He was so sincere, so perfect, so goddamned handsome I had to convince myself this was real life. Guys who looked like Edison were usually jerks. I’d bought a guy a tequila shot, and it had won me the man lottery.
“I don’t want to give up The Lace Garage. I worked so hard on that dream, and Mack and Clem depend on their salaries to support their families.”
“Laney, I’ll never ask you to give up something you love.”
He kissed me then, and all of my apprehension melted away with his lips on mine.
19
Edison
As Laney’s belly grew, we got our ducks in line. Doctor, birthing center, keep the cottage, transfer the deed of Grandma’s to Ethel. He’d stay in the Valley no matter what. He practically already lived in that house anyway. Sell the second Springfield location for Roads, sell the condo I never even got a chance to move into. We lived at the cottage while we took our time looking for Laney’s dream house—the perfect place to raise a child.
I got Judge Mills’s permission the minute I found out Laney was pregnant. He acquiesced over the phone and gave me hell the next time I saw him in person.
I had the ring, another relic from Grandma. I had the setting redone to fit Laney’s personality better. I was just waiting for the right moment to present itself.
Baby was healthy and getting big fast. Laney was no longer throwing up. In fact, she said she feels better than she ever did. She also happened to be hornier than ever, waking up in the middle of the night to ride my dick and come before falling back asleep with a smile on her face.
During the day, she worked in the bakery at Lace, mostly staying out of the garage to avoid the fumes, but my girl wasn’t one to sit around while someone else got the work done.
George Horace and I had been getting together bi-weekly to draw up plans for a Lace Garage expansion. George thought I’d lost my mind, but I didn’t care what the old grouch said. I liked to ruffle his feathers, and I was happy in my new skin. He and his prenup could take the express lane to hell. When it came to my Cherry and me, I wanted no separation. She was the mother of my child and the love of my life. When I told him that, George just shook his head and ordered more Scotch.
My phone lit up, and “Cherry Pie” from Warrant began to play. George rolled his eyes.
“Eddie, are you coming?”
“Where am I supposed to be?”
“At the bandshell, remember? Mack and Sharon and Ethan are all here. Picnic and then the philharmonic under the stars?”
“Right,” I said, looking at my watch. “I’ll be there in… I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
I drove like the wind back to town and pulled into a parking spot near the park. I’d been carrying around this diamond ring for nearly six months. Inspired by the night air and the prospect of lying under the stars with my Cherry, I popped the aqua-blue box in the pocket of my jacket. I had a blanket in the back and a bottle of champagne, all of which I scooped up before making my way down to the concert.
“Baby!” Laney sayid when she saw me. I loved how she lit up as she ran to greet me.
Hugging her was double the fun thanks to her round belly. I kissed her and then kissed her stomach.
“Don’t tell me you drove all the way from George’s place?”
“Pfft. Don’t be silly. Did you eat yet? I could order something to be delivered.”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been eating all day. Ethel brought potato salad—” she moved in close to my ear “—and a really cute girlfriend.”
I picked her up and spun her as the music began to play. I was overcome by how much this woman had changed my life. Never had I imagined that I’d find my perfect other half, but here she was in my arms, and I was the happiest man alive because of it.
I set her down and then bent to one knee. Taking her hand in mine, I looked up into her clear blue eyes. “Laney Mills, mother of my child, master mechanic and baker, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She was both laughing and crying as she pulled me to my feet. “Yes, yes, yes!” she exclaimed as she kissed me.
EPILOGUE ONE
Ten Months Later
Laney
Mom insisted on holding Porsha and feeding her. “You need to eat, Laney. Have some breakfast and let Grandma take care of her.”
I reluctantly forked scrambled eggs into my mouth while I watched milk dribble down my daughter’s chin. After all of her lectures about getting married before getting knocked up, my mother was sure greedy about her grandchild.