Page 23 of A Very Miller-Cooper Life

When I crawled back into bed, Reagan was sitting up with her iPad resting on her knees. Her eyes were laser-focused and her eyebrows furrowed, but there was the slightest smile on her face.

I rested my head on her shoulder and looked down at the drawing of two women walking hand in hand through the woods. “That’s beautiful.”

Reagan’s smile grew as she moved her eyes to meet mine. “You really think so?”

“Of course.” How could she even question that? The sky was filled with hues of orange and yellow. One of the women was looking out in front of her while the other was looking over at her. I could actually see the love in the character’s eyes. I didn’t know that was possible, but Reagan had somehow done it. “Is this for another one of Kinsley’s books?”

“No. This is for a different author.” Reagan’s face lit up and her eyes practically bulged out of her head. “Speaking of Kinsley, though, apparently my copy of her book got delivered yesterday. I’m so excited to see it. My artwork on a real book. A real book by my favorite author. It’s like a dream come true.”

I loved seeing the passion in her eyes as she spoke. I didn’t realize how much that was missing until she got it back. “That’s so exciting, babe. We definitely need to celebrate when we get home.” I grabbed her hand and placed kisses across her knuckles. “I love seeing you so happy.”

“I feel like I finally found my passion. This is what I was looking for all this time. I truly can’t thank you enough for being patient with me as I figured it out, and honestly, for continuing to be patient. I know the money I’m making isn’t significant right now, but it’s definitely picking up. I have no doubt I’ll be able to make a living from this and provide for our family the way I need to.”

“I just want you to be happy. I wasn’t actually as patient as I should have been with you, and I’m happy my mood didn’t discourage you from pursuing this. You deserve the world.”

“So do you, Charlie.” Reagan’s face became more serious as her eyes looked deep into mine. “Which is why we need tostart seriously talking about buying a new practice for you. I know we’ve been doing more than okay with your fill-in work, but I also know that’s not what you’re passionate about. We need to get you back into working with kids again. The times you filled in at that pediatric clinic over the past few months, I could see the difference when you came home. You pretty much floated through the house. I want that for you all the time.”

Her words reminded me of something I hadn’t discussed with her yet, because it didn’t seem like a possibility, but now that she had brought it up, there was no use keeping it in. “Speaking of which, the doctor who owns that practice is retiring soon and looking for someone to buy it. He said if I want it, he’ll stop looking and we’ll figure out a price together.” I shook my head and looked down at the comforter. “He wants to retire sooner than later though, so it’s probably not meant to be. I don’t think we’re at a place where I should be doing this. It’s too much.”

“Bullshit.”

My head shot up at the sound of Reagan’s voice.

“If you wait for everything to be perfect, it’s never going to happen. Jump now. Think later. Do I have to remind youonce againhow well that has worked out for us in the past? What if we had decided with all of the other shit going on that it wasn’t the right time for us to be together?”

“I believe youtriedto decide that for us,” I reminded Reagan, laughing as I thought back on the memories of the two of us getting together.

“Andyoutold me I was being an idiot, thank god, so I’m going to do the same for you now. You’re going to buy that practice. We still have money in savings from selling the other one, plus we can take out a business loan. We’ll figure it out. Even if I have to sell my soul to Nana to get the money, we’re going to make this happen.”

“Wow. I’m just…” Honestly, I was speechless. “Wow.”

Reagan playfully nudged me in the side. “Is that a yes?”

“Yeah. Yes! Let’s do it.”

Before we could celebrate more, my phone rang. “Who would be calling us this early?” I asked as I fumbled around in the bed trying to follow the sound to find my phone. I held it up to Reagan when I saw the name.Mary Beth.“Do you think this is it?” I asked, my body instinctively bouncing up and down from the giddiness I was feeling.

“It has to be, right?”

Ever since Mary Beth told us that Jackie had planned a trip to London for the two of them, Reagan and I figured that meant she wasfinallyproposing. I couldn’t think of any other reason she would call us so early, so I quickly picked up the phone.

“Hey! What’s up?” I tried to keep my voice level in case this was somehow bad news instead of the good news we were expecting.

“We’re engaged!” Mary Beth and Jackie yelled in unison.

Called it.

“That’s amazing!” I said at the same time Reagan said, “Congrats, you two.”

They apologized for calling us so early then told us about how Jackie woke Mary Beth up with a huge breakfast and proposed while they ate it out on the balcony of their hotel.

The story was so sweet, I thought I might actually start to cry. “Aw. I love it so much.”

“Yeah, we’re super happy for you two,” Reagan added.

“The wedding probably won’t be for a few years since our priority right now is taking over my family’s farm and building a new house on the property, but obviously when we set a date you two will be the first to know.”

Obviously.The word made me giggle. Mary Beth and I had come a long way since the time she confessed she was in love with me in front of my whole family right after I was caught with my hand down Reagan’s pants.Good times.

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