Page 76 of Tex's Angel

Clara is still laying there with the piece of paper from the sonographer in her hand, the other is absentmindedly stroking her belly.

I reach over and tuck a curl behind her ear, “I have another surprise for you. Would you like it now or at the party?”

Her eyes light up. “Now please. The more wonderful things we can do to mark this day, the more special the day becomes.”

I reach into the other pocket of my cut and pull out the ring box. I open it and turn it around for her to see the huge two carat diamond. I’d wracked my brain with ideas for proposals. Seen videos of grand gestures, but that’s not our relationship. What I have with Clara ain’t all bells and whistles. It’s good, honest, homespun love. Anything else would just seem fake, soI turn to her and say, “It’s time, sugar. I want y’all to be my wife before these babies are born. What do y’all say to that?”

She smiles and nods, getting choked up. Instead of taking the ring, she throws herself into my arms. I hold her and give her a chance to get a hold of her emotions. Just when I think I know everything about my sweet Clara, she surprises me once more. “I want you to know that you’re the best part of my life. I love everything about you, including how you pay attention enough to know what style of jewelry I wear. I know it’s not about the ring, or grand gestures, but the ring is gorgeous!”

“You really like the ring that much,” I ask, praying she does. It took all of my sleuthing skills to check out what styles she likes.

“I love it almost as much as I love and you and Levi.”

I splay my hand out over her baby bump, as she reaches for the ring. I watch her admire it and read the inscription inside, that says forever mine. She slides it onto her finger and rests her hand over mine.

I can’t believe that I was lucky enough to have two special women in my life. They were both so different. I used to be afraid of love, worried that it would mean that I’d moved on, that I’d forgotten Ashlyn or that I’d betrayed her memory somehow. But that’s not the case. I have enough love for everyone—it’s a different type of love, but just as fierce, and just as passionate and one that I’m gonna keep burning bright until my very last breath on earth. I tilt her head up to look into her eyes before telling her, “Y’all were worth waiting a lifetime to meet, Clara.”

When I kiss her forehead, she comes to cuddle in my lap. We sit there naked and physically and emotionally, knowing that our love is true.

THE END

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