“With you, it’s pure nirvana.” I kiss her forehead.
She shifts. “I’ll be right back.”
I grab some tissues from the box and realize what I’d just done. No protection.
She comes back and crawls in beside me. Both of us leaning on our elbows we study each other.
“I—”
“We—”
I brush her cheek. “I’m sorry. I didn’t use protection. I’m clean and tested.”
She sits up, pulling the sheet around her and studies her hand fisting the sheet. “I’m clean, been tested for everything. And haven’t tried this in a couple years. I’m not on birth control but…” She looks up. “There is some scar tissue and my doctor warned that rape victims are twice as likely to experience infertility. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to have children.”
I brush my fingers over her cheek to wipe away her tears. “Do you want children? Let me rephrase that. I know you love Ayla. Do you want more children?”
She nods. “I really like kids. I wanted six when I was younger, but two or three would be nice. I’d like to experience pregnancy but...”
“I never thought about kids, because I only loved you. I couldn’t fathom marrying someone else when you already had my heart. When I was blessed with Ayla, I thought it would be enough.
“If you’re up to it and the doctor says we can, we try for a pregnancy. If it doesn’t work, we adopt. Would you be okay with that?”
She nods.
“Gentry, I want it all with you. I want you to marry me. Raise children, however we can have them. And make a home together.
“Dad and MaryKatherine are getting a place together when they come back from their cruise.
“I’m buying this house from him and I have some ideas I want us to talk about for updating and expanding it.
“And I want us to marry as soon as they get back. I’ll buy you whatever ring you want, but I’d also like you to look at my mother’s wedding ring.”
“I’d like that, if you’re sure you wouldn’t mind.”
“She would have loved you. Your spunk and fight. I’d like you to have her ring, but wedding rings are personal. You may just want it as a ring, but not a wedding ring. That’s okay, too.”
“I knew your mom. She sometimes helped out at school. She was always kind to me, never treated me poorly because of my mother’s reputation, like some of the other teachers did. I’d be honored to wear her ring.
“I love you Sayer Reed. Thank you for always coming back for me no matter how hard I tried to let you go.”
EPILOGUE
“Just push, Sweet we’re almost there.”
Just push, he says. We’re almost there. I inhale. He’s not the one doing the work.
“Sayer!”
“The baby is crowning, almost done.…”
“There are two, Sayer. Two. This is number one,” I snap.
He chuckles. “I love your fight, sweet. This will be over before you know it.”
An hour later we’re in our room and he’s holding our daughter. I have our son. And I’ve already forgotten the struggle.
I glance up at the man swaying back and forth, cooing to our child. His love has never wavered. Not through all the years he was growing up and in the military.
