EPILOGUE
Four Months Later
Archer paced the waiting room of the surgical ward. The surgery was taking longer than expected, but he couldn’t keep bothering the volunteer about getting news. Janie’s kidney had been a match, and the transplant had started earlier in the day.
“Archer, sit down.” Larissa chased Lilly around the room. The baby had gained amazing speed the past few months.
“I can’t stop being nervous,” he said, sitting like she’d ordered.
“Everything is fine.” She grabbed Lilly, returning to the corner of the room they’d claimed for themselves. “The last update said there was a small complication, but Janie wasn’t in danger, right? I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”
A complication. It was scary to think about. Archer almost wished he’d talked Janie out of doing the donation, but he knew that wouldn’t have worked. Her relationship with Frederick hadn’t improved any, but he knew she hoped for something more with the man in the future. That wouldn’t happen if he died.
Janie had made a lot of improvements, and Archer wondered if patching things up with her dad and at least finding closure from the past would be the final thing needed to heal her completely. She even made noises about them finding Archer’s parents and seeing them, but he wasn’t ready for that yet.
Besides, he was too busy at Paradise Point, having become the sous chef for Shane fulltime. His competition, Ava, had moved to The Pavilion to be the sous chef there, and it seemed everyone was happy.
Of course, no one was happier than him. He had his dream job, his dream girl, and the diamond ring in his pocket was a promise of better things to come.
He turned to Larissa. “As soon as Janie’s recovered from the anesthesia, I’m proposing to her.”
Larissa’s eyes widened and then she let out a happy squeal. “How long have you been planning this? I can’t believe you kept it from me!”
He chuckled. “I was afraid you’d spill the beans. You and Janie talk about everything, and I wanted to surprise her.”
“Can I see the ring?”
He shook his head. “Sorry, but that’s reserved for Janie. If she accepts it, she can show you herself.”
“If she accepts it? Yeah, right.” Larissa rolled her eyes. “She won’t refuse.”
Archer wiped the sweat from his palms against his pants. “I sure hope you’re right.”
A doctor poked his head into the room. “Davis family?”
A different anxiety gripped him, and Archer stood up. “That’s us.”
“Come with me,” the doctor replied.
Helping Larissa to gather Lilly and her belongings, Archer then followed the man into a conference room.
“Just tell me Janie’s okay,” he demanded as soon as the door shut.
The doctor smiled. “Everything’s fine. She gave us a bit of a scare in the middle when her heart rate dropped, but she came back strong and is in recovery now. The transplant also went well, and her father is in recovery too. This one is a success.”
Larissa let out a sigh of relief. “When can we see her?”
“They’ll bring her out soon. They’re taking her to room 214, so why don’t you wait for her there?”
The fear that had plagued Archer all day finally subsided and fatigue took over. “Thank you, doctor. If anything had happened to her, I don’t know what we would have done.”
The doctor gave another smile. “Happy to help. Take care.”
A clear dismissal, but Archer was only too happy to walk with Larissa to the indicated room. Soon, he’d see his angel. There was nothing in the world that made him happier than that.
***
Janie woke up, feeling coherent for the first time. She wasn’t sure how many times she’d been awake before, but Archer or Larissa had always been by her side, telling her everything went well, and she was fine.
With a clearer head, she realized that it was now nighttime. Archer was stretched out in the reclining chair placed next to her hospital bed, snoring softly.
He really should have gone back to the hotel to sleep. At least Larissa hadn’t kept Lilly up there. She hated to wake him, but he couldn’t possibly be comfortable in that chair. Once he knew she was doing well, hopefully he’d go to the hotel and get some real rest.
“Archer,” she said softly. “Wake up, love.”
His eyes snapped open so quickly, that he couldn’t have been sleeping too deeply despite his snoring. “Angel? Are you okay?”
She smiled, pressing the button on the bed to sit herself more upright. “I don’t even have much pain,” she assured him. “Everything’s fine.”
He sat up, reaching across the space to snag her hand in his. “You’ve been so groggy. You seem alert now.”
“Yep, I feel good.” She squeezed his hand. “Why don’t you go across to the hotel and sleep until morning? I’m not going anywhere.”
