Page 105 of Finding Fate

24

Loophole

Isabel dug her toes into the sand, relishing the feel of beach, shells, and waves surrounding her, the air crisp and clear. She rested a hand upon the swell of her stomach, Destiny dancing happily away with her mother’s serenity.

“How’s my little nudger, doing?” Tucker asked, pressing a gentle hand to his girlfriend’s belly.

“Active,” Isabel replied with a smile. “She likes it out here. And the dessert.”

“I can’t believe you convinced me to buy you an ice cream,” Tucker said, enjoying the tapping of his daughter’s feet against his hand. “It’s freezing out here.”

Isabel shrugged, taking another lick of the chocolate swirl cone as she shivered. “Worth it,” she replied. “Ice cream on the beach is a staple for this baby.”

She said it so matter-of-fact like it had to be the most obvious and indisputable thing in the world, that Tucker had to fight back a laugh. He hadn’t seen Izzy this relaxed and happy in a long time. If she wanted ice cream on the beach in fifty degree weather, she could have it.

A gust of ocean breeze blew in from the water, chilled with the December air, and he watched her give a violent shake before taking another generous lick of the cold dessert.

“This is ridiculous,”he thought, getting up to run back to his truck. He grabbed a blanket from the backseat of his cab and paused to consider the package he’d had stashed under the seat since Thanksgiving.

Romantic, surprise date on the same stretch of beach where he’d first told his girl he loved her? Check. Cleared with friend to take girlfriend to said private stretch of beach? Check. Pregnant girlfriend practically oozing with contentment? Check. It would be hard to top today.

Making his decision, Tucker ran back to wrap the fleece plaid blanket around his shivering girlfriend’s shoulders.

“Thanks,” she smiled at him, leaning against his arm as he settled beside her. “You’re going to make a really great husband one day.”

“I hope great boyfriend does for now.” “Or maybe something else…” he thought hopefully.

“Great boyfriend is perfect for now,” Isabel breathed on a sigh, taking her last bite of ice cream. She shivered again, the blanket clutched around her shoulders. “So worth it,” she murmured unapologetically at her boyfriend’s raised eyebrow, making him chuckle. “I still can’t believe your nana was trying to talk you into marrying me already,” she said as she stared out at the choppy water.

Tucker groaned. His nana was definitely crafty, putting ideas in his head. It had not been a pleasant experience to have his her practically shove her engagement ring at him during his visit. “You have a responsibility to that girl and your baby. Take my ring. Do the right thing,” she had said to him.

It hadn’t mattered how many times he’d tried to explain things to her or how many times he’d flat out refused; his stubborn and completely loveable, old Nana had somehow still managed to send him home with that ring, a fact that Izzy was not aware of.

He knew she would love it. There was no way to deny that. It had her personality written all over it. He just wished he knew what she’d say, knowing he was going to have to spin things just right.

“I mean, I already know what life I want to have with Izzy. Why can’t we at least show the rest of the world how committed we are?” He hated the idea of people doubting and looking at him like some kind of baby daddy that could disappear.

“As long as we’re together, and Destiny has both her parents. No one but us knows what the best thing for us is,” Tucker said, reaching for the package he’d placed behind his back. It was now or never; he had to try.

“Isabel?” Tucker started, trying to squash the ball of nerves that had taken over his stomach.

Her heart fluttered as it always did when he used her name, her real name.

“I picked something up for you and the baby,” he started, handing her the pink, rectangular package.

“What?” she looked at him curiously. Pleasantly surprised, she slipped her finger under the taped flap and began to open it. “Oh, Tucker! It’s beautiful!” she cried, admiring the pink and white plaid cloth cover of the prettiest baby book she’d ever seen. Her fingers stroked the embedded lace as he moved in front of her. “You remembered,” she smiled.

“Open it,” he instructed, palms sweating with anticipation.

Tied with ribbon to the middle ring inside, the diamond glinted proudly in the late afternoon sun.

Isabel gasped, looking up to search his eyes. Tucker met her bright green gaze. Stomach in his throat, he worked to steady his heart that raced uncontrollably in his chest and fought to keep from gripping the back of his neck. He wanted to seem as composed as possible for this.

“Tuck?” Isabel asked, her voice breathy and unsure.

“Come on, man, you can do this,”he told himself, taking a steadying breath.

“Isabel, you’ve been my best friend for years. Never as a kid would I have thought we’d end up here. It turned my world upside down when I realized what you meant to me, and I know you’ve worried that I wish things had happened differently, but I want you to know that I wouldn’t change a thing. Because I have you. I love you and Destiny more than anything else in the world. Nothing is as important to me as the two of you. Nothing,” he stressed.

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