“Yes! Yes, Bennett, I love you, want to spend forever with you.”
I laugh breathlessly against his mouth when he fumbles the ring onto my finger without even looking, too caught up in kissing me. It fits perfectly.
It feels like a sign, like this was meant to be all along.
“Well, at least we’ll have plenty of time to plan the wedding,” I say with a thrilled, teary laugh.
“Yeah?” Bennett mumbles against my lips.
Both of us are smiling so wide it makes it damn near impossible to properly kiss, but I don’t give a damn. This moment couldn’t be more perfect.
I hum affirmatively, giggling when he shifts to pepper kisses all over my cheek. “Yeah. There’s no way I’m getting married while I’m still pregnant. Have to look good in my dress.”
It feels like he can see right through me, the desire not to rush into this just as strong as the desire to hold our baby in my arms at our wedding.
“You’ll look perfect,” he says softly, placing his palm over my stomach protectively. “We’ll all look perfect.”
My breath hitches, love filling my heart and oozing out of every pore.
Nowthisis closer to the fairy tale proposal I was expecting. It’s a good start, certainly. Finally, things are starting to go my way.
Epilogue
MAGGIE
“This is real, right?”I ask for probably the hundredth time today.
Mom chuckles as she pats Sean’s back, his tiny fist wrapped around a lock of her hair.
“It’s real,” Sophia assures me with a smile. “Dab your lips.”
I obediently tap the tissue she passes me against my lips, taking the excess lipstick off with it. Obviously, it’s real. We planned for over a year. We spent half of my trust on the wedding and half of it on a down payment on a house in Dallas, even though Joseph was insistent they could pay for it all. Dad was more than happy to give me access to my trust fund after Bennett and I laid out our plans for the future, and my plans to work with Sophia.
My dream dress drapes elegantly behind me, all delicate lace detailing and sweetheart neckline, the ivory cloth a perfect contrast to the tan I’ve developed over my time spent in Texas. The engagement ring Bennett gave me sparkles brightly on my finger, and I go a little lightheaded at the thought that another ring will sit above it in just a few minutes.
“You ready, sweetheart?” Mom asks, coming to join Sophia in front of me.
They both look stunning in their silk sage gowns, mirrored adoring smiles on their faces. Sean is fast asleep in Mom’s arms, his tiny tuxedo onesie magically stain free and unrumpled. While I’m absolutely terrified to step out of the dressing room and into the chapel, there’s only one answer I can give.
“Of course I am.” It comes out less snarky than it would have a year ago, but both Mom and Sophia grin at the little spark of sass. “I—thank you. Both of you. I’m glad things worked out this way.”
It wasn’t easy to get to this point, Dad and Joseph both so stubborn it took the threat of Bennett and I eloping and not talking to either of them again to get them to pull their heads out of their asses. Funnily enough, as soon as they sat down and talked out their decade of misunderstandings, they were back to being good friends, like no time had passed.
Chuckles all over.
“I’m proud of you,” Mom says, teary and fond. “You’ve worked so hard for all of this, and you deserve every last bit of it.”
It still surprises me how proud I can be over the work I do, considering I never wanted a career before moving here. Sophia took me under her wing, and I wound up working alongside her with the women’s shelters around Texas. Even more surprising is that I’mgoodat it. I don’t really get along well with a lot of people. I’m abrasive and a bit annoying to most, but a lot of women who are fighting to get out of their situations take one look at me and see someonestrong.
It’s the first time my attitude has come in handy, and the first time I haven’t felt like it was a hindrance.
“I love you, Mom,” I say, fighting back my tears for now.
Can’t cry before pictures, after all.
“I love you, too, sweetheart,” she says, feathering a kiss over my cheek, careful not to mess up my makeup.
“I couldn’t ask for a better daughter-in-law," Sophia adds, blue eyes sparkling with affection. “It’s showtime.”
