Chapter 28 #2
“So much. She’ll definitely find it hard to come back to normal life after staying with you here.”
“Hmm. Well, see, that’s the thing. There are good schools nearby. Great high schools, too, with excellent college scores, and one of them is for academically gifted kids.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “So, what do you think about her moving in with me here?”
She blinked, even as her heart screamed.
* * *
He watched as her eyes widened, and maybe it was bad of him to tease, but he’d been praying about this moment, about how to finally nudge this standoff into the relationship he wanted it to be.
And so when he’d prayed this morning, and felt a heavenly Yes, he’d called, she’d answered, and he’d met them here.
Now all she needed to do was say yes.
Gen’s lips pressed together and she pivoted away to face the view. But he could tell she wasn’t really looking at the panoramic vista, but rather was facing the reality of what his suggestion meant.
Of them moving away from that dumpster of a house. Possibly moving away from Minnie, although this place did have room for her too.
But most of all he wanted her to know that he’d do anything to show her that a future was possible. With him. Here. Which meant it might be time to say—
“I know that I shouldn’t have kept the news about Bella from you, but I really thought you’d forgiven me by now.” Gen’s words were clipped as she continued to stare at the view, her hands white-knuckled as she gripped the rail.
“Hey, Gen, no. You’ve misunderstood. I—”
“You haven’t forgiven me?” She turned tragic dark eyes toward him.
Oh no. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. He grasped her upper arms. “Gen, of course I have. Long ago. I didn’t mean that to sound like that. It’s just I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what before? From what I’ve seen, you seem to buy houses fairly regularly.”
Well, yes. That was his sideline. A profitable hobby. But he sure wasn’t used to doing this. Lord, help me get out of this mess.
Now.
“Gen.” He inched closer. Waited until she looked up at him.
Then grasped her hands. “I love you.” Her breath hitched.
“I’ve always loved you. I want us to be married.
I want you and Bella and me to be a family, and to live here, or not here if you don’t love it, but for us to live somewhere together. ”
Her eyes shimmered as her chin quivered. She’d never been more beautiful.
“I love it here,” she whispered. “I don’t want to stay in the basement, though. I want to be with you. To marry you. Because I love you, and I always have.”
He didn’t need a God-prompting to know what to do next.
It was an action as old as time, familiar yet new, as he traced her beautiful features with his fingers, then slowly lowered his face for a kiss.
Then felt her soft sigh encase him, as her arms slid to his back and she pressed herself against him.
He sank into their kiss, reveling in the taste of her, the feel of her, her softness, her sighs.
Everything he’d dreamed about for years.
Everything he wanted in his future. His second chance.
Their second chance. But this time it would work out.
Because this time God was at the center of their love.
Their love.
His heart thrilled, and he lifted his hand into her hair and deepened the kiss, and she responded, and—
“Mommy!”
Bella’s astonished cry drew them to their senses. His lips throbbed as he looked at his daughter. Their daughter, who was staring at them, eyes wide.
“What is it, honey?” Gen asked.
He bit back a smile. Gen’s face was flushed, hair mussed, her lips looked thoroughly kissed.
“Does this mean you and Dad are finally getting married?”
Gen peeked at him, and he nodded, and her heart sang. “I think so, sweetheart.”
“I know so,” Kyle clarified, as Bella squealed and threw herself at them.
“Do you mean it?” Bella asked. “Like, really truly mean it? Because I’ve been praying about this like, forever, and I don’t want you to say it’s true if it isn’t. Because I love you Dad, and I love Mom, and I want us to be a family and live here together forever and ever, Amen.”
He chuckled and pressed a kiss to Gen’s cheek. “I want all of that too.” He kissed Bella’s cheek, then kissed Gen properly again, taking his time.
“You really like kissing, huh?” Bella observed.
“Sure do. And you’ll have to get used to it, sweet pea. I spent way too long not kissing your mom, so I’ve got lots to make up for.”
“You don’t have to make up for anything,” Gen said, her eyes starrier than the skies they’d seen on Bainbridge. “The old has gone, the new has come. And this is perfect.”
“This is grace.”
“Amen,” she whispered.
He kissed her again, sweetly, yet thoroughly, and if his daughter hadn’t been standing right there he might’ve allowed himself to get carried away. But because she was, he drew back, touched Gen’s nose with his, then kissed that too. “I like your nose.”
“I like all of you,” she countered.
He chuckled. “Well, just to be clear I love all of you.”
“Oh yeah?” She grinned.
“Very yeah.”
She laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder, her bangs covering her eyes. He kissed her head, reveling in this moment of sweetness.
“Oh, that’s perfect.”
He peeked across, saw Ronnie had her camera out. “Um…?”
“Oh, I hope you don’t mind. I do a spot of wedding photography on the side, and you two just make the most adorable couple that I couldn’t help but take a few pictures. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Am I in them?” Bella asked.
“Sure, I got a few with you in too, sweetie.” Ronnie showed her the camera screen.
“Oh, Mommy, you look like a princess.”
“I feel like one,” Gen said, looking at him.
“Does that make me the handsome prince?” he asked hopefully.
She put her arms around his neck and leaned into him, assurance and joy sparkling in every inch of her. “Absolutely.”