The night was cool and damp, and Jade shivered as they stepped into the garden behind the ballroom. Dan slipped off his suit coat and draped it over her shoulders, then wrapped an arm around her. They made their way through the gardens, the fragrant scent of the flowers enveloping them, and he was afraid to break the silence.
When they came to a small stone bench, he gestured to it, and Jade sat. He lowered himself next to her.
“I screwed up.” No point in denying it. He’d messed up big time. “I thought I could make it up to you with flowers and grand gestures.” He turned his body toward her and took her hands in his. “But what you needed was my constancy. My promise not to give up on you or turn away from you no matter what. If you let me, I’m ready to give you that. To give you me. If you can forgive me.”
Jade’s smile was edged with both joy and sorrow. “I forgive you, Dan.”
A thousand fireworks burst in Dan’s heart. Asking for her forgiveness had been a long shot, but she’d given it so willingly. Hope infused him with new courage. He didn’t want to spend another moment without her.
“So, what are you doing tomorrow?”
She looked at him in surprise. “I’m moving, actually.”
All the hope that had filled him burst, leaving him as flat as a balloon that had been filled too full and then popped.
He slid as close to her as he could, his knees pressed against hers, and tightened his grip on her hands. She couldn’t go. Not when they finally had their second chance. “Please don’t go back to LA. I know I messed things up, big time. I let my own petty concerns get in the way, and I shunned you when I should have been holding you close and protecting you, and I’m so sorry.”
“Dan, I―”
But he pressed a finger to her lips. “I have to say this, Jade. I should have said it sooner, I know I should have. But I’m saying it now. I love you.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she opened her mouth, but he had to keep talking. If he let her get a word in, he was afraid it would be to tell him it didn’t matter. To tell him she was leaving and would never be back.
“I’ve loved you since that first day when you told me to ask you out. And I admit that sometimes you confuse me and sometimes I don’t know what you’re thinking. But I want to figure it out. I want to understand everything about you. And even when I don’t understand you, I still love you.”
“Dan―”
He cradled her hands against his heart. “The thought of you disappearing and going back to California and living a life that’s completely separate from mine—that scares me more than anything. The thought of losing you keeps me up at night. I want you to stay, Jade. I want you to stay and be with me.”
He drew in a breath. What else could he say to show her the depth of his feelings for her?
Jade pressed her fingers to his lips. “Dan.”
The way she said his name made him stop.
She slid her hand to his cheek. “I’m not leaving. I’m moving in with Vi and Nate. Into their house. They asked me to stay, and I said yes.”
Dan stared at her, trying to comprehend what she was saying. “You’re not going back to California?”
Her head shake was the most wonderful thing he’d ever seen.
“I belong here,” she said. “Hope Springs is home. It’s where I want to raise my baby.”
“That’s―” He wrapped his arms around her shoulders, pulling her close enough that he could feel her breath on his face. “That’s good news.”
He swallowed down the emotion that had blocked his throat.
But Jade pulled back a fraction, her eyes darkening. “We can’t, Dan. It doesn’t make sense, you and me.”
“Us.” He laid a palm against her cheek.
“There is no us,” she murmured.
“There’s always been an us, Jade. It just took us a long time to realize it. But now that we’ve found it, I’m not letting it go.” He was determined. Nothing was going to change his mind.
“But people will think―”
“I don’t care what people think.”
Before she could come up with another argument, he slid his arms around her. When she lifted her face, he lowered his lips to hers.
This was right. He could feel it with every fiber of his being. Everything they’d been through had been leading them to this moment.
The kiss ended much too soon for his taste, leaving both of them breathless.
“Now―” Dan wrapped a strand of hair that had fallen from her updo around his finger. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“Yes.”
Dan shifted his eyes to hers, half afraid she’d come up with another argument for why they couldn’t be together.
But she smiled and brushed a kiss over his lips. “I love you too.”
Epilogue
“Dan, say something.”
Dan shook himself. He’d been staring at Jade, but he couldn’t help it. She’d completely taken his breath away the moment he’d opened his front door. She was due in two weeks, and her belly protruded adorably from her small frame. But it was her eyes that had captivated him. Every day they got brighter, more joyous.
“Sorry.” He leaned down to give her a deep kiss, savoring the warmth of her lips against his. “Come in.”
“Have you been outside today? It’s beautiful.” Jade took off the light sweater she’d been wearing over her flowery maternity shirt. “I don’t think there’s a single flake of snow left on the ground. And it’s only March first. That has to be a new record. Which is a relief because I don’t want to deliver this baby in a snowstorm.” She pressed her hands to her swollen belly.
Dan covered her hands with his. “And how’s our little one today?”
“Busy.” Jade rubbed at her tummy. “I feel like an inside out drum. Which made it extremely difficult to concentrate at school today. I’m pretty sure I bombed my philosophy of education test.”
