“I can only tell—or tell sometimes—when they’re blooming.”
“This one.” He stopped, reached up to touch one of the glossy green leaves. “My parents planted this right after I was born. We’ll plant one for Lily, and we’ll plant one for this baby. But see this one? It’s got nearly thirty years on it now, and they planted it for me. I always felt good about that. Always felt this was one of my places, right here. We’ll be making other places, you and me, but we’ll start here, with one that already is.”
He took the box out of his pocket, watched her lips tremble open, her gaze shoot up to his face. “Oh my God.”
“I’m not getting down on one knee. I’m not going to feel like an ass when I do this.”
“I think it had something to do with him pledging his loyalty. I mean that’s why guys started the one-knee thing.”
“You’ll just have to take my word on mine. I want
this life we’ve started. Not just the baby, but what we’ve started together. You and me, and Lily, and now this baby. I want to live that life with you. You’re the first woman I’ve loved. You’ll be the last.”
“Harper, you—you really do take my breath away.”
He opened the box, smiled a little when he saw her eyes widen. “This was my grandmother’s. Kind of an old-fashioned setting, I guess.”
“I—” She had to swallow. “I prefer the word classic, or heirloom. Or let’s get real, woo-hoo. Harper, Roz must—”
“It was promised to me. Given to me to give to you, to the woman I want to spend my life with. I want you to wear it. Marry me, Hayley.”
“It’s beautiful, Harper. You’re beautiful.”
“I’m not done.”
“Oh.” She gave a nervous laugh. “I can’t imagine there’s more.”
“I want you to take my name. I want Lily to take my name. I want the whole package. I can’t settle for less.”
“Do you know what you’re saying?” She laid a hand on his cheek. “What you’re doing?”
“Exactly. And you better answer me soon, because I’d hate to spoil this romantic moment by wrestling you to the ground and shoving this ring on your finger.”
“It’s not going to come to that.” She closed her eyes for a moment, thought of flowering plums, of generations of tradition. “I knew you’d ask me to marry you when I told you I was pregnant. You’re built that way, to do what’s right. What’s honorable.”
“This isn’t—”
“You had your say.” She shook her head fiercely. “I’m having mine. I knew you’d ask, and part of the reason I felt sick about all this was because I was afraid I wouldn’t know for sure. That you’d ask because you felt it was what you had to do. But I do know, and that’s not why. I’ll marry you, Harper, and take your name. So will Lily. We’ll love you all of our lives.”
He took the ring out of the box, slid it on her finger.
“It’s too big,” he murmured as he lifted her hand to kiss.
“You’re not getting it back.”
He closed his hand over hers to hold the ring in place. “Just long enough to have it sized.”
She managed a nod, then threw herself into his arms. “I love you. I love you, I love you.”
With a laugh, he tipped back her head to kiss her. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
SHE FELT A little awkward going in with Harper to make the announcement to his mother and Mitch, to have David serving champagne. She was allowed half a glass, and had to make due with that for both toasts.
One on the engagement, and one for the baby.
Roz gathered her into a hug, and whispered in her ear. “You and I have to talk. Soon.”
“Oh. I guess so.”