Chapter Thirty-Six
Lucy
The living room floor is covered with shredded wrapping paper and empty boxes. Bailey is sitting in front of her mountain of Christmas presents taking inventory of all her gifts. With my parents, Colton’s parents, and now Hunter’s dad, Bailey got spoiled this year. This is nothing new for her, being the only grandchild for Colton’s parents and mine, she gets spoiled for Christmas, Easter, and her birthday. After everything that happened with Colton coming home, I think everyone went a little overboard. But her most prized gift sits protected in her lap, a signed first edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone that Hunter got her. I thought she was going to fly around the room with how excited she was when she opened the wrapping. Between the Time Turner necklace that Colton got her and now this, no one will ever be able to top those gifts.
Hunter walks in from the kitchen holding a huge box in his hands. “I think Santa forgot to leave this present under the tree.” He sets the box down in front of me.
“What in the world is this, Hunter?” I cock an eyebrow up at him from behind the box. Hunter gave me the best gift imaginable already, his heart. There is nothing in this world that he could ever give me that could top that.
“I have no idea. I guess you’ll just have to open it and see.” He tries to look innocent when he shrugs his shoulders, but I can see behind those wild curls hanging over his eyes that he is up to something.
This massive box tweaks Bailey’s interest. She presses her book against her chest, scoots across the carpet, and stares up at the box in wonder. “Just open it Mom.”
I set my coffee cup on the table and slide to the edge of the couch. My fingers trail over the green and red wrapping paper, stopping at the edge where the paper meets tape. Hunter sure went through a lot of trouble wrapping this thing. This box is the size of the box that my dishwasher came in. I pull the tape back and tear away the paper while Hunter looks on with an anxious look on his face. This box is so big I can’t imagine what could be inside, and there are no indications on the box itself. No Amazon Prime smile or product logo to be seen. It’s just plain brown cardboard. My Christmas list was pretty short. All I asked for was a quiet Christmas at home with my two favorite people. That didn’t stop Hunter from lavishing me with books and some new beautiful lingerie, most likely for him to rip off of me, so basically a present for him. Not that I mind, I love it when he goes all ravenous alpha male on me. Unless this is a box of panties, I have no clue what this could possibly be.
The flaps open to reveal layers of tissue paper in a flood of colors. I dig through the colorful paper searching for the contents. Layer after layer all I keep finding is more tissue paper. It’s not until I’m bent over the box with my head buried in paper that I realize there is nothing in here. “Hunter, is this some kind of weird joke?” My question comes out muffled through the paper. I push myself out of the box and find Hunter on his knees next to the box.
“It was meant to be a distraction while I got your real present ready.” I look down at his hands and there waiting is a red box with a diamond ring staring back at me.
My bottom lip quivers as I realize what that ring symbolizes. If I would have let him, Hunter would have whisked me off to the courthouse to get married the moment the ink dried on my divorce papers. I was closing a huge chapter of my life, and I needed time before I rushed into my next marriage. Hunter, being the amazing man that he is, agreed to wait until I was ready. Me telling him I was ready to start having his babies was my way of saying I was ready for more. I’m glad to see he got the hint.
Bailey kneels next me with tears in her eyes and a joyful smile on her face. Her expression matches mine. I may have been unsure in the beginning, but now I know, without a shadow of doubt, that I am ready to be his wife and spend the rest of my life with him.
“I’ve had this ring for two years, waiting until I could put it on your finger. The moment I felt your hand in mine, that first day we met, I knew you were different. You changed my life for the better that day. Every day that I waited for you was torture, but I knew I needed to change, to be the man who deserved to be with you. Lucy, you made me a better man. You are my queen and I will spend every day of my life making you and Bailey as happy as you both have made me. Lucy, will you do me the greatest honor by being my wife?” The tears stream down both our faces and love radiates between us.
I leap at Hunter, sending both of us crashing to the floor. Bailey giggles as I rain kisses all over his face. “Can I take that as a yes.” Hunter chuckles.
“Yes, yes, yes, and yes.” I smile down at him. “Yes, Hunter McCoy I will marry you.” I seal my answer with a kiss. Hunter whispers an “I love you” into our kiss. My heart is so full it could burst.
Hunter sits us both up and slides the ring on my finger. I never thought I would see a ring on this finger again. I made my peace with the fact that it would just be me and Bailey, then Hunter came along and made me believe I could find happiness again. He opened my heart to love again.
