Page 44 of Single Daddy Doctor Dreamy

When dinner rolls around, I tell Lucy to dress up. “We’re going out,” I say casually, but the smile tugging at my lips mustgive me away. She narrows her eyes suspiciously but doesn’t press me for details.

By the time she steps out of the bedroom, I’m floored. She’s wearing a simple, flowy dress that hugs her curves in all the right places, her blond hair cascading over her shoulders. She’s breathtaking.

“Wow,” I say, unable to stop myself. “You look amazing.”

She rolls her eyes, but I catch the way her cheeks flush. “You clean up pretty well yourself, Doctor Anderson.”

We leave the boys with a sitter and head to Old Town Eureka. The streets are alive with twinkling lights and the soft sound of the bay can be heard in the distance. I’ve made a reservation at a cozy little place overlooking Humboldt Bay, a spot I know she’ll love.

“This is beautiful,” she says as we’re seated by the window.

“Not as beautiful as you,” I reply, earning an eye roll but also a soft smile.

Dinner is perfect. We talk and laugh and share bites of each other’s meals, the world shrinking to just the two of us. But my mind is on what comes next.

After dessert, I take her hand and lead her outside. The bay is quiet, the dark waters reflecting the stars and the full moon overhead. A cool breeze carries the faint scent of salt and seaweed, and I stop us at a spot where we can see the boats gently rocking in their moorings.

“Joel, what are we doing?” Lucy asks, her voice soft with curiosity.

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to say to you,” I begin, turning to face her. Her blue eyes search mine, and I see the exact moment realization dawns.

“Lucy,” I say, taking her hands in mine, “from the moment you came into my life, everything changed. You’ve made me abetter man, a better father, and every day with you feels like a gift I don’t deserve. You’ve reminded me what it means to love and be loved, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

Her breath hitches, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

I drop to one knee, pulling the small velvet box from my pocket. “Lucy Harper, will you marry me?”

For a moment, there’s only the sound of the water and the distant bustle of life from the town. Then she looks at me, her hands flying to her mouth as a sob escapes. “Yes,” she whispers, then louder, “Yes, Joel, of course!”

Relief and joy wash over me as I slip the ring onto her finger, standing to pull her into my arms. Our kiss is soft and sweet, a promise of everything to come.

The drive home is filled with stolen glances and quiet laughter. I can’t stop staring at the ring on my finger, the way it catches the light and feels so right, like it’s always belonged there.

When we get home, the boys are asleep. Finn has crawled into bed with Miles and their limbs tangled together in a way only siblings can manage. Joel and I tiptoe into the living room, collapsing onto the couch in a heap of happy exhaustion.

“So,” he says, pulling me close, “how soon do you think we can pull off a wedding?”

I laugh, resting my head on his shoulder. “Soon. Very soon.”

As we drift off to sleep, wrapped in each others arms, I know that this, Joel, the boys, Everwood—is everything I’ve ever wanted.

EPILOGUE

JOEL & LUCY

The air in Everwood feels different today, charged with a sense of celebration and renewal. The town square is bustling with energy, friends and neighbors moving through the flower-draped archways and twinkling fairy lights that seem to have appeared overnight. The late afternoon sun showers everything in a golden glow, and the smell of freshly baked bread and wildflowers wafts through the air. It’s magical, and yet, it feels like just another day in this little town that has become my whole world.

I glance at Joel, who’s standing a few feet away, talking with Aiden and a few of the hospital staff. He’s wearing a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, his dark hair a little tousled from the breeze. He’s laughing at something Aiden said, his green eyes crinkling at the corners, and my heart swells with a love that still feels new and exhilarating, even though we’re well past the whirlwind stage.

“Mom!” Finn’s voice breaks me out of my reverie. He barrels toward me, a blur of dark hair and excitement, holding a small bouquet of wildflowers in his chubby little hands. “I picked these for you!”

“You did?” I crouch down to his level, taking the flowers with exaggerated delight. “Thank you, sweetheart. They’re beautiful.”

Miles ambles over more slowly, a shy grin on his face. “Dad says the ceremony’s starting soon. Are you ready?”

I reach out and ruffle his hair. “I’m more than ready.”

The boys’ excitement is contagious as they pull me toward Joel, who looks up at just the right moment. His smile is soft and knowing as I approach, his arm sliding around my waist as he presses a kiss to my temple.

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