“And we used the ribbon because you told me you like white,” Banks said. “Kit told us you also love bright colors so we had them planted into pots.”
I felt my heart clutch as I remembered her pleasure that day we’d shared lunch in my apartment. “You planted this orchard for me?” I asked. “You did this for-for me?”
Jay said, “In addition to the lemon trees, we picked a variety of fruit trees as well. You’ll have apples, plums, and pears, and I’ll help you with whatever you need to encourage them to grow.”
“What he means is that he’ll help eat everything you make with the fruit,” Banks said, earning himself a punch from his brother. Banks grinned and said, “As for me, I’m buying you some goats.”
The change of topic was a bit startling, but I said, “That’s lovely, but perhaps we need to wait until the trees are a bit taller. I’d hate for the goats to eat all the fruit before our first harvest.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “Not for the orchard, but because Kit said you love cheese and you can use their milk to make goat cheese. I plan on setting everything up so you can make it from scratch.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, going up on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thank you,” I said, moving toward Jay to give him a kiss as well, when he shook his head.
“Wait, I mean… well—” Instead of continuing, Banks grabbed one hand, Jay my other, and they led me down the hill, Rye following. They didn’t stop until we were standing in the middle of the orchard. They released my hands, and my heart stopped as all three of them dropped to one knee, each pulling a small box from his pocket.
As one, they chorused, “We love you, Goldie.”
Banks said, “Ever since you moved here with us, we have felt complete.”
“You’ve changed and improved every one of our lives,” Jay added.
“You have given us something we didn’t even know was missing,” Banks said.
Rye smiled as he added, “You’ve given us love.”
“Make us the happiest men on earth. Say you’ll marry us,” they said in perfect unison.
It was more than I’d ever dared dream. I didn’t have to choose. I could have all of them.
“Yes, yes, and yes!” I said, looking at each man as I answered them in turn.
The boxes contained slim bands. Gold, platinum, and a rose gold. One by one, they stood and came to me, slipping the rings on my finger, one atop the other, all separate and yet forming one band. I’d kissed each brother as he repeated that he loved me.
Life had taken so much from them, but I’d done my best to keep my promise. I didn’t allow a day to go by that I didn’t tell them how much I loved them. How special they were to me. How proud I was of the way they were changing their lives. They’d done a wonderful job with the farm, repairing all that could be fixed and building whatever they decided I needed to keep me happy. I’d protested they were working too hard until the night Jay unrolled a large drawing, all the brothers holding down a corner.
“Is that a greenhouse?” I’d asked.
“It is,” Jay answered.
“But you’ve given me so much already. The orchard—”
“Which we’ll need to move inside during the winter,” Banks said.
“Another reason we planted them in pots,” Rye offered.
“And why I wasn’t worried about the goats stealing your fruit,” Jay quipped, a grin on his face. “But, if you’d rather we—”
“No, no,” I said, cutting Jay off. “Perhaps I spoke too quickly. I’d love a greenhouse.”
And I did love it. My beautiful trees lined the side walls. It had a long row of tables down the center filled with growing seedlings, ready to be planted in the ground with the coming of spring.
But of all the gifts they’d given me, none was more precious than the one cradled in Rye’s arms. We’d been blessed with our first child, a daughter, a month ago. We had no idea which of my husbands was her father, nor did we care. In our hearts, in our souls, they all were.
“What took you so long?” I teased when they finally reached me.
“I’m carrying very precious cargo,” Rye said, looking down at our baby.
“And you shouldn’t be running ahead,” Banks chided. “You just had a baby.”