If You Only Knew (And Then Came Love Book 1)
Page 39
The door opened and his parents snuck in the room.
“We would have rang the bell, but didn’t want to wake anyone,” Everett said.
They walked over to where he sat.
Julian passed Abigail to his mother.
She stretched and then snuggled in against Jackie’s chest, her thumb in her mouth. “Aww, she’s a thumb sucker.”
Julian laughed. “Yeah the hospital gave us a pacifier, but she didn’t want any part of that.” He pushed himself out of the chair.
“How’s Liza holding up?” Everett gave his son a hug.
“Exhausted, but she’s making it.” Julian rubbed his tired eyes. “This whole being a parent thing kind of takes its toll.”
“Try having ten of them.” Everett chuckled and clapped Julian on the back.
The three of them headed down the steps, Jackie carefully carrying Abigail.
“And how are you doing?” Everett stopped at the bottom of the stairs and faced Julian. “I know this is a lot of stress you’re not used to.”
“I’m holding in there. Some days it’s harder than others, but I’m taking it one day at a time.”
“Good.” Everett nodded.
The door opened and Sally and Rick came in followed by Gramps and Gram.
Gramps came over to give him a hug. “Holding up well?”
“Doing the best I can, and loving every minute of it.”
She stirred on the couch, her eyes opening. “Why didn’t you tell me we had company?” Sitting up, she yanked the blanket off her, and stood up.
Julian kissed her cheek.
“I’m exhausted,” she whispered. She tried to smooth her messy hair and looked down at her sweatpants and t-shirt. “I look like crap and I’m not going to be great company.”
“You’re beautiful.” Julian pressed a kiss to her lips and tugged her into his arms. “If I told you that you had a nice body would you hold it against me?”
Liza laughed and smacked his chest playfully, before wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Now that’s the proper response to that question.”
The door opened again and Drew and Ava came through.
Ava waved and smiled at Liza, but the two of them stayed by the back wall, holding hands.
Liza turned to Julian and buried her head against his chest. She spoke quietly, “Please tell me this is the last of them, I don’t think I could deal with any more company.”
Julian chuckled. “This is it. They’re here, because I invited them to share in a pretty important event.”
“What’s that?”
Julian got down on one knee as he pulled Grams ring from his pocket. “I talked it over with your folks, and they gave me their blessing. Liza would you do me the honor of being my wife?”
“Seriously?” Liza’s hands flew to her mouth. She smiled as she held out her hand to him.
He brought the ring to her finger.
She snatched it away. “What about the whole no third ex-wife rule?”
“There won’t be a third ex-wife, Liza. Only one wife, for the rest of our lives . . . together.”
Liza beamed and held out her hand to him again.
He caught it, this time he wasn’t letting go. Slipping the ring on her finger, he kissed her hand before he stood, and hauled her into his arms. “I love you, Liza.”
“And I love you.”
Stay Tuned for Trevor’s book:
Play It Again
Anticipated release date: August 7th