“Quinn and I had an idea and we think—”
“No,” I say with a laugh. “We shouldn’t get involved. And you know by now how much my sister likes to play matchmaker.”
Scarlet smiles and gives my hand a squeeze. “Maybe just a little push?”
I shrug, not seeing how any harm can come from that. “Fine. But nothing more than a little push.”
I don’t see how the push can hurt, and if one of them confesses how they really feel they finally won’t be able to deny it anymore. I want my brother to be happy, and I know he’ll be happy with Danielle.
A push could be a good thing.
Unless they’re pushed too far.
“Merry Christmas,” Quinn says, coming into the room. She’s holding Emma, who’s dressed like a little elf.
“Oh my God,” Scarlet coos, going over. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”
“She’s adorable!” Kara agrees.
“Does it make you want one?” Quinn teases.
“Nope. No way.”
Scarlet takes Emma from Quinn’s arms, cradling her against her chest. Her eyes meet mine and I know what she’s thinking, because right now I’m thinking the same thing.
It’s making us both want a baby.
“Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” Archer asks Jackson, scooping him up.
“I did!” Jackson says excitedly and goes on to list all the new toys he got. I step next to Scarlet, putting my arm around her shoulder. I got everything I want too.
Scarlet’s phone rings, and she scrambles to get it from her purse. Her brother is supposed to be calling today and was trying to call around this time. He’s stationed somewhere new and it’s looking like he’ll come home in January.
I go into the kitchen, finding Owen stealing more cookies, and take one too. Mom comes in and shoos us both away. Scarlet is in the dining room, and I want to give her some space while she talks to her brother. I go back into the living room with the rest of my family, hanging out and talking until it’s time for dinner.
Scarlet, Jackson, and I are stuffed and tired by the time we get home several hours later. I changed Jackson into his PJs and brushed his teeth at my parents, knowing he’d fall asleep on the short ride home. I carry him upstairs and lay him in bed.
“Dad?” he grumbles, eyes fluttering open.
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, buddy.”
He closes his eyes and reaches for the yellow unicorn. “And I love Scarlet.”
“That’s something we both have in common.” I run my fingers through his hair and kiss his forehead. The kid is wiped out and falls asleep within minutes. I tuck him in and go downstairs to find Scarlet.
Only, she’s not in the house. This time, there’s no panic or worry. I know exactly where she is.
Grabbing a blanket from the couch, I find her on the back porch steps, looking up at the clear sky above us. I sit next to her, draping the blanket around our shoulders.
“This is perfect,” she whispers, wrapping her arm around me. “I’m kind of sad Christmas is over.”
“We’ll get to do it again next year.”
She looks at me with a smile. “Are you sure you want that?”
“More than anything. I want you next year. And the year after that. And the one after that. Actually,” I start and get up, extending a hand. Scarlet takes it, eyes sparkling with amusement. “I love you, Scarlet Cooper. This isn’t how I planned it, because I don’t even have a ring yet, but you’re right. This is perfect.”
“Wes, what are you—”
I get down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
The blanket slides off her shoulders and tears fill her eyes. She stares at me in disbelief, and for a moment I think I asked too soon.
Then the biggest smile takes over her face. “Yes! Yes, of course I will marry you!”
I get up and pull her into my arms. “I love you. Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. I will always love you.”
Epilogue
Scarlet
SEVEN MONTHS LATER
“Thank you so much,” Quinn says, pushing her messy hair out of her face and taking Emma from my arms. “With Archer’s parents up in Michigan visiting Bobby and my own consumed with construction on the hospital, I’m dying.”
“It’s no big deal.” I look down at Jackson. “We had fun. Emma was perfect.”
Quinn raises an eyebrow in disbelief. Now that she’s over a year and is walking, Emma is a handful. And poor Quinn has been puking nonstop pretty much since the day she conceived her second child. She said she went through the same thing with Emma, making me question her sanity on getting pregnant again.
“Is Archer going to be home soon?”
“Yeah, thankfully.” We move into Quinn’s house, which is far from neat and tidy like it usually is. I hope when I’m finally pregnant I don’t get hit with morning sickness like this.
Right after Wes proposed we started trying in a sense. I knew it would take a miracle to knock me up, but I was hopeful. We had a small but beautiful wedding on Valentine’s Day, and then I had a sit down with my OB to talk about what was really wrong with me. After a slew of tests, I’ve been taking fertility drugs and we’ve still had no luck.
I know many couples try much longer than we have, but it’s starting to really weigh on me. Jackson is dying for a sibling.
“How’s your sister?” Quinn asks, sinking down on the couch in the family room. Three of her six cats are in here, lounging around.
“She’s doing pretty well, actually. I think the group home is a good adjustment for her. She got a job last week at a bookstore.”
“That’s great!”
“Baby steps, but a step is a step.” Heather got out of prison last month. Around the New Year, she started going to a church group with a few other inmates, and it actually turned her around. She still goes to church and is currently living in a group home for troubled young adults with mental health issues. She’s still in Chicago, but we try to see each other at least once a week.
“When will your belly get big?” Jackson asks, looking at Quinn’s stomach.
Quinn puts her hand on her belly. “You’ll probably notice a baby bump in a month or so. I’ve heard you show sooner with the second.”
“You’re totally going to be one of those pregnant ladies who’s all belly and boob, aren’t you?” I ask.
Quinn smiles. “I was last time.” She makes a sour face and then gets up, rushing to the bathroom to throw up. Jackson and I stay a little longer, waiting to leave until Archer gets home. He thanks me as well for helping out with Emma today so Quinn can rest.
“Are you tried?” I ask Jackson when we get home. “I’m tired. Emma wore me out.”
“I’m not tired,” he says with a yawn. “Can I go play now?”
“Yeah, that’d be great. Dinner will be ready in about an hour.”
He goes upstairs and I have every intention of starting dinner, but I fall asleep on the couch, not waking until Wes comes home.