Whiskey and Country

“Can I give you your Christmas present?” Nick asked as we dressed after our shower the next morning.

“You don’t have to. I can be patient,” I said, twisting my ring, a square whiskey quartz gem surrounded by tiny diamonds mounted on a platinum band, around my finger. It was beautiful. And like the whiskey label name I came up with, it told our story. Princess and whiskey. Unable to detach my gaze from it, I relished how it reflected the morning light.

Nick continued, “I can’t. But you’ll have to wait until Carter gets here. Setting it up is a two-man job.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “You’ll ask Cart’s help? Are you two getting along better than I anticipated?”

Nick flashed me the most beautiful smile. “We have our moments. Our relationship isn’t perfect, but we respect each other. We’ll get there. One day.”

I jumped into his arms, unable to contain all the joy and excitement vibrating through my heart.

“Nick, you’re the best. Thanks for doing this for me. I know Cart doesn’t make it simple for ya. Give him time, okay? He’ll get around. Not today, but one day.”

“He’s important to you, so he’s important to me. I don’t care about his broodiness or his attitude. One day, he’ll recognize how charming I can be,” he said, batting his eyelashes.

I backhanded his chest. “Don’t charm him too much, though. I want to keep you for myself.”

Carter and Jack arrived, and once I went inside with my son, the men of my life worked together, fixing something on the front porch. Curious, I stayed upstairs in the room that would be Jack’s to avoid spying on them.

I heard laughter. And a few curses. And more laughter.

Yeah, things would settle between them. I loved them both too much to lose either of them. They were both my family. For now and forever. We were in this together, the four of us.

“Dahlia. Jack. Come, see now,” Nick called from downstairs.

We hurried down and put our jackets and boots on before meeting him by the front door.

“Where’s Cart?” I asked when my best friend was nowhere to be found.

“He decided to give us some alone time together. He went to get lunch. Should be back in thirty minutes.” Carter. Always selfless around me. Since the day we met. Even if it broke his own heart in the process. I breathed, my emotions already swirling fast inside me.

“Ready?” Nick asked. Jack and I bobbed our heads the Jack way. A large grin broke free on my fiancé’s face, and he sucked in a breath.

We stepped outside, and my eyes rounded.

I released Jack’s hand, and he rushed toward our gift. My gift.

With both hands, I pressed my chest.

“Nick, this is—I lack the words. It’s—it’s everything I’ve ever wished for.”

“You like it?”

“You’re kidding, right? It’s perfect. You made this for me?”

He mirrored my smile.

With his hand in mine, we neared my Christmas present.

A wooden swing, big enough for the three of us to sit, with fairy lights dangling from the porch overhang. On a wooden plate, the words “Nick, Dahlia, Jack, and ____ special place.”

Moisture arose at the back of my eyes. And my heart danced in its cage.

“What’s that about?” I asked, pointing to the blank space between my son’s name and special place.”

“For our other child.”

“What if we have a dozen of them?” I asked.

“We’ll just make another plate. A bigger one.”

“You’re really ready for more children?”

“I’ll have it all with you, Dahlia. Until we check each of our dreams on that bucket list we make together.”

I ugly cried at his words. “I desire it too. All of it. This is the most wonderful present you could give me.”

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