Chapter 29
Chapter
Twenty-Nine
“I haven’t been to the falls in ages,” Lana commented as Sly drove down River Drive early Saturday morning. “This will be fun—even if you did wake me up at the crack of dawn on my day to sleep in.”
Remembering exactly how that had gone down, Sly gave her a heavy-lidded look. “You didn’t seem to mind.”
“Only because waking up to your kisses is a lot more fun than an alarm clock.” Wearing the glow of a woman thoroughly loved, she smiled.
He grinned at her. Neither of them had slept much last night. They’d been too busy making love and talking. In the wee hours, he’d come up with the plan for a picnic breakfast at the falls, followed by visits to Lana’s sister and Dani.
He was happier than he’d been since... He couldn’t recall ever feeling this fantastic. He enjoyed having Lana in his bed and didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of waking up beside her. The very idea would have terrified him a few months ago. Today he felt like the luckiest man alive.
They headed into Prosperity Park, where woods and acres of manicured lawn surrounded the falls. “There’s the gift shop where Kate works,” Lana said. “Too bad it’s so early. Otherwise, we could stop in and visit her.”
He wanted Lana all to himself for a couple of hours, which was why he’d suggested the early-morning picnic. “We’ll catch her another time.”
“Who should we tell first—my sister or yours?” she asked, as he drove past walking and hiking trails, toward the falls.
“You know how swamped Big Mama’s is on Saturday mornings, especially during tourist season.
Let’s talk to your sister first, then drive to the restaurant and grab Dani for a quick break.
I think we should finish up by stopping in at your parents’—I’d hate to spring the baby on them during my first Sunday dinner. ”
A week ago, the suggestion would’ve upset or worried her. Today, she looked calm and assured. “This afternoon it is.” She glanced at the clock on the dash. “It’s seven-thirty, and if I know Liz, she’ll be up. I’m going to call and make sure she’ll be home later.”
By the time Lana finished the call to her sister, Sly had parked in the large lot near the falls.
Picnic basket and blanket in hand, they took the pathway that led to the falls, sauntering past beautiful flower gardens.
As he’d intended, at this early hour they had the place to themselves.
Birds twittered in the trees, and playful squirrels chattered and chased each other.
In the distance he heard the unmistakable sound of a waterfall.
A quarter mile later, the path curved sharply south, revealing a stunning view of the falls.
The sight of the steep rocks jutting several dozen yards up from the earth and the powerful cascade of water spilling over them in a thick curtain of spray never ceased to amaze him.
He and Lana stopped to take in the sight.
“This view always takes my breath away.” Her chin tipped up and wonder filled her face. “How beautiful they are.”
As he gazed down at her, warmth and tenderness flooded his chest, and he silently swore to do everything in his power to make her happy. “You’re the beautiful one,” he said. Then he kissed her.
Because they were in public, he kept it shorter and lighter than he would’ve preferred. Regardless, she was flushed and breathless when he pulled away.
His passionate woman. The love in her eyes humbled him, and he was sure that life didn’t get much better than this.
A safe distance from the reach of the water’s spray, they found a flat, grassy place perfect for a picnic.
They spread out the blanket, then Lana helped set out the food Mrs. R had prepared for his weekend alone.
He planned to introduce her to his woman in the very near future. She’d like Lana. His crew, too.
Despite enjoying a snack in the middle of the night, the lovemaking had made them both ravenous. For a while they forgot about conversation and chowed down. Her hearty appetite was one more thing he loved about her.
“Do you think your parents will be upset about the baby?” he asked, smiling to himself as she filched a chunk of his blueberry muffin.
“I won’t lie—I want them to be happy about it. If they’re not, I’ll be sad. But I love you and you love me, and no matter what they think or say, that’s the bottom line.”
He couldn’t have dreamed up a better reply. He felt as if he’d waited all his life for the amazing woman sharing his blanket.
So, what are you waiting for? a voice whispered in his head. In that moment, he made up his mind. He pushed the plates aside and knelt on the blanket, pulling Lana up to face him. She gave him a questioning look.
“I don’t have a ring or anything, but I’d be...” Suddenly choked up, he stopped to clear his throat. “Lana, I want... Oh, hell.” He was going to lose it.
“If this is a proposal, the answer is yes!”
“No kidding?”
“I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and he kissed her again with all the love in his heart. When they came up for air, she rested her forehead against his and sighed. “I now have exactly what I’ve always dreamed of.” She moved away from him and sat down again. “There’s only one problem.”
Unable to think what it could be, he gave a puzzled frown and tilted up her chin. “We solved all our problems. Tim and I dropped our lawsuits, we’re about to tell your parents about the baby, and we’re getting married.”
“I’m talking about the beautiful mural I painted in the nursery. What am I supposed to do with the town house?”
“Sell it or keep it as a rental—whatever you decide is okay by me. Heck, if you want, paint murals in all the bedrooms at my place.”
“Your house is definitely big enough for a family.”
“A whole houseful of kids, if I have my way.” Picturing several little Lanas running around, creating pandemonium, he grinned.
“What if this is our only pregnancy?” she asked, suddenly somber.
“Then we’ll adopt. Either way, I consider myself the luckiest man in the world.”
The love and trust shining from her eyes filled him with sweet certainty that no matter where life took him, she would be at his side.
“Come on.” He rose to his feet and pulled her up beside him. “Let’s go share our good news.
Two years later
“You’re awfully quiet this afternoon,” Sly said as he parked in front of Lana’s parents’ house for Sunday dinner. “Feeling okay?”
Being a rancher’s wife and the mother of a toddler, not to mention setting up the second daycare and finding a capable person to manage it, made for very busy times, but Lana wouldn’t have traded her life for anything.
“I could use a nap, thanks to a certain little someone waking me up in the middle of the night.”
She turned around to smile at their beautiful daughter, Johanna, named after Sly’s mother.
The little girl beamed, her straight blonde hair flying as she bounced in her seat. “’Hanna see cousins and Gammy and Gampa.”
“That’s right, sweetie,” Lana said.
“She’s already talking in full sentences, and she’s barely eighteen months old,” he said proudly.
“Smart like her daddy.”
“And her mom.”
She and Sly grinned at each other. She leaned toward her husband for a quick kiss. “Have I told you lately that I adore you, Mr. Pettit?”
“Not since early this morning, when you and I, uh—” He glanced at their daughter in the rearview mirror. “When we were in bed.”
She was lost in his eyes when Johanna let out an excited shriek. “Cousins!”
Liz and Eric had just arrived, and Connor and Emma were racing toward the car.
Johanna wanted out. Sly lifted her from her car seat in time for the two cousins to greet her. Moments later, Connor and Emma raced for the backyard, Johanna squealing and toddling after them.
Eric nodded at Sly. “Come on, let’s catch up to our kids.”
“What you guys really want is the chance to check out Dad’s new grill,” Liz teased with a wry smile.
Neither man denied it.
Lana and her sister followed behind, catching each other up on the busy week they’d both had.
In the yard, her parents greeted everyone with smiles and hugs. “Guess what I found at the specialty store, Sly?” her mother said. “That microbrew beer you’ve been wanting to try.”
“Cool. Thanks, Michele.” He kissed her cheek. “You’re the best.”
After two years, Lana still marveled at the warm relationship her mother shared with her husband, better than she’d ever imagined.
Her dad clapped his hands on Sly’s and Eric’s shoulders and steered them toward the smoking grill, where steaks were sizzling. “Wait’ll I show you what this baby can do.”
Some fifteen minutes later, as everyone headed for the picnic table, Lana’s father gave his head an admiring shake. “What a beautiful family we have.”
She couldn’t have agreed more.