“No, I want the world to know. I want to adopt Lucy. I want—” I paused and swallowed “—I want to marry you.”
Paige
My head swirled with Liam’s words. I blinked at him, unsure how to respond. He cupped my cheek. “I know I just shocked you, Sweet Pea, but it’s the truth. I want to marry you. I want to adopt Lucy and be a real family. I want you to have my name, and I want Lucy to have it as well.”
“Liam,” I whispered. “Are you sure? We might get here and drive you crazy. You might wish—”
He cut me off with a laugh. “Don’t even go there. I am not going to change my mind. Nothing you could do would make me change my mind.” He slid his arm around my waist. “Don’t you feel how right we are, baby? You, me, and Lucy? We’re so good together.” He pressed a kiss to my cheek. “Even if that is all we have, it is enough.”
I met his earnest gaze. He meant it. He wouldn’t push me for more—ever. I cupped his face, his dear, wonderful face, and smiled.
“No, it’s not, Liam.”
His grip tightened. “What are you saying?”
“If we go forward, I want to give it all to you. The chance for children of your own. You’re right. We’d love them together, no matter what. I want to give you everything.”
“If?” he asked, his voice gruff. “You’re not sure?”
“Is there a big hurry?”
“Yes. I want to marry you as soon as possible. Before you move in. I want to take this next step of our journey as husband and wife. And daughter. In this house.”
“That’s only a couple of weeks away,” I protested.
“Do you want a big wedding? The church, the dinner, all the trappings?”
“Lord no, but your family—”
He shook his head. “Our marriage is private. It’s us. We’ll get married quietly. My family can throw a party after. They’d love that.”
“I-I don’t know what to say.”
He clutched me to him. “Say yes, baby. Say yes to a lifetime with me.”
“I have to think. I—”
He cut me off with a kiss. “You think. I’ll plan. I promise you we’ll be great together, Paige. Life will be good with me.”
I smiled. “It already is, Liam.”
Beth’s eyes were wide when I told her what Liam wanted.
I plucked at the edge of my shirt in nervousness. “And he wants to do it soon. Before I move in.”
“And you don’t? Too fast?” she asked, concerned.
I sighed. “That’s the scary part, Beth. I do. I want to marry him. I want to let Lucy call him Daddy. She’s dying to do so.” I laughed softly. “So is he, I think.”
“But…”
“Shouldn’t I be scared? After what happened before? Shouldn’t all this scare the shit out of me? I mean, is there something wrong with me that all I can think of is how much I want that too?”
The questions kept playing over in my mind.
Beth took my hand. “Some people would think so, but I don’t. Liam is different. I’ve seen how he looks at you. The love he feels for you and Lucy. He’s like Ronan. What you see is what you get. They’re special. Wonderful. And you love him, don’t you?”
“I do. I know he’s nothing like my ex. You would just think I would want to be more cautious.”
“Or maybe your heart knows what is right. You said you had doubts last time. Do you feel those with Liam?”
“None. All I feel is an absolute rightness.”
“Then say yes.”
I wanted to. I had sat up most of the night thinking about it.
“Neither of us wants a big wedding. In fact, we only plan on getting married with our witnesses. Maybe a party after if anyone was interested?”
Beth laughed. “As if this family would let an occasion like that go without a party?”
I sniffled. “Our family,” I said softly and flung my arms around her neck. “Now we get to be real sisters.”
She hugged me, her voice happy. “Yes, we do.”
Liam was quieter than normal when he arrived for lunch on Monday. He brought me a small bunch of flowers, not an unusual thing anymore, but I knew there was more to the gesture than simply making me happy.
I took them from his hands, inhaling the sweet perfume. He always included my favorites, and today’s bouquet was rich with the scent of lilies and tiny roses. I slipped them into a vase after thanking him.
We ate the sandwiches at the table, the bouquet sitting in the middle.
“So pretty,” I murmured, stroking the petals. “Almost like a bridal bouquet.”
The air around us buzzed with sudden tension.
He lifted his eyebrows, his voice low. “You think so?”
I met his gaze, intense and yet hopeful. I knew he’d been holding back, not saying a word since his impromptu proposal on Saturday. But Beth was correct. I felt the rightness of us. The belief in our future. Liam was it for me. He wanted this.
I wanted this.
“Yes.”
He knew I was answering his proposal. He was out of his chair and I was in his arms in seconds. He kissed me hard, holding me tight.
“I love you,” he repeated over and again. “Life is going to be amazing. I promise.”
I held him close.
“I know.”
Beth grinned at me. “Nervous?”
I fluffed the skirt of my dress. I was wearing the one Cami had given me, the sleeve repaired and perfect. Liam loved it, and I wanted the memory of my wearing it today to be the one he thought of. I held a small bouquet of roses and sweet peas—how Liam found them this late into the season, I didn’t know, but he had.
“No,” I answered truthfully.
“Good.”
Liam stepped into the room, Lucy in his arms. She wore a pretty dress I had bought her and carried a matching bouquet. Beth had one as well, and Liam, Ronan, and Evan each had a small rose pinned to their lapel.
“The justice is ready for us.” He held out his hand. “Okay?”
I slid my hand into his, his grip strong and steady. I looked into his eyes.
“Okay.”
The service was quick and simple. We said I do, repeated vows, and signed a piece of paper. Ronan used his phone and took a lot of pictures. When the justice of the peace pronounced us husband and wife, Lucy had piped up, exclaiming gleefully, “And me!”
Liam kissed me leisurely and thoroughly, whispering words of love against my mouth. Then he bent and scooped Lucy up and kissed her cheek. “And you, Munchkin.”
She cupped her hand, and he leaned close, a smile breaking out on his face at her whispered query. He nodded, and she smiled in return, the sunshine of her happiness making us all smile.
“I love you, Daddy.”
He wrapped his arm around me, drawing me into their love fest.
“My girls,” he said. “All mine.”
Ronan clapped and Beth beamed, her eyes misty. I knew she wouldn’t be far behind me, although I had a feeling she wanted a bigger wedding. All I wanted was Liam.
Evan took a picture and nodded. “Good one.”