Dan dropped a kiss on her nose. “I’m sure you didn’t.” He’d helped her study for the test yesterday, and she’d known every single question he’d asked. Ever since she’d started working toward her teaching degree, he’d sensed a new purpose in her.
“What’s that delicious smell?” Jade raised her nose to the air and sniffed.
Dan had to laugh. If this were a cartoon, she’d be following those little squiggly scent lines to the kitchen.
He took her elbow and led her toward the dining room table.
“Dan!” Jade’s gasp made him smile. It was exactly what he’d been hoping for. “I thought we were ordering pizza.”
He shrugged as if it had been no big deal. “You deserve something a bit more special than pizza.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and pulled out a chair for her.
Jade eyed the spaghetti carbonara and garlic bread, then narrowed her eyes at him. “Did Leah bring this over?”
He pressed his hands to his heart. “I’m hurt.” But he couldn’t carry it off. “Fine, she brought over the pasta. But I made the bread. From scratch.”
Jade whistled. “Wow. I’m impressed.”
“Maybe you should wait until after you’ve tasted it to decide that.” But inside he was glowing. He wanted everything about this night to be absolutely perfect.
He sat across the table from Jade, and they both folded their hands.
But before Dan could start the prayer, Jade cut in. “Would you mind if I pray tonight?”
He lifted his head in surprise. She’d grown so much in her faith over the past months that he was astounded. It’d been almost like watching a seed sprout and flower into a full-fledged plant. She’d even started attending a women’s Bible study, and the two of them had been reading the Bible together whenever they had a chance. But she’d never volunteered to pray out loud with him before.
He had to clear his throat to swallow the emotion. If that wasn’t a sign that tonight was the night, he didn’t know what was. “Of course.”
Jade gave him a hesitant
smile, then closed her eyes and bowed her head. He followed suit.
“Heavenly Father,” Jade began. “Thank you that we can call you that. Thank you that we can come to you with all our hurts, all our joys, all our needs. Tonight, Lord, I want to praise you for what you have done in my life. I was broken, Lord, you know that. I thought I was beyond repair. But you didn’t. You put people in my life to show me your love. It wasn’t always easy, and they probably should have given up on me long ago, but they didn’t. Thank you for Dan, who has made me happier than I have any right to be. And thank you that you have taken even my worst sins and you have worked them for your good. Thank you for the new life growing inside me. Please help me to be the mother this child needs and to dedicate my life to raising him or her in you. Amen.”
Dan lifted his head and met her eyes. The joy in them was brighter than ever.
“That was―” He had to stop to swallow. “That was perfect.”
She smiled as he passed her the bread. He would do anything to keep that joy on her face forever.
As they ate, he grew more and more certain.
He’d considered waiting until after the baby was born, to give her time to settle in and get used to being a mother before he asked her to become a wife too.
But he couldn’t wait even a day longer. He had to tell her how he felt.
Now.
Tonight.
As soon as the dishes were cleared, he ducked into his bedroom and grabbed the tiny box he’d bought weeks ago. He tucked it into his pocket as he stepped into the living room, where Jade was sprawled in his chair, her feet up on the oversize ottoman.
He paused, soaking up her presence in his house. This is where he wanted her to be always.
But maybe it wasn’t the right place for a proposal. “You want to go for a walk on the beach?”
“Sure.” She held out her hands, and he tugged her up off the chair. “I’ll be glad when it doesn’t take a team to get me off the furniture anymore.”
“Yeah.”
She gave him an odd look. “Are you okay? You look kind of pale and sweaty all of a sudden.”
“Yeah,” he croaked again. The enormity of what he was about to do had just hit him. He wasn’t afraid of the commitment he was about to make—he’d already made that in his heart long ago. But what if she said no? What if she couldn’t bring herself to marry him and share in his life in the ministry? Although most people at church seemed to accept that he was with her, he knew there were still plenty who didn’t. And while that truly didn’t matter to him anymore, what if she thought she’d be protecting him by pushing him away again?
Forcing the worries aside, he led her across the lawn that separated his yard from the church and down the stairs toward the beach.
He had to trust this was in God’s hands.
“You’re sure you’re okay?” Jade was a step in front of him, and she turned to look him up and down, concern pulling at her forehead. “You’re so quiet.”
“Sorry.” He leaned forward to press a kiss onto her hair. “Just thinking.”
“About what?” She smoothed a hand against his cheek, and he smiled and gestured for her to continue down the steps.
Much as he was bursting to drop to one knee right here and now, he wanted to wait until they’d reached their special spot. “I’ll tell you in a minute.”
She gave him a curious glance but continued down the steps.
As they walked, he ran through the options in his head. Will you marry me? Traditional but straightforward. Will you be my wife? Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you let me love you forever?
“Oh.” Jade drew up short on the bottom step, and he had to stop quickly to keep from running into her. She inhaled sharply and pressed her hands to her stomach.
