“That’s sweet.”
“It’s like having two sugared up kids on my hands.” She slings the bag over her shoulder.
“You love it, though.”
She beams at me. “I really do. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Caden is a step ahead of her out of the door, and I chuckle when she races to keep up with him. That kid has boundless energy.
Two furniture delivery trucks pull in the driveway right after she leaves and the next hour is spent directing the delivery men where to put everything. This place is so huge and between what we’ve bought and what we’ll be moving, it’s a ton of work.
The last time I moved it was with a few boxes. It’s amazing how things change.
Axton shows up after the delivery men have left. The sound of his boots on the hardwood draw such a different response from me than they did in the beginning, and my heart leaps in anticipation. Even after months together, it hasn’t faded, the way I feel when he’s near me, when he smiles at me. I’ve got it bad.
“Hey babe.” He walks in wearing jeans and a deep blue button down shirt. God help me if he rolls the sleeves up. I’ll drag him onto the new bed whether the workmen are still outside or not. Curtains need to be my next purchase. He pauses and shakes his head with a wicked grin. “You have to stop looking at me like that right now.”
“Like what?” My innocent act is not going to work.
“Like you want to get me naked. I understand it’s hard not to think about when you lay eyes on all this, but a little self-control, please.” I love how much he’s lightened up, the way he teases with me.
“You are still the most arrogant asshole I’ve ever met.”
Shrugging, he grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. “I warned you not to fall in love with me the first time we fucked. It’s not my fault you don’t listen.”
“You say the most romantic things,” I scoff, throwing my arms around his neck.
He gives me one of his patented searing kisses that does not make resisting the urge for semi public sex any easier. “Take a walk with me. I want to show you something.”
“Okay.”
I grab my jacket, and he leads me out the back door toward the woods. He could navigate the place blindfolded so I wouldn’t be concerned about getting lost in the woods even if there wasn’t a pretty clear path.
I know he has horrible memories here along with good ones. We talk a lot more about his past and mine, and he even started going to therapy a couple of times a month when I told him how much it helped me.
Both of us still suffer an occasional nightmare. His are usually focused on searching for Caden or me, while mine are about being locked in a freezer, but we’re getting better because we wake to hold each other, to the safety and comfort of another person who understands.
The sound of running water reaches my ears. “I haven’t been as far as the creek yet. Does it get deep?” We’ll have to be careful as Caden gets older.
“A few feet at most when it rains hard.”
We come out of the trail into a small clearing where the creek winds through. A huge log lies across it, and it’s been there a long time judging by the way the bottom of it is worn smooth from years of flowing water.
It’s been a dry winter and spring so far and there’s only a few inches of water rushing past. Woof runs around us, exploring. He pauses at the edge of the creek, and I point at him.
“Don’t you dare. If you get muddy, you’re getting a bath.” I swear he gets the same look Caden does when he’s considering whether disobeying is worth it. Finally, he backs off, flops down on the bank and settles for sticking one paw in the water.
A smile lights up Axton’s face as he reaches back and takes my hand, walking out onto the log. “It’s not slick, but be careful because if you fall in, I will laugh at you.”
“Keep it up and I’ll push you in.”
We sit in the middle of it, thigh to thigh, our legs dangling over the water. Axton glances around. His hand is in his pocket, fidgeting with something. He’s never so nervous.
“Ax, is something wrong?”
Did he bring me out here to give me bad news or break up with me?
“I’ve thought and argued with myself for a month about how to do this. I want it to be special for you, but private because we’ve had enough of being a public spectacle.” He pulls a ring box out of his pocket, and I cover my mouth.
This can’t be what I think it is. My heart slams into my ribs, and I pull in a gasping breath.
“So, I decided to ask you here, in a place where I was always happy.” Those green eyes that used to intimidate me so much land on mine, filled with hope and intensity. “Will you marry me?”
My voice. I can’t find my voice. When I open my mouth only a sob escapes. My frantic nod has to do until I can finally utter, “Yes.”
Axton takes the ring out and slides it on my finger. “Dani gave me your ring size, but if it doesn’t fit or you don’t like it—”
“I love it. It’s perfect!” I nearly knock us both off of the log with the force of my hug when I throw my arms around him. “I love you.”
“I love you.” After a moment, he lets me go, plucks a folded up card out of the box, and hands it to me. “There’s something else. If you aren’t ready, I understand.”
My hands tremble as I unfold the tiny scrap of cardstock and I have to read it twice before I realize what he’s getting at. It’s a business card for an adoption lawyer. For Caden. I can’t hold it together anymore and tears pour down my cheeks.
Axton brushes my hair back from my face. “You’re already his mother, and the best one he could ever hope to have, but if you want to make it official…”
“I do,” I sob.
I’m a crying mess but I’ve never been happier. The man I love loves me, wants to spend the rest of his life with me, share his son with me, give me a family.
As we walk back to the house, Ax takes my hand. I can feel his hesitation when he starts to speak. “I know this might not be the best time to discuss this. I don’t want to ruin the day…”
“Nothing could ruin this day. What’s on your mind?”
We step into the warmth of the house and sit on the couch. “I heard from the District Attorney today. There isn’t going to be a trial.”
I assumed the news had to do with them, but I’m stunned by that statement. “For Beverly or Paige?”
“Either. Pleas were offered, and they both accepted.”
Anxiety flutters in my chest. “What did they get?”
“Beverly got thirty years in prison for the kidnapping. Up for parole in twenty.”
I can live with that, at her age, she’ll be over sixty years old before she’s eligible. “And Paige?” It feels horrible to wish a life sentence on the girl I grew up with, who was my best friend for so long, but if she gets out anytime soon, I’d still be at risk. Crazy like that doesn’t quit.
“Paige got ten years for kidnapping you, and another twenty for attempted murder and assault and battery. No possibility of parole.”
Thirty years.
The three people responsible for the worst time in our lives are going to stay behind bars for at least twenty years. The trial and the media circus we’ve dreaded isn’t going to happen. The relief his words bring me is indescribable.