Ethan
Three weeks later
The doctors finally gave Lexi the all clear to fly. I can’t believe how strong she is. One thing’s for sure, I have never been so scared of losing someone in my life. But now, I watch her in the mirror eyeing up the new shoes she ordered while on bed rest.
The look on her face when they came, it was like looking at a child opening a present on Christmas morning. When she realized that she couldn't wear them yet, she looked like she was going to cry. As soon as the doctors gave her the all clear, I was hoping she wanted to do, something with me, but no. She went right to the wall of shoes, and has been standing in front of the mirror for over an hour, just staring at them.
“Lexi, as much as I love to see you this happy over shoes, Selena has booked our flights and we have to leave soon to make it on time,” I tell her. She looks over her shoulder at me. “We’re only going to be gone for three days.” She wanted to go see her dad once she got the all clear, and I promised I would take her. I would have liked to go a for a little longer, but Edward and Angie’s kid’s surgery is tomorrow, and my lawyers want me back here to sign the last of the paperwork for all of that.
“I’m only taking these shoes and two outfits. Since I now have the all clear, I plan on spending a lot of time naked,” Lexi says, giving me a wink.
Walking over to her, I wrap my arms around her waist. “I’m looking forward to it,” I say, then kiss her neck. I’ve missed kissing her there. I know it gets her all excited, but I wasn’t about to risk her pulling anything. “But first, please, can you pack a bag?”
“Fine,” she says, taking one more look in the mirror at her shoes before she finally walks into the closet to pack something.
I’ve spoken to Dan a few times to ask about their hometown and a few things about their parents. I wanted to get an idea of who they were. I knew Lexi found it hard to talk about them, and after everything she’s been through, I can understand why she feels that way. Dan told me Lexi, still to this day, blames herself for her father’s death. No matter what anyone says to her, she still feels the burden of guilt. Dan said there’s no point trying to change her mind, because it just ends in a fight. One he would rather not have.
***
I watch Lexi talking to her dad’s gravestone. I stayed in the car to give her time to say whatever she needs to in private. She needs to be able to forgive herself without me there. I know she won’t ever forgive herself, but I want her to be able to try.
“Hello,” I say, answering the phone as I watch Lexi sitting on the ground.
“I have the park all ready for you,” Selena tells me.
“Thank you.” I have a special night planned for Lexi. I’ve wanted to do something special for a while now, and when Dan told me about this park, I knew this was the perfect place and time to ask the woman I love to marry me.
As Lexi stands up, her eyes still on the headstone, I get out of the car and walk over to her. Standing next to her, I kiss the stop of her head as I wrap my arm around her “You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah. It’s been a long time since I came back home,” she says into my chest, “but I’m happy that I came.” She lifts her head to look up at me. “There’s this restaurant close by—it’s amazing. Would you like to go there for lunch?”
“Well, I had other plans.” She gives me a sarcastic look. “No, not that, get your mind out of the gutter,” I say walking to the car. “This is something special.” I open the car door for her and wait for her to get settled.
As my nerves start kicking in, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, hoping to relax a little. Mom told me nervousness was a good sign. I’m still not sure how it’s a good sign, but she’s never been wrong before. Walking to the other side of the car, I look over at Lexi, still gazing at her father’s grave as we drive off.
Lexi was quiet on our drive. It’s been a long day, so I don’t blame her.
Pulling into the park, Lexi’s face brightens. “How did you know about the park?” she asks with a huge smile. “Dan told you, didn’t he?” Opening the door, she starts walking to the spot I had ready.
Dan told me that this park—this spot—means so much to her. It’s the same spot her dad asked her mom to marry him.
I stay in the car and just watch as she picks daisies from the grass. She turns around and stands there waiting for me. Getting out of the car, I check my pockets. I pull out my phone and throw it onto the seat. No one is interrupting me today.
I walk over to her, and she wraps her arms around me. “Ethan this is beautiful,” she tells me. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life.” She goes to walk away, but I stop her.
“No, I’m the lucky one. You know that I’m not really a person for words, so I’m just going to spit it out.” As I’m getting down on one knee, I hear her gasp. “Lexi, will you marry me?” I ask, opening the ring box.
Lexi looks at me without saying a word, moving or anything. I’m hoping she’s just shocked and that’s why she’s not answering me.
“Lexi,” I say.
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you.” I stand up, wrap my arms around her waist, and swing her around. Placing her feet back on the ground, I kiss her. “So, are you just asking me to marry you or do I get the ring?” She starts laughing.
Taking her hand, I put the ring on her finger and watch her staring at the ring. I made sure the sales clerk at Tiffany’s only showed me the best rings they had. “I’ve seen better.” She gives me a wink and I can’t help but laugh.
“I can see you on our wedding day. Instead of saying I do, you’re going to say something you shouldn’t,” I say with a laugh.
“Yeah, and I’m not telling you what, either.” She jumps up and wraps her arms around my neck, and I wrap mine around her waist.
“How fast can I get you to be Mrs. Knight?” I ask, walking over to the table.
“I’m going to start planning as soon as we get home. Two months, max,” she tells me. Sitting on the bench, she takes her phone out.
“Two months?” I question her.
“Hey, I’m soon to be Mrs. Knight. I'll get it done, because if people don’t make it happen, then they know who they'll be upsetting. Mr. Ethan Knight, and that just won’t do,” she says with an enormous smile on her face. She’s got that right. Anyone upsets her, I'll make sure they don’t have a job.
I watch her looking through her phone. She props the phone against the wine bottle I have on the table and we listen to it ring.
I see Dan’s face pop up on the screen and before he can even say hello, Lexi’s shouting. “I’m engaged!”
Jon’s face pops beside Dan on the screen. “When will you be back so we can start planning?” Jon asks.
“Will you let me at least say congratulations to her?” Dan pushes Jon out of the way. “Congratulations, guys! I’m so happy for you.”
Jon pushes Dan back out of his way. “Yeah, congratulations! So, when will you be back? I'll pick up some magazines to look through for ideas.”
“In two days. I’ll call you as soon as we get back.” Blowing kisses to them both, she ends the call. “So, soon to be husband, can we talk about the thing we have been avoiding?” she asks, and I know what she's talking about. Children.
“I don’t care. I love you. We can get a surrogate or adopt, or we can try on our own. The important thing to remember is they said it might be a little harder, but not impossible. So, I think we should get started trying. I also think, to help even out the odds, we should try at least three times a day,” I say with a wink, making her giggle.
“Only you would think like that, but what—”
“Lexi, nothing. I don’t care. I want to marry you, and we'll figure it out. I don’t want to talk about it anymore,” I tell her. She can try and say what she wants but it won’t make any difference to me.
“I suppose we could start today…”
I get to have her for the rest of my life and I can’t wait.