“I think her eyesight is just perfect,” Lizzy says as she leans up against me.
“Come in and have some cake,” Mrs. Honey says as she puts the roses in water, and then we walk into the living room. “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I didn’t have a chance before you were sent away.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” I say, sitting down across from her and taking her hands into mine. “I’m so grateful for you looking after my Lizzy for me. And I’m so sorry you got caught up in all this.”
“The doctors told me it was a mild poisoning and I’m lucky that my senses are still so sharp that I knew something was wrong with my tea. I only had a sip before I spit it out.”
“We found out that the Conners did it to try and intimidate Lizzy. They were hoping to isolate her so that she didn’t have anyone around her to see her go missing,” Mike says, and I close my eyes at his words.
“Thank god you’re alright,” Lizzy says as she places her hands on top of ours. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” She sniffs and it pulls at my heart.
“There’s still a lot of life left in me, sweet girl, so dry those tears.”
I don’t want Lizzy to hear these things, but I know she needs to. It’s important for her to understand how much danger she was in and how lucky everyone is that we’re all okay. I wish I could have been the one to take down that family, but I guess I had a hand in all of it. I was in prison long enough to find their enemies and make some deals. Some of those guys were in there for petty crimes and I’ve got jobs waiting on them when they get out.
I glance over at Mike’s shirt and smile at the logo. One day I’ll tell Lizzy about LR Construction and how the company was made for us, Lizzy and Rocco, from day one until the end of time. It’s been a whirlwind since I got home late last night and there’s still so much to talk about. But we’ve got forever in front of us and there’s nothing that can stand in our way.
“Oh my god, Lizzy!” Mrs. Honey shouts as she grabs her hand.
Lizzy blushes, holding her hand out so she can inspect the new piece of jewelry adorning her ring finger.
“Is this what I think it is?” Mrs. Honey says as she smiles between us.
“It is,” I answer, rubbing my hand down Lizzy’s back and resting it on her hip.
“When did this happen?” she asks.
“I don’t really know,” Lizzy says, and her cheeks are bright red. “One second it wasn’t there and then the next it was. He didn’t even ask me.”
“Smart man,” Mrs. Honey says as she winks at me. “My Edward did the same thing. I don’t think he wanted to take a chance on me saying no.”
“I see we have a lot in common,” I say and she smiles.
The pink diamond is in the shape of a heart. I knew exactly what I wanted to get and I called Mike while I was locked up and had him tell the jeweler to make it for me. Lizzy is so special and she deserved a ring that was the same. It sparkles in the sunlight and my chest swells with pride. She’ll be all mine soon enough.
We spend the day talking about wedding plans and laughing together. It’s good to just be here with them, with my makeshift family. Mike has always been like a brother to me, and Sherry has been like a sister. Seeing what they had always made me so jealous, but now that I’ve got my Lizzy I get it.
Mrs. Honey dotes on Sherry and asks questions about the baby. Sherry promises to come by in a couple of weeks after she’s had their daughter so Mrs. Honey can meet her. I can’t wait to tell her that we’ve got one on the way too, but Lizzy might not be ready to tell her yet. Technically we don’t have a test to prove it, but I’ve had her bare so many times she’s probably got triplets growing in her belly.
Lizzy yawns and I know she’s tired from being up all night. I take her hand and we tell everyone goodbye. We promise to see Mrs. Honey tomorrow for brunch and so she and Lizzy can catch up on their shows. It’s cute how they’re so much like mother and daughter and neither of them realizes it.
“You take good care of her,” she whispers in my ear right before we leave. “Promise me.”
“I cross my heart,” I say, making the mark on my chest, and she nods at me. I don’t tell her that I promise to take good care of her too, because I know what she means to my woman. But I’ll make sure she always has everything she needs.