“But we want to celebrate with everyone,” Sarah said, “so just as soon as things calm down, we’re going to have a party and everyone’s invited.”
“Well, that makes me feel slightly better,” Brooke muttered.
Sarah bit her lip and scanned the room. “You’re not upset with us, are you? It’s not that we didn’t want you there, I promise.”
Heather pouted. “I’ll get over it.”
“Maybe,” Brooke said.
Ava passed Ashlynn back to her father, and Travis wrapped an arm around Heather’s shoulders to whisper something in her ear. She flushed and shook her head. Ava thought she said, “Not yet.”
“So,” Ava said, “what’s going on with you two? You have something to share?”
Travis grinned. “We didn’t want to steal anyone’s spotlight.”
“Tell us,” Sarah demanded.
“Heather said yes.”
Ava gasped. “What? That’s so wonderful! Congratulations! I know Ryker has to be over-the-moon excited.” Ryker was the young man Travis had taken in to live with him after his homelife imploded. He’d also saved Heather’s life during the time she’d had a killer after her.
“Ryker takes credit for it, actually,” Heather said.
Sarah stood. “Well, as much as I hate to break up the party, I guess we’d better go. Dad is expecting us for dinner.” She looked at Caden. “Are you coming?”
“Of course. After we go put flowers on Ava’s mother’s grave.”
“Good.” She and Gavin said their goodbyes and left.
Heather and Travis did the same, leaving Brooke and Asher alone with Ava and Caden.
Brooke studied him. “Have you made your peace with your dad?”
Ava squeezed his hand and he nodded. “Yeah, I think I have. Almost losing him was a big eye-opener. I don’t agree with him a lot, but he’s my father and I love him.”
“Good, I’m glad.” Brooke’s eyes drooped and Ava pulled Caden backward.
“I think it’s time for us to leave too. Your daughter is beautiful, Brooke. Thank you for letting her have a piece of my name. I’m touched and thrilled.”
Brooke smiled. “Of course. And you get to keep her so Asher and I can have a date night sometime soon.”
“That works for us,” Caden said. “Just so you know, Ava and I have our sixteenth official date tonight. Dinner with my dad, but . . .”
“You’re counting?” Brooke’s amusement shone in her eyes.
“Absolutely. For a guy whose goal was to get through the third date, I’m quite proud of myself.”
Ava groaned. “You’re such an overachiever. Come on. I think your dad invited my dad to come tonight too, so we may be dodging all kinds of crazy.”
Caden’s groan matched hers and Ava smiled. Never in a million years would she have pictured this as her future. Her father alive, her falling in love with Caden—surpassing the second date. She almost laughed. It just went to prove that whatever she prayed for, if God said no, it was because he had something better in mind for her.
And she was okay with that.
She and Caden said their goodbyes and left. He slid an arm around her shoulder and tucked her next to him.
“So . . . ,” he said.
“Yes?”
“If I asked, would you say yes?”
Her heart thudded. “Depends on what you’re asking.”
“We made it past the third date.”
“We did.” He guided her left when they should have gone right. “Cade?”
He pushed through a set of stained-glass double doors into the hospital chapel and a calm certainty settled over her. He walked her down to the front and turned her to face him while they stood in front of the cross.
Clasping her hands, he smiled at her. His hands trembled slightly, and she squeezed them. “When Nicolai came after you,” he said, “I was terrified and I prayed that God would spare you so that I could tell you how much you mean to me. And he answered that prayer.”
Ava swallowed and her heart thudded in her ears. “I was doing a lot of praying myself. Very similar to yours.”
“Ava, I love you. I’m at the point where I know with one hundred percent certainty that I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but I know you’ve had tons of upheaval in the last few weeks with moving and your new job—and everything. If you need more time, I’ll wait for you to let me know when you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.”
He paused and his eyes narrowed. “That was fast.”
“I knew it before the third date, Caden. I probably knew it when I was sixteen years old with a big fat crush on you. But I’m not that giddy teenager anymore. What I feel for you is an adult-sized love.” She paused. “Otherwise you never would have made it through the third date.”
He laughed, and she said, “I can’t believe this is happening. I always said I’d never marry. Not that you’ve asked yet,” she rushed to add.
“I’m asking, but I’m willing to take it slow too. Although, when you think about it, you said ‘never’ to quite a few things that you’re now saying yes to. It’s funny how life can throw you a curve ball when you least expect it—or how God can change your perspective.”
“No kidding. Are you sure you’re all right with God’s latest curve ball?” she asked.
“I’m fine with it. In fact, I’m very proud of you. And I’ve already been approved for the transfer, so it’s pretty much a done deal. But we’ll work hard at this because we both want it. And as long as we make sure there aren’t any lies between us, we’ll be okay.”
She drew in a deep breath. “There’s just one more thing.”
“What?”
“I don’t know that I’ll ever want children. I mean, I do. I would love to have children, but . . . not yet. And I don’t know if that will change.”
“I kind of suspected that would be the case when we discussed you taking this job. I’m willing to wait and see how God works that out too.” He smiled. “In the meantime, we’ll just borrow little Ashlynn if we need a kid fix.”
She threw her arms around him. “Oh, how I love you. Then in answer to your question, yes, I would say yes.”
“Then I’ll ask again. Better this time.” He dropped to one knee and kept his gaze on hers. “Will you marry me, Ava Marie Jackson?”
“I will, Caden Lewis Denning.”
He rose and kissed her. A long kiss that held only a fraction of the passion she knew he was capable of.
The ringing of her phone interrupted them and she pulled away to glance at the screen. “It’s John.”
Caden nodded and she put it on speaker. “Hi, John.”
“Glad I caught you, Ava. How are you feeling?”
“Like I’m on cloud nine. Caden and I just got engaged.”
“Congratulations.” He really did sound thrilled for them. “I hate to cut the engagement festivities short, but I’ve got a question for you.”
“Okay.”
“All of your paperwork has been processed, your housing is ready, and everything is in place. Are you ready for your first assignment?”