Page 141 of Your Soul to Keep

I guffawed and lightly backhanded his chest. “You love my t-shirts.”

“I do.” He grinned and tapped my bum lightly to get me out of his lap. “Up you get.”

I followed him to the dining room table where he handed me a gift bag.

“I feel like it’s my birthday,” I teased.

His eyes lit with mischief.

I dove into the bag and lifted out a hot pink t-shirt folded to show a bit of the screenprint on the front. I shook it out and began to laugh. “Big Mama.” I snorted, then peeked around it. “Really, Gabe? Are we going to get one for you, too?”

“Oh, yeah.” He smirked and pulled his own t-shirt out of the bag with “Big Daddy” printed on the front.

“No!” I slapped my shirt down on my thighs as I bent over, howling with laughter. “We cannot wear these! Not in public!”

He grinned and wagged his eyebrows. “You haven’t even seen the back yet!”

“Oh no,” I moaned. I turned the shirt around and shook it out to see the back.

My breath caught in my throat, more blasted tears stinging my eyes as I lowered it to find Gabe down on one knee.

“Shaelynn Elizabeth O’Neill. You are the memory I want to carry into tomorrow. You’ve been my every second thought from the very first day I met you, all the years we spent apart, and every day since. You add light to my life, warmth to my nights, and joy to my days.”

I stared down at him.

Nan’s voice sounded in my head.

Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone, pet.

“Yes,” I whispered.

He smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I haven’t asked yet.”

I twirled my wrist in a circle, the sound coming from my throat half laugh, half sob. “Get on with it.”

“Shae-baby, Shibaby, Big Big Mommy, would you do me the honor of adding Gabe’s wifey and Mrs. Kenny to your monikers? Shae, will you be my wife?”

I nodded, my lips pressed tight. “Mm-hmm.”

He took my hand and raised it to his lips to kiss my ring finger. His fingers shook as he slid his ring up over my knuckle before rising fluidly to his feet and taking me in his arms.

Sapphire eyes looked intently into mine. He shook his head and smiled down at me. “There’s no going back now.”

I smiled through my happy tears. “No regrets.”

39

Epilogue

10Monthslater,May19th

Rock music blasting downstairs in the kitchen pulled me from sleep. I laughed and shook my head. Our little girl loved to dance.

I stretched, groaning as I loosened muscles Gabe had taxed the night before. I breathed deep and closed my eyes, blushing and snickering at the memory.

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to look him in the eye, but I had no regrets.

Today was my birthday, the first one since I’d moved in with Gabe and Dylan. The last thing I wanted to do was waste it in bed.

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