“There is one more thing I have to do.” He smiles and reaches under one of the couch cushions and pulls out a small black box. “You aren’t the only one getting a ring today,” he whispers so Bailey can’t hear. I slide off his lap and start to cry again as he scoots over to Bailey. “Bailey, I have an important question for you too. Your mom isn’t the only one who has brought joy into my life, you have too. Bailey, you are the most amazing girl, and I am so lucky to get to spend every day with you, laughing, talking books and photography with you. I love you so much, Bailey, and I will continue to love you like you were my own daughter for the rest of my life. Bailey, will you be my step daughter?” He opens the box, revealing a golden snitch ring inside.
“Yes.” Is all she gets out before she bursts into tears. The book in her hands falls to the floor, and she mirrors me, jumps into Hunter’s arms, and hugs him. I slide up behind him and wrap my arms around the both of them. Just when I think I can’t love Hunter any more, he does something like this that makes me fall even harder.
“You both have made me the happiest man alive. I love my girls so much.”
****
I still can’t wipe the smile off my face as Hunter and I walk hand in hand into Lucky and Ryder’s house. Bailey immediately goes straight for the living room to get her chance to hold baby Logan before I get my hands on him. Logan was Brooke and Brian’s Thanksgiving surprise, and a reminder on why we should never throw parties during the last trimester of Brooke’s pregnancies. She went into Labor at the dinner table before we had a chance to cut the turkey. At least this time, Logan waited until we got Brooke to the hospital. Matthew’s birth in the back of Ryder’s squad car still holds the record for craziest births in our little group.
We turn the corner to the living room, and to my surprise, I see Brooke and Lucky standing next to each other, both holding babies, and there is a young girl sitting on the couch next to Ryder. “Um, Lucky why do you have a baby?” Surprise fills my voice as I walk over to her.
“I wanted to call you and tell you our news, but as you can see we have been a little busy.” She smiles over at Ryder. Ryder has the biggest smile on his face. “Lucy, I would like you to meet our granddaughter Charlotte.” She places the baby in my arms. The baby coos up at me. She’s so sweet and beautiful. “This is our daughter Lily.” She points in the direction of the girl next to Ryder. Lily shyly waves at me.
The name brings tears to my eyes. That was the name they had picked out for their baby before they lost her. “Lucky, how is this possible?”
“The night before Christmas Eve, Ryder was leaving the station when he heard a baby crying in the alley. He went to investigate and found Lily and Charlotte cold and alone. Lily’s mom left her and Charlotte in the hospital when Lily wouldn’t give Charlotte up for adoption. She had nowhere else to go and Ryder couldn’t bear the thought of turning them over to the state, so he brought them here. They have breathed so much life into this house the past couple of days. I think this is a sign that they are supposed to be here. Ryder and I talked it over with Lily and we decided to adopt her.” Tears stream down Lucky’s face. Over the past couple of years, I have seen Lucky breakdown too many times. It’s finally nice to see tears of joy wet her cheeks.
I wrap one arm around Lucky’s shoulders. “I’m so happy for you and Ryder. This is such a blessing.” I look down at the baby and say, “Welcome to the family Charlotte.” I look over at Lily on the couch. “And Lily.” I give her a welcoming smile.
Logan starts to fuss behind me. Brooke steps around in front of me and gets Logan close to Charlotte and he stops fussing. “Logan must be missing his girlfriend.” Brooke giggles.
“Wouldn’t it be cute if they got married someday.” Lucky gently rubs Charlotte’s head. “You better treat my granddaughter like a princess, Logan or you’ll have to deal with me.”
“Believe me Logan, Aunt Lucky is scarier than Uncle Ryder.” I’m only half teasing. No one messes with Lucky and the people she cares about. If they do they will end up in a body bag.
Brooke looks down at my hand and sees the new ring. “Lucy, is that what I think it is?” She looks over at Hunter then back at me. “Hunter, get over here,” she demands.
Hunter slides his arm around my waist. “Lucy and I have some good news of our own. I asked Lucy to marry me this morning and she said yes.” He dips his head and kisses me softly.
“I am so happy for you both. This is amazing.” Brooke hands Lucky Logan so she can hug Hunter then me. “I’ve been praying for this day for so long. You’re going to be my sister.” She squeals.
“It’s about damn time you grew a pair and locked that down,” Lucky teases Hunter. He chuckles and shakes his head. “Looks like this Christmas is full of miracles.”
I agree with her. We are all finally getting the happy endings we all deserve. It has taken moving mountains for some of us, but all the struggles and tears and broken hearts were worth it, because in the end they shaped us into the people we are today and made getting the love we have now that much more sweeter.