Chapter 19
Courtney – POV?
It was now November, and we were preparing Once Again for one of its biggest festivals that occurred a week before Thanksgiving.
It was a time for everyone to come together to decorate the town and enjoy being surrounded by friends and family.
There were simple food stands that had warm cookies, hot sweet potatoes, caramel apples, warm cider, pumpkin spice drinks; there were outdoor market stalls selling little trinkets and souvenirs along with several picture taking booths where people could take family photos to celebrate the day.
The cold fall weather was perfect for the hayrides that Hunter and his army friend, Liam, who had come to stay on his ranch, offered. Four huge Clydesdales pulled an oversized trailer that was filled to the max with laughing children and smiling parents.
Even Rocky was pulling a small cart filled with treat bags for people to buy so that they could feed the goats that Hunter and Liam put in the petting pen.
Patrick and Sean had built several pavilions with large firepits, where visitors and townspeople gathered to cook smores and enjoy the delicious cups of hot chocolate that Stella had stationed around the area.
They had also put in tables and chairs for people to sit and relax while they enjoyed the live band that was playing on the stage.
Devin was in charge of the massive corn and haybale maze that had torches lighting the perimeter, giving the entire field a cozy, warm feeling. The entire place was charged with laughter and amazement at the large stuffed scarecrow in the center of the maze.
Thane spent his time with Ava and I, showing us around, playing games and even enjoying the hayride much to the teasing of Hunter.
“It’s so beautiful,” I told Thane as we sat watching Ava dance in front of the stage with the other children from her school. The flowers that Mako and Bernice had set up around the stage were a perfect display of fall colors and created a beautiful backdrop for the evening.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it, honey,” he said, kissing the side of my head. “I’m happy to see that Ava is having fun too.”
She was.
She was wearing another dress that Mako had made just for her, twirling around with Ethan who had become a mainstay in her life.
He was always there to greet her in the mornings for school, often walking her into class and bringing her back out to the car like a perfect gentleman.
He sat next to her at our family dinners, ensuring she had a desert for later and while the adults talked, both of them would play together.
Helen was already planning their wedding.
I looked over at Thane who was talking with a visitor about something, and I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face.
God, I loved this man.
When I thought that I would be spending my life alone, raising a child alone, he just appeared and made a spot for himself in the chaos that was my life and made everything better.
He didn’t shy away from our troubles, our past. He didn’t let our insecurities define our present nor our fears stop us from seeing the future.
That’s one of the reasons why I was so invested in creating a place for families to go, a place that they could create beautiful memories together.
This was the future that Thane showed me, and I was going to hold onto it with both hands.
“What are you smiling about, baby?”
“Just thinking about how much I love you.”
I loved watching his lovely green eyes go dark, “I love you too, sweetheart. More than I ever thought I could love someone else.”
His kiss was sweet and unhurried as he took his time.
I gripped his shirt, wanting nothing more than to climb on his lap, but I think that might cause more of a stir than Once Again was prepared for, so I slowly eased back.
I laughed when he grumbled, his arm tightening around me, pulling closer to his side. “When we get back –”
“Coco, Bear, look!”
Ava came running up with her arms full of flowers. “Mako said that I could have these.”
Thane scooped Ava up in his arms, careful of the bundle of flowers, “that’s so nice, Poppy. We can put them in some water and put them on the dining room table for everyone to see when we have Thanksgiving dinner.”
Ava smiled and kicked her feet back and forth, “they will make the table look really pretty.”
They continued to talk while I thought about the week coming up. Everyone decided that I should host Thanksgiving now that the property was finally completed and Helen, Megan and I just finished putting the final touches to the house.
When all the renovations were completed, I kicked the boys out, especially Thane, because I wanted it all to be a surprise so when it was time for Thanksgiving it would also be the first time I had people over to see the new house.
I was beyond excited.
The festival lasted for a week, then the town spent the next few days putting everything back in order so that the townspeople could celebrate Thanksgiving with their families.
Although, Once Again still received many visitors, the atmosphere was slower and quieter as people came to relax, appreciating the cool weather and fall colors.
While everyone was busy, Ava and I spent the days before Thanksgiving preparing some food for the family dinner, though I did warn them that I was not a cook, so they all decided to bring something, thank God, and Thane said he and Patrick would take care of the turkey.
So, I made a plan. I asked that the women come over first to bring the food and have the food table set up in the sunroom, while we would all eat outside on the wraparound porch that overlooked my soon to be vegetable garden.
The boys would come a little later and meet us around back, set up the equipment that they were going to use for the turkeys before I’d take everyone inside for the grand tour.
When the day came, I was prepared and happy to have Helen and Megan bustling around in the kitchen, preparing last minute dishes as our small family get-together grew.
Hunter and Ethan were coming and they were bringing Liam, the old army friend of Hunter’s, who was recently discharged and was looking for a change of pace.
Mako was bringing Andi, who had moved here a few months ago and had no family here. When Ava heard that she immediately demanded that her teacher join our family for dinner.
Thane had invited Yara, the former HR assistant and newly hired rental manager, since she was still in the process of moving here and did not have her house set up yet.
