Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh, my God!”
And as her squeal filled the space around us, I kissed her softly on her cheek.
While silently hoping Michael and Allison could hear us in order to get their entrance right.
9
Rae
“Oh, my God!”
My hands covered my mouth as I gazed around the kitchen. The entire house, really. But especially the kitchen. The entire thing had been redone. The cabinets were a beautiful white-wash color. The matte black handles on everything looked absolutely outstanding. The soft gray tiles on the floor ushered the theme of the house into the kitchen, and they sparkled with a fresh shine. The appliances had been cleaned down. There was a completely different stove in here from the last time I saw this place. And as I turned around, my eyes fell to the carpet.
The soft gray, fluffy, freshly-cleaned car
pets.
“What in the world?” I asked breathlessly.
He chuckled. “You like it?”
I shook my head. “Is this where you’ve been all these weeks?”
He nodded. “It is. I wanted to surprise you, Rae. That’s all. We’ve worked so hard for this, you and I. You, especially. And I didn’t think you should have to settle for anything less than what you want after everything we’ve been through.”
She sniffled. “Oh, Clint.”
His hands gripped my shoulders. “This isn’t all that got done, either. All of the carpets have been cleaned.”
“Seriously?”
“Mm-hmm. I ripped up all of that linoleum and replaced it with the gray tile. The bathrooms have white cabinets with matte black handles as well. To ‘carry the theme,’ as you so quaintly put it.”
I brushed away my tears. “I can’t believe you did all of this. This is amazing. I just--I can’t--it’s--”
I drew in a shuddered breath as I turned back around to take in the kitchen.
“This is everything, Clint. I love you so much. I can’t believe--I’m so sorry. I just--I’m the luckiest woman alive.”
He turned me back around slowly. “Now you know how I feel every single day I wake up to you.”
I let out a soft giggle. “Our children are going to be so lucky to have you as a father.”
I cupped his cheek as tears streaked my own. No matter how much I wiped at them, they wouldn't stop coming. So I simply let them fall. Clint brought his knuckles up and wiped them away softly, only for more to replace the ones he had swept away with his rugged hands.
“Did you do all of this yourself?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I mean, I had a bit of help.”
“Seriously? Only a bit? When I’ve been here every damn weekend for two months?”
“Hey, don’t forget me. I’m the one who sent you all of that stuff from her Pinterest in the first place.”
“Wait, you told me you found that stuff yourself. You were in on it, too?”
I heard their voices, but couldn't see them. I whipped my head around, trying to figure out where the hell they were. Michael and Allison’s voices echoed in my ears as I continuously wiped at the small streams flooding my face and my neck.
“Where the hell are you two?” I exclaimed.