Second Time Around: A Small Town, Second Chance Romance (The Billionaire Brothers Series Book 1)
Page 19
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll make you a plate, too.”
As we all sat down to eat, drink, talk, and laugh, I stopped to really enjoy the moment. I looked over and felt my heart soar as my mom leaned forward willingly, letting Lizzy induct her into the band of wild women icing warriors with a tiny finger of frosting on the tip of Mom’s nose.
I looked down the table, seeing Ryan with his dad’s arm wrapped over his shoulder. Ryan leaned over and whispered something to him. Rob looked at him proudly and nodded his head in response. My eyes kept moving around as Ryan stood and disappeared inside our home.
Everything was exactly as he’d promised those many months before. I thought back, wondering how I’d ever imagined we might not spend our lives together. Our daughter was healthy, happy, and already seeming too grown up to call a baby much longer. He never showed any lack of willingness to share the long nights caring for her. Ryan had even maintained his remote role with the company, preferring to stay with us at home where he could work in peace, only going back to New York for big events and board meetings.
Yes, there was no doubt in my mind. We couldn’t be any happier. Every day a new memory added even more warmth to our home, and on every level, our relationship continued to strengthen and grow.
Everybody’s head turned as Ryan emerged from the house. I followed their looks of expectation but failed to find anything out of the ordinary.
He walked over and crouched next to me, kneeling between my seat and Lizzy’s highchair. He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I have a gift for our daughter.”
My head tilted as I wondered what he meant. I couldn’t remember anything we’d discussed that could pertain, but I didn’t have to contemplate long. Ryan produced a tiny jewelry box from behind his back, opening it so that Elizabeth could see herself in the little mirror and hear the music playing from within. I smiled, thinking that was very sweet for a father to give his baby girl. To my surprise, he wasn’t done. Ryan reached into the box and pulled out a silver ring.
It took me a moment, but I recognized it and quickly became confused. I instinctively reached for my wrist but found my bracelet precisely where it was supposed to be. As Ryan showed me the identical piece of jewelry, I realized what he’d done.
“You… You got Lizzy her own bracelet?”
He nodded, showing the inscription engraved within.
For Elizabeth, with Love … Until the Sun Burns Away.
“Awww, Ryan…”
Before I could even try to find the right words to describe how beautiful and perfect it was, Ryan was making it more and more impossible with each passing moment.
“It’ll be a while before she’s big enough to wear it, but someday - who knows - maybe we’ll be presenting her fiancé with a watch to welcome him into the family. All I know is, this past year has brought me more happiness and fulfillment than the rest of my years combined. Harley, every day you show me just how little I understand about what it means to be a friend, a partner, a lover, a spouse, and a parent. Every time I think I’ve seen it all, you turn around and find some new, brighter way of illuminating my life and that of this family. Harley, the first year with a child, is supposed to be one of the most demanding experiences that a person can go through, but, with you to lead the way, the rewards and wonderful memories we’ve celebrated have outweighed the challenges so drastically that I can say, with honesty, that it’s been nothing short of easy. You are an amazing, incredible woman, the best role model I could hope to have for our little girl to grow up looking to for inspiration and direction. I could only think of one way to show you just how much I appreciate you, how much I am inspired by you, and how much I love you. So… I have one more piece of jewelry to offer, but this one isn’t for the birthday girl.”
I wasn’t at all prepared for Ryan’s sweet gift to Elizabeth, nor was I expecting his sudden dispersal of kindness and compliments directed toward me. But, as he reached back into Lizzy’s music box, I experienced a whole new level of being blown away.
Ryan’s hand came back into view with another glimmer held at his fingertips. I tried to cover my mouth, but the gasp of shock escaped before my hands could even leave my lap. Already kneeling from giving his gift to Lizzy, all Ryan had to do next was turn to face me fully, bringing the golden ring with its gorgeous, sparkling diamond atop its crown to be held as an offering between us.
“Harley Elizabeth Andrews, the magnificent mother of my child and the love of my life: I offer you everything I have, everything I am, and everything I will ever be. You are my everything… and so, I offer you everything that I can ever give. I do this with one hope in mind. Will you marry me?”
It took me an eternity to shake the sobs of happiness away enough to give any kind of reply, but everyone was already crying and smiling along with me, knowing what my answer was.
“… Yes! Oh, Ryan… of course! It has always been and forever always will be… Yes.”
* * *
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