Chapter 23
CHAPTER 23
LIAM
“ A ndie, it’ll be fine. You’re going to do great!” I sound like a broken record. Between Andie’s new job and me moving into my new house, we haven’t made it to the river to practice for today’s River Run for Charity.
Andie might be freaking out just a little. Translation: a lot.
“Liam, I haven’t been in a raft in years. YEARS! What part of that says I’m going to be great?”
Absolutely no part. But I’m not about to admit that, because without four people, we’ll be disqualified from racing.
Alex and I have run this section of the river numerous times–not as many times as Larson and I, but Alex and I have raced together enough that we can anticipate each other’s thoughts. Max has done this run nearly as many times as Alex, but the real magic happens when Larson is in the raft with us. Larson’s ability is a thing of beauty.
What? I’m confident enough in my manhood to admit that.
“Andie, it’s like riding a bicycle.”
It’s totally not like riding a bicycle.
“As soon as the raft starts down the river, it will all come back to you. I promise.” Fingers crossed behind my back, because there’s a good probability nothing will come back to her.
“Besides, darlin’, you’re so beautiful it will distract our competition.”
Yeah, I know. I know. That was a low blow. Totally demeaning and an insult to women worldwide. But desperate times and all.
“I cannot believe you just said that!” The fire flaming from Andie’s eyes is equal parts terrifying and totally sexy. And I mean that in a totally non-chauvinistic way.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I was going for the laugh, hoping it would put your mind at ease.”
“It failed.”
There’s nothing for it. It’s time to beg. “I know it did. The truth is, we need you in the raft to qualify. I know you’re afraid you’re going to somehow slow us down or put us at risk, but trust me, Andie, we’re experienced rafters. You won’t slow us down. The river and the wind are what determine our speed. Our skill in navigating the rapids is what gives us our edge over the other teams. Trust me, Darlin’, the three of us know what we’re doing.”
Andie’s expression softens. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”
I shake my head. “Because I’m an idiot.”
“Okay.”
“Okay…I’m an idiot? Or okay, you’ll be on our team?”
“Both.”
I pump the air with my fist before thinking it through.
The stretch of river we’ll be navigating today is 12.5 miles long with headwinds ranging from 7 MPH to gusts of 20 MPH. Not optimal conditions, but not unusual for this time of year. Our team is slotted for the morning race, which typically means the winds won’t be as strong, but the sun will be low in the sky, so the reflection off the rapids will be trickier to read. This is where having Larson and Max would help. Max, because of his sheer strength, and Larson, because of his unparalleled ability to read the rapids in less than optimal conditions.
As our time slot draws near, Andie suits-up in her wetsuit and waits with me by the raft for Alex and Layton to arrive. But when Alex shows up, he’s not alone. He’s brought Max and Larson with him.
“Hey, man,” he says as he gives me a fist bump. “I brought a couple of friends to cheer us on.”
“What are you two doing here?” I ask.
“Thought we’d cheer you on,” Max replies.
“But, what about Maizee and Noah?”
“They’re fine. They can do without me for a few hours.”
“And Nell? Larson, you can’t leave her alone for this long.”
Larson looks a little defeated. “Nell kicked me out.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Max chides. “Bree, Maizee and Noah are babysitting Nell so Larson could be here. She’s far enough along that her doctor took her off bed rest, and in the unlikely event she goes into labor while we’re on the water, Bree will get her to the hospital and act as her coach until Larson can get there.”
“So, wait a minute,” Andie shifts her gaze between Larson and Max. “Technically, this means you can both do the race now, right?”
Max shrugs his shoulders. “We don’t want to bump you and Layton off the raft. We just wanted to be here for support.”
“But you could bump us off the raft, if you wanted to, right?”
“Bump who off the raft?” Layton arrives, and it only takes him a few seconds to size up the situation. “Hey Max, Larson.” Lay nods his greeting to them.
“I would be eternally grateful if you would bump me off the raft,” Andie says, gesturing between Larson and Max. “Please?”
Layton steps beside Andie. “I’d happily give up my spot to keep Andie company.” He has the audacity to look smug. He knows my competitive streak will trump any jealousy I might experience thinking of him hanging out with Andie for the next couple of hours.
“Alright.” I say, unable to conceal my grin. “Larson, Max, let’s get you signed in.” I round on Layton and shoot him a warning glare. “Keep your hands to yourself, you got it?”
