I reach into my back pocket and take out the little red box. Selma sees it and then her mouth opens as I hold it out for her.
“The reason I went back to Texas was to sign a contract, but also to close out the final deal on my time away. I tied up all my loose ends, and I’m here to stay. Meeting you, Selma, was the catalyst I needed, the one that Ms. Lily was trying to show me all along. You’re my forever, and I love you with every part of my soul. I want forever with you, and I want to start now before you get away.”
Kneeling down in front of her, I open the box and show Selma the five-carat ruby nestled inside.
“Are you finished?” she asks, and I nod. “I love you, too.” This time when the tears come, they don’t break me like before.
She throws herself into my arms, and I catch her, holding her close. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes, you big stupid idiot, of course it’s a yes.” She laughs through tears, and I kiss her at the same time.
“I love you so much, Selma.” I hold her face and look at her, then kiss her again because I need my lips all over her right now.
“I’m pregnant,” she blurts out, and I freeze. “I wanted to tell you the other day when you were home, but then things got so mixed up, and oh my god, I almost broke up with you,” she rambles, then swallows hard.
“You’re having my baby?”
“Yes, I mean clearly. We’ve had so much sex and you never even tried to pull out—”
I cover her mouth with mine, my heart swelling to the point of pain. Can a person die from too much joy? It’s overwhelming, and yet it all feels right. It’s perfect and magnificent in a way that I could have never dreamed possible.
“I love you, I love you, I love you,” I say over and over as I kiss my soon-to-be wife.
“You really know how to settle an argument,” she teases, and I shake my head.
“You can try all you want, you’re never getting rid of me.”
“And I never want to.” She smiles and kisses me back.
This is the beginning of forever with us, and I can’t wait for it to begin.
Epilogue
Selma
Several years later…
I watch my little Lily pad get her nails done. She’s leaning back in the chair with cucumbers on her eyes. I fight a laugh at how adorable she is. When I asked what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said a spa and tea day. I loved the idea so much. I might have gone a bit overboard, but she’s my only little girl.
Our twin boys are rough and tumbles. They would destroy a tea party. Unless it comes to their little sister. She can get away with murder with them. It’s cute when she bosses them around. She is a tiny thing while her brothers are four years older than her and big for their age.
“I think we’re all done,” the nail technician says. Lily sits up excitedly, wanting to see her nails. The cucumbers go flying, hitting the floor. I had the small pop-up spa set up on the back patio while tea will be out in the garden.
Lily said she needed to get her nails and hair done first before her friends get here so she can be a host while they get their chance in the spa chairs. It’s her day. I told her she can do it however she wants, and she has. Down to every last detail. It drove me a bit nuts until Luca laughed and called her a mini-me.
“Do we match, Mommy?” Lily holds up her hands, wiggling her fingers.
“We sure do.” I show her mine.
“Our turn yet?” Lux says, stepping out onto the patio. Juno comes walking out behind her. I can see all the cousins in the kitchen devouring food. The boys in this family can eat.
“Yes!” Lily says. “You can match me and Mommy.” She shows her nails off to her aunts. It feels so damn good to have a family that is always growing.
“You’re the birthday girl,” Juno says, taking one of the chairs.
“How are you going to do your hair, sweetie?” Lux asks Lily.
She taps her finger on her lips like she’s thinking.
“I’m going to run and check on a few things. You got this for a little?” I ask.
“Yep,” both Juno and Lux say.
“Mommy, tell Aurora and Summer to come out please,” she begs, wanting her girl cousins out here with her. They might be cousins, but they are also best friends.
When I walk inside, I give a round of hugs before sending the girls out back. The twins take the rest of the boys back to their room to hang out. I start making sure everything is in place. The party planner has done a wonderful job getting everything Lily asked for.
I smile as I look through the gift bags that have each girl's name on them. Lily put in a personalized hand-written note to each girl. I start back to the kitchen when the doorbell rings, and I open the front door. The party doesn’t start for another hour or so. I think they’re still setting up the tea in the garden.
“Hi,” I say to the man standing at the door. He looks a bit young.
I glance behind him to see if he’s got a kid with him. I only see a white truck. I thought I knew all the parents of the handful of girls coming over. I suppose he could be an older brother.
“Well, hello there.” A smile spreads across his face.
“Are you here for the party?” I ask when he doesn't say more.
“I can be.” He takes a step closer. “You have beautiful hair. Has anyone ever told you that?”
He reaches his hand out about to touch me. Before I can smack his hand away, Luca’s own hand wraps around the young man’s wrist. I swear he can pop out of anywhere if there is a man too close to me. It’s a bit freaky and adorable too.
“You don’t see the ring on her fucking finger?” He throws the man back with such force he stumbles backward. “You don’t reach out and touch a woman. Drop the extra chairs off your truck and get the fuck out of here.”
Luca doesn’t give him a chance to respond. He slams the door shut.
“Hi,” I chirp, giving him a giant smile. He narrows his eyes on me. That’s all it takes, and my body starts to heat. My Luca can be a very jealous man.
If you would have told me years ago that would be something I loved about a man, I would have laughed my ass off. It’s not that way with my husband. I shamelessly get off on it. Sometimes I might even lure his jealousy out.
“I can’t leave you alone for five minutes. You little ass is supposed to be out back getting pampered.”
“Are you saying I don’t look all done?” I take a step back.
“I didn’t say that,” he growls, grabbing me around the waist. “I’ll show you how fucking sexy I think you are.” I don't get a chance to respond. Luca goes full possessive caveman on me, which I knew was coming.
I let out a small scream as he throws me over his shoulder, carrying me up the stairs and into our bedroom. He tosses me down on the bed.
“If you want to wear that dress today, you better get it off or it’s going to be a cleaning rag.”
“You wouldn’t.” I sit up on my elbows, not giving a crap about the dress. I have a dozen others. I pretend to be annoyed and make no movement to take the dress off.
“I would.” He pounces. In one hard pull he’s ripping the dress easily. “By the time I’m done with you, you’ll need another spa appointment.”