31. Isla #2
Locke got to his feet, hugging both his parents. “Thank you.”
“I vote we hang the pictures in the hotel lobby when it’s finished,” I said.
“I second that,” Weston piped up, a cheeky grin on his face.
Locke rolled his eyes. “You both would just love that, wouldn’t you?”
I giggled as he leaned over to kiss me. “It’ll be our new tradition,” I whispered into his mouth. “Your legacy.”
Locke pulled back slightly, regarding me with a soft look. “You know, I actually love the sound of that.”
Cleanup took ages.
By the time we’d said goodbye to the last of the guests, it was early evening, and I was still unearthing plastic cups and paper plates from corners of the lobby I could’ve sworn Lena and Jo had already checked.
“How long are you going to keep the decorations up?” Locke asked. I’d put him on present duty, and he was currently ferrying everything from the lobby to the nursery.
I twisted, studying the glittery snowflakes that were still strung across the room. “At least until the balloons deflate. Maybe until after Christmas. It looks quite festive in here.”
He picked up the box that held his tiny sailor outfit.
“Wait!” I called, hurrying after him.
“What?”
I took the box from his hands. “I know you’re planning to bury this in the back of the closet.”
He shot me a cheeky grin. “Actually, I was going to recruit Ranger to help me bury it in the garden out back.”
I gave him a flat look. “Don’t even think about it.
” I headed into the nursery, setting the box down on the E-Z Rocker.
I popped it open, grinning at the adorable little outfit once more before putting it away in the top drawer of the dresser.
“There will be a photoshoot, so just make your peace with that now.”
Locke’s lips twitched as he picked up the old baby photo of himself. “And what do you want to do with this?”
“Put it on display, of course.” I took the frame from him and set it on the top of the dresser. He strung his arms over my shoulders from behind. I felt his lips on the back of my neck. “I can’t wait to compare how much our son looks like you when you were a baby.”
“I hope he’s not cursed with that giant head.”
I gasped. “Your head was not giant. Be nice.”
“You’re a terrible liar.”
I chuckled softly as he nibbled at the side of my neck. “What matters is that you grew into it. And you’re still kind of cute.”
“You think so?”
I hummed.
“Good.” He pecked my cheek, pulling away. “There was actually one more gift for you to open.”
I turned to face him. “Another one? From who?”
He reached out, tugging open another dresser drawer, and produced a small, baby-blue box. He handed it to me with an odd, anxious look on his face. I narrowed my eyes playfully. “Locke. What is this?”
He managed a smile. “Just open it.”
I did, popping the lid off the box to find yet another box. Only this one was smaller and velvet—a jewelry box!
Locke picked it up and sank down to one knee as my heart lurched against my ribs. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but it was all I could do to take in a breath as I realized what was happening.
“I know we’ve been through this once before,” he said, popping the box open to reveal a dazzling ring. “But I wanted to do this again. Do it right, I mean. Because this time, it’s real.”
A laugh bubbled free as I examined the ring. It was different from the first one he’d given me. But that had only been pretend. This one had three diamonds set next to each other, and I knew they represented Locke, me, and the baby.
Our family.
“I want you to understand that I don’t take this lightly,” he said. “Not many women would agree to be engaged to me twice.”
I laughed, and he caught my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “You’re wrong about that,” I whispered. “You’re quite the catch.”
“I don’t know about that,” he said. “But I am the man who’s lucky enough to call you the mother of my child. And now I want to be the man who’s lucky enough to call you my wife.”
I swallowed down a delighted sob, his words already making me teary.
“I love you,” Locke said, his voice strong, firm without even a shadow of doubt. “And I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Supporting you. Treasuring you. So, Isla MacRae, will you marry me?”
“I will,” I said, surprised I even managed to get the words out. I couldn’t help gasping out a little sob as he threaded the ring onto my finger. It was a perfect fit.
Locke rose to his feet, catching my jaw between his hands. I tilted my head back, meeting his lips in a heated kiss. I felt deliriously happy as he pulled away, joy filling me to the brim. If I tipped backward, I was pretty sure I would float.
I held my hand out, giving my fingers a little wiggle.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“I love it,” I assured him. “It’s absolutely perfect.”
I threaded my fingers through his, truly feeling like the luckiest girl in the world.
I knew he was committed. I knew he’d chosen to come back and stay for his family.
But this ring was a tangible symbol of that commitment, and every day, I would get to look at it and remind myself that Locke and I had already waded through the heartbreak and found our way out to the other side—together.
We’d survived our hardships and had emerged stronger, united in this little life that we’d built together.
And that was the best gift he ever could have given me.