My heart skips a beat .
“Are you sure ?”
She nods tightly, her eyes bright and sparkling. She holds her hands out to me and I take her fingers in mine, relishing the feeling of relief that floods me. I don’t think she’ll ever know how much her touch means to me .
“Ava, I know we’ve been through so much …”
“There’s a lot more to come,” she quips .
I lean closer, letting her belly brush against my hip. I love it that she occupies just a little bit more real estate now. Probably wouldn’t be a good idea to bring it up, but I do love it .
“I just want you to consider one more thing …”
And somehow, I find the courage to drop to one knee, yet again. My heart is beating so hard I feel like it’s outside my chest. And it almost is. She could destroy me with a word. I think she knows .
“Ava, I’m nothing without you. I know that now. And I never even have been. It’s always been you, Ava. So I need to ask you… just one more time .…”
I pull the ring out of my pocket, where I have felt it all day, pressed against the flesh of my thigh. I hold it up to her, watching the reflections dance like little fires along the bottom of her cheeks .
“Ava Harrison, please, will you marry me ?”
She grins. Her smile is as bright as the sun. She bounces up and down on her toes, clapping her fingers together happily .
“Get up here, Ethan! You know I can’t get down there by you anymore !”
I stand up immediately, happy to hold her in my arms, happy to kiss her beautiful face. She’s laughing and crying all at the same time, leaning against me, kissing me with all her heart and soul .
“That’s it!” she sighs. “That was what I wanted. That’s what I wanted to know… that you really love me. That it’s real. It’s all I ever wanted, Ethan .”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to figure it out. Men are stupid,” I mutter .
“I think you’re a genius,” she protests .
She lets me slip the ring on her finger and we both stare at it for a little while, marveling at the tiny fires inside of it. It is of course a pretty substantial diamond. But then, she’s a substantial beauty. She deserves nothing less .
“Wait!” she says suddenly. She pulls away, darting from the room. In a few moments she returns, with an envelope in her fingers and a mischievous smile on her lips .
“What’s that ?”
She waves the envelope. “I got this from the doctor. Would you like to know if we’re having boys or girls ?”
“Hell, yeah! Do you know? Who else knows ?”
She shrugs. “I wouldn’t let the doctor tell me,” she explains. “It didn’t seem right… Not even Bea knows. Only you and I… we’re going to be the only ones. You ready ?”
I nod happily, unable to think of the right words to say. Are there any right words? No. Just whatever is on that piece of paper, are the only right words .
With trembling fingers, she opens the envelope, pulling out the folded card, opening it slowly. We read the words together, confused for a second, then realizing how perfect it is .
A boy and a girl. One of each .
Chapter 44
AVA
A s an incredibly handsome person once told me, you would be amazed what a stupid amount of money can accomplish .
Somehow, we made this all happen .