Epilogue #2
“Even though he’s part Italian, too,” Nash adds. “But he made a big stink about Saint Patrick’s Day and how he needed to celebrate because of his ancestry. So…” He shrugs. “Irish.”
“I’d had a few drinks,” I reply defensively. “And I was younger back then.”
“And Slash?” Mal asks. “Where did that come from? Did you like heavy metal or something?”
“Not exactly.” I chuckle. “We were training in close combat. Blade work, in particular. And someone decided to show off and ended up cutting off the tip of his finger.”
Nash smiles sheepishly and lifts his left pinky finger. It’s hard to tell now, but it’s a sliver shorter than the other. “Lesson learned.”
“Hey, are we talking about when Slash chopped off his finger?” Alec laughs as he joins us. Beside him is Hazel, who’s looking much happier now that the worst of her morning sickness has passed. “Everyone heard about that. I think I was on an op somewhere in the desert, and I still heard the story.”
Nash shakes his head ruefully. “I’ll be on my deathbed, and I’ll still never hear the end of it.”
“Probably not,” I reply cheerfully. “But seriously.” I cast a quick glance around the yard.
There have to be at least ten people gathered around the buffet table, and as many as that at the tables nearby, eating and talking.
Several couples are sitting around the fire pits Enzo set out to stave off the fall chill.
My parents are among them, and as I’m watching, my mom takes her phone out and snaps a picture of Haley.
They love Haley, just as I thought they would, and I think it’s safe to say she adores them. Doug and Dillon, their two Golden Retrievers, didn’t hurt, but from the first time Haley met my parents, there was an immediate bond.
Angel nudges my arm. She’s looking at my mom, too. With a laugh, she says, “I think your mom might take more pictures than I do.”
“It’s possible,” I agree. “Although you both take a lot of pictures.”
Almost as if my mom can tell we’re talking about her, she looks in our direction and gestures for us to come over.
“Uh oh,” Alec teases. “You’d better get over there.”
“We’ll catch up more later,” I say. “Maybe play some extreme cornhole.”
Mal frowns in confusion. “Extreme cornhole?”
Angel laughs. “They make up all these strange rules so it’s harder. You’ll see.” Then she slips her hand inside mine and says, “Come on. Let’s see what your mom wants.”
Now that the sun is beginning to set, the mood of the party has shifted.
It’s still celebratory. People are still eating and playing games and enjoying themselves. Most of the guests are still here, except for a few, like Nora and Jackson, who wanted to leave in time to get back home tonight.
But everything seems more subdued. Voices are lower. The solar lights give the space a softer, more intimate feel. The music has shifted from rock to jazz. The buffet table is covered by an array of desserts instead of the appetizers and entrees from earlier.
I’ve gotten to talk to everyone here—old Army buddies; friends from Blade and Arrow Security and Brotherhood Protectors; locals, like Frank and Wendy and Max and Sage; my parents—and now I’m just enjoying some down time by the fire pit with Angel.
Haley’s with Maddie over at one of the tables near the buffet, and judging from the lineup of desserts in front of them, I’m guessing that Haley is introducing Maddie to the concept of taste testing.
Now there’s only one thing left to do tonight. And though I’ve gone over the plan countless times, I’m still nervous.
Strike that. I’m not nervous. I’m scared.
There’s no doubt in my mind that it’s what I want.
And I don’t think Angel will say no. We’ve talked about it after all—marriage, Haley taking my name, filing for adoption so Haley would be officially mine—but there’s still a tiny part of me that worries that I could be wrong about all of it and end up with nothing.
I know it’s not rational. And I’ve come much too far to let fear control my life anymore.
Still, I’m scared.
As we’ve been sitting here, the box in my pocket growing exponentially heavier by the minute, I’ve even thought about putting it off.
Waiting until next weekend. Or the weekend after that.
Doing it someplace more private, so if the worst happens and Angel does say no, there won’t be dozens of people to see it.
But this is our family.
Because family isn’t just blood. It’s the people you choose to have in your life. Like my teammates. Like Winter and Lark and Rory and Hazel. Like Frank and Wendy.
And Angel and Haley. The most important family of all.
That’s why I want to do this here.
I want my family here when I ask the most important question of my life.
“This has been a great party, hasn’t it?” Angel asks. She looks away from the fire and meets my gaze. She’s so damn beautiful, with the flames reflecting on her hair and setting off sparks of gold in her eyes. When she smiles at me, her whole face lights up with it.
My heart tugs.
It speaks to me.
