Page 127 of Nothing Less Than Everything

I shut her up with a kiss before she could spiral any more. “It’s going to be worth it.” I took Wren’s hand, keeping her steady as we trudged through the snow to the side of the house. The staunch, round base of the lighthouse jutted out from behind it. We stood at the edge of the bluff. Below us, frigid Atlantic waters churned. The view was unparalleled. “It’ll give us something to do in the off-season,” I began. “It’s only forty-five minutes from the facilities. A little longer than my commute now, but coming home to you every day will be worth it.”

“You wanna live here?”

“There’s a Dunkin’ three miles away,” I said with a chuckle. “Your dad’s close by.” I pressed a kiss to her temple. “What’d you think I wanted to do with the place?”

Wren laughed. “I thought you bought it to fix it up and sell it for a profit.”

“Not everything is a catch and release. Sometimes you realize what you have and hold on with all your might.”

She looked over her shoulder and stared at the house. “You want to live here.”

“I want us to live here. I want to help you build a business that you love. That fulfills and drives you. I want to cheer you on. But most of all—” I reached in my pocket as I lowered to one knee “—I don’t want to live another day without you.”

The diamond set on the gold band glinted in the sunlight. Prisms of light danced over the white sheet of snow.

Wren was frozen, hands cupped over her mouth. My knee ached and stung from the cold as icy water soaked into my jeans. “Is that—” Tears filled her eyes. “That’s my mom’s engagement ring.”

“Yeah, it is,” I said softly as I slid the delicate band onto her trembling hand. “I can get you your own ring if you want, but I kind of got you a house, and I figured having your mom’s ring would mean a lot to—” Wren’s lips met mine, colliding in a mess of tears. I cupped her soft cheeks. “Marry me.”

She nodded as she sobbed for a solid minute before a single coherent sound came out. “Yes.”

* * *

Ralph was waitingfor us when we got back. He kissed his little girl on the cheek and pulled me into a hug with surprising strength.

“You knew!” Wren laughed as she wiped her tears away. “You knew, and you didn’t say a damn thing!”

Ralph snickered and stroked his mustache. “‘Course I knew. You got yourself a good one, Wrennie. Your ma’ would’ve been proud. I know she’s smiling down on you two.”

Wren looked up at me with pure adoration in her eyes. Around her, I felt ten feet tall.

“Now,” Ralph said. “I called a builder friend of mine. He specializes in properties like yours. You’re gonna have to take that place down to the dirt, but his crew sets aside anything salvageable in the demo and repurposes it in the build. You’ll end up with a new house that looks historic.”

Wren lit up like a Christmas tree as she and her dad talked specifics. I sat back and took it all in.

Five months ago, I’d been traded.

I was excited to have two more seasons with the Reds, but after that, I’d be ready for a different kind of trade—a trade from good to great. Certain things in life mattered more than championship rings and accolades. It was something my father had never understood. Trophies tarnished and records could be surpassed, but love and family were a legacy that stood the test of time.

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