by Laura Iding
“Do you remember what you’re going to say?” Quinn asked, even though they had rehearsed this part several times.
Danny nodded.
“Let’s go, then.” Quinn carried the wineglasses into the living room and sat down on the sofa next to Leila. He set their glasses on the table, and then gave Danny the signal.
Danny stood beside her. “Leila, me and my dad want to know if you’ll marry us and be a family forever and ever?” Danny proposed exactly the way they’d rehearsed. But then he couldn’t get the ring box open.
“Oh, Danny. Quinn.” Leila’s eyes filled with tears as she glanced at Danny and then back at him. “Of course I’ll marry you and be a family with you.”
Quinn gently tugged the ring box from Danny’s hands, opened it and showed the ring to Leila. “I know it’s not a traditional diamond, but Danny and I thought the deep amethyst matched your eyes perfectly. But if you don’t like it as an engagement ring, we can get a diamond, too.”
“No, I love this one,” she said with a tearful sniff and a watery smile. “It’s beautiful.”
He and Danny exchanged grins. Quinn took out the ring and gently slipped it on her finger. “Leila, I promise to be the best husband I can be. I wanted to propose to you today, so we can start off the new year and our new life together.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks but as she was smiling, he wasn’t too worried. “New beginnings sound wonderful. I promise to be a good wife, too.” She reached over to pull Danny close. “And a good mother, for Danny and for any other children we decide to have.”
Quinn knew that the decision to have more children hadn’t been easy. Leila had just begun to correspond with her birth mother. He hoped, for her sake, they’d find a way to build some sort of relationship.
“I’m glad you’re going to marry us,” Danny said, giving her a hug and a kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Leila returned his son’s embrace and then smiled at Quinn. “I love both of you.”
Her words, her heartfelt belief didn’t make him nervous at all, because being with Leila felt right. New beginnings, just like she’d said. He pulled her close for a proper kiss, secure in the knowledge that true partners working together could make a marriage work.
Promising a lifetime of happiness.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4512-3
THE SURGEON’S NEW-YEAR WEDDING WISH
First North American Publication 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Laura Iding
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