This is right, it says. There’s nothing to be scared of. This is exciting. It’s the start to a life you deserve.
I decide to believe it.
Which is why I say, “It is, cupcake. But I’ve actually got something for you. Can you just wait right here?”
Puzzled lines form between her brows. But she nods and says, “Sure. I’ll be right here.”
Before I can chicken out, I get up from my chair and go over to Haley. She’s in the middle of explaining to Maddie the importance of a palate cleanser between tastings. But as soon as she sees me alone, her eyes go wide. “Is it time?”
I nod. We’ve talked about this. “It’s time.”
Haley leaps up. “This is important,” she tells Maddie. “We can finish the taste-testing later. Or you could show Michael. Since you know how it works now.”
Then Haley grabs my hand and tows me away from the table. Her little face is glowing with excitement. “Is it really time? You’re going to ask?”
I bend down so she doesn’t have to strain to look up at me. “As long as it’s okay with you.”
“It’s okay.” Haley drops my hand and hugs me hard. “It’s very okay.”
“Alright.” I stand straight again. My hand plunges into my pocket. “Let’s do this, then.”
With Haley trotting alongside me, I head back over to Angel. She doesn’t appear concerned. Or impatient. She just looks curious.
But she must have an idea of what I’m about to do. Or does she?
When I reach Angel, she starts to get up, but I touch her shoulder and say, “It’s okay. You don’t need to get up.”
“You should sit,” Haley adds. “It’s important.”
“Oh.” Angel’s lips twitch. “In that case, then.” She leans back in her seat. “I’m sitting.”
As I look at her, my heart races. My palms go damp. Cold prickles break out on the back of my neck.
“Angel.” I have to take a breath before I continue. “I have something I’d like to ask you.”
Her gaze meets mine. “Okay?”
“First, I just want to say… This isn’t a question I’m asking without having put a lot of thought into it first. Because… it’s about all of us. Me. You. Haley.”
Haley creeps closer, so she’s right next to me. I can feel her buzzing with excitement.
Angel nods. She looks hopeful, or at least I think she does. “What do you want to ask?”
“Well.” I take another breath. Then I pull the box from my pocket. “It’s actually a question for both of you.” Turning to Haley, I say, “I know we talked about this, Speedy. But I think you should be a part of this, too.”
As I open the box, I drop to one knee.
Inside the box are two pieces of jewelry.
One is a bracelet with a little ski charm attached to it.
The other is an engagement ring.
“Angel Nilsson,” I begin. “I love you. I don’t know if I can ever explain just how much. Before you, I didn’t think I’d find love. Or a wife. Or a family. I was determined not to want it. I thought it was safer that way.”
“Ronan,” Angel whispers.
“But it’s impossible not to love you,” I continue.
“It’s impossible not to want you as my wife.
To be a family. I want to take care of you for the rest of my life.
Every day, I want to make you smile. I want to be the man you can depend on.
The man you can trust to always have your back.
I want you to know I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
“And Haley.” I turn to her. “I love you, too. You and your mom; you’re the two most important people in the world to me. And I know I’ve never been a dad before. But I promise I’ll do my best.”
Haley stares at me. Her chin wobbles.
When I look back at Angel, her eyes are shining with tears. “Will you marry me, Angel Nilsson? Grant me the greatest honor of my life by agreeing to become my wife?”
In the moment it takes for her to answer, I stop breathing.
All I can do is hope.
Then she launches herself into my arms. “Yes! Of course I will!” She kisses me, tasting faintly of salt. “Yes, Ronan Davies. I will absolutely marry you.”
I slide the ring onto her finger. And shit, it looks good there. “I love you. So much.”
“I love you too,” Angel replies. “With all my heart. And—” She kisses me again. “Just so you know, I’m going to take care of you, too.” Then she glances at Haley. “Did you know?”
But Haley is crying, too. “Does that mean we’re really going to be a family?”
“What do you think?” I ask her. Then I take out the bracelet. “I got you a skier. Since that’s something special we do together.”
“I love it.” Haley holds out her small wrist, and I fasten the bracelet around it. “Do I get to say yes, too?”
Angel nods. “You get to say yes, too.”
Haley looks at her mom, then at me. “I say yes!” She throws herself at us. “A million times yes.”
Emotion clogs my throat.
My eyes burn.
Holding my family in my arms, I hug them close. Then I raise my voice as I announce, “They said yes!”
A tremendous cheer erupts.
“So you’ll be my dad?” Haley whispers in my ear.
The tears I’ve been holding back finally fall.
“Yes,” I tell her, “I will.”