Page 160 of Begin Again, Part 2

"What did you wish for?" she asked.

"It won't come true if I tell you."

"Fair enough." Eden giggled as she stooped down to tie one of his shoelaces. It had come undone at some point during their very slow walk.

When she looked up, her heart jumped to her throat at the sight of the ring box in his hand.

"Oh, God!" she whispered, unable to believe her eyes. But everything suddenly made sense—the clothes she didn't bring him, their out of the blue walk, and the shady looking box.

"I wanted to do something cheesy, you know, fireworks and all that jazz. But the doctor with the fancy title said I'm stuck here for a while. So I asked Clara to bring me the clothes because I didn't want you to remember this day and think of that horrid-looking hospital gown, and I brought you out here, so you never associate the smell of disinfectant in that room with this moment—"

By now, Eden was a blubbering mess of tears and snot and her sobs, louder than ever. If Lydia was here, she would have told her to stop her ugly crying.

"Mommy, sorry!" Aiden said as he slid off his father's lap, flung his arms around her neck, and kissed her cheek.

"I'm okay, Aid," she wiped her tears away and smiled at him. But as soon as she looked at Liam, she was crying uncontrollably again.

"Princess," Liam began as he brushed her hair away from her face and wiped her tears with his thumb. "You wanted to know what I wished for? Well, for you to say yes."

"Yes!" Eden said quickly.

"I haven't asked you yet." He laughed and kissed her slowly, the tears in his eyes mirroring hers.

"Mommy, look!" Aiden pointed at the falling petals, and they pulled apart, smiling guiltily like teenagers caught canoodling.

"Normally, I would have to go down on my knee, but I think you'll have to take one for the team today," Liam said, and Eden burst into tearful laughter.

"And since you're already on your knees, Eden Anderson—I mean Eden McBride, will you do me the honour of being my—"

She kissed him hard before he'd even finished his question, her tears mingling with his. She smiled on his lips. "Yes."

"I was going to say, sidekick!" Liam whispered, holding her face close to his. "Will you do me the honour of being my sidekick?"

"And my answer is still yes," Eden replied. "It will always be yes. Tomorrow. Next week. Next month. It will always be yes if it's you who's asking."

"Open the box."

She did. After a few tries, because her hands were shaking so much.

Her breath faltered, and her eyes widened when they fell on Cleopatras' ring nestled inside the luxurious velvety cushion, the Emerald glowing a rich green in the fading sunlight.

She pulled it out and gawked at the ring until Aiden, thinking it was candy, snatched it from her.

But Liam's quick reflexes kicked in, and he caught his tiny hand before he could put the ring in his mouth. He slipped it on her finger and gently cupped her cheek. "When I saw you looking at it at the auction, I had to get it for you. But I didn't know then I'd use it to propose because there's a family heirloom that all Anderson men use for marriage proposals. So if you don't like this—"

"I love it," Eden said quickly. Wearing something so insanely expensive daily would give her heart palpitations for sure. But she loved it.

"It has a lot of history," she added. And not just because Cleopatra had supposedly worn it. But it was part of their story, a reminder of a critical turning point in their relationship, and the man who tried to destroy them, but had unknowingly brought them so much closer.

"I love you so much!" she said as she kissed him again.

"And I, you. Mrs Anderson!"

Chapter

Forty-Seven

TOO MANY EXPECTATIONS

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