Chapter Twenty-Four
Wade Cooper
I close the door behind me after we get home. Ava goes to drop DJ in his room, and I remain by the doorway, my head spinning with so many questions.
When my father called me home for dinner, I had thought it would be the same old story. He would taunt me for the wrong decisions I’ve made and asks me to come learn management under him to take over his company. But I couldn’t have been more wrong this time.
I don’t know much about my father, but the one thing I do know is that he’s always been a healthy man. My mother makes sure of that by making him drink vegetable juice every morning before he goes for his jog. And for that man to say he has cancer? It’s still hard for me to believe. I noticed he was a bit different when I walked into the dining room with Ava, but I merely thought it was his disapproval showing. I guess when a man is told he has less than a year to live, he changes, knowingly or unknowingly. I don’t know how to process the news and a part of me finds it hard to believe. I don’t know what this means for me, for my mother and the family I just started building.
“Are you okay?” Ava places her hand on my arm which makes me snap back to reality.
“I—” I sigh, not wanting to lie to her. “Actually, I’m not, I don’t know how to take it all.” I reply.
“He’ll survive this. Your mother said the doctor mentioned he still had a chance and no matter how small that is, it’s still something.” Ava assures me and her smile soothes any worry I have. “Take off your jacket and come in. Let me make you some tea.”
I pulled my long coat from my shoulders, forgetting about the tiny box in the pocket. The green box falls out and lands in front of Ava. She picks it up with a frown. I curse under my breath, knowing I just ruined the perfect day I’ve been planning for the past week. Geez, why did Mr. Wang have to give me my mother’s family’s ring before I left?
“What’s this?” Ava looks up at me, but I can already see she has the answer to her question.
“I–It wasn’t supposed to be this way. Heck, it wasn’t supposed to be today. I had planned it all out and I wanted to surprise you as I ask you the question—”
“What question?” Ava asks and I falter.
“Ava, I–” I breathe in, knowing there’s no use in delaying it any further. “I want you to marry me. ”
“I know my last marriage was not the best. It wasn’t even a real marriage, but you make me want to do it all again. You make me want to overcome my fear of being betrayed by the one person I love the most because you’re worth it. And even more.” I blurt out from the deepest corner of my heart. “And I know it might be a little too soon, especially with what has happened and the number of deaths you’ve witnessed for the past few months, but I’ll wait. A year or two or even more, until you’re ready. I just want you to be mine. A promise that we’ll both keep till the end of our lives. So, will you, Ava Anderson, marry me, Wade Cooper?”
Ava stares at me, her mouth slightly agape and I know my question was sudden but as I said, I want to give her the time she needs to digest it.
“Yes.” She nods.
“Yes?” I ask, finding it hard to believe even though I know she loves me just as much as I love her.
“Yes, Wade Cooper! I will marry you!” She throws herself into my arms and I catch her as our lips collide into a passionate kiss.
“Hey, Wade.” She pulls away and her smile is blinding.
“Yes, my love.” I breathe out heavily.
“I’m pregnant.” She reveals and I stare at her, shell-shocked at her words.
“W-What? I mean, really? You’re really pregnant?” I look down at her flat tummy, wondering how there’s a life in there. My child. Our child.
“Yes, I was going to keep it a secret a little longer due to your father’s illness but a surprise for a surprise.” She winks at me, and my heart is about to explode from the love I have for this woman.
“I love you, Ava.”
“I love you more, Wade.”