We were all laughing and having a great time, when they couldn’t take it anymore and demanded to be let inside so they could explore the updated house.
With gusto, I opened the double doors to the sunroom and began the tour, starting from the right side of the house.
I showed them the large office space that I had set up, then moved into the living room that had the massive fireplace and wall to wall bookcase with the teal rug Ava and I had bought taking center stage in front of the sofa.
Then we moved upstairs and showed off Ava’s room that she was so excited for.
I let her guide everyone through and smiled at their appreciative murmurs of approval.
We headed down the hallway that had the jack and jill bedrooms but one of the rooms was off limits, but they could still go into the other one that I was planning on using as a guest room.
Mako put her hand on the door, “why is it off limits?” She smirked at me, “is it a special playroom?”
I laughed, “no, nothing as fun as that. I put some extra stuff in there that’s all.”
“Boo, that’s no fun.” Mako huffed and continued down the hall.
“Are you wanting a special playroom, honey,” Thane growled quietly in my ear, “because I can make that happen for you.”
I tipped my head back and gave him a playful smile. “What makes you think I haven’t already got one?” I said, turning in his arms to kiss his neck, ”a secret, special playroom.”
I think his eyebrows disappear into his hairline. I burst out laughing.
“Come on, Papa Bear,” I grabbed his hand and pulled him to Ava’s large playroom.
He was growling and grumbling the entire way.
Then we all made our way back downstairs through the kitchen into what would be my master bedroom.
“Oh my God,” Megan screamed, “Courtney! This is amazing.”
Everyone walked through, amazed at how I had transformed the space into a warm, and cozy bedroom. I had made the step-down into a sleeping pit filled with blankets and pillows. Off to the corner, I had placed a large King-sized bed that overlooked the entire room.
Stepping through the archway that Sean had managed to cut for me, the large greenhouse with its tinted bottom windows became a type of outdoor bathroom, complete with a toilet, rainfall shower and a small pool that worked as a bathtub.
“This is amazing,” Patrick said, coming up and giving me a hug. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart, so damn proud.”
I felt tears well, “thank you, Patrick.”
Helen came over, gave me a tight hug, “this is going to be a wonderful place for you and Ava.”
She stepped back, wiping her eyes, “come on everyone. Let’s go eat before the food gets cold.”
It was late into the evening when everyone headed home. Ava had convinced Mako, Andi and Yara to have a girl’s sleepover with Megan at Grammy’s house, so with that, I was left with Thane inside my new home.
“Now that we are alone,” I said, “I have some questions for you that I would like you to answer with complete honesty.”
I was sitting with Thane on the back porch watching the moonlight dance across the trees.
His arms tightened around me. “I have always been honest with you, honey. Ask any question you want and I will tell you the truth.”
I paused for a few minutes. This would change everything again.
I just pray that it will be for the best.
Climbing out of his hold, I straddled his lap, tracing my hands along his strong jaw, down his throat to grip his shoulders, grounding myself before I asked, “would you move in with me and Ava?”
I watched his eyes widen, “I know you have your own place, but if it’s okay, I’d like – love – for you to be with us.”
He wrapped his arms around me, kissing me so completely that I lost my train of thought. “Honey, I’d love to move in. I want nothing more than to be with my girls. To spend the rest of my life with you.”
He has said that before and each time it took my breath away. Nibbling on my bottom lip, I made the decision not to ask him but show him my last question.
Standing up, I held out my hand, urging him to follow. “I want to show you something.”
Leading him back upstairs to one of the jack and jill rooms, “I thought this was off limits?” he asked, as we stepped up to the door. “Jesus, honey, is this really a playroom?” His eyes were wide, a small smile playing at his lips.
I smiled – he had no idea.
“It’s a surprise. Now, turn around and put your back to the door and close your eyes, I’m going to walk you in.”
Opening the door, I pushed on his stomach, forcing him to walk backwards until he was in the middle of the room. “Are you ready to be a papa?”
He growled low in his throat, reaching for me but I danced away. “Open your eyes, Bear.”
His eyes sprang up and he froze. Turning slowly around, he took in the room. Every single piece of furniture, every toy, and the few pieces of clothes I laid out on the crib.
When he looked back at me, his eyes were wet. “Sweetheart,” he took the few remaining steps to stand in front of me, he gripped my face. “Honey, are we pregnant?”
Licking my lips, I whispered, “yes.”
He started laughing as he picked me up and swung me around in circles until I was dizzy. “God, I’m so fucking happy. Courtney, you make me so fucking happy, love.”
Before I could even catch my breath, he was kneeling in front of me. “As soon as I met you, I knew that you were it for me. I knew that my life would be perfect if I had you standing by my side, if I had you to come home to, to laugh with, to love. I got this the day you and Ava moved in with me."
He pulled out a small square box, "please, honey, please say that your will marry me and I swear to give you everything you could ever want.”
“You are all that I want,” I murmured, cupping his face, “just you, forever.”
Then he kissed me, and I swore I saw our lives flash before my eyes.
It was perfect.