Chapter 52

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Rose

THEY SAY FORGIVING IS easy, it’s forgetting that’s hard. But with each day that passed, I was learning to do a little bit more of each. I knew things would never be the same now that I knew the real story. How could they have been? My aunt was really my mother and my mother and father were really my aunt and uncle. What sounded like the premise of a trashy talk show was really my life.

If I’d learned this truth a year ago, I would’ve never been able to take the first step to forgiveness, but so much had changed. I’d grown up. I learned what mattered most in life, and I was able to see things from others’ perspectives so much more clearly. I wasn’t the same girl I used to be, and it had nothing to do with who my mother and father were, and everything to do with the man I fell in love with. A man who was once my fiercest competitor but was now my greatest supporter, my biggest confidant, and my very best friend.

In the month that passed, things were back to normal between Alex and me before our little breakup, with one teeny exception—we were going to have a baby! I was spending almost all my time at his place and my favorite part of the day was when we’d lie in bed together each night reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Then before we’d go to sleep, he’d give me a kiss and then kiss my belly. It made my heart happy to know he was just as excited as I was over this baby. Typical of our relationship, prior to my pregnancy, we didn’t really talk about the future, we were just taking it one day at a time, and I was perfectly okay with that. I knew Alex wasn’t going anywhere, and I could already tell he was going to be a devoted father to our child, and that’s all that mattered.

Marisa had given birth to a beautiful baby boy, and I was by her side the entire time. Of course, I was a sobbing mess by the time it was all over. It truly was a miracle, and to see it all unfold in front of me was just an incredible experience I’ll never forget. It was scary to know I’d be enduring that same pain I watched her go through in a short matter of time, but when I saw the end result, I knew it would all be worth it. I was so proud of Marisa and the way she instinctively took on the role of mother. When the baby was placed in her arms, it was as if she had finally met the love of her life. Lucy and I were taking turns going to her place and helping her out so she could get some much-needed rest. I couldn’t imagine doing it on my own like she was, so when Mr. Andrews presented me with the same check from Phillip York I refused to take that day in the coffee shop, I knew exactly what to do with it—I cashed it and gave the money to Marisa.

Lucy and Declan had gotten engaged for her birthday and were planning a small summer wedding. I had agreed to be her maid of honor. Part of that agreement came with the disclaimer that I may need to be rolled down the aisle by then. I couldn’t tell her no. After all they were just another happy success story from the Rose Perkins Matchmaking Foundation.

I sat up in bed with my laptop, trying to get caught up on some work with Alex next to me, studying. I was just about to shut down and call it a night when I got an email notification for my column. I didn’t have any intention of answering it until the morning, but my curiosity had me at least wanting to see what the question was, so I could maybe plot out an answer in my head as I was falling asleep. I clicked on the little envelope with the same anticipation as always when I’d get a hit.

Dear Miss Demeanor,

I love you…will you marry me?

~ Pompous Ass

My eyes blurred with tears as I read it once again. Those same tears that were just a visual distraction moments ago were now spilling from my eyes when I turned my head in Alex’s direction and looked down at the sparkling diamond ring in his hand.

“Well?” He raised his eyebrow. “Or are you gonna make me get down on one knee?”

“Actually, now that you suggested it. I would love to see you down on one knee.” I was grinning from ear to ear.

“Always have to have the upper hand, don’t you?” he teased as he got out of bed and walked around to my side. Bending down on one knee, he looked up at me, his eyes the most spellbinding shade of green I’d ever seen. “Despite our rocky start, I think you know I’m crazy about you and would do anything in this world for you. So, I was wondering, would you do the same for me and be my wife?”

I grabbed the sides of his face and squeezed his cheeks. “Sure, why not?” I replied, causing both of us to burst out with laughter. He slid the ring down my finger and it all became real. I’m engaged. “I-I can’t believe this is all happening. Lucy was right.”

“Lucy was right about what?” he asked, hopping up on the bed next to me.

“She said the more you got under my skin, the closer you’d get to my heart.”

“Me? Get under your skin?” he teased.

“Just a little.” I crinkled my nose. “But not anymore, now you’re totally in my heart.”

Our lips meshed together, and it was like we were kissing for the very first time. I hugged him as tight as I possibly could, resting my head on his shoulder. I stared down at my ring finger, and it all began to settle in—Alex was going to be my husband, I was going to be his wife, and together we were going to be someone’s parents. My life was so different than I ever imagined it would be, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way because one thing was for certain—it didn’t get any better than this.