We ride the short distance to our second stop, and Emery’s knee bobs nervously the entire ride. I almost want to laugh; it’s so fucking adorable, and honestly, I’d be more nervous if I knew that this surprise wasn’t even better than the first.
By the time we pull up, she’s barely able to sit still. The second I put the car in park, she bounds out the door before I’m even able to get out and open it for her.
Laughing, I check the girls, then open my door and get out of the car.
“Are the girls still asleep?” she asks. Her deep blue eyes brimming with excitement. My girl likes surprises. Duly noted.
I nod. “Come here, Em.”
She clambers into my arms, and I turn her around to face the sprawling land in front of us, her back pressed against my chest. The view in front of us is our future, and she doesn’t even know it.
Just above the hill is Ma’s house. But here?
This will be ours.
The sky is painted with oranges and reds while the sun burns, slowly setting, casting a fiery glow across the land in front of us. From here, I can see the very spot where I told Emery I loved her for the very first time. The spot we made love and watched sunsets and sunrises wrapped up together.
“Is the sunset my surprise?” she asks, her eyes still drawn to the scenery in front of us.
“It is. Soon, you’ll be able to watch the sunset every single day from this spot.” My lips brush against the shell of her ear as I whisper those words. She tenses in my arms, then turns to look at me, her gaze serious.
“What are you saying, Graham?”
“I bought this land to build you the house of your dreams, Em.”
I can hardly get the words out before her face crumples, and a sob leaves her mouth. Her hand flies to stifle it, but I pull her back into my arms, holding her against my chest. My hands thread in the dark locks of her hair.
“Shh baby,” I mumble into her hair. “I told you I’d give you the world, Em, and this is only the start. We’re going to build it just the way you want, every square inch.”
“You are t-t-to goo-o-d to me,” she cries into my chest.
My hand moves in her hair, caressing her.
“No, baby, I’m your husband, and nothing in this fucking world makes me happier than seeing you smile. Making you happy. I want to give you everything, Em. I want the same life that my dad gave me, Allie and Ma. I want to be that person, that father and husband for you and the girls. That’s my dream. This,” I gesture to the green pasture and trees scattered in front of us, “is my dream. You are my dream.”
Emery pulls back to gaze into my eyes, and even if she didn’t say another word, I could see the love and happiness shining in her eyes. It’s crazy when you find the person you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with; things just make sense. Without words, I can read her like a fucking book.
“You are the dream, Graham Adams. There’s nothing more in the world I want than building our home right here, and watching the girls grow up here. I can see it so vividly, the life we’re building together. I love you. More than you’ll ever know.”
My lips are on hers before the next breath, softly kissing my girl until she’s breathless.
Until she pulls back, panting, her cheeks tinted pink.
“You bought me a house and a building. How am I ever going to be able to give you a gift that compares to that? It’s impossible.”
“I can think of another thing right now that would surpass every material thing in this world, Mrs. Adams,” I retort, unable to stop the cheeky grin tugging at my lips.
Her eyebrows rise. “Oh? Enlighten me then. I need to know what I’m working with.”
My hand travels down to her stomach where I rub back and forth gently, dipping my head to her ear. “Another baby.”
I can hear the sharp intake of her breath at my words.
“I want to keep you barefoot and pregnant, making some of Ma’s sweet tea in the kitchen. Forever. Fuck, you have no idea what it does to me. I love seeing your belly round with my babies.”
She shivers underneath my hand, showing me just how much my words affect her. “I’ve got some bad news then…”
“What’s that?”