“What is it?” Every other thought fled as he stepped down next to her and wrapped an arm around her back. “Is it too far? Do you need to sit down?”
She shook her head. “I’m good.” She gestured toward her feet. “But I think my water just broke.”
Jade was exhausted, sweaty—and happier than she’d ever been in her life.
Her daughter, Hope Elizabeth Falter, was cradled in her arms, sleeping after an amazingly fast delivery. Dan stood next to her bed, leaning over to stroke the soft auburn fuzz on the baby’s head. He hadn’t left her side once since he’d sped her to the hospital, probably breaking more traffic laws than he’d ever broken in his life in his rush to get her here on time.
In the moments before her water had broken, Jade had sensed something shift in Dan. His sudden quiet, his almost nervous demeanor, had made her start to wonder if he was going to propose on the beach.
Just the thought had sent tingles all the way to her toes.
But now that he saw her here, with another man’s baby—a baby who would never look anything like him, who would always be a reminder that she had fallen short—would he change his mind?
Was he secretly glad that her water had broken when it did? Had it saved him from making a terrible mistake?
“Jade.” Dan reached for her hand, and she met his eyes.
What she saw there made her breath catch. He hadn’t changed his mind about her—if anything his look held more love than ever.
He took something out of his pocket and lowered himself to one knee at the side of the bed.
With a half sob, Jade adjusted Hope in her arms so that she could lean closer to him. She didn’t want to miss a single detail of this.
“I am so happy for you. And for little Hope. And I love you both. And I want to be there for both of you. Forever.” He cleared his throat, and his eyes reddened. Jade’s eyes welled at the emotion in his voice.
“I want to be your husband, and I want to be Hope’s father.” He opened the box, but Jade couldn’t see the ring through the tears coursing down her cheeks. “Will you marry me?”
If she weren’t holding the baby, Jade would have jumped out of the bed and flung herself at him. Instead, she let out the sob she’d been holding back, managing to squeeze out a yes around the cries.
In an instant, Dan was on his feet, leaning over to press his lips to hers. His kiss conveyed all the love words couldn’t express.
When he finally pulled back, he took the ring out of the box and gently took her left hand, which was still cradled around Hope. Careful not to wake the baby, he slipped the ring onto her finger. Then he kissed his hand and pressed it lightly to Hope’s head.
The baby opened her eyes and looked from one to the other of them, as if trying to figure out what all the commotion was about.
“Hope.” Jade whispered her baby’s name in awe. As unexpected as she’d been, this little blessing had helped her find her true Hope again. “I’d like you to meet your father. We’re a family, you and me and him.”
Dan leaned closer and kissed first her cheek and then the baby’s. “We’re an us.”
“Yes.” Jade snuggled closer to him and hugged Hope tight. “We’re an us.”
The End
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In case you missed it:
A sample of Not Until Forever (Hope Springs Book 1)
Five Years Earlier
Spencer paced behind the park bench, tipping his head toward the gray clouds swirling above him. His nerves swirled faster. He patted at the pocket of his hoodie for the eighth time, letting the solidity of t
he little box there reassure him. Even if some parts of his life were falling apart right now, this was the one thing he was sure of.
He squinted toward the parking lot, watching for the flash of Sophie’s bright red Camaro. But the lot was empty, aside from his battered pickup truck, already packed with the few things he needed from his apartment. It was hard to believe he was going to walk away without his degree with less than a semester to go. But this was what he had to do. His family needed him.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and made himself sit down. He should be on his way already. But he couldn’t leave without doing this. Without telling Sophie what he wanted for the future. Their future.
Finally, the rumble of the Camaro’s engine caught his ears. Spencer fumbled at his pocket again as Sophie whipped into the parking lot. The wind unfurled her golden hair behind her as she stepped out of the car. Spencer shoved a hand roughly through his own hair and swallowed hard. What had he been thinking, doing this here?
He should have picked somewhere more romantic. More elegant. More Sophie. But this park had been their place since their first date three years ago. It was where they came to talk, to laugh, to share everything. Doing this here, now, felt right. Spencer forced himself to take a slow breath as Sophie hurried toward him, her strides long and sure in her heels and slim black skirt.
Just the sight of her lightened his heart. He had no idea what a woman like her saw in a man like him, but he’d learned not to question it. For whatever reason, they worked. And for that, he thanked God.
Spencer sank his face into her hair as his arms tugged her closer. This was what he’d needed. Whatever he was facing, holding Sophie made everything right in the world.
She pulled back a few inches and slid her fingers over his unshaven cheek. “You look tired. You sure you want to make the drive back to Hope Springs yet tonight?”
Not now that he was with her, he didn’t. But he nodded. “I have to, Soph.”
He’d only been home a couple of days—just long enough to sit with Mom through the worst of the waiting at the hospital. Through the hours of not knowing if Dad would make it.
Not Until Us (Hope Springs Book 4) Page 22