“I’d forgotten how beautiful it is here in the winter,” Abby said softly. “It’s stunning.”
“It is,” I replied. “And today it feels like heaven.”
Tilting her head up to look at me, she smiled. “So, are we dating?”
My head fell back, and I let out a roar of laughter. “I mean, technically, we’re not married anymore, so I guess that means we are dating.”
Abby chuckled, then looked out over the mountainside. “This is the first time in two years that I’ve felt hopeful, and I have a sense of peace inside of me.”
I held onto her a bit tighter. “Abby, I want to ask you something.”
Her body went rigid for a moment. “Okay.”
“Look at me, Abs.”
She turned her head and met my gaze.
“Do you forgive me?”
Her eyes went wide with shock. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m the one who needs forgiveness, Bishop.”
“And you have it. I gave it to you freely back in the greenhouse.”
She cupped the side of my face, and I leaned into her hand. “Bishop, you haven’t done anything that needs forgiveness.”
“But I have, Abs. I thought we were over for good, and I—”
She pressed her finger to my mouth. “Stop. It’s my turn to ask you a question.”
All I could do was give her one nod.
“Bishop Harris, will you do me the honor of becoming my husband again?”
A rush of warmth ran through my entire body as my heart began to pound.
“I don’t want to date. I want to live my life with you. To be your wife, help you on the farm, wake up in your arms, and fall asleep on your chest. I want to…” Her voice cracked, and she sniffled before she went on. “I want to tell you every single day that I love you and only you. And more than anything, my dream is to have a family with you. I’m sorry it took me so long to see that the love we share will help us overcome anything together.”
My heart slammed against my chest as I watched a tear slip free and move slowly down her cheek. I reached up and wiped it away with the pad of my thumb and whispered her name. “Abby.” Brushing a kiss across her lips, I smiled. “Your name is the only one that has ever been written on my heart. Even when I was desperate to let you go, I couldn’t. I love you more than I love anything. As far as I’m concerned, it’s me and you for eternity. And yes, I’ll marry you. Again.”
Abby threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. The last of the anger, the hurt, the sadness, and the guilt all slipped away.
A whistle came from the other side of the firepit, and we both pulled back. Abby turned in my arms to see who was there, and I looked up over her head.
Kyle and Hunter were walking up with Jack and Kyle’s new K9 puppy, Cat. It still puzzled me why in the hell he’d named his dog…Cat. That was Kyle though.
“A puppy!” Abby called out as she scrambled to get off my lap.
Kyle laughed when Abby nearly threw herself to the ground. The puppy started licking her like crazy. “You’re not making Cat’s training very easy, Abby, by gushing all over her. She’s a police pup—show some respect.”
Abby and Kyle exchanged some sort of secret look before she said, “I’m sorry, she’s just so adorable! Oh my goodness. She’s so cute.”
Jack sat next to Hunter and watched the entire scene play out. Hunter finally cleared his throat loudly, and Abby looked up.
“Oh my. Look at that handsome boy!”
“Well, I do try to keep up appearances,” Hunter said with a smirk.
Abby set Cat down and ignored Hunter as she approached Jack. “May I?”
Hunter motioned for her to go ahead. “He loves attention.”
Abby bent down again, and then Jack was all over her, giving her just as much love back.
“How’s the training going?” I asked, pitching a beer to Kyle and then one to Hunter.
Kyle and Hunter exchanged a glance before they pointedly looked at Abby, still letting Jack give her love, and then back at me.
“Do you really think we’re going to walk up on the two of you kissing and just let it go?” Hunter asked.
Abby glanced over at them, a huge smile on her face. My heart tumbled around in my chest as I saw how the happiness seemed to glow off her.
“Abby asked me to marry her, and I said yes.”
Kyle and Hunter’s eyes went wide.
“Dude, what? That’s amazing!” Hunter reached out for my hand and pulled me in for a quick hug. He turned to Abby, who was standing now, and drew her in for a hug as well. “Damn, it’s good to have you back, Abby.”
“It’s good to be back.”
Kyle hugged Abby next, and I swore he whispered something into her ear. She looked up at him and smiled, then hugged him again before she walked back over to me.
Before I even had time to ask her what Kyle had said, Aiden, Willa, and Ben walked up. It was then I noticed everyone pulling in and parking.
Turning back to Hunter and Kyle, I said, “If you don’t mind, keep it to yourself for a bit. I’d rather let everyone know once they’re all here.”
“Of course, dude.” Kyle bent down and picked up Cat. “I’m going to go introduce Cat to Ben!”
I shook my head. “That’s right, Kyle, confuse the toddler with that one.”
He lifted his hand and shot me the middle finger as I laughed.
Willa made her way up to us and hugged Abby first. “It’s so good seeing you up here, Abby!”
Aiden shook my hand, then gave me a wink. “I like seeing that smile on your face.”
I grinned. “I like having it on my face.”
As everyone started to arrive, they greeted Abby with wildly happy hugs and welcome homes.
Abby had invited her folks to come this evening, and I was glad to see they took her up on it. When Pete and Crystal showed up, they immediately came over to Abby and me and took us to the side to speak to us privately. They both made it clear how happy they were that we had made amends and gave us their blessings.
Pete glanced at where Abby was talking to Greer and then focused on me. “It’s nice to see you both looking happy. I always thought you two belonged together.”
My gaze drifted across the crowd of people and landed on Abby. She must have felt me looking at her, because she turned her head and our eyes met. “I know we do.”
She smiled, and I felt a flutter inside my chest.
“I’m going to mingle around,” Pete said, making his way over to Hunter and Kyle.
“Tell me you’re going to make her your wife again,” Aiden said as he reached his hand out to shake mine.
“Well, considering she proposed to me earlier, and I said yes, I’m pretty confident it’ll happen.”
A wide smile erupted on Aiden’s face. He glanced over at Abby, who was laughing at something Greer had said to her. Turning back to me, he said, “You both look happy. I’m glad—you two were always meant to be together.”
I nodded. “I am happy, and I agree. We’ll probably make it official once everyone settles down around the firepit.” I cleared my throat. “You’re going to cut down a tree, right?”
He laughed. “Hell yeah. Ben is looking forward to it. I love that you still do this for family and friends, Bishop. It’s a nice tradition.”