Forty-one
Lily
“Mom, you have to wear these sandals because they’ll match your outfit.” Maddy’s voice is too loud and insistent for my still-fuzzy post-nap brain.
My fourteen-year-old daughter has been a bossy little thing. Apparently, Ethan has planned a special date for us tonight, and the rugrat has not left my side, taking on the role of my personal stylist.
A few hours ago, I woke from my nap to the sight of a large, purple, oblong box wrapped in a white mesh bow sitting at the foot of my bed.
Inside was a gorgeous white sleeveless dress with a purple floral pattern that flared out beautifully at the hem.
The top was a chic tube fit held up by spaghetti straps, and elegant ruffles gave it a sophisticated vibe. It was perfect.
“Mom, are you even listening to me?” Maddy probes.
“I’m sorry, honey. What did you say?”
She lets out a dramatic sigh and rolls her eyes. “These shoes, Mom. You have to wear these,” she repeats, holding up a pair of lilac sandals.
“Okay, sweet pea,” I concede with a small smile.
She kneels and helps slide them onto my feet.
“Ready?” she asks, beaming up at me, her smile wide and infectious.
She seems more excited than I am. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to a date with Ethan, because I am, but these last few days, I’ve been exhausted.
I’ve had this nagging cough that won’t quit, and the chest pain has been getting steadily worse, making it difficult to breathe at times.
But I refuse to let any of that spoil the wonderful evening Ethan has planned.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I push myself slowly to my feet.
A small wave of dizziness passes, and my daughter loops her arm through mine, her grip surprisingly strong, and guides me out of the room and down the hall.
As we approach the front door, I look up to see my sons waiting.
“What are you guys up to?” I ask.
Ollie steps forward, holding out a soft, white cardigan. “This is for you, Mama, so you don’t get too cold out there.”
“Thank you, my sweet boy,” I murmur. He helps me slip it on, adjusting the sleeves.
“Such a gentleman,” I praise, kissing his cheek. He returns the gesture with a wet smooch.
I glance over at Jake, who’s trying very hard to look serious. “Your chariot awaits, my lady,” he intones, attempting a very bad, overly dramatic English accent.
I burst out laughing. “Lead the way, then, Sir Jake.”
He holds the door open for me. “I’m going to walk with you, Mom.”
We stroll down the paved path until our feet hit the soft sand.
It’s a beautiful evening. The sun, a molten orange, is sinking low, but its golden rays pierce through the scattered clouds.
Seagulls squawk overhead, circling lazily, and the wind carries the fresh, salty scent of the ocean.
I close my eyes for a moment, letting the salty air fill my lungs, trying to push past the tightness in my chest.
“You look really beautiful, Mom,” Jake murmurs beside me.
I glance over at him, my heart swelling a little, and smile lovingly. “Thank you, sweetheart. I feel beautiful,” I admit.
Ethan has a way of making me feel seen, cherished, and beautiful, even when I feel anything but. It’s like his own special superpower.
“Dad’s really stepped up, hasn’t he?” Jake adds, almost to himself.
I nod, my gaze fixed on the horizon. “Yes, he has.”
“You seem… happier. Are you happy?” he asks hopefully.
“Yes, I am happy, Jake. And yes, I’m glad he’s back, too, but not just for me. I’m glad he’s here for all of you,” I tell him.
The fact that Ollie has accepted him without question, and how Ethan has so naturally taken him in as one of his own sons… It’s the greatest gift I could ever ask for.
My steps falter. The pressure in my chest tightens further, forcing me to stop and gasp for air. I close my eyes, trying to regain control.
“Are you okay, Mom? Do you need to stop?” Jake asks, lightly touching my arm.
I press my hand to my chest, working to steady my breath. “Yes,” I manage, a little breathless. I take another deep breath through my nose, opening my eyes to see the unconcealed worry etched on his young face. I force a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Let’s not keep your father waiting.”
We continue our slow trek through the soft sand until I see Ethan.
