Hero Ever After: A Novel
Page 14
“It’s a—”
“Surprise,” she says.
I laugh.
“Or maybe it’s a wellness center for Mama. Cause she’s graduated now.”
I turn around and wink at Bean. We celebrated my graduation with my degree in Sports Medicine last week. But I know that it isn’t a wellness center because we’ve already leased a building in downtown Centreville.
Liam looks back and grins at Bean. “It’s a surprise.”
She groans, but she doesn’t have to wait long. The trees open before us and I gasp.
The trailer’s gone. The weeds are gone. It’s all gone.
Instead.
“It is a secret base,” cries Bean.
Liam laughs. We pull up the circular drive and Liam parks the car. Bean jumps out and runs down the cobblestone path. I step out after her and Liam comes around to me.
“What do you think?” he asks. He seems worried that I might not like it. How could I not?
I look up. It’s a huge log home, with tall windows, a two-story stone fireplace, lush gardens full of spring blooms, a wide wooden deck. The sun shines down on us and the sound of birds chirping fills the air.
“It’s a home,” I say.
He nods and he smiles at the awestruck expression on my face. “It’s a home.”
Then he drops down on one knee and takes my hands in his. “I love you,” he says. “I don’t want to wait another day. Will you marry me? Will you give me the honor of being yours for the rest of our lives.”
I look into his eyes and the only thing I can see is the man I love.
“Yes, yes,” I say.
He stands up and pulls me into him. Captures my mouth in a searing kiss. He spins me around, and I’m laughing and crying and kissing him when Bean runs up to us.
“Mama, Mama,” she says.
Liam sets me down. Bean pulls on my shirt.
“Mama. Grandma’s out back and Grandpa, and Heather and Finick, and even Redge. And Grandma said Redge is a mountain of misery, and then Finick said tell me about it, and Grandpa said I could eat all the cake I wanted, but I had to wait until after—”
Her hand flies to cover her mouth and her eyes go wide.
“After what?” I ask.
I look at Liam. He’s having a hard time containing his smile.
“After what, Bean?”
Then Bean starts to jump up and down.
Liam clears his throat. “After the wedding,” he says. “If you’ll do me the honor.”
“’Cause Grandma says you can’t live in a house together without being married, ’cause that’s heathen and only misery and tarnation come with that.”
Liam laughs and winks at me. We’ve been doing a lot of heathen, I guess.
Then, all the people I love come around from the side of the house. They’re in tuxes and fancy dresses. And it turns out, we don’t just have a beautiful home fit for a family, we have a wedding, and it’s taking place today.
“We got dresses, Mama. I’m the flower girl, and you’re the bride. And Grandma says we’re gonna look so pretty.” Then she stops, and stares up at me, eyes wide. “Mama?”
“Yes?”
“I’m so happy,” she says.
I smile down at her, then at Liam. “Me too.”
“And we’re gonna always be happy,” she says.
“That’s right,” I say. “Because we’re a family.”
Liam looks at me with so much love in his eyes that I can barely hold all the joy inside.
“And family is the best superpower of all,” he says.
I take Bean and Liam’s hands, and we go together, hearts full of joy, walking into our future.
THE END
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About the Author
Sarah Ready is the author of The Fall in Love Checklist and Hero Ever After. She writes contemporary romance, romantic comedy and women’s fiction. You can find her online at www.sarahready.com.
Also by Sarah Ready
The Fall in Love Checklist
Chasing Romeo (May, 2021)
Find more books by Sarah Ready at:
www.sarahready.com/romance-books