“Lori, baby. I’ve loved you since the moment I first laid eyes on you and I’ve loved you even more every day since then. Will you marry me?”
He digs his hand in his pocket and pulls out a princess-cut diamond on a platinum band. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
Luke holds the ring against the tip of my finger and waits for me to speak. I didn’t expect him to propose, but I’ve secretly wished for it for a long time. I could never imagine having a life without him.
When we met, he told me that if I did what he told me, I would be alright. So far, I’ve lived by that philosophy until now, and it turns out he’s right. I’m safe and have never been happier to be alive.
“Yes, I’ll marry you. I love you more than anything in the world.”
He slides the ring on my finger and rises to his feet. Luke takes me in his arms and lifts me off my feet, kissing me like a starved man.
I may have had to move around a lot as a kid, but I know what home feels like now. It’s the warmth and safety of my Daddy’s arms, and I plan on staying here forever.
EPILOGUE
LORI
Luke helps me into the house and sets me down on the sofa while he returns to the car to retrieve the sleeping baby from the back.
Nana is in her wingback chair watching television. She’s made so much progress with her physical and speech therapy over the last year.
“You’re home,” she says. “I’ve missed you.”
“Yes, Nana. I am home and I brought the baby home with me.”
It takes a moment for my words to sink in. Her memory still isn’t at its best and may never come back completely. “Oh, the baby. You had a baby.” She smiles.
Hearing our conversation, Luke holds up the car seat so Nana can have a look inside.
“His name is Lucas, Nana,” I tell her.
“So tiny just like you, Lori.” Her eyes glisten with tears.
“The way he eats, I think he’s going to take after his father.” I wink at Luke.
Mrs. Spencer comes in from the kitchen so she can meet our new arrival. Luke offered her a full-time position caring for Nana while I cared for Lucas, and she accepted.
At first, Luke talked about us moving into his place or buying a new house for all of us, but I knew that would want to stay here. Having a home for a lifetime is a rare and special thing.
Since she started her life here, she should finish it here too. Luke agreed, assuring me he’d do anything for me, but we’d have to make other arrangements eventually. He said there aren’t enough bedrooms here to accommodate the number of kids he wants us to have.
Luke makes me some tea while I cradle our little boy in my arms. I never thought I’d be someone's mother, but here I am, thanks to Luke. I’m going to make sure this little boy knows nothing but love and peace in this house.
I close my eyes and think about how lucky he is to have Luke as a father and how lucky I am to have him as my Daddy.
By the time Luke returns, I’m drifting off with the baby in my arms.
“So much for the tea. Looks like you need some rest, little mama.”
“But we just got home. I want to do some things in the nursery and spend some time with Nana…”
“I said, you need your rest. No arguments. The nursery and Nana will still be here when you wake up.”
“But what about the baby? He’s awake.”
“He’s my son, too. I can handle this. We’ll all be here when you wake up. Now, let me help you to bed.”
Mrs. Spencer is all too eager to look after Lucas and beams at him while Luke carries me up the stairs.
