“She’s gorgeous and she’s one lucky duck to have you two as parents. You always wanted a baby. I’m sorry I couldn’t give you one.”
“Why, Bryan? Why did you do it and then keep it from me?”
“When I discovered my bio dad and granddad died from cancer, I had the genetics test done. I found out I had the cancer gene. I knew what my future would be like and I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to live with a cloud over our heads. I wanted us to live life, not live to watch me die. The operation was because I didn’t want to pass the gene on. I couldn’t chance it. Now, put the man out of his misery and marry him. He deserves to know he has your whole heart. We had our time and now you need to let me go.”
“I’ll always love you, Bry.”
“Be happy, Jen.”
“Jenni, wake up.”
My eyes flutter open and I’m disoriented and filled with intense sadness and joy at the same time.
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
Am I? Bryan… It was a dream. Wasn’t it? I’m not sure. It seemed so real. My hand goes to my belly and I grin, remembering what he said. Brianna. I like that.
“Jenni, talk to me. Is it the baby?”
“I’m fine. It was just a dream.”
“You scared me. You were crying out in your sleep.”
I look into Rod’s eyes and see nothing but love and concern. How have I missed that? Joy and Bryan are right. I’ve been too confused to see it. Rod is my future. “I’m sorry I scared you. Will you hold me?”
Rod wraps his arms around me and I scoot down until my belly is pressed between us. Our child. Was it a dream? I have to ask. “Rod, what was your mother’s name?”
He kisses my forehead and replies, “Brianna. Why?”
A knowing grin grows on my face. The last of my fear melts away. From the moment Joy and I decided to move, Faire Island seemed to call to me. There were a lot of things that had to fall into place for us to actually make the move. Coincidence? Maybe. Maybe it was Bryan guiding our way and putting Rod in my path. Grace could have been in on it too. Whether that’s true or not, I choose to believe it happened that way.
“That’s a nice name. Brianna would be a good name for our daughter. Brianna Murphy.”
Rod kisses my lips and lays a hand over my belly. “My mom would have loved that, sweetheart. Thank you. I think it’s a perfect name.” His voice is thick with emotion.
Marry him.
Bryan was never the patient type.
Bry, let me handle this.
“You know, I think a sunset proposal on the beach is very romantic. A ring would be nice, but not necessary, and please nothing big. Just a nice diamond solitaire that I can wear every day and not freak out if I lose it. And after breakfast, we really need to talk about our house. Really, Rod, white couches and rugs are fine for a bachelor, but a baby will destroy them. We’re going to need to do some redecorating. I hope you’re up for it.”
Rod leans back and takes my face in his hands, searching my eyes. “Jenni, what are you saying?”
I smile widely and reply, “I love you and if you want to ask me to marry you again, you will get a different answer than last time.”
Rod gives what sounds like a war cry. “It’s about damn time,” he says, jumps out of the bed, and disappears into the closet. A moment later, he comes back out with a Tiffany blue box in his hands.
I gasp and grin. He’s had a ring the whole time, but then my surprise turns into confusion when he walks out of the bedroom door, whistling. If I’m not mistaken, it’s the tune to “Here Come the Bride.”
Curious, I pull on the t-shirt Rod wore last night and follow. When I find him, I’m even more puzzled. I lean against the kitchen counter and watch as he takes two bowls from the cabinet and pulls a box of cereal from another cabinet and then milk from the fridge.
He sets them on the counter and tips the box of cereal, filling each bowl. Then he pours milk over the cereal. Taking two spoons from the drawer, he pushes one bowl and spoon my way and then takes a big bite from his bowl.
“Eat up,” he says with a wicked grin.
This was not the way I thought this was going to go. “What’s going on?”
He stuffs another spoonful of cereal in his mouth and swallows. “I think sunrises are just as beautiful as sunsets, don’t you?”
My brows knit together. “Well, yeah. I guess, but what…”
Rod interrupts before I can ask again.
“Eat up, babe. In about an hour, the sun will be rising and we’re going to be on the beach. I have a very important question for you,” he says with a wink and I finally get it.
I chuckle and nod. Now I see where this is going. I pick up my spoon and, even though I hate sugary cereal, I chow down. The wonderful man in front of me and the baby in my belly are my future and I’m truly happy and looking forward, not back.
