“The wood is red oak. The books came with the house, and I told everyone to leave them alone until I showed you the room. My father said that some of them might be worth something, and that each book should be carefully reviewed. He remodeled a house once, and the previous owners stuffed money between the pages.”
I turned and looked at him, laughing. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. The new owners ended up with enough money to completely have the bookcases refinished and restored to how they were when they were first put into the house.”
With a slow shake of my head, I walked up and read some of the titles. “This is amazing, Liam. All of these books.”
“I wasn’t sure if you knew anyone who would be willing to go through them and at least make sure there weren’t any that might be of any value.”
Turning, I smiled at him. “That would be me!”
When he smiled in return, I wanted to run and jump into his arms. I wasn’t sure he knew how giving me a room full of books was the best gift I’d ever received. But couple it with ladders and I was so in love with this man.
“We can explore the library later; I want to show you the rest of the house, and there is something out back as well.”
After showing me the bedrooms and bathrooms, we made our way up to the third floor. It was huge.
“I thought maybe a play area for Winnie, and over on this side we can make an office for you.”
I spun and faced him. “For me?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. For you.”
Making my way over to him, I wrapped my arms around his neck and looked up into those deep brown eyes of his. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy. Well, not since I became the owner of The Book Nook anyway.”
He winked. “One more surprise.”
Taking my hand in his, we made our way back down the steps and through the back door. Liam was practically pulling my arm out of its socket, and he clearly hadn’t remembered it was cold outside because he hadn’t even give me time to grab my coat.
“Wow!” I said as we walked out the back door and into a large open area of the backyard. Before me was a beautiful gazebo. It was decorated with swags of greenery that swept down all the way around. A chandelier hung down from the middle, and standing there were Winnie and my parents.
Confused, I looked at Liam. “How did…where is…what is going on?”
He squeezed my hand, and we made our way down a sidewalk that had been recently shoveled.
“I was hoping you would be so enthralled with the house you wouldn’t look out any of the windows,” Liam said with a nervous laugh.
I stepped up into the gazebo and hugged my mother, then my father. “I thought you guys were skiing!”
They both laughed. “A little white lie.”
“How did you get Winnie when Jake and Opal came for her?” I asked, bending down and hugging her tightly as I looked up at my parents and Liam. “I’m so confused right now.”
My father kissed my cheek. His light brown hair was streaked with snow. “It will all make sense in a moment.”
When I looked at my mother, she smiled. “We’ll be in the house.”
And before I could say anything, my father took my mother’s hand and they walked down the sidewalk Liam and I had just come from.
I watched them until they entered the house, then spun around and saw Liam holding Winnie. My mind was trying to piece everything together, and I was about to ask a question when Liam whispered something in Winnie’s ear. She nodded and held up a little red and white basket I hadn’t noticed before.
Liam opened the basket and took out a red jewelry box. My heart started to pound in my chest as I watched him set Winnie back down.
My hands came up to my mouth as it finally hit me what was going on. Liam got down on one knee as Winnie reached up and took my hand. Tears started to fall down my cheeks, and when Winnie looked worried, I laughed as I shook my head.
“They’re happy tears, angel.”
Her face broke out into a huge smile.
