Typical Marius.
We all head inside to the dining room where Eleanor is waiting with a dinner of all his and my favorites. “Everyone sit down because we’ve got a meal for you. Marius, we’ve got steak, chicken kabobs, and that pasta salad you’ve loved since you were a little boy. For you, Eden, we made shrimp scampi and coq au vin, and we got cheesecake from that place in Brooklyn whose name I can never remember.”
I look at Marius and smile. “That’s a pretty diverse meal they made for us.”
“We’re two very different people, Duck.”
Everyone takes their seat, and Eleanor begins to walk out, but Marius quickly stands up to stop her. “You’re a part of this family as much as I am, so pull up a chair, Eleanor. It wouldn’t be a celebration without you here.”
The older woman tears up at his kindness and nods. “Thank you, Marius. I’m so happy you’re safe and sound.” She hugs him and looks over at me. “You too, Eden. I’m just thrilled everything turned out okay.”
The entire family settles in to eat, but at the head of the table, Matthias taps his fork on his plate to get our attention. Standing up, he raises his glass and says, “Before we all start, I want to make a toast. To my brothers, who never fail to keep life exciting for the rest of us, and to the women we love, who mustwonder sometimes if they should have chosen differently, thank you for being here to celebrate Marius and Eden tonight. And to Eleanor, whose motherly love has seen us through all the ups and downs since we lost our mother, we don’t know what we’d do without you. Thank you for always being here for us.”
We all raise our glasses to toast the people we love and begin to eat a delicious meal. It’s the family I know Ava has always dreamed of having. Now that I’m officially a part of it too, I can understand why.
By the time we finish, I swear I’ve eaten an ocean of shrimp and all the cheesecake to come out of Brooklyn. Stuffed, we all head to the living room. I notice Ava doesn’t stray far from me, so I pull her aside to talk to her.
“Hey, I’m okay, you know?”
She nods and seems to be fighting back tears. “I know. I was just really scared. The thought of someone pointing a gun at you freaks me out.”
I chuckle at that since I can’t agree more. “Me too. It’s something I never want to do again.”
“No more trying to make adult friends. As your mother always told us, it’s a nightmare,” Ava says with a smile.
I shrug, not really caring about new friends tonight. “I’ve got all the friends I need right here.”
All those years ago when I told Ava I was interested in Marius, I could have never guessed this would be my life. Married to the man himself, sister-in-law to my best friend, and surrounded by people who’ve welcomed me with open arms into their family.
From across the room, I see Marius walking toward me. He looks off, like he doesn’t feel well.
“Hey, are you okay?” I ask him when he gently guides me over near the fireplace. “Do you want to leave?”
He shakes his head and points at the chair he’s led me to. “No. Sit.”
Marius has me worried, but he appears intent on something, so I don’t fight him. “Okay, I’m sitting. Would you like to tell me why you look like you’re going to throw up?”
Instead of answering me, he turns around and says to Matthias, “Ready?”
I don’t understand what’s happening, but a moment later, I hear music. As I listen, I realize it’s a song I know and love.
With a smile, Marius slowly eases himself down on one knee and pulls out a little robin’s egg blue box. I stare at him and then at it in shock as he begins to speak.
“Duck, I thought Willie could say it better than I ever could, but I need you to know you were always on my mind, even if I didn’t show it.”
I couldn’t stop the tears if I wanted to now. “Oh, Marius. This is so sweet.”
“You deserve this and so much more. I’m sorry I never realized I was hurting you. I thought because I bought you anything you wanted that I was showing you how much I love you, but now I know I wasn’t. I love you, Eden. I’m so sorry.”
Barely able to get the words out, I sniffle and say, “I love you, Marius. And I know you weren’t trying to be hurtful.”
“Well, I know this is probably a little backwards, but that’s okay. We don’t follow rules anyway, do we?”
I smile and shake my head. “Never have.”
“Well, in the spirit of not following the rules, will you marry me even though we’re already married?”
He tilts back the top of the box to reveal a gorgeous round cut diamond nestled in a bed of black velvet. I’m not sure, but by the size of it, I’m thinking it has to be at least three or four carats.