He’s standing at the edge of the ocean, his silhouette facing me, framed by the golden sunset, the sky a canvas of soft blues melting into brilliant gold.
He looks so handsome in his gray slacks and crisp white button-down, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing strong forearms.
Ethan gives Jake a subtle nod and a smile. Jake places a tender kiss on my cheek. “Have a great time, Mom. I love you.”
I lean my head against his for a moment. “I love you, too, Jake.”
He turns and walks away, leaving me to take the final steps toward Ethan on my own.
“Hey,” he says. His grin is contagious, reflecting the joy he has been bringing into my life.
“Hey, yourself.”
His gaze sweeps over me, a slow, appreciative journey from my sandals to my face. “You look so beautiful, Lily.”
I smile, feeling a blush creep up my neck. “Thank you. You don’t look so bad yourself.”
His grin widens as he inches closer. He takes my hand in his, his touch warm and comforting. “I want to show you something.”
He moves to the side, revealing the sand behind him, and the sight before me leaves me breathless.
Laid out in the sand before us are purple roses and delicate white lilacs, meticulously arranged in the shape of a heart.
Tiny battery-operated fairy lights are woven through the flowers, making them sparkle.
And in the very center of the heart, spelled out in more flower petals, are the words “Be Mine Forever.”
“This is…” I start, completely overwhelmed, turning to him.
He’s on one knee, a small velvet box held in his hand. And inside the box, nestled on a satin cushion, is a diamond ring, sparkling with a thousand promises.
I look at him, my eyes wide and glistening, the tightness in my chest momentarily forgotten.
He locks eyes with mine, and for a moment, the world outside fades away.
Those familiar deep, steady pools that have seen me at my absolute worst, and not once, not ever, did he judge me or belittle me or make me feel anything less than whole.
Even through my bouts of nausea and sickness, he always, always finds a way to remind me how beautiful I am and how much he loves me.
Ethan
Her deep pools of silver widen further, a look of pure shock as she registers the ring. It’s a 24K white gold, elegant band featuring a diamond heart nestled in the center, surrounded by a heartbeat engraving.
My heart frantically hammers against my ribs, drowning out the ocean’s roar. She looks breathtaking, like an angel. The dress I chose clings to her perfectly. I love how much more confident she’s been since we arrived at the beach house. She rarely covers her head with a scarf anymore.
“Lily, you’re it for me. You’ve had my heart racing from the first moment I saw you on the playground. From the first glance across the room when I realized my feelings for you went beyond friends, to our first hesitant touch, our first date, and our first kiss.”
I take a deep, shuddering breath and meet her gaze. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, and undeniably the best thing that has ever happened to me.”
Holding out the ring, my hand trembling like crazy, I ask her, pouring every ounce of my love for her into my voice, “Lilliana Iris Hartley. Will you give me your heart and become my wife again?”
A single tear traces a path down her cheek, quickly followed by another.
Her lips quiver, and for a terrifying moment, I brace myself for a rejection.
But hope surges back when a huge smile blooms on her face.
It’s the exact same smile she gave me when I first asked her to marry me all those years ago.
“Yes, Ethan,” she whispers, her silver eyes shining with love. “Yes. My heart will beat for you. Now and always.”
I scramble to my feet and pluck the ring out of the box. Tucking the empty box into my pocket, I take her left hand and slide the ring onto her finger. I made sure to get her exact size with her recent weight loss, wanting it to be perfect.
“Are we really doing this?” she asks, her gaze fixed on the diamond heart sparkling on her hand.
“Yeah, we really are.” I cup her face, gently forcing her to look at me. “You’re mine, Sunshine. Always have been and always will be.” Then I capture her lips with mine.
She gasps, and my tongue slips right between her open lips. I kiss her with everything I have, scooping her up by her ass. Her legs curl around me, and she looks down at me with adoration, like there’s no one else for her.
She throws her head back and laughs, a sound of pure happiness, my own laughter mingling with hers.
I will love her with every fiber of my being, in this life and in the next. We are not only two souls; we are one, bound forever.