Layton laughs. “I make no promises. Besides, it’s not my hands you have to worry about.” He sheds his rash guard and of course, he’s not wearing a shirt, so his abs and arms are on full display, and he knows it. “It’s hers.”
I really want to punch this guy.
“Okay, Casanova, don’t distract Liam. He has a race to win.”
“Casanova? I like it.”
I’m not sure how Layton and I ever survived our childhood. One of us should have offed the other by now.
Alex takes care of alerting the officials to our last minute substitutions. It’s a non-issue because Larson and Max are original team members. The four of us suit-up and are just about to climb into our raft when Andie takes my face in her hands and kisses me long and deep.
“Good luck out there. And be safe. Please.” She kisses me again, and for a fraction of a moment, I’m tempted to toss Layton into the raft and drive Andie to a secluded spot somewhere.
“Okay, lover-boy, time to get your head in the race.” Alex claps me on the shoulder and gives me a knowing grin.
“You got this, Brother.” Layton tips his chin in a nod and something passes between him and me that explains why we didn’t kill each other when we were teenagers.
I’m still not crazy about subjecting Andie to Layton’s shenanigans for the duration of the race, but then again, she broke Derek’s nose, so I know she can hold her own.
Max, Alex, Larson, and I take our places, and at the sound of the signal, we whoop and pump our fists in the air. And then we’re off.
The only thing that would make the day more perfect, is if Nell, Bree, and Maizee could be here, too.
Something happens when you spend time on a raft with your buddies. Something magical, or other-worldly, as Larson describes it. It’s that moment when the four of us are one with each other and one with the water. I can’t put it into words, but it forges a bond that says no matter what happens on the water, we’ve got each other’s back. And the connection goes beyond the rapids and spills into every aspect of our lives.
Nell often describes the four of us as overgrown puppies who like to chew each other’s ears and bite each other’s tails. I suppose there’s some truth in what she says, but when all is said and done, the four of us are a pack. Who knows, maybe we’ve finally grown our adult teeth.
And now our pack is expanding. At one time, that thought would have made me a little sad, as if by expanding, we’d be dividing the group and weakening the glue that binds us together. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Because the truth is, love is never divisive. There’s not a finite amount of it to go around. Love is infinite. Rather than dividing our share of the love, when we include others in the pack our ability to love only increases. It multiplies. And our pack becomes stronger as a result.
As it turns out, Nell did go into labor while Larson was on the water. Fitting, I suppose, since her water broke right about the time we concluded the race.
Layton and Andie met us where we exited, and Layton drove Larson directly to the hospital. Andie drove Max, Alex, and me back to Alex’s truck, and the four of us went home to shower and change before heading to the hospital.
Nell’s delivery nurse greeted a very anxious Larson the minute he stepped off the elevator of the maternity ward. She rushed him to a bathroom where he showered and changed into hospital scrubs before joining Nell in the birthing room.
Ten hours later, Nell gave birth to two beautiful and healthy baby girls. Emma Nicole weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and Ava Noel at 5 pounds, 14 ounces.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a grown man cry. But who could blame Larson for being emotional? Nell’s pregnancy wasn’t easy. Larson once referred to all three of his girls as badass warriors. He was right.
Okay, it’s possible that Larson wasn’t the only man shedding some tears. Alex wiped his eyes more than once and didn’t even try to hide his tears. Max, who’s become a giant teddy bear, also swiped at some liquid leaking from his eyes. Hard to tell, though, because his beard hides a lot. We all expected him to shave once Noah was born, but it turns out Maizee likes the whole gruff, mountain man look.
Then there’s me. I’ll admit to a few discreet tears.
Who am I kidding? When Larson put Emma and Ava in my arms, I wept.
There, I said it. Okay? I wept. And I’m manly enough to admit it.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m still the avenging angel of our group, and I’ll drop any man to the floor who dares to give me grief for loving on my nieces and nephew. And judging by Noah’s size, which I swear has doubled since his birth, Emma and Ava will have a fierce protector looking out for them.
Today, I’ve invited our friends and family to my new house for a barbecue and lawn games. Spring has sprung, and we’re on the eve of summer. Max has Noah in his signature football hold, as he plays bocce ball with Alex, Bree, and Maizee. The man makes parenthood look easy.
Andie’s friend, Lacey, drove down from Salem to spend some time with Andie before the Landmark deal closes. Acquisition of the three parcels are scheduled to transfer ownership in another two weeks, and once that happens, Andie will be crazy busy for a few months. She can handle it though. Because she’s Wonder Woman.
