I’ve been planning this proposal for months because I wanted it to be perfect. It’s December, and it’s been a cold, snowy winter already. That had thrown a little bit of a kink in my plans, but with the help of Mama and Cord, I think I’ll be able to pull it off.
At the end of the commencement, I find my family and we head to the reception for a few minutes just so I can say good-bye to the few friends I’ve made at UC. With Sara by my side, I make my rounds.
When it’s over, I hug my family tight and take my girl home. Cord and Mama helped me buy my first house six months ago, and Sara moved in with me. The big down payment was my early graduation present. It’s a fixer-upper, but it works for us right now. It’s closer to the school, Briarwood, and my part-time job. I’m only able to work part-time right now because come spring semester, I’ll be back in school to get my Masters in School Counseling.
Tomorrow evening, my family is throwing me a graduation party that will double as our engagement announcement. It’ll be at Mom and Cord’s place on the lake, which is part of the proposal plan.
I can hardly wait to make her my wife.
AS WE STROLL ALONG the shore of the lake, both of us bundled up from head to toe, I start to wonder about Eli’s sanity. Why he wanted to go for a walk in this cold-ass weather at dusk is beyond me. The snow is starting to fall again, and just as I’m about to suggest we head back, Eli stops and turns toward me, taking both my hands in his. He leans forward and kisses my lips sweetly before laying his forehead on mine. I can feel him shaking and his breath is unsteady. I pull back to look at his face and notice tears in his eyes.
“Eli, what’s wrong?” I ask, my voice full of concern.
He drops his gaze to our hands, rubbing his gloved thumbs back and forth across the top of my hands. When he lifts his eyes to mine, a tear rolls down his face and I watch as he drops down onto one knee, causing a sob to rip from my throat.
“Sara Marie Calhoun, I love you with every single ounce of my soul. I want to wake up to your face every single morning for the rest of my life. I want to have coffee with you in bed while you read. I want to make fun of your crappy music choices. I want to watch our children grow in your belly. But most importantly, I want you to be my forever,” he chokes out, tears streaming down his face. He lets go of my hands, reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring box. When he tries to open it, he’s shaking so bad he can’t.
Placing my hand on top of the box to stop him, I grab his hands and, with tears rolling down and freezing to my face, I whisper, “Just ask me, Eli.”
“Will you marry me?” he blurts out so loud it echoes through the darkness.
I tackle him into the snow, both of us crying and freezing, and just as I catch my breath, I scream “Yes” at the top of my lungs.
He laughs loudly before pulling me to my feet, and with his fingers laced through mine, we run back toward his mom’s house. When I hear screaming and yelling, I look up to see my family and his all out on the back balcony. Both our moms are crying happy tears and hugging each other. My heart couldn’t be any fuller than it is right now.
Five years later.
AS I WATCH THE tech squirt some weird jelly crap on Sara’s belly, I can’t help but laugh when she squeals that it’s cold. I squeeze her hand and wink at her. I’m too choked up to talk. Today, we get to find out the sex of our baby.
Sara’s doctor, Dr. Ling, arrives and takes the ultrasound thingy from the tech, who steps to the side and picks up Sara’s chart and a pen. Dr. Ling glances between Sara and me before she speaks.
“Okay, Mr. and Mrs. Harper, do you want to know the sex of the baby if we can see it?” she asks.
Both of us blurt out “yes,” causing Dr. Ling to chuckle. “Okay then. Let’s get started.” She rubs the handheld device over Sara’s belly, taking measurements and calling them out, pointing to the baby’s organs and telling us each one looks to be developing as it should. When she’s done, she tells us, “And now for the fun part.”
She moves the device a little this way and a little that way, and then stops and smiles.
“Well, there is no doubt about your child’s gender,” she chuckles loudly. “He’s basically sitting on the camera,” she finishes while pointing to the screen. “It’s a boy!”
The tears that flow down my face are the happiest tears of my life. I wouldn’t have cared either way, but knowing our baby is healthy is the best feeling in the world.
I kiss Sara and wipe away her tears.
“I guess we better start picking names now that we know, huh?” I laugh out. She’d refused to talk about names until we knew if it was a girl or boy.
She looks up at me with such love before replying softly, “Samuel Elijah Harper.”
“It’s perfect,” I tell her, knowing exactly why she picked that name. Her dreams about our forever.
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, to my boys. My husband, George, who always supports every single crazy idea I have. To my sons, who suffer through nights of Top Ramen or sandwiches for dinner because I get the bug to write. I would not be brave enough to continue on this journey without y’all in my corner. I love you big heaps.
To Virginia Cantrell and Becky Johnson at Hot Tree Editing. I will never be able to thank you both enough for helping me bring my stories to life. There are just not enough words.
To Megan Gunter at Mischievous Designs. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with my last minute changes and my “I just realized I need….” I can’t express my gratitude for your patience and your friendship. You, my friend, are amazing…but you already knew that.
To Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Designs. As always, your design work takes my breath away. Thank you for continuing to put up with my insanity and lack of scheduling skills!
To Chelle Northcutt, Sara Ney, and Kristann Monaghan. Thank you for always taking the time to answer my questions. Your help and guidance is more appreciated than I can ever express.
To Dawn Chiletz. My soul sister. Thank you for always having my back, always talking me off the ledge, and for your continued friendship. You are an invaluable part of my life and I hope you know you’re stuck with me forever and ever.
To my BS assholes. I can’t thank y’all enough for your continued support, friendship, and putting me in my place when I need it. You are my people. <3
To my unicorn. Andrea Johnston. Who would’ve thought that a couple of indie authors from Idaho could find each other through the masses? I’m immensely thankful for your friendship.
To my beta readers: Donna, Mama, Molly, Brandee, Karly, Christine, Nikki, Natasha, and Rebecca (Hot Tree). Thank you for finding all my screw ups, giving me amazing feedback and loving my characters and this story. This book would not be what it is without y’all’s help. Thank you!
To JJ, Stephanie and Lindee. Thank you for bringing Eli and Sara to life!
And last, but definitely not least, my readers. Thank you for reading my books and helping me grow as a writer. You’re FB messages and emails really do mean the world to me. Thank you for taking a chance on my crazy dream.
Other books by Andee Michelle:
Standalones:
Raising Landry
Defining Moments series:
Defining Moments
Finding Our Forever
From the Inside Out (Coming Spring 2017)
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Find Andee on Social Media at:
www.facebook.com/author.andeemichelle
http://twitter.com/authorandee
http://instagram.com/authorandeemichelle
Or email Andee at:
[email protected]
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Finding Our Forever: (A Defining Moments Novel) Page 23
