I never really saw much inside the other day, I just knew it would be perfect for us, and seeing her reaction only proves it.
We discover the keys left by the agent in an old coffee can and letting ourselves in, we start to explore.
Sheree’s blown away by the views from the house, and I have to remind her we’ll be living inside, not outside unless she wants to camp out a lot.
There are two floors, a couple of fireplaces, and about a dozen rooms. A huge renovated kitchen, three bathrooms, and so much space even I feel a little smaller than usual walking through the place.
“We’ll fill it up soon enough,” I remark, suggesting I light a fire when I notice her shivering a little.
But she’s not shivering from the cold, it's sheer excitement.
“I can’t believe it,” she squeals again, leaping into my arms and hugging me, kissing me until we almost both forget where we are anymore.
I set her down, noticing her hands rubbing her belly again, something she’s been doing a lot the past few days.
“You okay?” I ask. “I mean really okay?”
“I’ve never been so happy, Michael,” she tells me honestly. “This place, you… us. It’s just perfect, for all of us,” she says, running her hands over her stomach again.
“The three of us?” I ask, feeling my own brow lift. Knowing it’s too soon to know for sure, but let her know that I felt it too that first time. Something magical did happen, and not only between us physically.
I go quiet. My own nervous excitement creeping in again.
The man who knows what he wants and he wants it all. Right now.
“What is it?” Sheree asks, and I feel my fingers clasping the little velvet box in my jacket pocket.
Now is as good a time as any.
I’ve got the house, plenty of room for a family which we’re making already…the only thing missing is making her my official other half. My wife.
I swallow hard, telling myself not to get emotional but already feeling my fingers shake and my lip tremble as I get down on one knee.
Sheree starts to shake her head from side to side. Her sweet lips pout as she fights tears away too.
“Michael… Oh, Michael…” she squeaks, putting both her hands to her mouth until I take out the box and open it, looking into her eyes.
“I love you, Sheree. Like nothing on earth and I know it’s all happened so fast but has it really? I don’t wanna waste another second wondering… worrying whether or not you’ll be mine forever. You’re my woman now, and our babies need a mom and a dad. Officially.” I can hear the tremor in my voice as her eyes fill with tears of joy.
“Sheree Peterson, will you marry me? Will you be my wife so we can be together every day like we have the past few days, forever?”
She’s silent, stunned. Her mouth moves, but no sounds come out and I have a split second of panic as I prompt her.
“Just say yes, baby. It’s all I need to hear right now.”
“Ye… Yes,” she finally whispers. “Yes. Yes. Yes!”
I take her trembling hand in mine and slip the large diamond on a white gold band over her finger, and seal my proposal with a kiss.
Yes is the only word I need to hear right now, but I tell her three more.
The ones I’ll never tire of telling her.
“I love you, Sheree. I love you, forever and always.”
Epilogue
Two Months Later
Sheree
“No more surprises, Michael. I don’t think I can take it seriously.” I shiver, gripping him tight as he slides out of me and holds me as the little spoon.
“It’s not a surprise if I’m telling you now, is it?” he reasons, and I frown in agreement, clutching his huge arm. The one I use now instead of a regular pillow.
We were planning our wedding day when we got distracted.
It happens sometimes… Okay, it happens a lot in our household, but we somehow ended up in bed about an hour ago and now I’m ready to keep talking.
The date’s fixed, the church is booked and he’s revealed that Zoe can make it after all. Suggesting she be a bridesmaid too which has been my dream all along.
But there’s still something he’s not telling me.
It’s not lying, no. It’s just that Michael Grayson can’t help himself nowadays.
He’s gotten bit by the ‘surprise’ bug and has to make every special occasion a real tearjerker by going above and beyond for everyone involved. Especially me.
No surprises on our wedding day huh?
A likely story.
Well, Grayson. I might just have an ace up my own sleeve yet. Something even you didn’t see this coming.
The big day’s here before I know it, and apart from being more intense than regular butterflies whenever I think about my man, I actually feel fine.