Andie and Lacey have Emma and Ava. Don’t ask me which one is which–I still can’t tell them apart unless they’re dressed in different outfits. Nell swears they’re fraternal twins, not identical twins, but I find that hard to believe.
Nell and Larson are sprawled out on one of the patio chaise lounges. They’re napping.
No, not like an Alex and Bree mid-afternoon nap. A real nap. I doubt either will wake up until Emma and Ava are ready to feed again.
Since I wasn’t sure when our families would all be free to get together again, I invited my brothers and my sister, my parents, and Grams to join us. Andie’s parents moved out of state while she was in college. She doesn’t see them as often as she’d like, so I was thrilled when they were able to fly out to be here. I want my house to feel like home to Andie, so it was important to me to include her family and Lacey in our first barbecue together as a legit couple.
My friends and family can tease me all they want about not officially proposing to Andie. But she’s wearing my ring, so–
“So, you botched your proposal, eh?” Grams says teasingly. “Everyone knows you ask the girl to marry you before you slide the ring on her finger.”
“Andie said wearing the ring could mean whatever I want it to mean.”
“Lord have mercy! You really are as dense as your grandpa. I didn’t think you’d need a script, Liam. ”
I fold my arms stubbornly across my chest. “I’ve asked her if wearing the ring means we’re engaged. More than once, mind you. And she just grins at me like I’m…I don’t know.”
Grams chuckles and pats me affectionately on my shoulder. “Like you’re a few fries short of a happy meal?”
I lift my shoulders in a shrug. “I know. I blew the proposal. And now everyone’s made such a big deal out of it that I’m stuck.”
Grams tilts her head to one side. “Oh, I think you’ll figure it out.”
She watches Andie holding Emma (or Ava) in the distance. Andie’s gaze meets mine and though I wouldn’t think it possible, the smile on her face grows even wider. Her eyes a little brighter.
“She looks at you the same way I looked at your grandpa. She always has, you know.”
“Except for the years when she was dating Derek.”
Grams hums. “Even then. But what do I know? I’m just a lonely old widow who’s past her prime.”
I bark a laugh and fold Grams into a hug. “Impossible.”
“Did you bother to read the inscription inside the ring before you slipped it on Andie’s finger?”
My brows pull together in a frown. “I didn’t know there was one.”
Grams shrugs. “It’s kind of hard to see, and I’m sure time has left its mark, but it’s a lovely engraving. I think if you stand under the light and turn the ring to the right angle, you’ll still be able to read it. I know it will mean something special to Andie.”
My brows shoot up. “Really?”
“Go on, Liam.” Grams gives me a shove. “Andie will appreciate it.”
I walk over to wear Andie and Lacey are cooing over the babies. “Hey, Darlin’, hand the baby off for a moment. I need to show you something. ”
Andie’s frown lines appear between her eyes. “What?”
“Maizee!” I holler. She looks up at me with a question in her eyes. “Would you take the baby for a minute? I need to show Andie something.”
Maizee doesn’t hesitate. She leaves the game and happily takes Emma-Ava from Andie.
“She’s so light!” she says laughing. “Carrying Noah is like lugging a sack of bricks around.”
I take Andie’s hand in mine and walk her over to the bright patio light at the edge of the stone path leading from the patio to a separate sitting area and fire pit.
“What am I looking at?” Andie asks.
“Grams wants me to read the inscription on the inside of your ring. She says you’ll appreciate it.”
“You want me to take the ring off?”
I bend down and kiss her on the cheek. “Only for a couple minutes. It seems like it’s important to Grams that we read the inscription.”
Andie nods. “You’re the one who slid it on my finger, so you’re the only one who can slide it off.”
She holds her hand out to me, and I wiggle the ring until it slides off her finger. We put our heads together and I hold the ring in the light. I turn it several times, but no matter the angle, neither Andie nor I can find any engraving.
Grams approaches. “It’s lovely, isn’t it?”
My brows pull together in confusion. “There’s nothing there, Grams.”
“Let me see,” she says, taking the ring from me. After a few moments of searching, she slaps her palm to her forehead. “Well, bless my soul.” She looks up at Andie. “I guess my cornbread ain’t done in the center tonight. The inscription I was thinking of is on my actual wedding band.”
She holds the ring out to me. “My mistake.” She gives me a pointed look, her face saying far more than her words, but the meaning’s lost on me.
