Page 126 of Seven of Hearts

I couldn’t fight my smile if I tried. “Leah Holloway. Will you be my friend? Will you be my partner? Will you let me be the place you run to? Will you let me give you the help you need? Will you let me love you until the afterlife and beyond?”

She nodded, her teeth sinking into her lip. “Yes.”

“One last question,” I said as I helped her shift Liam so that her left hand was free. “Will you be my wife?”

“Yes!” she said with an unbeatable smile.

I slid the ring onto her finger, then cupped her cheeks. “I love you.”

A knock at the door startled us, and Kylie and Bryan crept in with Kristin and Will right behind them.

Kylie immediately burst into tears and lunged for the bed. “Look at you.”

Bryan snatched her back with his arms around her waist. “Observe from a distance.”

“Hi, guys,” Kristin said with barely restrained excitement. “We’re not going to stay long, so y’all can get some rest.” She clapped her hands over her mouth when she spotted Liam. “He’s perfect.”

As much as I knew Leah wanted to keep snuggling our son, she was eyeing the parchment-wrapped sub sandwich Kylie was holding the way she had just looked at the diamond ring I just put on her hand.

“I’ll let you hold him if you give me that sandwich,” Leah said without an ounce of shame.

Kylie lifted the brown paper deli bag. “I have chips and cookies too.”

“Gimme,” Leah said.

I cautiously supervised the trade and stole a chip when Leah popped open the bag.

“He’s perfect,” Kylie gushed as she cradled Liam with Kristin and Bryan crowded around.

Will broke free and walked over with the same ease he had the day he walked into our single-wide trailer for the first time. “How are you feeling, Leah?” he asked as he kneeled beside the bed.

“Really tired,” she admitted. “I’m starting to hurt a lot now that the drugs are wearing off. But things went well.”

“Good,” he said with kindness in his eyes. “Don’t be afraid to ask if you need anything. We’re right across the bay.” His attention turned to me. “How’re you doing, Dad?”

But it was Leah who answered for me. “He’s been the best partner and he’s already the greatest dad.” She laid her hand on my thigh. “I couldn’t ask for more.”

Kylie’s gasp startled us all. “Is that a ring?” she shrieked.

“Your baby privileges have been suspended,” I said as I plucked Liam out of her arms. “Keep it down.”

Leah flashed her hand at Kylie, showing off the ring. “He did good.”

“Oh my God. He didsogood,” Kylie said as she darted over and immediately launched into her wedding planning methodology.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Kristin said as she leaned in to get a good look at him. Carefully, I transferred the little bundle into her care so she could hold him for a minute. “He’s absolutely perfect. Have you guys decided on a name yet?”

“Yeah. We, uh . . . We did.”

She glanced up curiously.

“William,” I said. “Liam for short.”

Will looked taken aback, but Kristin wasn’t surprised in the least.

“I think it’s the perfect name for this little guy.” She smiled. “Hi, Liam.”

“You sure you want to name him that?” Will asked as he fought back tears.

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