Chapter Thirty-One - Lilibeth #2
“She’s perfect,” I said, as I picked up her tiny hand. Her little fingers instantly curled around my finger. “I love you so much, little one.”
I looked up at Caden, who was still crying, but he also wore the biggest grin I’d ever seen.
“You did it, Lili. And she’s the most precious thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Looking back down at her, I smiled. “She’s beautiful.”
“Just like her mother.”
“Do we have a name for baby girl Wilde?”
I nodded. “We do.”
Caden reached over and placed a finger on her hand, and she quickly latched on to it.
I looked up at him and nodded, smiling.
Never taking his eyes off of our daughter, Caden said, “Her name is Nellie Rose Wilde.”
The nurse smiled. “Welcome to the world, Nellie Rose.”
We’d named our daughter after both of our grandmothers.
“Are there any family members you’d like me to bring in?” the nurse asked.
Shaking my head, I said, “It’s just us three for right now.”
When I looked down at Nellie, she was staring up at me.
I smiled and blinked back my tears. My chest warmed so much that if I hadn’t known any better, I would have sworn a flame lit in my heart.
This was what love felt like. I’d only felt it twice in my life…
so far. Once with Caden, and now with my daughter.
Caden crawled into the bed with me and placed his hand on Nellie’s back. “She’s so little.”
“She is.”
He bent down and kissed her softly on the head. Then looking at me, he said, “Thank you.”
I raised my brows. “For what?”
“For loving me. For showing me what true love is, and for bringing this little angel into the world. You were so amazing, Lili. I’m so proud of you.”
I lifted my chin, and we exchanged a soft kiss.
The nurse came back and told us they had to take Nellie to get her cleaned up and ready to start eating. The moment the nurse took her, our daughter let out a scream so loud, I jumped.
Caden laughed. “Getting Wilde already!”
The sound of someone coming into the nursery had me looking up. I smiled when I saw it was Ensley.
“Hey, what are you doing here?” I asked, as I went to stand.
Holding up a hand, she said, “Stay there.”
She walked up and stared down at Nellie. “She’s so damn cute, Lilibeth. Have Grandma and Grandpa stopped by today?”
I chuckled. Nellie and Gus had been by almost every single day since we’d brought Nellie home from the hospital. When we had told everyone the baby’s name, Nellie and my mother had both cried.
“Not today. I think they were planning on going with Vivianne and Ladd to Emeline and Levi’s.”
Emeline had gone into labor three days after her due date, giving birth to her son, Jackson Michael.
“I tell you what, it’s hard work bouncing between both of you guys visiting.”
“Want to hold her?”
Ensley nodded and quickly scooped the sleeping beauty from my arms. I watched as she walked around the room before bringing Nellie to the window.
“You see those horses out there? I’m going to teach you everything you need to know about them.
And the cows over there…see them? Your daddy will teach you all about those.
Between you and me, the horses are better. ”
I smiled. Ensley was so good with Nellie; whenever she cried, if Ensley took her, she stopped instantly. My heart ached for Ensley, though, because I knew she wanted a baby of her own. She wanted love.
Caden suddenly appeared, which was a surprise, because he should’ve been at work on the ranch. He crossed the room, reaching out a hand for mine. “I want to take you somewhere.”
Frowning, I stood. “You want to leave Nellie?”
“Hey!” Ensley said. “You don’t think I can take care of her?”
“Of course I do. It’s just…she’s only three weeks old, and I’m not sure we should leave her just yet.”
Caden squeezed my hand. “We’re not going far, and we won’t be gone long at all.”
He and Ensley exchanged a smile.
“I guess some fresh air would do me good. We’re staying on the ranch, though, right?”
“Yes,” Caden chuckled. “Ensley, call if you have any issues.”
She was swaying back and forth as she gazed down at Nellie. “We’re fine. You guys go and get that fresh air.”
It was still pretty warm out, even for late September, so I didn’t need to grab a sweater or anything. I tucked my cell into my back pocket and followed Caden out to his truck. He held my hand while I climbed in.
“Where are we going?” I asked, as he got in and started the truck.
Winking, he said, “You’ll see.”
I lay my head back, and the next thing I knew, Caden was softly saying my name.
For a moment, I was confused. Then I remembered we’d gotten into his truck to go somewhere. And I knew instantly where we’d gone.
“Your spot.”
He grinned. “Our spot.”
After getting out of the truck, we walked hand in hand down the path and to the secluded, hidden meadow and lake.
There were a few horses walking around near the edge of the lake, and I couldn’t help but smile.
It was equally as beautiful here in the summer as it was the winter.
The mountains and blue sky reflected in the crystal-clear water, small ripples disturbing the image as they danced across the surface.
“I can’t wait to show Nellie this spot, and the carving tree where your parents got married. She’s going to love growing up here.”
“I hope so,” he said, as he stopped just shy of the lake.
“Maybe she can learn to swim and fish in this lake,” I said, as I closed my eyes and drew in a deep breath. “The air is so crisp and clean.”
When I opened my eyes, I turned to my right…to see Caden down on one knee. My hands flew to my mouth as I drew in a sharp breath.
“Someone once told me to stop waiting for the perfect moment. I listened to her then, and I listened to her again earlier today. I don’t want to wait another second for you to be my wife.
You’re everything to me, Lilibeth, and I promise that I’ll spend the rest of my life devoted to you and loving you with every ounce of my being. ”
He opened the black box, and I just stared at the ring. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I’d ever seen. The diamond was stunning, and the setting so unique.
Caden smiled. “Lilibeth Elizabeth, will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Crying, I nodded my head. “Yes! Yes, nothing would make me happier!”
He took the ring out and reached for my left hand. He slipped it on, and we both stared at it. It was a perfect fit.
“How did you know my ring size?”
Caden stood. “I didn’t. This ring was my grandmother Nellie’s. She gave it to me a number of years ago.”
My head jerked up, and I almost asked if he’d proposed to Rachel with this ring. Instead, I bit my lip and focused on the ring. As usual, he read my mind.
“I didn’t use this ring when I asked Rachel. I’m not sure why, because I’d had it for years by then. Somehow…it didn’t feel right.”
When I looked back up at him, I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“This ring, just like my heart, was made for you, Lili. The perfect fit only proves once again that you and I were meant for one another.”
I threw myself into his arms, causing him to take a few steps back. He managed to keep us both upright as he wrapped his arms around me and held me tight.
“I love you so much, Caden.”
Letting me go, he cupped my face in his hands. Our eyes locked, and he gave me that same smirk of a smile he gave me when we first met.
“Oh, I love you more, Flower Child.”
Laughing, I reached up and kissed him.