Holding the ring, I turn to Andie and take her left hand in mine. I start to put the ring back on her finger but pause. I stare at the ring. I stare at Andie’s finger. And then I look up into Andie’s eyes as she waits expectantly for me to slide the ring back into place. I turn to Grams, who watches with one eyebrow raised, and a look that silently screams the words, “Don’t botch it this time.”
I’m suddenly aware that our guests have stopped visiting and have stealthily gravitated closer to Andie and me. All of them are watching me with keen interest.
“Liam?” Andie whispers. “What’s going on?”
My eyes snap back to hers. “It’s just family.”
Andie’s brows knit together, but when I drop to one knee, she gasps. She meets my eyes and I break into a wide smile.
“Andie–”
Before I can finish my thought, Andie surprises me by dropping to her knees in front of me. “What are you doing?” I whisper, aware that everyone’s eyes are now glued to us. “I’m trying to propose here.”
Andie rests her palm against my cheek. “I know,” she whispers back. “I just want to make sure you ask the right question this time.” Then her face splits into a smile so big it nearly steals the breath from me.
“I love you,” I say, squeezing her hand gently.
“I know,” she mouths back to me.
“And I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“Liam.” A single tear drops to her cheek and I reach up to wipe it away.
“Not too long ago I asked you if you’d be my girl again.”
She laughs softly. “And I said yes.”
“You did,” I say, brushing my fingers along her cheek. “But now I want to ask you if you’ll be my wife. ”
Another tear. And then another.
When I don’t say anything more, Andie leans close and whispers, “Then ask me.”
Still holding Andie’s hand, I bring it to my lips and kiss her fingers. “Will you marry me?”
Her face splits into a beautiful, wide grin. “Yes.”
For a moment, the two of us freeze. Still on our knees, both looking into each other’s eyes. After a long silence, it occurs to me that I didn’t think things through. I need an exit strategy or Andie and I will remain on our knees and staring into each other’s eyes all night. I really should have planned a speech or some sort of gesture, right?
Very slowly and very deliberately, Andie drops her gaze to the ring and tips her head in a side nod.
“You said yes.”
Andie nods. “I did.”
I lean in and kiss her. I only meant for it to be a quick, chaste kiss, but it grows into something more heated. It’s only when I hear someone clear their throat that I remember we have an audience.
And then, for the second time, I slide Grams’ ring onto Andie’s finger. She stands, pulling me up with her, and throws her arms around my neck. Her lips graze my ear and she whispers, “Just so there’s no confusion, this means we’re engaged.”
I laugh as I wrap my arms around her and swing her around before announcing to the group, “She said yes!”
“Praise the Lord, it’s about time,” Grams says, earning her several laughs from the onlookers.
“That had to be the most awkward proposal in the history of proposals,” Layton says, as he bends down to kiss Andie on her cheek. “Welcome to the family, Andie.” He claps my shoulder and then pulls me into a hug. “I thought for a moment there I was going to have to feed you the lines from behind the stage. ”
“Oh, stuff it, Layton. If you think you can do better, then be my guest.”
Layton laughs nervously. “I think one awkward proposal in the family is enough.”
One by one, everyone congratulates us. Many of them “ooh” and “ahh” over Andie’s ring, as if she hadn’t already been wearing it for the past few weeks.
“Andie,” Grams takes Andie’s hand in hers. “Have you thought about what kind of wedding you want and how long you want your engagement to be?”
This is where my eyes glaze over and I suddenly feel very hot and dizzy. I think I need to sit down. I’m looking around for the nearest chair when Andie’s response surprises me.
“If it’s okay with Liam’s parents, I would love to get married in their backyard. Nothing elaborate, just a simple ceremony. A private one, you know? ”
My eyes flash to Andie’s. “Are you sure? I want you to have the wedding of your dreams.”
“Liam, marrying you is my dream. And for the record, I’m not a fan of long engagements.”
I stare at her in amazement. “How are you so perfect?”
She grins. “I told you. It’s a gift.”
And so, the plans for a June wedding in my parent’s backyard are underway. Not next June, mind you. This June. As in a few weeks from now. And I’m definitely not complaining, because Grams was right. Of course, she was. Andie and I have waited long enough. Liam’s proposal for the win!
Seventeen years ago, I asked Andie to be my girl. Tonight I asked her to be my wife. And sure, maybe I botched the whole proposal thing, multiple times, but you know what? She still said yes.