Page 114 of The Maxwell Brothers
What’s going on?
"Sure, why not?" I said. "Tate?"
"Yeah, I'm on board."
"Come on, Lexi," Paisley said, taking my hand and leading me to the couch.
I sat down, and, to my surprise, so did Tate.
"Lexi, can you help me unwrap it?" she asked.
"Sure. I'll tear off the paper for you."
"Thanks."
I was so busy unwrapping it that I didn't pay attention to the fact that Paisley was sitting unnaturally still. Under the wrapping paper was a beautiful gift box in black velvet that seemed very serious for a ten-year-old's gift.
Opening it, I frowned. Inside was a card, and it was hand-drawn by Paisley. I recognized the stroke of her brush and the way she wrote the lettersFor Lexi. Next to it was a small jewelry box.
I looked up and found Paisley and Tate exchanging yet another glance. "What's going on?" I asked. My palms were a bit sweaty.
"These are for you, Lexi," Tate said in a soft voice.
"I made a card," Paisley added. "Do you want to read it?"
"Sure," I said, a bit bewildered. "But it's your birthday."
"I know. If you want, I can read it to you. I wrote it so I wouldn't forget what I want to say."
"But why would you write me a card and give me a gift? It's not my birthday," I said.
"It's all in the card. I'll explain it."
With a look at Tate, who nodded, Paisley took out the card and opened it. She scrunched her beautiful face in concentration.
"Dear Lexi,
Today is a big day because it's my birthday and I am ten years old. I asked Daddy to do this on my birthday because then it's a special day for both of us. We love you, and we hope you want to be with us. I want to ask if you'd like to be my mom. I wrote it down because then it’s official.”
Her voice wobbled a bit, and she looked over the card at me.
My throat was completely blocked. I had a giant knot in my chest, and I could barely breathe past it, let alone speak. So instead of saying anything, I nodded and opened my arms. Paisley walked right into them, wrapping her arms around me. The card was scratching the back of my neck, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want to let go.
But only a few short seconds later, Paisley wiggled out of my embrace, taking a step back.
“And Daddy also wants to ask something."
She said a few more words, but I couldn't hear them past the thumping in my ear.
Tate took the small jewelry box out of the big box, and then he dropped to one knee next to Paisley, who was standing still, holding her card with both hands.
"Lexi, I love you," Tate said simply, opening the box. "As Paisley said, we both love you, and we want you with us, forever.” He took in a deep breath, and I didn’t miss the emotionin his eyes. “Will you marry me? Be my wife, my partner in crime, and my best friend? Will you be my everything, Lexi?”
"Yes," I said in an overly emotional voice, but that was fine because if there was ever a moment to be overly emotional, it was this one. "Yes, I will."
Paisley clapped her hands. "Can I put the ring on?" she asked, and I nodded.
Tate held the box for her while she took out the ring. It wasn’t a classic engagement ring, but it was far more beautiful than any I'd seen, with a sapphire sphere set in white gold. She put it on my finger and then clapped her hands again.
