Page 97 of Saving Her Heart
"I can't believe you managed all this without me knowing," Kendall says, gesturing at the transformed backyard.
"I'm good at keeping secrets," I say.
"No more secrets," she says. "From now on, we tell each other everything."
"Everything," I agree. "Starting with: I already bought Hope a ton of toys and they're hidden in the garage."
"And I already looked at wedding dresses online during my lunch break," she confesses.
"When?"
"For the past month," she admits, blushing. "I was hoping..."
"I've been carrying that ring around for two weeks," I tell her. "Hudson almost had to physically restrain me from proposing at kickball last weekend."
She laughs. "That would have been very public."
"The Walking Ladies would have loved that."
"They're going to lose their minds when we tell them," she says. "Gladys has probably already started planning the wedding."
As if summoned by the mention of their name, my phone buzzes with a text from Gladys.
Gladys: Heard the good news! FBI (Fabulous Bridal Investigators) at your service! We're already planning the bachelor party!
"Please tell me the Walking Ladies aren't planning my bachelor party," I groan.
"It'll be memorable," Kendall says, grinning.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Eventually, we let our friends descend on the house. They bring champagne and joy and chaos. Hudson and Kane reenact how nervous I was setting up. Grace tells everyone about the puppy almost eating the ring box while she was driving. Kate's already pulling up Pinterest boards for wedding ideas.
"Spring or fall?" Mia asks, appearing with Ian and a bottle of very expensive champagne.
"Spring," Kendall says. "In the backyard when everything's blooming."
"I can see it," Brooke says, her author's eye already composing the scene. "Lights like tonight, wildflowers everywhere, Hope as the ring bearer."
"She'll be bigger by spring," I point out.
"Even better," Riley says. "She can pull Nicholas in a wagon as ring bearer."
"Can I drive?" Nicholas asks excitedly.
"No one's driving the dog," Declan says firmly.
The party spills through our empty house, our friends christening each room with laughter and plans. Hope follows everyone, tail never stopping, already perfectly at home.
"Are you happy?" I ask Kendall, finding her on the front porch looking out at our street.
"So happy," she says, leaning into me. "This is everything I never let myself dream about."
"Dream bigger," I tell her. "We're just getting started."
She holds up her hand, watching the ring catch the porch light. "I love you. Thank you for not giving up on us."
"Thank you for giving us another chance," I respond.
