again. “Good, then I can give you this.”
When he pulls something out of his pocket, I scowl at him buying me something anyway.
“You liar—”
He reveals a bright blue box I’ve only seen in movies.
“What’s that?”
“Open it.” He hands it to me, but I’m weary.
When I do, I gasp at the biggest ring I’ve ever seen. A princess cut with a diamond band. It’s stunning.
“What’s this for?”
“A weddin’ ring you deserve and one I wanted you to have.”
“What about the one we got in Vegas?”
“The one we were too drunk to even remember buyin’?
That’s fine when you’re gonna get it annulled in a few weeks, but not somethin’ you keep on your finger forever.
” He plucks the ring out and grabs my left hand, then slides it on my finger.
“This is one you put on your wife that you’re in love with. ”
I can’t seem to lift my jaw off the ground. “I-I don’t even know how you did this so fast. Isn’t this company like…really expensive?” I whisper as if anyone’s going to overhear when we’re completely alone. But I’m too shocked to think straight.
He shrugs carelessly. “Only the best for my money-hungry, pregnant wife.”
“Wilder!” I playfully shove him but then pull him back and kiss him hard on the mouth.
“When did you do this?” I ask.
I only told him I knew I didn’t need thirty days or an annulment last week.
“When we got back from Vegas.”
“We were still under the month-long trial.”
“I was…hopeful.”
Rolling my eyes at his overconfidence, I hold up my hand but still can’t believe it. “It’s beyond beautiful. Thank you. I love it.”
“Oh, and there’s one more thing…”
I pinch my brows together when he gets down on one knee. “Will you marry me again?”
“Wait, whaddya mean?”
“Plan a ceremony. Dance at our reception. Get a weddin’ dress. Say vows. The whole shebang.”
“You really want all that?”
Wilder doesn’t strike me as the type who’d want to fuss over wedding planning, but then again, I’ve been proven wrong before.
“I want that with you.”
Just when I thought I was strong enough to hold back tears, they fall down my cheeks.
“Yes…” I nod profusely. “Yes, I’ll marry you again!”
He swoops me up in his arms and then cups my face to kiss me.
“I can’t wait to see you walkin’ down the aisle to me. And then rippin’ off that dress once we’re alone.” He winks, smirking like he’s proud of himself.
“And there it is.” I laugh but then wrap my arms around him. “Thank you for lovin’ me durin’ the hardest year of my life. This has already been the best Christmas when I’d been preparin’ for it to be my worst.”
He tilts my chin, gripping it tenderly. “I will love you through every storm—the same way you’ve done for me.”