He shook his head. “I’m not leaving you alone. I was sleeping fine here.”
“No, you weren’t. Come on, love. I don’t want to feel responsible for you not getting enough rest. I’m fine. Just promise you’ll come back first thing in the morning.”
Archer stayed silent for a while, staring at her.
“What?”
“I can’t stop looking at you,” he replied. “This was so scary, waiting and unable to do anything for you. I thought I was going out of my mind.”
“Everything’s fine now,” she said. “I think I remember you saying Frederick is doing well too, right?”
He nodded. “Looks like a success at this point.”
Which meant she’d have more time to make peace with her father. She still wasn’t sure she was ready to forgive him, but Archer had told her to take her time, standing by her side and being her strength. She couldn’t believe how lucky she was. She’d never expected to find love and happiness, but the last few months had been so blissful. All she needed was Archer beside her. Sure, they had disagreements and arguments at times, but making up was so much fun!
“Ugh,” she let out a grunt. “That sucks.”
“What?” His eyes went wide. “Are you okay? What hurts?”
She giggled. “What hurts is I just remembered how long we have to wait to make love. Frederick better appreciate the great sacrifice I’m making.”
“Yeah.” He laughed too. “It is a sacrifice since I’ve gotten used to having you every night, but I’m a patient man. I’ll be happy to hold you for the next few weeks while you heal and behave myself. But, prepare yourself. Once you’re better...” He wiggled his eyebrows, giving a devilish grin.
That made Janie laugh even harder, and she clutched her stomach at the sudden pain. “Stop, you. Just because I give total control in the bedroom, don’t think you can get away with whatever you want all the time.”
He leaned over the bed, kissing her cheek. “But I know you’ll let me do whatever I want, won’t you?”
“Well, of course I will. I always want the same thing you want, so it’s win-win.”
Suddenly, the happiness drained from his face and a tense expression took over. “Can I really have anything I want?”
She narrowed her eyes, concerned at his sudden seriousness. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay, but there’s a lot I want. Mind if I tell you about it?”
Hoping it was nothing bad, Janie nodded. “I’m always willing to listen, love.”
Archer slid from the chair, placing one knee against the floor and keeping a firm hold of her hand. “I’m pretty demanding.”
“I already know that,” she teased, trying to relax him. He was nervous about something, but together they could work through anything troubling him.
“I want it all,” he said. “I want your mornings, your noons, and your nights, Angel. I want your heart, body, mind, and soul.”
Janie sucked in a quick breath, suddenly realizing what was going on. Happy tears filled her eyes as he went on.
“I want to make so many memories with you that we forget half of them by the time we’re old and gray, only to discover them all over again and relive our glory days. I want to see your beautiful face first thing every morning when I wake up and have it be the last thing I see before going to sleep every single night, for the rest of my life. I want to be the man you depend on, the one you share your dreams with, and the one you love beyond all else. I will cherish you every day of our lives.” He fumbled with one hand in his pocket, pulling out a silver band with a single diamond on it. “If I can really have anything I want, then what I want is to have you take my last name and be mine forever.”
Janie was nodding before he’d even finished asking, holding out her shaking left hand for him to slip the ring on it. “Oh, Archer!” She smiled through her happy tears. “It’s funny how we always want the exact same things!”
He put the ring in place, relief relaxing his facial muscles as he smiled. “Really? You’ll marry me?”
She nodded, ignoring the pain in her stomach to reach for him. “Yes, yes, yes! Of course, I will. I love you so much!”
He carefully took her in his arms, so gentle that she knew he had her comfort as the top priority on his mind. “I love you, Angel. We’ll be together forever.”
“Yes, forever and ever.”
Janie reveled in the warmth and kindness of her boyfriend turned fiancé. Maybe she’d made a lot of mistakes in her life and maybe she didn’t deserve him, but by some strange twist Larissa had been right. Archer was her fate. Together, they’d find a happy future and enjoy every day. Neither of them had to suffer alone anymore.
“Angel, I swear I’ll make you happy.”
“And I’ll do the same for you.”
Closing in on each other, they sealed their promises with a sweet kiss.